Every Holiday Episode, Ranked (According to IMDb)

Aaron Sorkin's The West Wing may have been a serious political drama, but the Bartlet administration still found time to celebrate major holidays.

For seven seasons, The West Wing chronicled the daily lives, accomplishments, and struggles of the members of the Bartlet administration. In its daily life approach to storytelling, each season spans roughly the calendar year, and as a result, the series manages to include an impressive number of holiday-themed episodes.

Not every holiday-themed (or at least, holiday-set) episode is necessarily filled with jolly wishes or warm and fuzzy feelings. The West Wing never shies away from the difficult reality of the political world in which it resides, but always manages to leave its viewers feeling comforted and cozy thanks to its incredible relationships and characters.

9 "Jefferson Lives" (Season 5, Episode 3) - 7.6

Hardly a conventional holiday-themed episode, "Jefferson Lives" features the Bartlet administration's celebration of the Fourth of July.

The episode more prominently focuses on two key issues: Zoey Bartlet's return to daily life following her kidnapping, and the administration's search for a new Vice President. But Jed gets to tell his favorite stories of the Founding Fathers, and the senior staff enjoys the White House fireworks display at the episode's end.

8 "Abu el Banat" (Season 5, Episode 9) - 7.6

The fifth season of The West Wing is a time of tumult and transition, and those same feelings of conflict and uncertainty extend themselves throughout the holidays as seen in the episode "Abu el Banat."

The Bartlet family is at war with itself during the holiday break, with shocking revelations including Jed's son-in-law wanting to launch an ill-advised run for office. Meanwhile, President Bartlet also has to deal with a hostage crisis abroad and making a difficult statement on assisted dying.

7 "Holy Night" (Season 4, Episode 11) - 8.2

In the fourth season Christmas episode, the world of The West Wing contends with a blizzard that traps all senior staff and guests within the White House for a night.

Some of those guests: the Whiffenpoofs, who are at the White House for a Christmas caroling party; investigative journalist Danny Concannon, recently returned with a major scoop that could sink the administration; and Jules "Julie" Ziegler, Toby's estranged, former hitman father who has come to make amends.

6 "The Indians in the Lobby" (Season 3, Episode 9) - 8.2

The third season Thanksgiving episode tackles issues at the heart of modern-day Thanksgivings, and the very first Thanksgiving ever.

C.J.'s storyline finds her holding discussions with Native American representatives holding vigil in the White House lobby, seeking justice for their land. Meanwhile, President Bartlet finds himself in need of a crash course on preparing the perfect stuffing from none other than the official Butterball hotline.

5 "Impact Winter" (Season 6, Episode 9) - 8.5

The sixth season Christmas episode "Informal Winter" is hardly a festive one. While it is littered with brief references to the holiday, and plenty of decorations are strung up around the White House, the episode's events are all rather serious.

President Bartlet faces a serious health setback while on a trip abroad with his wife, Abbey, and Josh's ever-loyal assistant Donna quits her job. Oh, and to make matters worse, an asteroid is approaching, too.

4 "Shibboleth" (Season 2, Episode 8) - 8.5

The second season Thanksgiving episode "Shibboleth" features many different storylines of gratitude and grace, and also a ridiculous comedy of errors involving two turkeys named Troy and Eric.

While C.J. wrangles the turkeys that have taken up residence in her office, President Bartlet deals with incoming refugees seeking freedom of religion, among other pursuits. But in the episode's most moving plot of all, Charlie searches for a new knife for the president, only for Jed to gift him with his own family's heirloom Paul Revere knife.

3 "Bartlet for America" (Season 3, Episode 10) - 9.1

"Bartlet for America" is arguably one of the most significant episodes of the series. It provides important backstory on the Bartlet campaign's infancy, as well as a close look at the depth of Leo's loyalty to the president.

The episode also just so happens to be a Christmas one. Not much of the episode's plot revolves around the holiday except for the decorations, but its final scene — where Jed gives Leo an incredibly moving Christmas gift — elevates it to one of the best Christmas episodes of the series.

2 "In Excelsis Deo" (Season 1, Episode 10) - 9.2

In yet another example of the series' Christmas episodes that only tangentially feature the holiday, season 1's "In Excelsis Deo" features one of Toby's most moving storylines.

Determined to see to it that a recently deceased homeless veteran receives a proper ceremony, Toby does all he can to make it happen. Meanwhile, the president goes on a secret Christmas shopping trip to a small local bookstore.

1 "Noël" (Season 2, Episode 10) - 9.4

The West Wing never shied away from touching on deep, often difficult and weighty subjects during the holiday season. Season 2's Christmas episode "Noël" is a shining example, and is also regarded as one of the series' best episodes, period.

While President Bartlet struggles with the impossible task of signing holiday cards, the recently recovered Josh Lyman meets with a therapist to understand his trauma following being shot at Rosslyn. The episode's final moments, featuring a key scene between Josh and supervisor Leo, rank among some of the most important character moments in the entire show.

NEXT: The West Wing: Every Main Character, Ranked By Likability

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