This episode was the first of many Christmas episodes that went against the mainstream meanings of Christmas. Al's mall is not doing well because the new Lakeside Mall is stealing all the new customers away. Because of the competition, Al didn't make enough to buy presents. On top of that, the Bundys are trying to celebrate their Christmas Eve traditions which include eating pizza. When the Santa Claus drops out of a helicopter over at Lakeside Mall, he makes an unexpected drop in the Bundy's backyard and almost ruining the family's Christmas. Almost, the Rhoades try to handle the tragic news. The neighborhood kids want to see Santa Claus. So who is going to break the news or play Santa Claus? Oh, Al Bundy.
4 Reviews
Santa corpse is coming to town.
morrison-dylan-fan24 December 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When looking down the list of MWC Christmas episodes, this is the one which always comes to mind, thanks to it bringing back memories of seeing it on video for the first time with my dad and late family friend Guy Morgan. Opening the box set, I got set to watch out for the Bundy's.
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Revealed later by Ed O'Neill that he barely held back from laughing when the major punchline of the episode was being performed, the screenplay by Katherine Green & Richard Gurman spreads festive jet-black acid with across the Bundy household.
From the opening snappy exchanges brilliantly performed by the ensemble cast, the writers hit each target that goes against all the Christmas Comedy TV specials,from the only goodwill to all men the Bundy's show being whatever lines their pockets, to the jolly image of Santa being hilariously tarnished,as he lands in with the Bundy's
View on the film:
Revealed later by Ed O'Neill that he barely held back from laughing when the major punchline of the episode was being performed, the screenplay by Katherine Green & Richard Gurman spreads festive jet-black acid with across the Bundy household.
From the opening snappy exchanges brilliantly performed by the ensemble cast, the writers hit each target that goes against all the Christmas Comedy TV specials,from the only goodwill to all men the Bundy's show being whatever lines their pockets, to the jolly image of Santa being hilariously tarnished,as he lands in with the Bundy's
Where it all really begins
Nick Zbu9 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Rarely is a TV show aired that fires on all cylinders. Every show in its first few seasons grows and become what it really be. For Married With Children, the episode that really begins what the show really will become and known for is their very first Christmas episode.
The festive nature of the season is mined for humor and the jet-black acid mentioned by a previous reviewer is full on display. Gone are the pretensions of the first season pretending that this was a normal family being shorn of Cosby Show conventions: the family is poor, Christmas is a particularly dark time due to their poverty, the knives are out despite the holiday, and the backstabbing and pizza dinner for Christmas Eve already traditions already rooted in the madness. Santa splattering all over the backyard is a change because that would be the first time he ever showed up at the Bundy household, which really says it all. The neighbors would be in a state of horror regardless of the smashed corpse outside.
And in the end, it's by plain luck that Christmas is 'saved' via gift certificates. The Bundys don't come together as a family as much as they're a roving pack of beasts looking for the American Dream of spending too much and pure mindless hedonism and self-interest. No lessons are learned, nothing is gained, and the only part of the holiday that involves giving is the corpse losing a shoe to a grateful Buck. The Cosby Show is rotting on the noose and the Bundys are there roaming the post-'80s nuclear family glut like Mad Max Wastelanders looking something to ease the anomie. Merry Christmas.
One of their best episodes ever, and what really began the glory days of the show.
The festive nature of the season is mined for humor and the jet-black acid mentioned by a previous reviewer is full on display. Gone are the pretensions of the first season pretending that this was a normal family being shorn of Cosby Show conventions: the family is poor, Christmas is a particularly dark time due to their poverty, the knives are out despite the holiday, and the backstabbing and pizza dinner for Christmas Eve already traditions already rooted in the madness. Santa splattering all over the backyard is a change because that would be the first time he ever showed up at the Bundy household, which really says it all. The neighbors would be in a state of horror regardless of the smashed corpse outside.
And in the end, it's by plain luck that Christmas is 'saved' via gift certificates. The Bundys don't come together as a family as much as they're a roving pack of beasts looking for the American Dream of spending too much and pure mindless hedonism and self-interest. No lessons are learned, nothing is gained, and the only part of the holiday that involves giving is the corpse losing a shoe to a grateful Buck. The Cosby Show is rotting on the noose and the Bundys are there roaming the post-'80s nuclear family glut like Mad Max Wastelanders looking something to ease the anomie. Merry Christmas.
One of their best episodes ever, and what really began the glory days of the show.
Not a case of 'Ho, ho, ho'.
BA_Harrison3 September 2022
'Santa' skydives into the new Lakeside Mall, but his parachute fails, the man landing in the Bundy's backyard. The police arrive to take the body away, but there are local kids out front who want to see Santa, not aware that he is dead. Al dresses up as Santa to keep them happy.
Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year, but this seasonal episode of MWC isn't anything special. The humour is dark, as one might expect from a plot revolving around a dead Santa, but despite the subversive twist on the standard Xmas sit-com format, the laughs are few and far between. The one notable thing about this episode is that, being Christmas, there's a rare happy ending for the Bundys, the family finding Santa's sack full of gift certificates. It's nice to see them come out on top for a change.
Christmas might be the most wonderful time of the year, but this seasonal episode of MWC isn't anything special. The humour is dark, as one might expect from a plot revolving around a dead Santa, but despite the subversive twist on the standard Xmas sit-com format, the laughs are few and far between. The one notable thing about this episode is that, being Christmas, there's a rare happy ending for the Bundys, the family finding Santa's sack full of gift certificates. It's nice to see them come out on top for a change.
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