Halloween is the pinnacle of holiday specials, but some episodes stand out from the pack with their spooky style. There are some worthy Halloween shows that dedicate their entire run to the holiday (or the balmy fall season in general), but any series can — and should — celebrate the fall favorite with a dedicated episode.
Many sitcoms celebrate Halloween with an annual themed episode, but any genre can pull off a seasonal episode with the right approach. There are scary horror shows and comedic versions on October 31, but the best Halloween episodes combine the heart of the series with an autumnal twist.
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“The one who had the Halloween party”
Friends season 8, episode 6
Of the hundred episodes of Friendsthere has been, surprisingly, only one official Halloween special. Season 8’s titular costume party was hosted by Monica (Courtney Cox) and Chandler (Matthew Perry), while Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe, dressed in a fabulous Supergirl costume, finds herself in drama with her evil twin.Ursula.
The gang’s very different costumes, ranging from a space pun to a pink bunny costume, perfectly reflect each of their personalities. Plus, Ross (David Schwimmer) and Chandler’s debate over who would win a fight is easy comic relief to round out the classic episode.
19
” Summer ”
Gravity Falls Season 1, Episode 12
Disney’s hit animated series Gravity Falls has had a big influence, with its fictional holiday, Summerween, even becoming a real-life trend. Traditionally celebrated in June with Jack-o-Melons and hodgepodge decor, Summerween is an annual trend online. Yet the episode itself is one of Gravity Falls‘the darkest intrigues.
There are wholesome moments like the twins among friends, but the Summerween Trickster – a gangly creature who preys on children who don’t have the holiday spirit – is a truly terrifying concept. Nevertheless, Summerween’s legacy, both on and off screen, cannot be overstated.
18
“Greg Pikitis”
Parks and Recreation season 2, episode 7
As the best sitcom of the 2010s, Parks and Recreation has had its fair share of holiday episodes. However, among its Halloween specials, none are as unique as season 2’s “Greg Pikitis,” named after Leslie’s (Amy Poehler) teenage nemesis.
Pikitis is a young vandal who wreaks havoc on Halloween nightmuch to Leslie’s dismay. In this hilarious episode, the intrepid protagonist spends the entire night trying to catch the teenage prankster once and for all.
17
“The Ghost of Suite 613”
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody Season 1, Episode 19
The Costume Life of Zack and Cody was a light-hearted children’s show that became an awesome franchise, but it also had one of Disney Channel’s scariest moments. After the eponymous twins argue over Zack’s (Dylan Sprouse) scary pranks, the main characters spend the night in a haunted hotel room.
The vengeful ghost Irene turns out to be an elaborate prank. to get revenge on Zack, but when he and Cody (Cole Sprouse) return to look for a forgotten blanket, they encounter the real ghost of Irene. The atmosphere was mostly friendly, but it was still a haunting scene for many Gen Z kids.
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“A river of candy corn runs through it”
Sabrina the Teenage Witch season 2, episode 7
Before the creation of Netflix Chilling Adventures of Sabrinathere was Sabrina, the apprentice witch. Melissa Joan Hart’s Sabrina Spellman Remains the Funniest Iteration of the Classic Comic Characterand this is seen in the season 2 episode Halloween.
The group 10,000 Maniacs appeared as themselves after Sabrina summoned them to the party.
When Sabrina suddenly has to throw a Halloween party, she encounters typical teenage problems: talking furniture, real monsters, and a truck loaded with candy corn that invades the house. His human friends assume these are all Halloween illusions, but the magic was anything but seasonal.
15
“Halloween”
New Girl Season 2, Episode 6
New girl offers a range of original holiday episodes, but its first foray into Halloween was unforgettable. After Jess (Zooey Deschanel) realizes she has feelings for her no-commitment lover, Sam (David Walton), she is forced to deal with the situation while working as a zombie in a haunted house.
Sam is one of Jess’s best boyfriends. New girlbut the most iconic moment of the episode comes when Nick (Jake Johnson) runs through the haunted house looking for Jess. In fear, Nick accidentally hits his roommate, causing a horde of monster workers to descend on him. as revenge.
14
“It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester”
Supernatural Season 4, Episode 7
There are terrifying monsters Supernaturalbut its Season 4 Halloween episode has a more interesting antagonist. After teenagers start dying in mysterious, spell-like ways, Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) discover that a witch is trying to summon the demon Samhain.
In real life, Samhain is an important pagan/Celtic tradition that begins on Halloweenbut Supernatural’s version focuses on how the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest. It’s a truly unique take on the origins of modern Halloween, and the title itself is a great homage to the Charlie Brown special.
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“The all-new Halloween Spooktacular!”
WandaVision Season 1, Episode 6
Years after its fiery end, WandaVision is still one of the most creative MCU projects ever released. This episode transports the family to the 1990s, when Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) hopes to take her kids trick-or-treating. Everything spirals out of control after Vision (Paul Bettany) begins to expose the truth about Westview.
It is undoubtedly one of the WandaVisionis the biggest reveal of the series, and it has major implications for the rest of the series, but everything about the Halloween special, including Wanda’s Scarlet Witch costume, became instantly iconic.
12
“BOO!”
Roseanne Season 2, Episode 7
Roseanne had a long history of Halloween episodes, but none beat the first. A family prank war breaks out, complete with severed limbs, scary stories and a gratuitous supply of fake blood to boot.
There’s no real underlying plot, which is actually a credit to the episode. Sometimes the best solution for a special episode is to isolate it, and RoseanneThe first Halloween special is pure pleasure.
11
“Halloween”
Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 2, episode 6
On the surface, Buffy the Vampire Slayer itself is essentially a modified-for-TV horror film. As such, it’s no surprise that the procedural’s Halloween episodes have always been memorable. However, the premise of season 2 is genuinely scary.
Everyone in Sunnydale is suddenly transformed into costumes.with Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) becoming a helpless damsel while Willow (Alyson Hannigan) disappears thanks to her ghost costume. It was the perfect mix of ridiculous and scary for the cult classic series.
