We’re like… a third through December already. That’s bonkers. Well while we’re heading down this slippery slope we call the Holidays, we might as well enjoy it, right? Just kidding, I’m not a Grinch, AND I do love me some good ol’ feel-good holiday specials– ESPECIALLY the geeky ones! Here are some of my favorites:
(Lucasfilm)
Star Wars Holiday Special
Honestly, I’m just getting this one out of the way. We all knew this one would be on the list! While this special was horribly received, it’s become a sort of iconic niche fan-favorite over the years. Besides, who wouldn’t want to meet the rest of Chewbacca’s freaky looking family? Also, this was technically the first appearance of the fan-favorite Bounty Hunter, Boba Fett, so at least one great thing came out of the Star Wars Holiday Special!
(The Pokemon Company)
Christmas Night (Pokemon)
There are a handful of Holiday Specials from the Pokemon Anime, but this one is my personal favorite. The episode follow Pikachu, Togepi, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Vulpix, and Psyduck as they decorate the house for a Christmas Party while Ash, Misty, and Brock go out to get the Christmas Cake. It’s mostly just a cute montage with some funny moments. I think I’ve just always enjoyed episode of Pokemon where the focus wasn’t on the human characters.
(DC)
Christmas With The Joker (Batman the Animated Series)
There are a few reason this special is so good. First off, this is the animated series’ introduction to the Joker as a villain, which is absolutely perfect. Also, it gave us that song. You know the one… the one we all sang obnoxiously in grade school (Jingle Bells, Batman smells, Robin laid an egg!).
(Nickelodeon)
A Rugrats Chanukah (Rugrats)
What I love about Rugrats is how they always misconstrue words that the adults say. Grandma Minka was telling a story about the “Meaning of Hanukkah”, which Tommy, Chuckie, Phil, and Lil misinterpret as the “Meanie of Hanukkah”. Of course, she never finishes the story, leaving the rest to the babies’ imaginations, and you can only guess what happens next!
(Fox)
Christmas in the Car (Bob’s Burgers)
Y’all. I love me some Bob’s Burgers. Especially the Belcher kids. In this episode, the Belchers get run off the road by an infuriated candy cane-shaped truck driver, the Belchers find themselves stuck in the snow… which wouldn’t be so bad had Gene not depleted the phone battery from sitting on hold to request a Christmas song on the radio for so long. Just another typical day for the Belcher family!
