Thanksgiving always has a welcome home on TV.
Here are some of the best Thanksgiving episodes ever.
Halloween and Christmas are objectively the two best American holidays.
Theres another holiday between them, however, that is at constant risk of being overlooked.
Thanksgiving doesnt have candy like Halloween or presents like Christmas.
What it does have, thankfully, is television.
Here are just some of our favorites.
Of the manyBobs BurgersThanksgiving specials, season 3s An Indecent Thanksgiving Proposal is likely the best.
Of course the inanimate object this time around is none other than a Thanksgiving turkey.
All that was left to do was to get them in the same room together.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, however, had no such misgivings and dives right in.
Pangs is technically the beginning of aBuffy/Angeltwo-hour Thanksgiving event.
Its got all the usual Thanksgiving episode trappings: food, friends, and family.
But Black Friday shopping and turkey leftovers are certainly a part of the Thanksgiving experience.
Meanwhile Chucks friends at Buy More have to contend with the Black Friday shopping crowd.
This is the definitiveChuckThanksgiving episode as it highlights what the show does well.
It balances the high-octane drama of Chucks spy life with his supposedly tranquil home life.
Getting to enjoy Linda Hamilton and Timothy Dalton going head to head is just icing on the Jell-O salad.
And its largely due to satisfyingly thematic and entertaining episodes like Hungry Man a.k.a.
Throughout much of this fourth season, Dexter finds himself looking up to fellow serial killer Arthur Mitchell a.k.a.
The Trinity Killer as hes able to balance his home and work life better than he can.
Wills mom Viola makes one of her rare series appearances here when she joins the Banks household for Thanksgiving.
Predictably it doesnt go well.
This is a big episode for all involved but for Viola and Aunt Viv in particular.
How then could the show pass up an opportunity for a good-old fashioned Thanksgiving episode?
Thanksgiving is an excellent episode that also serves as its respective seasons finale.
This hour concludes Coach Taylors first year with the East Dillon Lions in truly satisfying fashion.
And that makes sense given the shows premise of friends as a found family in the big city.
Consider this aCanterbury Talesof Thanksgiving … that just happens to feature Monica with a turkey on her head.
Thankfully, the show agreed and rolled out a Thanksgiving-centric episode in its third season.
Like its NBC forefather CBSs comedy followed a group of friends living their best lives in New York City.
Another area in whichHIMYMpicks up theFriendsball and runs with it is with its appropriately respectful treatment of Thanksgiving.
How I Met Your Motherloves itself a good Thanksgiving episode.
None of them, however, are better than the season 3 installment Slapsgiving.
This episode finds the gang gathering at Marshall and Lilys house for their first Thanksgiving as a married couple.
That countdown to The Slap imbues an already excellent episode with a real fun sense of urgency.
And what better way to do so than with a nice Thanksgiving dinner?
Its a touching saga made possible by the Thanksgiving season.
The O.C.
Season 1 Episode 11 The Homecoming
Mid-2000s teen dramaThe O.C.always paid proper respect to holidays.
Who could forget the Cohen familys dutiful observation of Chrismukkah?
But the series first Thanksgiving installment in season 1 might just be its best holiday offering ever.
The Homecoming is a wonderful example of everything thatThe O.C.does well.
That sets up a ludicrous crime arc that would make even the Riggins brothers ofFriday Night Lightsjealous.
As is the case in everyOITNBepisode, a lot happens in this hour-long installment.
But with Thanksgiving as the backdrop, theres a real festive air to the proceedings.
In any case, Fucksgiving passionate conclusion makes a convincing case that Thanksgiving is among the sexiest of holidays.
Amid all the plot twists, the show still excels at putting family first.
Granted, Thanksgiving doesnt factor much into Rage.
Instead much of the hour deals with Clark assisting his good friend Oliver Queen with his mysterious addiction.
But when the Thanksgiving table moment finally does arrive, its a real winner.
That moment comes midway through the excellent season 3.
Soon, Stan and company are involved in an interdimensional Thanksgiving adventure involving wormholes and Natalie Portman.
Its the night before Thanksgiving at the White House and the West Wing staff are all facing decisions.
For a little bit at least.
