Thanksgiving episodes are basically the comfort-food equivalent of TV: warm, messy, chaotic in the best way, and always serving drama that feels far more entertaining than whatever you’re avoiding in real life. Whether you’re into fun family meltdowns, small-town wholesomeness, or Upper East Side theatrics, there’s always a perfect episode ready to wrap you in a blanket of nostalgia.
Gen Z may not be obsessed with the holiday itself, but we are definitely obsessed with the vibe—slow mornings, cute outfits, soft lighting, and shows you can keep on in the background while scrolling or pretending to help in the kitchen. These episodes bring that exact energy. So grab your hot chocolate, slip into your comfiest sweatshirt, and revisit these iconic Thanksgiving moments that deliver pure serotonin.
Here are 10 episodes you can’t go wrong with.
Friends: The One With All the Thanksgivings
A forever Thanksgiving classic. The gang revisits their worst holiday memories—cue Joey (and then Monica) with a turkey on their head, Chandler’s trauma spiral, and Phoebe being peak Phoebe. Chaotic, nostalgic, and basically the blueprint for all Thanksgiving TV.
Gilmore Girls: A Deep-Fried Korean Thanksgiving
This episode screams small-town holiday chaos at its finest. Lorelai and Rory attempt to attend four Thanksgiving dinners in one day—one featuring a fully deep-fried turkey and Lane’s mum in full dramatic mode. Cosy, hilarious, and every bit Stars Hollow.
Modern Family: Three Turkeys
This episode is pure holiday chaos from start to finish. Phil and Luke secretly take over turkey duty, Claire and Alex try to control everything, and Jay and Gloria decide to skip hosting altogether—but pretend they didn’t. With three turkeys cooking in three different places, last-minute lies, and surprise guests, the whole family gets tangled in their own web of cover-ups.
Gossip Girl: The Treasure of Serena Madre
Thanksgiving on the Upper East Side is never quiet, but this episode takes the drama to a new level. Secrets spill at the dinner table, rekindled romances get messy fast, and Blair delivers some of her most iconic one-liners. There’s emotional chaos, high-fashion angst, and the kind of explosive family dynamics that make you grateful your own holiday isn’t this intense. It’s Gossip Girl at its peak.
How I Met Your Mother: Slapsgiving
Marshall invents “Slapsgiving,” a Thanksgiving-themed countdown to the legendary slap he owes Barney, and the entire episode is built around that tension. Lily tries her best to host a perfect dinner while the guys get increasingly dramatic. By the end, you’re invested in a slap like it’s a season finale cliffhanger.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine: Thanksgiving
Amy wants to host the ultimate classic Thanksgiving dinner, but the squad shows up with absolute chaos energy. Jake, who hates Thanksgiving, derails every plan without even trying, Boyle goes full foodie mode, and Captain Holt brings his iconic deadpan commentary to every situation. Nothing goes the way Amy hopes, but the episode ends with peak Nine-Nine sweetness that makes you want to rewatch immediately.
The Office: WUPHF.com
Ryan is desperately trying to get people to invest in his startup, Dwight is running a volunteer fire department like it’s a military operation, and Pam tries to hold the team together. It’s classic Office humour: awkward, ridiculous, and weirdly wholesome by the end.
This Is Us: Pilgrim Rick
One of the most loved This Is Us episodes ever, it dives into the Pearson family’s accidental Thanksgiving tradition. After their holiday plans go hilariously (and tragically) off track, Jack steps in as “Pilgrim Rick”—a goofy, over-the-top character who saves the day and becomes a yearly ritual. It’s warm, emotional, a little chaotic, and guaranteed to make you feel all the feelings.
New Girl: Parents
Jess tries to “Parent Trap” her divorced parents at Thanksgiving, because of course she does—it’s peak Jess chaos. Nick gets dragged into the plan and ends up being hilariously awkward around her family, while Schmidt overfunctions like he’s auditioning for MasterChef. The dinner slowly unravels into emotional confessions, weird traditions, and classic New Girl awkward comedy.
Grey’s Anatomy: Thanks for the Memories
Meredith, Izzie, and George try to host Thanksgiving at their house, Cristina and Burke deal with family expectations, and Alex struggles with his own issues while trying to fit in. There’s awkward cooking, sweet bonding, and enough heartwarming moments to make it the kind of episode you put on when you want a soft, nostalgic Grey’s Anatomy experience.
Lead image: IMDb
Also read: 7 steamy romance reads that are guaranteed to heat up your year-end slump
Also read: Low-maintenance friendships are on the rise and here's why we’re apart but closer than ever
