Getting into the yuletide spirit is not tough these days. There’s plenty of Streaming Holiday Season options for those counting down to the holidays online.
These days, that means putting a film, special or television program in the queue to watch via Netflix or iTunes. Even YTV has its own app, and I can have them playing in the background. This Canadian station has fond classics dating well back to the 90s. Here, I’m tackling the difficult choice of wading through what’s available for streaming.
Online services offer a mix of old and new shows to enjoy. This list includes both and these are programs which made an impression on me. These shows are or will soon be easily accessible on services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Crave, iTunes or Hulu.
Angela’s Christmas
This delightful short shows innocence at its best. A young girl feels the baby doll of Jesus will get cold and plans a little heist (of sorts) so he gets the comfort needed to last the night. She comes from a poor family, and it never chilled her spirit. All she wants to do is offer a lot of heart.
Blackadder’s Christmas Carol
In the category of classics, this one-off special premiered back in 1988 and has become a de facto standard for many an Anglophile. Rowan Atkinson gives the retelling of a beloved classic a twist, and the riffraff of character will leave many a gaggle.
Bob’s Broken Sleigh
Bob is an elf who loves to invent! His magical ability sucks but in what’s he’s lacking, his tenacity is noteworthy. When he offers to modify Santa’s sleigh, mishaps are bound to happen and he is sent out to retrieve it. The people he meets are just as unusual, but together, they make for an interesting team trying to make it home.
As Santa would say, “Today’s failure is the first step toward tomorrow’s triumph” and “Sometimes thinking and being different is its own kind of magic … your magic.”
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina: A Midwinter’s Tale
Covens celebrate the holidays differently. Traditionally, they are recognizing solstice, December 20th, as the longest night and in this special, Sabrina’s family will be celebrating this evening and everything it represents in a non-secular sense. This horror drama suggests all will be dark and chilly; some may wonder if a Wendigo is in the midst.
Doctor Who Holiday Special
Okay, this list is for nerds. No season has gone without the Doctor going up against some formidable foe during the season. The tradition started in 2005. Whether the episode takes place before Christmas or before New Year’s (when the upcoming broadcast will air) the threats always try to ruin the season.
In terms of past favourites, “Voyage of the Damned,” “Voyage of the Damned,” and “Twice Upon a Time” are the most notable. Voyage is important because it explains how The Doctor got a new regeneration cycle. A time lord normally can change forms twelve times.
DreamWorks Shrek the Halls
Shrek is having trouble with understanding what the holidays mean. He’s never celebrated it before, but after the films, he has a family. All he wants is peace and quiet. Togetherness with friends is still foreign to him, and in what makes this DreamWorks special stand out above other works (Merry Madagascar, Penguin’s Christmas, etc.) is in how relatable this work is.
Yeah, some gatherings can get chaotic, but that is part of the fun. Disputes are put to the past, and to make merry is all one needs.
Gremlins
When all these tiny tricksters find their way to a television every season, the threat is real. New gadgets are bound to malfunction.
The scene with the green monsters caroling is memorable. Just why must they be featured? Director Joe Dante gives new meaning to what it means to stay together in a tough season. Both films are fun watches when in the mood for a mix of black comedy and raw chaos.
Neo Yokio: Christmas Special
Fans of mixed-anime (the series is developed as a co-production between several Japanese and American Animation houses) can take delight to this holiday special featuring Kaz Kaan (Jaden Smith). He is feeling miserable due to a cold, and orders his robot butler to tell him tales akin to Charles Dickens A Christmas Carol. Without knowing the series and its aristocratic flavour, this bonus work will be confusing. Tip: watch the series first.
When Jude Law is the voice of Charles the robot, the juxtaposition is humourous, and he carries the show. The tales within a tale he tries to put Kaz to sleep with is oddball if not borderline surreal with the Christmas themed trappings. The tales get different, perhaps whimsical, as the team discovers the meaning of the holidays.
Sonic Christmas Blast
Nearly every cartoon character has a holiday special attached to it. This range includes Fred Flintstone to Yogi Bear from generations ago. In decade’s prior there’s also Sonic, and more recently, The Penguins of Madagascar stole the spotlight. However, even they have to retire too. In what makes Sonic stand out is with an upcoming movie and he’s a video game character! This work can be found on iTunes alongside Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas. Additionally, it’s on Crave!
White Fang
Remakes or re-imaginings of classic novels into another form of media can be tough. While a lot of the violence and tougher elements from Jack London’s book are removed, audiences will find this animated take a marvel to look at than to understand. When the story is about the titular half canine half wolf as he changes masters, to know what he went through is just as important.
