The 50 Specials Of Christmas - "Hey Arnold" Christmas Special
I'm in Philadelphia in an airport hotel because it's cheap. The television doesn't really work, nor does the light in the bathroom.
So let's talk Christmas.
The first special I've watched this upcoming, almost-there holiday season is the "Hey Arnold" Christmas episode.
As far as Christmas specials go, "Hey Arnold" hits all the right marks. There are selfish characters who learn lessons, good characters who have their hope rewarded, tear-jerker moments, cliffhanger commercial breaks, and a happy ending.
If anything, the special - which focuses on Arnold trying to reunite one of the residents in his boarding house with his long-lost daughter - is a bit too predictable. As soon as the main conflict is set up, you realize how it's going to be resolve and who will do the resolving.
Yet, as is the case with specials based on children's shows, the sheer good will of the episode makes it very effective. And there are some quiet, contemplative moments that subvert the usual "city rush" theme of many Christmas specials set in larger metropolitan areas. In fact, the "Hey Arnold" Christmas special romanticizes the big-city Christmas through its quiet noise and soft tones in the background paintings.
It's not perfect. But it effectively, if predictably, pulls yuletide heartstrings.
So let's talk Christmas.
The first special I've watched this upcoming, almost-there holiday season is the "Hey Arnold" Christmas episode.
As far as Christmas specials go, "Hey Arnold" hits all the right marks. There are selfish characters who learn lessons, good characters who have their hope rewarded, tear-jerker moments, cliffhanger commercial breaks, and a happy ending.
If anything, the special - which focuses on Arnold trying to reunite one of the residents in his boarding house with his long-lost daughter - is a bit too predictable. As soon as the main conflict is set up, you realize how it's going to be resolve and who will do the resolving.
Yet, as is the case with specials based on children's shows, the sheer good will of the episode makes it very effective. And there are some quiet, contemplative moments that subvert the usual "city rush" theme of many Christmas specials set in larger metropolitan areas. In fact, the "Hey Arnold" Christmas special romanticizes the big-city Christmas through its quiet noise and soft tones in the background paintings.
It's not perfect. But it effectively, if predictably, pulls yuletide heartstrings.
posted by Mike Drucker at
3:42 PM
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