From heartwarming moments to hilariously disastrous dinners, some TV franchises masterfully capture the essence of the holiday season. Whether you’re seeking solace or simply want to indulge in some festive on-screen moments, these Thanksgiving episodes are the perfect companions. Grab your cozy blanket and let the holiday marathon begin!
10. Brothers and Sisters
Brothers and Sisters knows how to bring the drama to every family gathering, but they also know how to come together in times of need. If you can’t spend this Thanksgiving with family, spend it with the Walkers.
Where to Watch: Hulu (“Just a Sliver,” Season 3, Episode 10)
9. Beverly Hills 90210
If you want to go to old school, Beverly Hills 90210 is a great option. It brings friends and family together, mostly to the Walsh house. Where else would you want to be for Thanksgiving? I would definitely want to be at the Walsh house. Sadly, we can’t taste Cindy’s cooking, but we can enjoy the company.
Where to Watch: Paramount + (“The Kindness of Strangers,” Season 3, Episode 15, “Radar Love,” Season 4, Episode 12, “Breast Side Up,” Season 6, Episode 12, “You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello,” Season 9 Episode 7, “What’s in a Name,” Season 10, Episode 10)
8. The Vampire Diaries
Caroline tries to pull off the best Friendsgiving, but just like all plans on The Vampire Diaries, it doesn’t go well. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a lot of festive fun this holiday season.
Where to Watch: Max, Peacock (“Fade Into You,” Season 6, Episode 8)
7. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy is extremely determined to pull off a great Thanksgiving even when her slayer duties should come first, with a Native American spirit giving its victims syphilis, including Xander.
Willow is against celebrating because of what we did to the Native Americans, and everyone else is a little bit more focused on the spirit and Spike, while Buffy is powering through with the cooking. It’s a little bit of madness but a lot of fun.
Where to Watch: Hulu (“Pangs,” Season 4, Episode 8)
6. One Tree Hill
One Tree Hill didn’t do many holiday episodes because it didn’t work off the normal calendar, but this Thanksgiving episode is a great one. Brooke’s mom is just released from jail and gets along very well with Brooke’s soon-to-be mother-in-law, Sylvia. Plus, Alex and Mia are fighting over Chase. You’ve got the drama and the laughs. A perfect recipe for a Thanksgiving episode.
Where to Watch: Hulu (“Between Raising Hell and Amazing Grace,” Season 8, Episode 9)
5. New Girl
Much like Friends and How I Met Your Mother, New Girl does Friendsgiving right, with the chaos. Nothing goes right, but they are together. For lots of laughs, I recommend binging these episodes, followed by HIMYM and Friends.
Where to Watch: Hulu (“Thanksgiving,” Season 1, Episode 6, “Parents,” Season 2, Episode 8, “Thanksgiving III,” Season 3, Episode 10, “Thanksgiving IV,” Season 4, Episode 9, “Last Thanksgiving,” Season 6, Episode 7)
4. Gossip Girl
It’s Blair Waldorf’s favorite holiday, so grab your pumpkin pie and devour all the drama of Gossip Girl.
Where to watch: Max (“Blair Waldorf Must Pie!”, Season 1, Episode 9, “The Magnificent Archibalds,” Season 2, Episode 11, “The Treasure of Serena Madre,” Season 3, Episode 11, “Gaslit,” Season 4, Episode 10, “It’s Really Complicated,” Season 6, Episode 8)
3. Gilmore Girls
I came close to putting Gilmore Girls at number one because of “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving.” If I was doing individual episodes and not franchises, I might have. This is definitely one of the best Thanksgiving episodes ever. It rivals Freinds‘ episodes. The Gilmore girls have four meals! And, of course, no other duo could eat that much on Thanksgiving. It’s a marathon in eating. We thought we ate a lot on the holidays, but they sure have us beat.
This is a must-watch this holiday season.
Where to Watch: Netflix (“A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving,” Season 3, Episode 9, “He’s Slippin’ ‘Em Bread… Dig?,” Season 6, Episode 10)
2. How I Met Your Mother
Friends have the all-time best combination of Thanksgiving episodes, but How I Met Your Mother is a very close second. Like Friends, the HIMYM gang has chaotic dinners but none better than those with the Slap Bet. It’s childish but oh-so fun.
Where to watch: Hulu (“Belly Full of Turkey,” Season 1, Episode 9, “Slapsiving,” Season 3, Episode 9, “Slapsgiving 2: Revenge of the Slap,” Season 5, Episode 9, “Blitzgiving,” Season 6, Episode 10, “The Rebound Girl,” Season 7, Episode 11)
1. Friends
It isn’t Thanksgiving without Friends. They perfected the way to do a Thanksgiving episode. They are some of the best episodes in the entire series. The holiday never went right from day one when Monica and Rachel got locked out of the apartment, and the turkey was burnt all the way to their last, where everyone was late.
These episodes are perfect for Thanksgiving day. Relive multiple chaotic dinners with your Friends.
(“The One with Undergod Gets Away,” Season 1, Episode 9, “The One with the Football,” Season 3, Episode 9, “The One with Chandler in the Box,” Season 4, Episode 8, “The One with All the Thanksgivings,” Season 5, Episode 8, “The One Where Ross Got High,” Season 6, Episode 9, “The One Where Chandler Doesn’t Like Dogs,” Season 7, Episode 8, “The One with the Rumor,” Season 8 Episode 9, “The One with Rachel’s Other Sister,” Season 9, Episode 8, “The One With the Late Thanksgiving,” Season 10, Episode 8)
Where to Watch: Max
What are your all-time favorite Thanksgiving episodes? Tweet me @MandyTTCarr or comment below.