The Santa Clauses improved itself, again. I know, I know – I have taken a hard stance that this show has been another way Last Man Standing to survive, because it definitely feels like it’s taking that hard right wing stance on life over and over again. But this episode, I felt that less and felt the heart of the story. Though in the same breathe, it’s still preaching.
Even if it is one that I am not particularly fond of.
The Calvin’s are trying to get used to their life in Chicago, but the only person that it seems to be going okay for is Carol. Everyone missed her and she’s now not the woman in the background. She’s the woman shining bright. She’s told everyone that she was off being an Alaskan Bush Pilot and no one has second guesses it. Everyone knows her strength and how wise that she is.
Carol is thriving back in Chicago. Here’s my question though – why couldn’t she thrive in the North Pole. I mean, if Santa is in charge, why couldn’t he have allowed changes for her? Why couldn’t she shine? Why couldn’t she have a first name? I don’t understand all of the things that happened there and why she had to wear that God awful bun.
You can see that Scott has an issue with not knowing what to do with himself. It seems as though he’s jealous of his wife and doesn’t know how to be in the background. He definitely doesn’t know how to survive in the real world. Instead, he’s acting like a fool.
Scott Calvin keeps acting like he is Santa Claus.
But the new Santa Claus is definitely acting like he’s not Santa Claus. I mean if we’re being honest, Simon is just not a character that I am loving. He’s self centered and cares only about his company. He exploits the delivery system and doesn’t care about the elves. He sees them as a free work force.
I normally like all of Kal Penn‘s characters, but I hate this one. It’s a weird thing to hate one of his characters. Simon is supposed to be a good Dad, but the thing is he’s definitely not being one. He’s being a selfish shit. He’s power hungry and he’s rude.
When Betty tries to set him on the right path, he’s not listening. As a matter of fact he’s dismissive and rude. When she tries to tell him that elves are disappearing, he blames her. He’s a gaslighter. Betty takes her job really seriously and it’s very hard to deal with because she wants to do good, but she also wants to shut him down.
Simon said that he’s doing everything for his child, but he’s so dismissive to her. He doesn’t even know where she is half the time. Of course he’s defensive of anyone calling him out for it.
The only person who seems to realize that Simon needs to go and isn’t afraid to call him out is Noel. Now Noel is a little eccentric, but also he’s loyal as fuck. That’s one of his best qualities. He even goes as far as to leave the North Pole, because he’s going to get Scott back. And when he leaves, he leaves Betty a note, which Simon destroys.
Scott is happy to see Noel, because he feels alone. But like, I don’t feel bad for him. This is how his family has probably felt. Noel tries to warn him about Simon, but Scott isn’t hearing him and thinks that Noel needs to give Simon a chance.
But here’s the thing. As much as I know that it’s meant to be a sign where Scott is really trying for his family, but because they spend so much time focusing on his shit, versus focusing on the family overall (and yes, they do touch on the family – so it’s not like their excitement and happiness isn’t addressed) and if it’s an actual good or bad thing, I am turned off from the show. I wanted to turn this shit off.
Do I understand what the show is trying to do? Yes. But right now I feel like it’s a preachy thing where I am being lectured on capitalism destroying the Christmas spirit. And well, that’s definitely not the reasons in real life.
Where I will give Scott credit is that he does want to spend time with his family and make sure that they are okay. I appreciate that so much and love seeing this side of him. In the North Pole its not that way.
Speaking of the North Pole, elves are disappearing left and right. People think that they are deserting, but it’s not it. They are disappearing, along with Christmas magic.
You know how bad Simon is when he fires Betty and it doesn’t phase him when elves disappear. He’s just the worst.
But whomever Betty goes to the Christmas wish for, I am all about. Betty’s gonna save Christmas.
I feel it.