The Walking Dead gave us some of the most unforgettable moments on television. Sure, not every episode hit the mark, but even in its misfires, the show kept us coming back. And yet… somehow, it never gave us a Christmas episode.
Think about that for a second. Other long-running shows lean into the holiday season, offering fans a chance to see their favorite characters in moments of levity, warmth, or even holiday-themed chaos. But The Walking Dead skipped over it entirely. No twinkling lights, no holiday tension, no bittersweet mix of joy and fear wrapped up in one episode.
Look, I know the survivors had more to focus on than festive traditions. Zombies don’t care about snow or presents. But that’s exactly why it would have been perfect. The juxtaposition of fleeting holiday cheer against the constant threat of death could have been brilliant. We could've had a chance to see our beloved characters cling to small moments of normalcy, to laugh, argue, or even fight over a makeshift celebration, all while the world outside remained unforgiving.
With the undead taking over, many of the survivors had lost their real family and found themselves building fragile new ones out of shared trauma, loyalty, and necessity. A Christmas episode could have explored these connections in a way that no other setting could. Imagine Daryl, gruff and reluctant, scavenging through abandoned homes just to find a single ornament or trinket that might bring a smile to someone’s face. Given that he's Judith's surrogate father figure, I could easily see him gifting it to her.
I could even picture Carol quietly moving through the camp, arranging what little they have into something resembling a holiday celebration. Maybe she’s stringing up scraps of tinsel, lighting a few candles, and whipping together a modest, improvised feast from whatever they can forage. Perhaps a roasted rabbit here, some foraged berries there, and a handful of scavenged bread. Meanwhile, the rest of the survivors could be contributing in their own ways.
A Christmas episode could have shown these characters not just surviving, but truly living in the moments they could seize. It could have shown them enjoying, celebrating, or making the most of whatever small, happy moments they could find, despite the danger around them.
There was even a whole episode dedicated to a snowstorm. Remember the season 9 finale? That episode gave us the perfect backdrop for a holiday-themed story. But instead of showing the survivors finding a moment of warmth together, it focused entirely on tension and survival. It just doesn't make sense.
The writers truly dropped the ball on what could have been one of the most memorable episodes in the series. And for fans, a Christmas episode will always linger as the “what if” we never got.
All 11 seasons of The Walking Dead are streaming on Netflix.