Retirement. No more working. Relaxing. No stress. It’s the dream. At least I think it is, but I am not sure that I would l know what to do with myself.
However, for Scott Calvin aka, Santa Claus it’s a possibility.
Now before I even dive too far into this, I want to say something. I did not like the first episode because of the back handed comments, the way that Kal Penn’s character seemed more interested in work than his child, and because of that I tore it apart.
But episode two, I did like. Even though I have a few issues, it seemed to go back a little and appreciate somewhat what The Santa Clause is. And that’s definitely what it needed to do. So lets dive in.
We pick up right where we left off, with Santa Claus having fell off the roof and laying face down in the snow. Noel is freaking out and Santa is dreaming about not being Santa. Which like, I can understand, but I also am like who the hell wants to be face down in the snow for that long? Hard pass.
Noel screams to wake Santa, up, but in the North Pole, Cal knows that something is wrong. He tries to tell his Mom and when he does, she is like na… but only it takes seconds before she’s informed that something is wrong.
Now, I have to say, one can love that the elves are this on top of things, but also they straight up terrify me with how much they know and how fast. Then again, they also terrify me with how they stress out over everything. They are very high maintenance. Also need some Xanax. Betty being the most high strung of all.
When Santa makes it back to the North Pole, Betty presents him with the escape clause. Santa needs a good prescription, because he definitely can’t see well and Betty has to read it to him. He’s able to give up the job if he no longer wants to do it. He’s just gotta choose his replacement.
Look, I wouldn’t want to live in the North Pole. I love snow, but not year round.
When he tells Mrs. Claus that he can retire, she seems very excited about the possibility. She feels oppressed in the North Pole. She doesn’t have an identity. Which, if you have been paying attention, she really doesn’t. It’s all about Santa and the North Pole doesn’t really seem to care who she really is.
They talk about their kids and how they are growing up in the North Pole. And well, they are growing up a hot mess. But Santa doesn’t see it that way. He sees it as they live in the greatest place in the world. But as he’s hearing what Mrs. Claus is saying, he has an idea.
Charlie.
Now I love that we’re getting to see Charlie all grown. Grown and married with two kids is weird. Also living in the heat? Ya… no.
Scott wants Charlie to take over for him – to be Santa. I don’t blame Charlie for being hesitant or even for pointing out that his brother and sister aren’t well… exactly thriving in the North Pole. But it also goes to show how blinded that Scott is to how his kids are.
Cal and Sandra aren’t exactly normal, but they have been isolated. They aren’t exactly aware of how to engage or how to communicate. The two keep their want for their lives to be “normal” to themselves and instead go and visit the room full of snow globes to see what is going on in the world. They aren’t supposed to be in there, but they are also thinking it’s okay, if it’s a secret.
What Charlie says about his brother and sister, along with the things that Carol is saying, Scott decides that the obvious thing to do is spend more time with the kids. But even just doing that means that he’s going to hear their truth.
And that truth means retirement.
One thing that Scott is really bad at is really seeing what is going on around him. He doesn’t seem to really relate to his kids, but also he doesn’t relate to anyone. Scott only hears himself. So seeing him have to hear shit and learning to take it to heart is really important. Finally his character shows some growth.
And it’s about time.
He’s really going to have to find a replacement and work on making life better for his wife and kids. I get that change is hard. I understand it more than I care to. But Scott needs to make sure that what he does is stop putting everyone before his family.
Elves included.
And yes, I am aware that Elves are family also, but it is also different.
So, Betty has been prepared for this and has a book of possible replacements. After the whole Jack Frost fiasco, someone tell me why it is that we’re trusting Santa with big decisions, but I guess that was a different time.
The Elves aren’t really thrilled with Scott’s decision to retire. I guess Scott is not the only one who is not good with change.
Oh and the Simon of it all? Well he’s still putting work first. He even goes as far to bring his daughter to pitches for the cuteness factor.
And this is what I am not fond of with Simon. I get having big dreams and wanting to do amazing things. Hell, I find it admirable. But you also have to be able to turn off and separate and put your kids first. He’s neurotic.
I am not saying that he doesn’t love his daughter. He does. I am just saying, that like Scott Calvin, he doesn’t get there is a line between work and family and you need to spend time with both. It’s important to be able to draw the line between both and make sure that you are present when at home.
I am not saying that Simon is bad – he’s not. I want to like him – especially since he’s in the book of possible Santa replacements and so I know he’s not so bad. But I also haven’t seen the part of him that doesn’t make him extremely suspect to me.
But I did have to laugh when he was summoned to the North Pole and he freaked out with the elf in the house. Yet, if that happened to me – I’d be freaking out too.
The Santa Clauses is streaming now on Disney Plus.
