Quote Originally Posted by OC Richard View Post
Of Christmas specials connected with a larger television series, some are self-contained episodes that do not necessarily play largely in the meta-plots of the series they belong to, while others are just as important to the story arc of the season, but have the additional duty of infusing the story with a bit of Christmas optimism.
Sounds exactly like Christmas episodes of larger series' in the US.

Christmas movies, on the other hand, to a one have plots akin to a love story.

Love story: Happy relationship --> The breakup --> The get back together --> The happy ending.

Christmas movie: Extravagant spending/decorating --> The calamity or misfortune --> The realization of "the reason for the season" --> The happy ending.

That's why there's so many Christmas/Love Story movies. Same plot with two story lines.