Whether the loved ones in your life binge-watch everything, or savor their weekly dropped shows, they're probably a little hard to shop for. In this age of on-demand everything, people tend to just buy now and forget about making a wish list. That's where we come in.
Your favorite team of TV addicts at Tom's Guide thought long and hard about the stuff we wish we'd get this holiday season. Or, in other cases, the stuff we're planning on giving our friends and relatives.
This list has everything from merch from the best shows of the year to gift subscriptions to the services we love (and one your friends may not be hip to yet). On top of that, we've got great (affordable) options to upgrade your current entertainment center, including the latest version of one of the best streaming devices, the remote every Roku owner needs and a way to build your own streaming service (programming not included).
We named Severance the best TV show of 2022, citing its clever premise, puzzle box nature and captivating characters. This mug bears a line that employees of Lumon Industries are told, and it’s the kind of corporate-speak that doesn’t mean much of anything, much like “Let’s circle back on that” and “Cascading information.” Hey, no need to know what your job or anyone else’s is — the work is mysterious and important! — Kelly Woo
For every movie-lover who’s hit a wall in Netflix, and even thinks HBO Max doesn’t have enough deep cuts, a subscription to the Criterion Channel is a great gift. Stocked to the gills with classics from the masters — Goddard, Haneke, Varda and Fellini — Criterion Channel is the cinephile’s streaming service. It routinely hosts monthly runs on specific topics in cinema, such as New York City, noir and horror. — Henry T. Casey
Unlike Fire TV and Roku, Apple doesn't have a way to find your lost remote. Even though it has a whole Find My technology in the Apple AirTags. So, if you keep losing your Apple TV remote, we recommend you get this slip-on remote cover that has a slot for an AirTag (sold separately). This way, you'll be able to find your remote super-quickly, so you can focus on the streaming you were enjoying in the first place. — Henry T. Casey
Hulu’s gift cards not only deliver its excellent originals (the best shows on Hulu and the best movies on Hulu should not be missed, trust us), such as The Bear, Reservation Dogs and Hellraiser (2022). But Hulu’s just as important for cord-cutters, as it offers the gift of next-day TV shows across many channels, such as the amazing sitcom Abbott Elementary and Atlanta. — Henry T. Casey
Apple TV Plus may be the best value streaming service. For $7 per month, you get access to a rich spectrum of shows and movies. It had our No. 1 streaming original of the year, Severance, as well as other favorites like For All Mankind, The Afterparty, Pachinko, Black Bird, Trying and Bad Sisters. And of course, we’re excited for the returns of Ted Lasso and Mythic Quest. — Kelly Woo
You know that friend who can’t stop talking about Better Call Saul? You know, that friend who keeps saying you need to watch it already? Well, first, they’re right. But if you’re waiting on watching, you could make it up to them by giving them one of Jimmy McGill’s best personal effects, a thermos that says “World’s Second Best Lawyer.” We won’t spoil its importance, but any Better Call Saul fan knows its worth. — Henry T. Casey
The Roku Voice Remote Pro is an excellent upgrade for a number of reasons, including hands-free voice commands. We also love its rechargeable battery, as it means you’re free from wastefully buying more batteries. Oh, and if you’re annoyed that your Roku remote doesn’t have built-in buttons for the apps you use, this remote has two programmable buttons that you can customize yourself. — Henry T. Casey
What better way to celebrate Stranger Things season 4's best new character Eddie Munson than to rock a hoodie that bears the logo of his Dungeons & Dragons group. Yes, while you wait for season 5 to come out, you'll need some sort of extra layer of warmth, and this one tells others that you know the power of Metallica's "Enter Sandman." — Henry T. Casey
This Lego Baby Yoda provides users a neat way to spend the months before The Mandalorian season 3 drops in March 2023. Made of 1,073 Lego bricks, this lil Grogu has a posable head, and moving ears and fingers. Measuring 7.5 x 8.5 x 5 inches, the Lego Baby Yoda is perfectly sized for your desk or mantle, where you can display it proudly. — Henry T. Casey
Loved Hulu drama The Bear as much you loved looking at the shop’s signature Italian beef sandwich, dripping in gravy? While the restaurant in The Bear is fictional, real versions have long been a staple of Chicago. Through Goldbelly, you can get your own sandwich kit from Buona Italian Beef, which claims to be the last family-owned Italian beef restaurant in the Windy City. — Kelly Woo
The new Apple TV 4K is the latest and most affordable version of one of the best streaming devices ever. Apple just added the A15 Bionic system-on-chip to make the streaming device even faster than it already was, and HDR10+ is a welcome addition as well. On top of that, it's $50 less than it used to be, so you can give the Apple TV 4K without it taking a huge bite out of your budget. — Henry T. Casey
Some people may feel a little hesitant about getting a soundbar. It's a bit of added complexity that you might not need. That said, the Roku Streambar is the soundbar for beginners. Not only because it packs 4K streaming capabilities (it is a Roku), but because it's packing enough sound to completely fill a smaller living room. — Henry T. Casey
The true collectors among us host their own streaming services. Some choose a Synology for their Plex, as the setups are popular for storing (drives sold seperately) legally-ripped movies and TV shows. Ask first, but these are popular among many digital hoarders and tinkerers. — Henry T. Casey
More-affordable TVs can get a bad rap, but the TCL 6-Series is a 4K TV we love to recommend. It offers enhanced brightness and color in picture quality thanks to QLED technology, and mini-LEDs for perfect-looking backlighting. It even produced an impressive 99.92% of the sRGB color space. — Henry T. Casey
