How to Ruin Christmas

How to Ruin Christmas is a South African comedy television series produced by Burnt Onion Productions for Netflix. Comprising an ensemble cast led by Busi Lurayi, each season centres around the Christmas gatherings of a newly-wedded couple and their respective families, as they navigate their own inner turmoils in the midst of the pending event.^[1][2]

How to Ruin Christmas
Genre	Comedy
Starring	Busi Lurayi Thando Thabethe Yonda Thomas
Country of origin	South Africa
Original languages	Zulu English Southern Sotho Tswana IsiXhosa
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	10
Production
Running time	42–53 minutes
Production company	Burnt Onion Productions
Original release
Network	Netflix
Release	16 December 2020 (2020-12-16) – 9 December 2022 (2022-12-09)

Since its premiere, the series has garnered critical acclaim and has received numerous accolades.^[3]

Cast

• Busi Lurayi as Tumi Sello
• Thando Thabethe as Beauty Sello
• Yonda Thomas as Khaya Manqele
• Nambitha Ben-Mazwi as Refiloe
• Clementine Mosimane as Dineo Sello
• Sandile Mahlangu as Sbu Twala
• Motlatsi Mafatshe as Themba Twala
• Kagiso Rathebe as Terrence
• Lehlohonolo Saint Seseli as Vusi Twala
• Charmaine Mtinta as Valencia Twala
• Swankie Mafoko as Lydia Twala
• Lethabo Bereng as Cousin Bokang
• Desmond Dube as Uncle Shadrack
• Rami Chuene as Aunt Grace
• Keketso Semoko as Aunt Moipone
• Nandi Nyembe as Gogo Twala
• Dippy Padi as Thando
• Trevor Gumbi as Siya Twala
• T sumo Nkosi as Lulu
• Lindokuhle Modi as Nimrod

Episodes

Season	Title	Episodes		Originally released
1	The Wedding	3		December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16)
2	The Funeral	4		December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)
3	The Baby Shower	3		December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)

Season 1: The Wedding (2020)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	1	"It's Not What It Looks Like"	Johnny Barbuzano	Lwazi Mvusi	December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16)
A reluctant bridesmaid to the core, Tumi arrives the day before her sister's traditional wedding day and manages to upset almost everyone.
2	2	"I'll Handle This"	Johnny Barbuzano	Sunni Faba	December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16)
To get back in her family's good graces, Tumi looks for the missing best man. Against their better judgement, Tumi and Beauty seek out a family member.
3	3	"Can't a Girl Catch a Break"	Johnny Barbuzano	Salah Sabiti	December 16, 2020 (2020-12-16)
Tumi shocks both families and devastates Beauty by letting slip a secret. But this time, after some soul searching, she decides to face the music.

Season 2: The Funeral (2021)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
4	1	"Here We Go Again"	Johnny Barbuzano	Lwazi Mvusi	December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)
Tumi returns home for another Christmas family holiday and, against her better judgment, agrees to take Gogo Twala out for some fun.
5	2	"Sorry for Your Loss"	Johnny Barbuzano	Sunni Faba	December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)
Once again, Tumi seems to have ruined the holiday. Later, she learns some very surprising things about Gogo Twala. Vusi deals with money issues.
6	3	"Where's Tumi?"	Johnny Barbuzano	Lwazi Mvusi	December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)
Back at the Lekhekhe Club, Tumi tries to drink her worries away. Siya wants a lavish funeral, but Vusi is determined to keep costs down.
7	4	"Happily Ever After"	Johnny Barbuzano	Salah Sabiti	December 10, 2021 (2021-12-10)
Secrets are revealed when things finally come to a head with Bab'Mkhize and the rest of the family. Khaya makes his move.

Season 3: The Baby Shower (2022)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
8	1	"Where there's Smoke"	Johnny Barbuzano	Lwazi Mvusi	December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
With Beauty and Sbu expecting their first child, tensions run high as the Sello and Twala families are forced to reunite for the shower.
9	2	"A Moth to the Flame"	Johnny Barbuzano	Salah Sabiti	December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
After the baby shower ends in flames, the Sellos wind up at the Twala lodge for Christmas. Secrets swirl as everyone tries to hide their wrongdoings.
10	3	"Like House the Fire"	Johnny Barbuzano	Lwazi Mvusi	December 9, 2022 (2022-12-09)
As various truths finally come to light, the Sellos and Twalas must put the past behind them and come together to help Beauty in her time of need.

See also

• List of Christmas films