Releasing on Disney Plus on November 25, the Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special promises to be a hilarious festive treat for MCU fans. The hotly-anticipated Special see the Guardians band together to give Peter Quill a Christmas to remember, following the loss of his girlfriend Gamora. However, Guardians Of The Galaxy's holiday Special is not the first time that a sci-fi franchise has celebrated the holiday season, with some of TV's most popular series having provided their take on the yuletide festivities.
These beloved installments of TV favorites may pique the interest of Guardians Of The Galaxy viewers, with these seasonal offerings having impressed audiences with their expert storytelling. With their heightened storytelling and immensely likable cast of characters, these programs are sure to delight fans of Marvel Studios' bonkers sci-fi saga.
Supergirl: Reign (2017)
Stream On Netflix
Beginning in 2015, Supergirl is an especially fun comic-book series. The show follows Superman's cousin Kara, as she attempts to protect National City from various deadly threats while holding down a job at the CatCo news corporation. Supergirl's Christmas episode, entitled "Reign," is considered one of its best entries, with Kara taking on her greatest adversary, a Kryptonian Worldkiller called Reign.
This cruel and heartless addition to Supergirl's rogues' gallery provides a considerable challenge for Kara, as the pair engage in a furious battle to the catchy Christmas tune "Deck the Halls." The episode also features one of the show's most joyous sequences, as Kara invites her family and friends to a Christmas party.
The Twilight Zone: A Traveler (2019)
Stream On Paramount+
With its sinister plots and creepy visuals, The Twilight Zone has captivated audiences since its first episode in 1959, resulting in many viewers wishing for a movie reboot. The sci-fi horror anthology's recent revival celebrated the yuletide season with its typically weird fourth episode, "A Traveler," which involves a mysterious stranger gatecrashing an Alaska police station's Christmas party.
This intriguing tale carries a strong air of mystery, as audiences are made to question the identity of the enigmatic traveler. The episode does an excellent job of exploring the fear and paranoia of the Iglaak town's citizens, as the strange man appears to display some deep knowledge concerning its residents.
Thunderbirds: Give Or Take A Million (1966)
Stream On Freevee
Gerry Anderson's Supermarionation productions have created some of the greatest puppet programs, and among their best efforts is Thunderbirds. This action-packed series has also released a thrilling Christmas episode, named "Give Or Take A Million," which features the devious crooks Scobie and Straker's attempt to rob the Second National Bank on Christmas Eve.
"Give Or Take A Million" showcases an especially charming storyline, as the Coralville Children's Hospital's accidental capture of Scobie and Straker results in the medical establishment acquiring a substantial sum of reward money. Its hugely sentimental nature provides some endearingly sweet moments, as the hospital lands enough money to fund its new wing, providing some much-needed extra assistance for its young patients.
Sliders: Season's Greedings (1996)
Stream On Peacock
During its five-season run, Sliders produced some of TV's best episodes according to IMDb, with its parallel universe antics attracting the attention of sci-fi fans. This classic TV program released its festive installment in 1996, named "Seasons Greedings," presenting a thought-provoking narrative concerning a world run by consumerism.
"Season's Greedings" gives viewers a cynical take on the Christmas period, as Quinn and his friends find themselves working as seasonal shop assistants at a gigantic shopping mall. The group quickly discovers the sad reality of the mall's staff, who are forced to both work at and live inside the mall until they have paid their debts, delivering a fascinating portrayal of Christmas as a heavily commercialized endeavor.
The X-Files: How The Ghosts Stole Christmas (1998)
Stream On Hulu
The iconic The X-Files is one of the world's most famous sci-fi series, with the paranormal procedural having amassed 11 seasons. Among its most highly-regarded episodes is "How The Ghosts Stole Christmas," which presents a disturbing plot regarding Mulder and Scully's investigation of a haunted house on Christmas Eve.
This delightfully spooky installment in the sci-fi program features Mulder and Scully encountering a pair of mischievous ghosts, who manipulate the agents against each other. It's a deeply unnerving narrative, as the FBI agents seemingly try to murder one another, under the influence of the malicious specters.
Goodnight Sweetheart: Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea (1995)
Stream On Spectrum OnDemand
First airing in 1993, Goodnight Sweetheart is considered one of the best British sitcoms, as viewers indulge in the madcap misadventures of time traveler Gary Sparrow. The show's hilarious Christmas Special, "The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea," sees Nicholas Lyndhurst's hapless TV repairman discover his time travel route back to the 1940s has been blocked by a row of shops.
Goodnight Sweetheart's festive opener to season 3 contains plenty of the series' zany humor, as Gary opens an antique store selling items he has acquired from the 1940s. Additionally, the episode provides a deeply sentimental storyline, with the time traveler torn over whether he should change history and alert the Americans about the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
The Flash: The Man In The Yellow Suit (2014)
Stream On Netflix
Airing during the show's debut season, The Flash's first festive offering, "The Man In The Yellow Suit" is an essential installment in the comic-book series, as the brave speedster faces one of his greatest adversaries. The episode is regarded as a particularly strong storyline for the Arrowverse, with Barry Allen fighting a villain who possesses the same heroic abilities.
With relentlessly fast pacing and incredible action sequences, "The Man In The Yellow Suit" gives viewers a particularly fun viewing experience. It also carries some truly beautiful moments, as Barry's Christmas gift to Iris deeply touches his future wife, with the geeky vigilante presenting her with a replica of her mother's wedding ring.
Doctor Who: A Christmas Carol (2010)
Stream On HBO Max
Since its revival in 2005, Doctor Who has produced some of television's best Christmas offerings. One of the Doctor's most impressive festive outings is "A Christmas Carol," which stars Guardians Of The Galaxy's Karen Gillan, and sees the Time Lord's eleventh incarnation try to show the grumpy miser Kazran Sadrick the error of his ways.
"A Christmas Carol" delivers a fantastic sci-fi twist on the Charles Dickens classic, as the Doctor travels across Kazran's timeline to mold him into a more forgiving person. Furthermore, it includes one of Doctor Who's best festive moments, with guest star Katherine Jenkins offering her beautiful vocals to the original song "Silence Is All You Know."
Lost In Space: Shipwrecked (2019)
Stream On Netflix
Debuting on Netflix in 2018, Lost In Space offers a fun family adventure for viewers of all ages. The space exploration drama's seasonal installment, "Shipwrecked," is an especially wonderful outing for the Robinson family, as they celebrate the yuletide season on a watery world.
This episode's Christmas setting features a few of the series' loveliest moments, as the Robinson family exchange gifts on Christmas Day. Will's present for Penny delivers a particularly heartfelt sequence, with his sister overjoyed by Will's kind decision to publish her book regarding their intergalactic exploits.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow: Turncoat (2017)
Stream On Netflix
Since its introduction to the Arrowverse, Legends Of Tomorrow has developed a sizable fanbase, with sci-fi viewers overjoyed by the Legends' time-travel adventures. The seasonal outing, "Turncoat," is a particular highlight, delivering an especially cool escapade that sees Sara Lance and her crew arrive in 1776 America on Christmas Day.
"Turncoat" is a hugely entertaining festive caper, as the Waverider's daring crew takes on a villainous Rip Hunter. Arthur Darvill pulls in a show-stopping performance as the nasty and intimidating Rip, who attempts to change history by mercilessly murdering George Washington. The episode ends in a magnificently poignant manner, as the Legends raise a toast to the Christmas period.