What, you thought only Hallmark Channel was allowed to celebrate Christmas in the summer?
Apple TV+ on Friday dropped Ted Lasso‘s first (but hopefully not its last) holiday episode, which saw Ted and Rebecca sub in for Santa and deliver toys to tots, as Roy and Keeley traverse Roy’s “stupid posh neighborhood” in search of a dentist for Phoebe, who suffered from extraordinarily bad breath.
In a second, you’ll be asked what you thought of this especially festive outing — but first, fa-la-la-ollow along as I run down some of my personal favorite moments from “Carol of the Bells.”
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THE OPENING TITLE SEQUENCE
Image Credit: Apple TV+ screenshot Not since Community‘s Season 2 holiday episode has claymation been put to such great use. Honestly, the rest of the episode could’ve been animated and that would’ve been just fine. Maybe next season?
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THE FASHION
Image Credit: Apple TV+ screenshot (2) I’m not sure what I liked more: Isaac looking too cool for school dressed as Secret Santa, or Keeley’s “Sexy Christmas” lingerie for Roy. (Who are we kidding? It was definitely the latter.)
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THE CLASSIC MOVIE NODS
Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+ Even more delightful than the framed photo of “Cindy Clawford” was the sight of a certain “fragile” lamp from 1983’s A Christmas Story. We also watched as Coach Lasso sulked through part of 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life.
But I think I speak for everyone when I say the best reference — more of a homage, really — was to 2002’s Love, Actually, when Roy, Keeley and Phoebe recreated the classic “Cards on the Doorstep” scene while confronting Phoebe’s classmate Bernard. What made it even better was knowing it was Roy’s idea in the first place, having paid the pharmacist an extra 100 quid to fetch them poster boards and markers.) -
THE RUNNING JOKE ABOUT THE PUPPET SHOW
Image Credit: David Longendyke/Everett Collection I’m not sure what I enjoyed more: The idea of 007 and his wife putting on a holiday-themed puppet show at Elton John’s Christmas party, or Rebecca’s remarks about missing it the last two years: “Don’t get me wrong: They are incredible,” she said. “But all I really want to see those two do together is f–k.” Well then!
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THE CALLBACKS TO SEASON 1
Image Credit: Apple TV+ screenshot We get not one, but two great callbacks, beginning with Henry’s gift for Ted: a mini-dartboard. Roy and Keeley, meanwhile, in their pursuit of a dentist for Phoebe, stumbled into the home of Tommy — aka the teenager who pestered both Ted and Jamie for
selfies“ussies.” -
THE HIGGINS FAMILY
Image Credit: Apple TV+ screenshot Throughout Leslie’s holiday get-together, all I could think was, “A Higgins family spinoff would be the most precious show on TV.” But also, I’d totally watch an entire episode of Ted Lasso that’s just Mrs. Higgins splitting a bottle of tequila with Dani Rojas.
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THE SPECTACULAR VOICE OF HANNAH WADDINGHAM
Image Credit: Courtesy of Apple TV+ If this were Twitter, I’d say, “That’s it. That’s the tweet.” That same sentiment applies here. We already knew Waddingham could sing (see: Rebecca’s belting out “Let It Go”), but her rendition of “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” was next. level. (If there’s already a petition circulating for a Hannah Waddingham Christmas album, just tell me where to sign!)
Now it’s your turn! What did you think of Ted Lasso‘s Christmas episode? Drop a comment with your full review.
