It’s hard to get a Halloween Special wrong. Watching your favourite (or not so favourite) characters in a completely different setting than they’re normally in is so refreshing, and can give a stale season the lift it needs to remind you that it won’t be shit forever.
Here is a list of the 5 best Halloween specials (believe me, it was a hard list to put together!):
Lizzie McGuire: Night of the Day of the Dead
I loved Lizzie McGuire so much as a kid (note to self: re-watch series) and this Halloween episode was one of my favourites, mainly because I was so jealous of Miranda’s amazing Cat in the Hat costume. And that awesome Halloween party. And everything, really.
Friends: The One with the Halloween Party
Can we just take a second to appreciate how Monica looked in that cat suit? And I’m just here contemplating cutting holes in a white sheet. Although the costumes weren’t scary in this episode of Friends, they were some of the most diverse on TV! Chandler as the giant pink bunny, Ross as Spudnik, Joe as Chandler. And, of course, the token “slutty” nurse outfit that Mona was wearing. God I hated Mona. Give Ross his salmon shirt back MONA!
How I Met Your Mother: The Slutty Pumpkin
I laughed way too long at Ted’s ballot costume whenever I finally copped on and understood it. Plus, Barney’s many costume changes in a bid to get the hottest girl at the party is what many of us have aspired to do over the years if only we “knew a guy” and had the resources of TV’s most legendary bachelor.
The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horrors VI
No list about Halloween episodes on TV could be complete without The Simpsons Halloween Specials getting a mention. Trying to pick the best out of years of stellar episodes isn’t easy, but my favourite has to be the one where Willy chases Lisa and Bart, and the kids of Springfield, through their dreams Freddy Krueger-style. Scary stuff.
Community: Epidemiology
I was on the fence about Community until I saw this Halloween episode from the second season and it is hands down the best special I’ve seen. Perhaps it’s because of my love of zombies and outbreak stories, but this was so well done that it deserves the top spot.
What are your favourite Halloween specials? Let us know in the comments section!
