What To Watch This Thanksgiving Break
Here are your comfort classics.
by JULIA KARASU ★ NOVEMBER 14, 2023
Finally, Thanksgiving Break is here. I know everyone likes to jump into the Christmas spirit, but I think being a college student teaches you how to appreciate being home and with your family for Thanksgiving. If you are tired of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade or A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, here are some of the best watches to get you into the turkey day spirit and to comfort you after clearing your plates.
Television classics:
Friends, Season 3, Episode 9: “The One With A Football” and Season 5, Episode 8: “The One With All the Thanksgivings”
This show just screams Thanksgiving for me. Everyone loves Friends and it is the perfect show to put on that the whole family will love. The One With A Football is a classic; with a tag game of football, we see Monica’s competitiveness and the rest of the group's comedy. The One With All The Thanksgivings is perfect to hear the best jokes by the group and, of course, for seeing Monica and Joey get turkeys stuck on their heads.
Gossip Girl, Season 1, Episode 9: “Blair Waldorf Must Pie!” and Season 3, Episode 11:
The Treasure of Serena Madre” and Season 6, Episode 8: “It’s Really Complicated”
Gobble Gobble, Upper East Siders. For the first Thanksgiving episode of Gossip Girl, Blair Waldorf Must Pie, Blair and Serena get into a fight. On top of that, everyone's family problems and personal issues are on the rise making this drama-packed episode addicting to watch. The Treasure of Serena Madre was already such a great episode, but TikTok made it even more iconic. Lily and Rufus host their first Thanksgiving and the amount of conflict, drama, and awkwardness is insane. I will only associate “Watcha Say” by Jason Derulo with this Thanksgiving dinner scene. And finally, in It’s Really Complicated, we get the iconic scene of Nate punching Dan in the face. Get to watching! XOXO, Gossip Girl.
How I Met Your Mother, Season 3, Episode 9: “Slapsgiving”
This show holds a special place in my heart. With this episode, we get many laughs still with the true friendship relationships that warm our hearts. It’s Marshall and Lily’s first Thanksgiving as a married couple but the slap bet still lives on. Watch Barney–in my (popular) opinion–be the best character on television.
Gilmore Girls, Season 3, Episode 9: “A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving”
The perfect fall show for the perfect fall holiday. Star Hollows looks like the most beautiful place to spend a Thanksgiving, to feel that fall crisp air and tight-knit community. In this episode, we see Lorelai and Rory run around town to keep up with the four different Thanksgiving plans they committed to.
For cartoon lovers:
The Simpsons, Season 2, Episode 7: “Bart vs. Thanksgiving”
Of course, the longest-running television show has to have the greatest Thanksgiving episode. In this one, Bart runs away from home after he angers the entire family and spends his holiday realizing he made a mistake. The ending is so heartfelt for all The Simpsons lovers out there.
South Park, Season 17, Episode 7: “Black Friday”
Ok, South Park might be controversial for some; but this episode was nominated for an Emmy, and contains a three-episode arc plot that only takes an hour to binge. This episode follows the chaos of Black Friday and the boys being their stupid, adventurous, and comical selves.
Movies:
Fantastic Mr. Fox Apple TV, Prime Video
This Wes Anderson film is a stop-motion adaptation of a classic children’s book. In many ways, Fantastic Mr. Fox works as the perfect Thanksgiving movie since the film focuses on a community coming together to share resources and support one another in the spirit of the holiday. The characters in this movie feel so real and there’s even a crispness to the film’s imagery that fits perfectly with the autumn feeling.
Paul Blart, Mall Cop Apple TV, Prime Video
I know this might be a shocking recommendation since this is considered “mindless entertainment,” but Kevin James always makes me laugh. And you have to realize that the worst person to be on Black Friday truly is a mall cop.
When Harry Met Sally Prime Video
This is one of the best rom-coms ever and it gives such fall energy. College graduates Harry Burns and Sally Albright share a car ride from Chicago to New York arguing whether men and women can have a platonic relationship. Ten years later… well, you can watch it yourself.
I will say waking up to A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing from your living room TV is a very nostalgic feeling, and if you are hosting Thanksgiving The Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade is the perfect background to watch while you are helping cook and setting up. But as you look forward to a Thanksgiving break filled with good food and good company, I hope these recommendations make it to your TVs and bring holiday spirit.