Celebrate the holidays & Christmas with these shows on Netflix #StreamTeam

We’re part of the Stream Team for Netflix and were compensated or provided goods for this. All thoughts are our own. A holiday episode can be an obligatory thing for a television series. It can also serve as cliffhanger episode to lead viewers to the second half of the season. The episode doesn’t even need to mention Christmas. Sometimes it merely alludes to Christmas while directly referencing the greater ‘holidays’.  We found a sampling of some of our favorite holiday or Christmas episodes from cool television series that are currently on Netflix.

How I Met Your Mother, Season 2, Episode 11-How Lily Stole Christmas

How I Met Your Mother was a great show. The show wasn’t good for elementary school kids or lower middle school students. However, for audiences older than that it’s a very funny, laugh out loud show about friendship, relationships and life. Everyone has the character that they identify with the most and for many it’s Lily. Actress  Alyson Hannigan certainly had a fan base that followed her from Buffy The Vampire Slayer and this particular episode really highlights her comedic skills.

New Girl, Season 2, Episode 11-Santa

This episode from New Girl is one that I still remember years after originally seeing it. “Santa” also represents a great entry from what, for us, was the best season of the show. It’s funny, slightly bitter sweet and has things that any teen and older will identify with.

The Flash, Season 2, Episode 9-Running to Stand Still

‘Christmas’ was more of a reference in this episode from The Flash than a plot point. However, for superhero fans this is an excuse to re-watch a good episode from a series that was, pardon the pun, finding its feet in this season. The Trickster is the villain in this episode, played with all the cheese scenery chewing gusto by Mark Hamill.

Arrow, Season 1, Episode 9-Year’s End

The first season of Arrow was outstanding. Year’s End featured a big Christmas party, which Oliver had to quickly dash out of (again) to go sharpen his superhero quiver. If you’re new to Arrow and haven’t seen the first season it is well worth your time to catch it on Netflix.

Frasier, Season 5, Episode 9-Perspectives on Christmas

Frasier has been off the air for a long time. It feels odd hearing ‘off the air’ or ‘not on television’ in today’s terms because you can stream anything and find it in lots of places. Having said that, every season of Frasier is available on Netflix and has aged very well. This is smart, conversation comedy that is OK for any age. Younger viewers might not laugh as much as mom or dad, but it’s one that everybody can watch. Perspectives on Christmas is a classic from season 5 and will remind you of how rare it is that a show of this quality comes along.

30 Rock, Season 2, Episode 9-Ludachristmas

23 minutes of laugh-track free observation comedy in each episode. That’s a rough description of 30 Rock. When the show started it was one of two NBC shows that offered a behind the scenes documentary feel. 30 Rock was by far the champion of that competition and earned thousands of rabid fans, memes and memorable characters.

The Twilight Zone, Season 2, Episode 11-Night of the Meek

Some modern audiences might find The Twilight Zone to be too slow of a boil. Have the younger audiences give it a chance and they’ll be hooked into its slower pace, spectral wonders and possible real-life creeps.

The Wonder Years, Season 4, Episode 9-A Very Cutlip Christmas

Elementary school kids and up will enjoy and relate to The Wonder Years. It’s everybody’s family. The only difference is that this family was growing up in the 60’s. It would be easy to dismiss this as a time capsule show that you had to grow up with in order to enjoy. Don’t fall into that trap. This show holds up very well and still serves up the young aged romantic tension, weird family characteristics and best friend drama that kids today experience.

Phineas and Ferb’s Family Christmas Special, Season 3, Episode 14

Phineas and Ferb was in many ways the perfect show. Before having kids a friend of mine suggested that I watch it. I knew that he had kids, figured that he liked it because it’s a kid’s show and I was too busy watching The McLaughlin Report to go down that isle. Hello crow, I eat thee for dinner. Season 3 was a fabulous season for this show and Phineas and Ferb’s Christmas Special is funny, offers a different look at the characters in winter and is one that parents, as well as kids will laugh at together.

The Office (UK version) Season 2, Episode 7 and 8-Christmas Special Part 1 and 2

I do love some of the shows from the UK that have a Christmas Special. The Office (UK version) had a great Christmas Special from (    ). When the US version of The Office came out it was trendy to say “The UK version is better”. They’re both have a similar appearance, are filmed without a laugh track and are wickedly funny.

SeaQuest, Season 2, Episode 5-Vapors

Cheese. Well aged-cheese. SeaQuest was an incredibly cheesy show that tried to harness the power of Star Trek, but usually fell short. It was noted for having Roy Scheider, a very pretty teen cast and the wonders of undersea living.

Pee-Wee’s Playhouse-Christmas Special

The cast behind Pee-Wee’s Playhouse Christmas Special is the stuff of a 5-star IMDB dream. Despite that fact this is OK for any age and is one of the more hilarious things we’ve ever seen. It’s performance art, magical characters, deep end creativity and manages to channel the 8 year old inside everyone.

What did we miss? Is there a go-to show that’s on your lineup? If so, please let us know as we’ll need some television relief come late December.