Highest Rated Christmas TV Episodes of All Time: FRIENDS and HIMYM Are Not Even in Top 5
- Christmas is here and so is the feeling of nostalgia that comes from watching the holiday classics.
- Here is a list of the 5 highest-ranked Christmas episodes and surprisingly, it does not include any from FRIENDS and HIMYM.
- The likes of The Office, South Park and Black Mirror had some of the best Christmas episodes.
Christmas time is officially here, making it the perfect moment to dive into some of the highest-rated TV show episodes of all time. As surprising as some might find it, fan-favorite sitcoms like FRIENDS and How I Met Your Mother do not have the highest-rated Christmas episodes.
Whether you’re heading to a festive party or curled up under a cozy blanket binge-watching holiday classics on Christmas, here’s a list of TV shows that delivered 5 of the top-rated Christmas episodes to brighten up your season.
The Office – Christmas Special: Part 2
The Office, whether the UK original or the U.S. adaptation, is one of the most beloved TV sitcoms of all time. Aired on December 27, 2003, the second part of the Christmas Special is the highest-rated TV episode with a score of 9.3 on IMDb.
This episode sees David (Ricky Gervais) going on three dates and none of them turn out to be fruitful. Dawn (Lucy Davis) arrives at the office and teams up with Tim (Martin Freeman) to wind up Gareth (Mackenzie Crook) but their attempts are ruined by Lee who tells Gareth about their innuendos. David brings his dog to the office but is not allowed to bring him in because non-employees cannot attend the party.
A fourth date whom he actually likes comes to the party. Dawn, who had initially left with Lee, returns back and kisses Tim after she realizes that the latter’s affection for her is more than just an office fling. David stands up to the bullying Chris whom he used to consider his friend. Everybody gathers for a group photo, and David finally makes them laugh with his Frank Spencer impression. This episode perfectly blends humor and sentiment, making it a standout holiday classic.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – A Very Sunny Christmas
Known for its dark humor, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is the longest-running American sitcom with 18 seasons. The fifth season of the show concluded with the thirteenth episode titled A Very Sunny Christmas, which is one of the highest-ranked TV episodes of all time with a score of 9.2 on IMDb.
The episode aired on FX in December 2010 but was released first in November 2009. The gang of friends is in holiday spirit in their typically chaotic and dysfunctional way. Dennis (Glenn Howerton) and Dee (Kaitlin Olson) plan to teach Frank (Danny DeVito) a lesson in A Christmas Carol-style for always buying gifts for himself and pretending they are from Santa.
Meanwhile, Charlie (Charlie Kelly) and Mac (Rob McElhenney) confront their own Christmas memories – Charlie learns a shocking truth about his mom’s holiday traditions, and Mac revisits the stolen goods from his childhood. The episode is quite a departure from the usual holiday spirit seen in other shows. Regardless, the wild antics, a dream sequence, and a heartwarming moment or two buried under the chaos make for a good watch.
Black Mirror – White Christmas
The sci-fi anthology TV series Black Mirror is one of the best TV shows of the 2010s. The special episode White Christmas was the last aired on TV before the show was moved to Netflix. It has a rating of 9.1 on IMDb, making it one of the highest-rated Christmas episodes.
The episode sees Joe (Rafe Spall) and Matt (Jon Hamm) tell three different stories from an outpost on Christmas Day while having the meal that Matt cooks for them. The first story is from Matt who used to teach seduction techniques to single men. In the story, he tries to guide a man on how to seduce a woman at a Christmas Party.
The second story is also about Matt who recounts his former job where he used to train digital clones of people called ‘cookies’. The third and last story is from Joe who reveals that he becomes obsessed with his ex-girlfriend Beth after they breakup. This special explores themes of isolation, guilt, and the dark side of advanced technology.
South Park – Woodland Critter Christmas
South Park is one of the most popular animated sitcoms which became infamous for the use of profanity and dark humor that satirizes a large number of topics. Woodland Critter Christmas, originally aired on December 15, 2004, is the fourteenth and final episode of Season 8 and has an IMDb rating of 9.1.
The episode sees Stan approached for help from a group of woodland critters. They ask him for help to build a manger for the baby of a pregnant porcupine. After he is done building the manger, Stan also kills a mountain lion who eats every pregnant critter. However, things take a dark turn when he discovers they’re part of a satanic cult trying to summon the Antichrist.
The Office – Classy Christmas
The U.S. adaptation of The Office has some of the best Christmas episodes and Classy Christmas is one of them. It is the 11th episode from Season 7 and the first part of the two-part Holiday episode. The episode has a rating of 8.8 on IMDb.
It sees Michael (Steve Carell) completely turn over the theme of the Christmas party to impress Holly who is temporarily returning to the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin. However, he ends up disappointed when he learns that she is still with her boyfriend, A.J. In his jealousy, he ruins A.J.’s gift to Holly but later admits it. After a pep talk from Pam (Jenna Fischer), he feels better.
