Amazon Prime: “Doctor Who”

This long-running British sci-fi series stars a renegade alien known as the Doctor, who travels through time and space in a device known as the Time and Relative Dimensions in Space (TARDIS).  Along the way, he meets several sidekick characters known as ¨companions,¨ who help him fight the villains encountered in each episode. When in a near-death experience, which typically occurs about once every three years, the Doctor regenerates by transforming into a new body portrayed by a different actor.  Originally aired from 1963 to 1989, the series briefly returned in 1996, with a full revival in 2005, and has since become a staple of British culture. Amazon Prime has the first 11 seasons of the revived series, starring the ninth through thirteenth Doctors. In addition, it also has fourteen holiday specials, with a fifteenth airing on New Year’s Day 2019,   for those seeking a winter-themed take on the show´s classic formula. These episodes usually take place during the holiday season and incorporate a festive plot. In some episodes, Santa and other familiar holiday characters make an appearance. For those looking for an action-packed adventure with a holiday twist, watch ¨Doctor Who.¨

Doctor Who Christmas Specials:

1. ¨The Christmas Invasion¨
2. ¨The Runaway Bride¨
3. ¨Voyage of the Damned¨
4. ¨The Next Doctor¨
5. ¨The End of Time, Part One¨
6. ¨The End of Time, Part Two¨
7. ¨A Christmas Carol¨
8. ¨The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe¨
9. ¨The Snowmen¨
10. ¨The Time of the Doctor¨
11. ¨Last Christmas¨
12. ¨The Husbands of River Song¨
13. ¨The Return of Doctor Mysterio¨
14. ¨Twice Upon a Time¨
15. “Resolution”

Netflix: “The Great British Baking Show”

This British reality show involves a series of bakers from across the United Kingdom competing in various challenges to determine the best baker of them all.  Despite the nature of its genre, “The Great British Baking Show” relies less on the drama and spectacle of its competitors, focusing more on each contestants’ individual skills.  This makes it a refreshing take on its category, as it leads to a less frantic pace and more insight into the bakers’ dishes and backgrounds.  Those who like this show can also check out its various spin-offs, such as “The Great British Baking Show-Masterclass,” staring two of the judges from the main show, which includes several Christmas-themed episodes (once per season, for three seasons).  In these episodes, the two judges bake several Christmas-themed foods, such as gingerbread houses, galette and turkey and ham pie. There is also “The Great British Baking Show: Holidays,¨ which features former contestants in a holiday-themed competition, and ¨The Great American Baking Show,¨ the latter available only on Hulu, which uses American bakers as contestants.   This show is good for those who want to try new dishes over the break, or who are just looking for a fresh take on the reality show genre.

Christmas Episodes:

Seasons 1-3: ¨Masterclass: Christmas¨

“The Great British Baking Show” (all episodes)

“The Great American Baking Show” (all episodes)

Hulu: “Fresh Off the Boat”

This ABC sitcom, loosely based off Eddie Huang’s 2013 memoir, follows the life of an Asian-American family adapting to Western culture in a 90s Florida suburb.  The show follows the family’s journey from Taiwan to Florida, comically blending their culture with American customs as they open up a cowboy-themed restaurant. Not only does this show provide an engaging storyline featuring multicultural elements, but it also contains many 90s pop culture references that appeal to all generations. This series has at least three Christmas episodes, usually in the beginning/middle of the season.  These episodes all have the series’s standard two-plotline formula, incorporating a different festive aspect each season.  This is a great show for those looking for a good laugh this holiday season, especially for those who like cultural-clash-based humor.  

Christmas episodes:    

Season 2: ¨The Real Santa¨

Season 3: ¨Where are the Giggles?¨

Season 4: ¨Do You Hear What I Hear?¨

Season 5:  “Cousin Eddie”