TV Rewind: FOX’s The Moodys Is the Most Delightful and Overlooked Christmas Series You Probably Missed
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Everybody has their favorite Christmas movies they put on to rewatch for the umpteenth time as the holidays roll around each year. That hasn’t really been the case when it comes to television, though. Sure, you have your holiday-themed episodes in beloved sitcoms like The Office, Parks and Recreation, Friends, and many more, but there aren’t a lot of shows specifically centered around Christmas in their entirety. So when Rob Greenberg, Bob Fisher, and Tad Quill’s The Moodys came out in 2019, FOX turned the six-part season into a three-week event, airing two episodes weekly to take advantage of the December holiday spirit leading up to “the most wonderful time of the year.” And that was when I found my first favorite Christmas series.
Based on the Australian original from 2012, A Moody Christmas, the plot follows the extended Moody family as they all get together in Chicago for the week before Christmas—which, of course, ends up being a total disaster.
Sean Moody Sr. (Denis Leary playing a sobered-up alcoholic patriarch) and his wife, Ann (Elizabeth Perkins as the loving mother), can’t wait for their three children to arrive home and celebrate. Well, technically, two, since Sean Jr. (Jay Baruchel at his casual funniest) is still living with them in his 30s, trying to find an investor for his million-dollar idea of shooting people’s ashes into the sky after they die. You can imagine how well that’s going. Dan (Francois Arnoid), on the other hand, is coming from The Big Apple alone after his latest girlfriend dumped him, which he isn’t keen on sharing with his folks just yet. Finally, Bridget (Chelsea Frei), the seemingly most organized Moody offspring, also turns up solo, with her husband expected to arrive a few days later. That is until she shares the news of cheating on him before he even has the chance to show up.
It’s fair to say that a disastrous Christmas is in the making. And to spice things up, Uncle Roger (Gerry Dee), cousin Marco (Josh Segarra) and his Argentine girlfriend, Cora (Maria Gabriela de Faria), and other close friends of the Moodys also pay a visit to make things a little more intense. But that’s how family gatherings become unforgettable and legendary—starting with a seed of secrets to blossom into a catastrophe.
Essentially, what The Moodys captures better than other similarly-themed comedies is that particular and oddly familial vibe many of us get while visiting home during the holidays. It’s not the customary festivities we treasure the most, but the dynamics we get to revive with our siblings, parents, and other relatives we haven’t seen in probably a year, which takes us back to a time when Christmas truly felt magical. Through the Moodys—despite how dysfunctional they are—we get to be kids again.
It’s all about the small moments: having an uncomfortable conversation with a weird uncle (I’m confident everybody has one), which we can later make fun of with our siblings, the family meals that never pass without a few awkward hiccups, and the spontaneous local party we get invited to see old friends from high school and the neighborhood. Through Sean, Dan, and Bridget’s constant teasing, mocking, and inside jokes, we’re reminded of our cherished memories, fun times, and personal struggles that inevitably resurface on such occasions.
Besides all the amusement, though, The Moodys truly hits home because of the emotional heart-to-hearts sparkled wisely throughout the season. As everyone carries the burden of their bad decisions, embarrassments, and poor career prospects, there ought to be vulnerable moments for the Moodys to bond over and support each other in the most encouraging way they can. Whether it’s their love life (which pops up a lot), old habits that die hard, or physical health on the table, the Moodys always have the talks, even if they try their hardest to avoid them. Ultimately, they’re one loving bunch, an ordinary family with many flaws, that tends to dance around problems longer than they should but eventually find a way to confront whatever weighs on their hearts. And that’s the key; it’s what keeps them united beyond the bloodline.
Now, there’s no denying the series relies heavily on the proven recipe of the source material—hence the writing is full of hilarious dialogue and sharp punchlines—but what provides that extra ingredient here is the fantastic cast. See, whatever sublime script you’re working from, you simply can’t fake chemistry (it’s either there or not). And this ensemble of illustrious character actors is a joy to watch because they make you feel like you’re one of them. Leary is surprisingly contained enough to not take over the plot as he normally does, while Baruchel is given enough room to spread his comedic wings and be an extroverted goofball instead of the shy and clumsy guy he usually plays in such narratives. But it’s really the team effort that makes the show outstanding and memorable.
Technically, there’s a follow-up season where everyone returns (and it’s just as heartwarming and funny as you would want it to be), but the Christmas theme is replaced with a wedding setting that’s almost as equally fitting (and a bit more bonkers) for the Moodys to “ruin” as the holiday spirit. However, it’s hard to ignore that the magic of the debut season just isn’t quite there. Regardless, if you missed the series four years ago and want something fresh yet comfortingly familiar besides your usual Christmas watchlist, I can’t recommend it enough. If you fancy dark comedy with a touch of vulnerability, you might find a new favorite—I know I did.
Akos Peterbencze is an entertainment writer based in London. He covers film and TV regularly on Looper, and his work has also been published in Humungus, Slant Magazine, and Certified Forgotten. Akos is a Rustin Cohle aficionado and believes that the first season of True Detective is a masterpiece. You can find him talk about all-things pop culture on Twitter (@akospeterbencze) and Substack (@akospeterbencze).
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