15. Mad Men: ‘The Wheel’
‘The Wheel’ brings all the feels on the set of Mad Men. Not only was it the Season One finale, but it was also the episode that showcased both Don Draper’s advertising skills, as well as reinforced an ongoing theme. Don Draper was a man of his work, before all else. This means being at the office while his family is at home, alone. It’s a touching episode, one that has more than a couple tear-jerking moments. After bringing his office to tears with the ‘Kodak Carousel’ pitch, Don envisions driving home to a happy house full of Thanksgiving joy. Instead, he’s greeted with a dark and empty home, driving home the importance of family and holiday traditions.
14. How I Met Your Mother: ‘Slapsgiving’
Slapsgiving. Nothing says I’m thankful for my friends like a massive handprint embedded in my cheek. A joke spanning nearly 2 seasons, HIMYM’s resident scoundrel, Barney, lost a bet to Marshall, awarding him the opportunity for an uncontested slap across the face. Thanks to some unwarranted slap-ulation, Marshall is eventually granted 5 slaps to use whenever he sees fit. Marshall uses this to harass Barney on Thanksgiving, giving him a countdown to when he will indeed, get slapped. While the episode is centered around the silly slap bet, there are key relationship dynamics at play. It’s Marshall and Lily’s first Thanksgiving together as a married couple, and it even plays host to Robbin and Ted’s rekindled friendship. Slapsgiving was such a success that the show ran with it 2 more times, showing that not all holidays have to be violence free.