Category: Holiday Themes

HENRY (1947), THREE

How can David Niven be unlikable, lol? A bishop, a revered community and religious figure, is played as a git. Bold choice.

He’s determined to build his cathedral. We all see the irony immediately: he thinks he’s glorifying God, but by ignoring his family and his flock he’s doing the opposite. Because of that tension he’s stressed all the time. What he’s feeling is unsustainable.

I want to say he’s a Three. His charm and success, the ease of his vocation, are all things that happened before this story began. All we see is his crisis. Still, though, a man in his position is gifted at the social skills. He’s greatly admired in the community, even now. Only his wife sees the first signs of fraying.

And one of the things that upsets him the most is his failure. He looks bad as a bishop when he can’t get the cathedral funding, and Dudley makes him look bad with his wife, which he hates. Threes, who succeed at so much of what they touch, really dislike the rare moment when they don’t.

Episode 9

It’s Christmas at Downton Abbey! Beautiful dresses and heartfelt acting compete with an overly melodramatic, season-ending plot. I love the characters, the setting, and the time period, but I don’t know if I’ll write up future seasons. The disordered structure of the series takes all the fun out of examining it.

ONE

Roll credits and theme music while a truck carrying a pine tree drives toward Downton. When the truck arrives at the front door, Thomas waves workers forward to untie the tree. Inside the house, Daisy totes cleaning supplies from room to room. She walks past the tree, now set up in the front hall, as O’Brien helps decorate it. People wander through and admire the tree. Now Cousin Rosamund and her lady’s maid approach the house in a chauffeured car, to be greeted by Mary. The Dowager pokes around the Christmas cards, tutting at whatever’s written.

End credits. Christmas 1919.

TWO

The family is dressed formally, and giving out presents. Mary hands Anna a small box and Cora says they all prayed for Bates today in church. As each servant is given a present from the family, filing up one by one, Hughes talks to Anna. “I wish I could tell you not to worry.”

Cut to downstairs where the servants enjoy the meal at their own table. Crackers pop, hats are worn, and cheering goes up. Rosamund’s maid makes a cheeky question about Bates, “the murderer”.

Upstairs, Sir Richard complains about the lack of service. Downstairs has their luncheon, the family has dinner, Mary says. It’s Christmas Day. Well, that’s not how he’ll run his household. Basically, the family exchanges gifts and barbs in equal measure.

THREE

In the hallway Mary comes upon Matthew hanging up the phone. Mr. Swire (Lavinia’s father) is ill — dying, and Matthew’s on his way in the morning. They discuss Bates’ trial. Some of the servants will need to testify.

Continue reading “Episode 9”

Hide and Seek

Again, let me remind you that Hawkeye is a newly-dropped series, and spoilers abound in my breakdown. Critical Notes, as always, follow.

LEFTOVER NINE

We begin with last episode’s cliffhanger. Clint grabs Kate in the Ronin suit and unmasks her.

ONE

They introduce themselves and leave the alley. Run credit logo.

TWO

Walking down the street now, Kate peppers him with questions. Are you assessing threats? She’s clearly star-struck. Promoting herself a little, she calls herself the world’s greatest archer.

They’ve arrived at her large apartment over the pizza shop. When they enter, the dog greets them. It’s not her dog, she corrects Clint, and she inherited the place. Throughout, he is surprised and impressed by nothing.

THREE

(There is no Three.)

Continue reading “Hide and Seek”

JULIA (1947), NINE

The title’s subject, the Bishop’s wife, Julia is universally loved. Like Mary Bailey, is she an everywoman? Or is she a real person with flaws?

She’s pretty and she’s gentle. She’s socially naive, though. When Dudley takes her to lunch, and the other ladies start to gossip about her, she is unaware. Social damage, to herself and to her prominent husband, is dangerous, yet because her intentions are pure she doesn’t see it.

She’s not particularly useful as a bishop’s wife. The community can look up to her kindness and gentility, but she’s not a saleswoman. Henry carries the whole weight of organizing his fundraiser. She longs for simpler times and a quieter home life. She’s not ambitious, which is a strength, but she’s also not in sync with her husband. She’s lovely, someone who attends functions at Henry’s side, but she’s not the manager.

She’s a Nine. She knows what’s right and she knows what she likes, but she won’t argue with anyone to make it happen. Avoid conflict, smooth the waters, and carry on. A Nine is an asset to an ambitious partner, but only in a background role. No leading, no fighting, and no pushing. It’s a perfect choice for Julia’s character.

The Snowball Effect

Nothing but love for this episode, I promise.

ONE

Bubble-wipe to a real life iceberg scene. Over wintery landscapes, the French narrator speaks of the mighty iceberg that can sometimes stray into warmer waters. 

TWO

Cut to the three-palm island as an iceberg floats in. Now we look at Bikini Bottom, that cozy community, as snow begins to fall.

THREE

Continued scenes of snow-covered undersea buildings as the weather fish, wearing a trapper hat, reports on the winter blanket covering Jellyfish Fields and the neighborhoods.

Continue reading “The Snowball Effect”

All-New Halloween Spooktacular

Action-packed and full of reveals. I’m happy that the overall story moves forward with strength and purpose. 

But I don’t care if the costumes are canon, lol. They’re hideous.

ONE

Immediately the show opens with the fake credit sequence. One of the boys is running a video camcorder. Fast edits, sped up footage. 

The boy (Billy?) talks directly to the camera, bringing us up to date. He’s dressed in a costume. The brother (Tommy?) is obviously the cool one. Teasing and jokes go by, but no laugh track now.

Pietro naps on the couch, then wakes and speeds about. He’s a creepy uncle. Wanda comes downstairs in a Halloween costume that references her first comic superhero outfit (I think). Billy gives meta-commentary: “Mom’s been weird.”

TWO

Now Vision in his own superhero costume comes downstairs.. He’s on his way to help with the neighborhood watch. Wanda says, You didn’t tell me. The tension between them is uncomfortable.

THREE

Billy speaks to the camera: Mom and Dad are . . . different. 

Continue reading “All-New Halloween Spooktacular”

SCAREDY PANTS

ONE

A skeleton on a sunken ship, a spider in snorkel gear — it’s a Halloween episode. The French narrator tells us so. “Everyone’s having fun.” The Krusty Krab has a big sign out front and some nice jack-o-lanterns.

TWO

“Well, almost everyone.” Inside the KK kitchen, Spongebob jumps at a sound. Washing dishes, he quickly turns when the order rack makes a sinister chuckling-like squeak. He rushes through the rest of the pile, breaking some plates, and declares he’s done.

Krabs blocks the door. Don’t you want to hear my scary story? No. But . . . he can’t resist. Krabs sets up a campfire just inside the front door and they sit around it.

THREE

Ooh! It’s a Flying Dutchman story! Yay!

(What a great Three: Introduce the idea of the Dutchman. Wait until the Six!)

Continue reading “SCAREDY PANTS”

DARBY O’GILL, TWO

The man who has truck with the wee folk. Don’t be puttin’ the come-hither on me, now. Who doesn’t want to watch this Disney classic and speak in fake Irish?

Darby is no con man. He genuinely can see and negotiate with the King of the Leprechauns. However, Darby is so intrigued by the fairy world that he seems like a flake. He doesn’t do much work, he’s too busy scheming for his three wishes. He procrastinates and socializes. The only time he jumps is when the priest needs someone to retrieve the church bell.

Ah, Darby is such a Two. His collection — an identifying feature of a Man Two — is leprechaun lore. His knowledge and sharing of it are what make him so beloved at the pub.

He has a kind heart but he’s no businessman. He putters, trimming the hedge here, poaching a rabbit there. Service to the Church, though, moves him. The notion that the music of the bell belongs to him makes him tear up. 

A fixture of the community, both human and fairy. Two.