A Definitive Ranking of Bob’s Burgers Christmas Episodes

Each and every year, we can rely on Bob's Burgers to bless us with a spectacular Christmas episode, and 2023 was no different.

Season 14's "The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas" aired earlier this week, which got us thinking about past holiday episodes and how they each stack up. With a dozen Christmas eps under the show's belt, some have managed to bring us to tears while others were simply underwhelming, which is why we've ranked each one, from worst to best, below.

12. Season 4, Episode 8: 'Christmas in the Car'

"Christmas in the Car" was the second-ever Bob's Burgers Christmas episode, and the fact that they hadn't yet found their holiday stride shows. When the Belcher's (second) Christmas tree dies early, the family goes out on a limb and heads out to try to find a replacement on Christmas Eve. They accidentally anger a man driving a massive candy cane truck and the situation soon turns potentially deadly, with the driver repeatedly attempting to run their little car off the road. While there's certainly tension and a sense of danger, this episode isn't packed with the festive spirit we'd expect—besides Teddy getting caught in a trap that Louise set to catch Santa Claus in the act.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

11. Season 3, Episode 9: 'Bob Rest Ye Merry Gentle-Mannequins'

The first Bob's Burgers Christmas special ranks a little better, in our opinion. After Bob inherits a storage unit from his uncle, he also unexpectedly becomes responsible for the Chet, the squatter who lived inside said storage unit. Chet also happens to believe he used to be a mannequin, and soon, the whole family gets involved in a scheme to reunite him with his mannequin "wife" Nadine. It's all fairly bizarre, yet full of heart, with the whole family (minus Bob) rooting for their romantic reunion, and just the right amount of Christmas magic.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

10. Season 14, 'The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas'

The newest holiday episode, "The Nightmare 2 Days Before Christmas," is a fair bit better, only ranking so far down on the list because there's so much good stuff to come. When the power goes out in the Belchers' building two days before Christmas, both their house and restaurant are left without electricity, and they're offered the chance to stay at Mr. Fischoeder's family hunting lodge. It's extravagant and filled with deeply unsettling decorations, made even worse with the family losing their Christmas tree in transit and Louise being convinced Santa won't be able to find them away from home. While the family does come together in the end, putting aside their anxieties to embrace what's important about the holiday, this one feels pretty weak in comparison to previous seasons'—particularly last year's bold and ambitious episode.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

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9. Season 10, Episode 10: 'Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas'

Linda-centric episodes are always plenty of fun, and that's definitely the case with "Have Yourself a Maily Linda Christmas." It follows Linda and her quest to make a little extra holiday money by taking on a part-time job at the post office. When she realizes a gift isn't going to make it to its destination in time for Christmas, she takes it upon herself to (illegally) hand-deliver it, breaking every rule in the book while leaving Bob at home to deal with his squabbling in-laws. While we always find it painful to watch Bob struggle with Gayle, Al and Gloria, Linda's story is perfectly sweet, though it does lack some of the punch of the later episodes in this list.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

8. Season 9, Episode 10: 'Better Off Sled'

"Better Off Sled" is a fabulous episode, though of the ones on this list, it may be the least Christmassy. When massive snowfall transforms their town into a winter wonderland, the Belcher kids head out to their favorite spot for a day of sledding, only to find it overtaken by a group of teens led by Louise's 16-year-old rival, Logan. A battle over the hill quickly develops into a snowball fight, with both sides willing to play dirty to succeed. Meanwhile, Linda decides she's going to knit her kids Christmas scarves ahead of the holiday—before realizing she can't knit to save her life. By the end of it, Louise learns a lesson about Christmas spirit, plotting to demolish  Logan and his crew with a whole squad of snowball throwers, but granting him a bit of a holiday head start.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

7. Season 8, Episodes 6 and 7: 'Bleakening'

In Bob's Burgers' only holiday two-parter, Bleakening tells a tale of what happens when holiday cheer goes awry. It begins when Linda decides she's going to host the ultimate holiday party at the restaurant, only to have her beloved Christmas ornaments stolen from under her nose. Of course, every attendee becomes a suspect. Meanwhile, Teddy tells the kids a story about the Bleaken, an "anti-Santa" who steals gifts from bad children, and the Belcher children come to believe this monster is to blame for the theft. It's a unique holiday plot with lots of twists and turns—and elevated by Linda and Louise's shared dedication to finding the truth—though we're not sure it should require two episodes to share this story.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

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6. Season 5, Episode 6: 'Father of the Bob'

We can't get enough of Bob's Burgers episodes that expand our understanding of the core characters, and "Father of the Bob" is definitely among them. In this episode, we meet Bob's dad, Big Bob, and come to understand why the two share such an uneasy relationship. While Big Bob is very traditional, Bob has always thought outside the box when it comes to food, and he inadvertently humiliated his dad with his first-ever Burger of the Day, leading to a decades-long conflict between the two. It takes a Christmas get-together to force them to address the issue head-on, with Bob learning that Big Bob has always been unable to express the pride and love he actually has for his son, ultimately bringing them back together as a family. While Christmas itself isn't a major focus of the episode, a sense of holiday togetherness definitely is.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

5. Season 12, Episode 10: 'Gene's Christmas Break'

Gene's penchant for music is a major theme throughout Bob's Burgers, and it's the main focus of Season 12's "Gene's Christmas Break." Every year, Gene breaks out his favorite obscure '70s holiday album, Percy McTinsel-bud's Tinsel Machine, annoying the family to no end. Bob even schemes to potentially destroy the album, but when Gene accidentally snaps it in his sleep, he's devastated, and the whole family sets out to see if they can find a replacement to get Gene back into the holiday mood. They ultimately fail, deciding instead to attempt to re-record it themselves, and once Gene adds his own touch to the new version, he creates something magical that just might endure into future generations. It's truly a tale of love and the power of family—and how, sometimes, it's worth being annoyed to death for the ones you care about. 

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

4. Season 6, Episode 5: 'Nice-Capades'

It's always impressive to see Louise's growth over the course of Bob's Burgers, and "Nice-Capades" has to include some of our all-time favorite Louise moments. After the Belcher kids upset a man who happens to also be a mall Santa, he threatens to put them on the naughty list, sending them into panic mode. They're willing to do anything to get back on the nice list and earn their Christmas presents, so they coordinate a "Nice-Capades" musical on ice to tell him of their good deeds and sway his decision. By the end of it, Louise admits her tales of generosity were a lie, letting Santa know that Tina and Gene deserve presents, even if she's been bad all year. It's a powerful moment of selflessness and reflection that shows Santa her true character and, of course, gets her back on the good list.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

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3. Season 7, Episode 7: 'The Last Gingerbread House on the Left'

There isn't a Mr. Fischoeder-centric episode we don't love, and "The Last Gingerbread House on the Left" is just as festive and wholesome as it is intense. It begins with Bob attending Fischoeder's gingerbread house-building contest with his wealthy and outlandish friends,  agreeing to lose in exchange for a free month of rent. However, when Bob learns that the prize is a cuddle with an albino polar bear cub at the zoo, he decides to give the contest his all, throwing his free rent away in exchange for the perfect gift for his kids. Not only is the gingerbread contest plenty of fun to watch (especially when it becomes clear the participants are all armed), but Bob's win and the kids' generosity mean everyone gets to cuddle the adorable bear, and the holiday sweetness is simply infectious.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

2. Season 11, Episode 10: 'Yachty or Nice'

"Yachty or Nice" is another Christmas episode to feature a holiday lesson—and we're absolute suckers for it. When Bob is invited to help cater a yacht club boat parade, he's immediately suspicious of the offer. Meanwhile, Teddy takes on the role of Santa for the event, tasked with handing out donated gifts to kids from the Santa Schooner, which immediately becomes the main focus of the Belcher kids. Before too long, the Belcher children manage to get on the Santa Schooner and secure their extravagant gifts, only to realize what they're potentially taking from other kids and deciding to return them all. The moment of realization is poignant—especially from Louise, whose inner turmoil is extra apparent.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

1. Season 13, Episode 10'The Plight Before Christmas'

If there's one Bob's Burgers Christmas episode we'll never stop talking about, it's "The Plight Before Christmas." It begins with Bob and Linda panicking because Tina and Gene have their own holiday performances on the same night—only to learn that Louise also has a poetry reading that very evening. There's no way for the two parents to attend three events at the same time, but when Louise reassures her she's sharing a silly poem about reindeer poop, they prioritize Gene and Tina's events. Of course, before the night is through, they realize Louise was bluffing and actually plans to share a meaningful poem. This leaves the parents scrambling to get across town to witness one of our all-time favorite Bob's Burgers moments, backed by Gene's spine-tingling xylophone performance as Louise's heartfelt poem jerks a tear every time we see it.

(Bob's Burgers via Fox)

 

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