It’s the coziest time of the year! The days are shorter, the weather is chillier, and your Passport member benefit is poised to bring you all the best that PBS offers. Whether you are looking for a binge-worthy mystery or timeless family classic, you can find all kinds of cozy offerings on Passport this season. So, snuggle in with your softest blanket, a hot mug of cocoa, and enjoy comfort-viewing all winter long.
Here are eight recommendations to kick off the season, along with a few fun facts, engaging quizzes, and insider info to add to your viewing experience—and perhaps prompt a lively discussion at your next holiday gathering!
Little Women
December 1861. The March girls—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—prepare for a Christmas without presents or their father, a Union army chaplain who is away at war. Set against the backdrop of a country divided, the story follows the four sisters on their journey from childhood to adulthood. Under the guidance of their mother, the sisters navigate sibling rivalry, gender roles, first love, loss, and marriage. Masterpiece’s tender treatment of this classic story is sure to warm your heart. Wondering which Little Women sister you most resemble? Take this quiz to find out!
Land Girls
Seasons 1-3 now streaming
For more adventures featuring another foursome of high-spirited young women, tune into the WW II drama Land Girls. With all three seasons now streaming on Passport, Land Girls is an inspiring story about the lives and loves of four women—patriotic Joyce, argumentative Nancy, sensible Annie, and headstrong Bea—as they and their fellow members of the Women’s Land Army work the farms that fed the nation, doing their part to keep the home front running.
Clown by Quentin Blake
This enchanting and beautifully animated short will delight both the young and young-at-heart! Based on the children’s book of the same name, Clown tells the story of an abandoned toy clown who goes on a Christmas Eve journey to find a new home for himself and his friends. Master illustrator Quentin Blake has created an irrepressible character, an action-filled plot, and an eloquent story that can be interpreted on several levels—all without the use of a single word (save that of the narrator, voiced by acclaimed actor Helena Bonham Carter).
Call the Midwife
Now in its twelfth season, Call the Midwife follows the nurses, midwives, and nuns from Nonnatus House, who visit the expectant mothers of Poplar, providing the poorest women with the best possible care. Catch up on four Call the Midwife holiday specials (seasons 8-11), only on Passport. Then tune in to WTIU for the current season’s broadcast premiere holiday show, airing on Christmas Day at 9:00 pm EST. Want to learn more about this essential profession? Follow real midwives as they discuss how the drama of the show intersects with modern day midwifery.
All Creatures Great & Small
Seasons 1 and 2 now streaming
A young and eager veterinarian, a cranky boss, an enamoring farm-girl-next-door… All Creatures Great and Small is a perfect feel-good drama to binge this season. With Season 3 set to begin January 8, 2023, now is the perfect time for you to dive in, catch up, or rewatch. (Spoiler alert: The final episode of Season 1 is guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit!). For more fun, take the romance quiz to find out who your Darrowby darling is.
Downton Abbey
All 6 Seasons now streaming with WTIU PBS Passport
Even if you’ve rewatched every season of Downton Abbey multiple times, viewing it this time of year hits differently. The family dynamics, enthralling story, and memorable quips from the Dowager Countess will keep you and any house guests you may have entertained. Be sure to stream the special Christmas episode (Season 2, Episode 7) with its memorable snowy scene between Matthew and Mary. All six seasons of Downton Abbey are available on Passport until February 2, 2023. Watch (or rewatch) this landmark series before it leaves Passport!
Sanditon
Seasons 1 and 2 now streaming
Fan-favorite Sanditon, inspired by Jane Austen’s unfinished final novel, tells the story of the joyously impulsive, spirited, and unconventional Charlotte Heywood. Set in the picturesque coastal resort of Sanditon, Charlotte, along with her bosom companion Georgiana Lambe, experiences adventures, scandals, intrigue and above all else—romance. Season 3 begins in 2023, so if you are among the few who haven’t watched it yet, now is the perfect time to catch up! Go behind the set to learn more about Sanditon!
Miss Scarlet and The Duke
Seasons 1-2 now streaming, Season 3 available beginning November 24
Another series that will be debuting its third season in 2023, Miss Scarlet and The Duke tells the story of Eliza Scarlet, the headstrong, first-ever female detective in Victorian London. Joined by her childhood friend, professional colleague, and potential love interest, Scotland Yard Detective Inspector William Wellington, a.k.a., The Duke, Eliza is determined to keep her father’s business running against all odds. WTIU PBS Passport members can stream all episodes of Seasons 1 through 3 now before the Season 3 broadcast premiere on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. Want to learn more about history’s pioneering women detectives? Check out this feature on PBS.org.
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