The holidays can mean a lot of different things to people, especially teenagers. While Christmas used to be about Santa, presents, and spending time with family, teenagers often find the holiday to be about two weeks off from school and spending time with their friends. And just like in real life, the Christmas spirit is reflected in teen TV dramas that air holiday-themed episodes
From recent teen drama shows like The Fosters and Riverdale to '90s classics like My So-Called Life, teen dramas have been celebrating the holidays for years in new and exciting ways. The best thing is that the holidays aren't just regulated to family teen dramas but also supernatural TV series, as well.
Updated on December 19th, 2022 by Danielle Bruncati: Usually, by now, there is a handful of teen drama shows that have aired winter holiday-themed episodes. However, there seems to be a shortage of Christmas spirit this year with teen dramas. Most of the shows are on hiatus or are streaming shows that don't indulge in the holiday spirit. While it's unfortunate that fans don't get to see the Outer Banks teens celebrate a Pogue Christmas or even see what a Christmas is like at Wednesday's Nevermore Academy, there are a handful of classic teen drama show holiday episodes that fans can stream to fill the void.
Beverly Hills, 90210: "A Walsh Family Christmas" (Season 2, Episode 18) - 7.4
Stream On Paramount+
While Beverly Hills, 90210 aired nine Christmas-themed episodes during its historic run in the 90s, it's the show's first holiday episode that remains a favorite among fans. Though not exploding in Christmas cheerful celebrations, the episode does drive home the importance of family around the holidays and how Christmas is all about giving back.
One of the main stories of the episode revolves around Steve trying to track down his grandfather to learn more about his biological parents. Meanwhile, in Beverly Hills, Brandon and the gang rally around Cindy, who is missing Minnesota, and Brenda gets a surprise when she takes in an unhoused man for the holiday.
Gossip Girl: "Roman Holiday" (Season 1, Episode 11) - 7.6
Stream On HBO Max
Gossip Girl's first-ever holiday special, "Roman Holiday," is such a fan favorite that the series held off on creating another Christmas episode until the fourth season. The episode screams Christmas and dishes out drama and tons of drama, making it one of the most well-rounded Christmas episodes for a teen drama show.
The episode centers on Blair, who is struggling with a change in her family Christmas when her dad brings his new boyfriend to their family affair. Meanwhile, Serena and Dan embark on trying to find each other the perfect Christmas presents while Rufus deals with Alison's former lover.
Good Trouble: "A Very Coterie Christmas" (Season 2, Episode 10) - 7.9
Stream On Hulu
Freeform's Good Trouble has aired two holiday-themed episodes since premiering in 2019, or rather a two-part episode of sorts. However, the second part of the episode, "A Very Coterie Christmas," is the one that has the highest rating on IMDb because of the Christmas spirit and drama it contains.
The episode embodies the happiness and stress that comes with spending Christmas with family, as Callie, Mariana, Gael, and Jazmine all face struggles with their families. The tension is also heightened by the fact that Callie found a ring in Jamie's apartment, which she thinks might be a sign he's going to propose to her.
Pretty Little Liars: "How the 'A' Stole Christmas" (Season 5, Episode 13) - 7.9
Stream On HBO Max
Christmas isn't synonymous with the eerie drama on Pretty Little Liars, but that didn't stop them from getting into the holiday spirit in season 5. With Spencer out on bail, the liars aren't in the best holiday spirit, but they're determined to pretend while they figure out a way to prove Spencer isn't a murderer. Elsewhere, Alison gets visited by the Ghost of Mona, who shows her glimpses of her past, present, and future.
Using the A Christmas Carol trope really helps elevate this holiday-themed episode. The episode also featured the iconic Ice Ball, but it was the scene with the liar's significant others in Santa-themed underwear that truly made the episode memorable for fans.
The Fosters: "Christmas Past" (Season 2, Episode 11) - 7.9
Stream On Hulu
Despite running for five seasons and being centered around the importance of family, The Fosters.
At the heart of the episode are Callie and Jude, who are trying to keep their emotions about the holidays at bay now that Jude is an official Adam-Foster and Callie is still being fostered. Elsewhere, Stef butts heads with her mother about her holiday spending, and Jesus finds himself on the receiving end of racism from a neighbor during a decorating competition.
One Tree Hill: "At The Bottom Of Everything" (Season 7, Episode 17) - 8.0
Stream On HBO Max, Hulu, & Prime Video
Despite being on the air for nine seasons, One Tree Hill never indulged in a true Christmas-centered episode. While "At the Bottom of Everything" is the closet fans got, it actually paints a heartfelt Christmas scene despite airing in February.
After learning that Haley's mom is sick and not doing well, Nathan tries to rally around his family to get them to cherish the moments they have left with her. This leads to Jamie deciding to throw an early Christmas celebration so Lydia can be there with them one more time. It's a heartfelt moment that proves that the Christmas spirit doesn't just come in December.
Riverdale: "Chapter Twenty-Two: Silent Night, Deadly Night" (Season 2, Episode 9) - 8.1
Stream On Netflix
Riverdale's holiday episode had a lot of ground to cover, being the show's first Christmas-themed episode and the season's mid-season finale. In typical Riverdale form, the episode is full of drama and plot twists, which is why fans rate it so highly.
There's a lot going on in this episode, but Veronica kicks things off when she discovers Hiram has been keeping a major secret from her while she looks for Christmas presents. Elsewhere, Jughead and Cheryl both deal with issues relating to Penny Peabody, and Betty and Archie team up to take down Black Hood once and for all.
Veronica Mars: "An Echolls Family Christmas" (Season 1, Episode 10) - 8.1
Stream On Hulu
While the Christmas-themed episode wasn't considered one of Veronica Mars' best episodes when it originally aired in December 2004, it received high praise from critics and has become a cult favorite among fans of the show in recent years. Unlike other holiday-themed episodes, "An Echolls Family Christmas" doesn't focus too much on holiday festivities, which makes it unique.
Instead, the episode follows Veronica as she sets out to track down Logan's stolen poker money that he was supposed to give to Weevil, who won the game. Meanwhile, Lynn Echolls feels like she's being stalked and hires Kieth to help put an end to it.
The Carrie Diaries: "The Second Time Around" (Season 2, Episode 8) - 8.2
Available To Rent On Apple TV & Prime Video
Despite being based on the beloved The Carrie Diaries is an under-appreciated teen drama series with an even more under-appreciated holiday episode. Though it's not screaming with Christmas spirit, it does have a few sweet holiday moments, like the father-daughter duo trimming the tree together.
However, the episode really centers on Carrie, who has been given the chance to interview the CEO of Bongo Jeans. Of course, it's not that easy because if Carrie doesn't nail the interview, she is going to lose her job at Interview Magazine. It's really through Maggie and her father's story that we see the Christmas spirit even though she's been lying to him for months.