Line #10 Tropers/Merseyuser1


1	This troper does not reveal his personal information for privacy reasons.
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3	Moved from Filler.FestiveFiller:
4	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/santa_reindeer_sleigh.png]]
5	[[caption-width-right:350: Ho ho ho! Filler being delivered to you all!]]
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7	Sometimes the ChristmasEpisode can be an example of {{Filler}} in itself, if not done properly. Or even a ChristmasSpecial (as some examples of a NonSerialMovie can be).
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9	Often due to its StandaloneEpisode nature, the Christmas episode can be used as a way to pad out the series (sometimes as an ExtraLongEpisode) and in general, the events of the episode will rarely be mentioned again, but in other works it will get a ContinuityNod.
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11	!!Examples:
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13	[[AC: Anime and Manga]]
14	* ''Franchise/DragonBall'' had a New Year special NonSerialMovie that was filler, ''Dragon Ball Z Year-End TV Special'' which is basically a ClipShow of the characters looking back at the Cell Games and Afterlife Tournament during the run-up to New Year. It was standalone and although it made a ContinuityNod, does not fit into the canon timeline of the show even if it uses the same animation style.
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16	[[AC: Live Action TV]]
17	* ''Series/DoctorWho'' did this a few times with ChristmasEpisode specials:
18	** The First Doctor serial [[Recap/DoctorWhoS3E4TheDaleksMasterPlan "The Daleks' Master Plan"]], a [[DoorStopper massive]] 12-parter (plus a prologue episode broadcast weeks earlier and notable for not featuring any of the main cast), had a ChristmasEpisode intentionally meant as filler (since it was thought nobody would be watching, and viewers would be lost if the plot advanced in their absence). The Doctor even [[BreakingTheFourthWall broke the fourth wall to wish viewers a "happy Christmas"]], which was [[SomethingCompletelyDifferent not typical for the show anyway]].
19	** The 2005-present revival's {{Christmas Episode}}s (Tenth through Twelfth Doctors)' Christmas episodes were either absolutely vital to the ongoing story but in many cases were filler that's often significantly LighterAndSofter.
20	*** The Tenth Doctor's fourth Christmas special of five, [[Recap/DoctorWhoS30E14TheNextDoctor "The Next Doctor"]], is the only one that really qualifies as filler[[labelnote:]]the others respectively being Ten's debut episode; the introductions of one of his companions and her grandfather, both of whom are extremely significant; and Ten's GrandFinale, starring said grandfather as a ''very'' important character[[/labelnote]], having no real connection to any ongoing plot threads other than the Doctor telling Jackson Lake that he's decided to stop taking companions. [[labelnote:]]As the first of the year's "specials", aired in lieu of a full season in preparation of [[Creator/DavidTennant David Tennant]] leaving the role, it serves the purpose of reminding the audience of [[{{Foreshadowing}} the Doctor regenerating]] following Tennant's long tenure.[[/labelnote]] It's slightly more relevant than the below-mentioned YetAnotherChristmasCarol, however, by having its events explicitly referenced in [[Recap/DoctorWhoS31E5FleshAndStone "Flesh and Stone"]].
21	*** The Eleventh Doctor has two filler specials followed by two vital ones. His first Christmas special, [[Recap/DoctorWho2010CSAChristmasCarol "A Christmas Carol"]], stands as the ''least'' essential of all of the series' Christmas specials, containing no references to any ongoing plot threads and not having been explicitly referenced in any future episodes.
22	*** Of the Twelfth Doctor's specials, only [[Recap/DoctorWho2016CSTheReturnOfDoctorMysterio "The Return of Doctor Mysterio"]] is filler, because the series was in the midst of an unusually long break between seasons so there was no point in doing anything continuity-heavy. Even then, the special establishes that River Song's former associate Nardole is now hanging with the Doctor.
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24	[[AC: Western Animation]]
25	* ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' in its ''The New Batman Adventures'' ReTool had a ChristmasEpisode that was filler; the plotline had Harley Quinn and Ivy kidnapping and mind controlling Bruce Wayne, the Joker trying to set off a bomb at New Years, and Clayface turning into multiple pickpockets to steal from holiday shoppers, leading to the line "shoot the Santa!" It was a mix of DenserAndWackier with LighterAndSofter in the same show.
26	* ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' was never strong on continuity, but "Dexter Vs Santas Claws", which [[SeriesContinuityError contradicted something established in an earlier episode]]... on the matter of Dexter knowing Santa Claus, since at the end of "Beard to Be Feared" he's mistaken for Santa and presumably later meets the real deal off-screen, appears to be a filler episode.
27	* ''WesternAnimation/GoofTroop'' 's ChristmasEpisode "Have Yourself a Goofy Little Christmas" is a special episode that is largely self-contained and StatusQuoIsGod is in full effect here anyway, as none of the events are later referenced in the show, unlike the show itself which occasionally has a ContinuityNod or two.

Context Tropers / Merseyuser1