Have to admit that I wonder where this season of The Santa Clauses is going, because only on the second episode it feels a little scattered. It feels all over the place and yet somewhat simple at the same time. I guess that though is part of the complexity of Christmas, so hey, here we are.
While Cal is trying to train to be Santa, it seems that no one wants for him to be the next Santa… well except Santa. Cal is all over the place, very spacey. His girlfriend is no better. His girlfriend, Riley, is well, obnoxious. But the truth is they are just way too immature for this.
We all see it, but Scott Calvin, only sees what he wants to see. I think that over time I expected the Santa to stay the same, but in my opinion, he’s become such a douche that it is just hard to take him seriously. He’s so full of himself and quite frankly oblivious to the world around him. I guess that I just figured that Santa would be someone who sees everything and is understanding of all. But he’s not.
He’s not even close.
Sandra is going through a million things, and instead of turning to her parents, she’s turned to La Befana. Befana tells Sandra that she’s becoming a witch – that has to be what her powers are. The thing is though, I don’t think she’s a witch at all. I think that she’s meant to be the next Santa Claus and her father only thinks that the job can go to a man.
But look, when Cupid shows up telling Santa that EVERYONE is weary of Cal being Santa, he doesn’t want to hear it. He’s ignoring all of the signs and he’s made it hard for Sandra to be seen. So sure, she has powers… definitely has to mean she’s a witch. Ya, that’s definitely it. (sense the sarcasm).
I think what has frustrated me the most the first season and so far this season, is that Santa Claus is clueless. Yes, it’s no secret I don’t love Tim Allen, but this isn’t on him. This is on the show overall. I know that kids are watching this show and though you’re telling them that Santa is real (which I do respect), what you’re also telling them is that he’s rude. He doesn’t see everything. And the only way that he’s going to respect that you can be anything and do anything is if you are a man.
Now after my review of episode one, I got a few emails telling me that it was obvious I was a democrat. And hey, I am, but not seeing what it has to do with this. What I am saying that if being liberal is defined by thinking that a character isn’t always funny, but spends most of his time being demeaning, okay. This didn’t have to be a political debate.
I want kids to see the beauty of Santa Claus and though I won’t say that television or movies bare the responsibility of educating kids, I do think that there are going to be those people who think that this one does. Santa Claus is such an important part of so many lives and kids are looking for something to believe in. They are influenced by television.
And so seeing a Santa with such an attitude is well, just ugh.
I do love that we do see an evolution in this episode – where we do see Sandra and her father bond. We see him have a vulnerable moment where he reminds her that no matter if she’s a witch or not – he loves her. It’s something that she needs and I can respect that.
Look, I do get that this is a television show and I do get that. I just love the moments where it feels so much like the original franchise and gives that Christmas hope and joy.
Now, the Mad Santa is on earth with his creepy AF gnome. Olga sincerely scares me, but neither here nor there. She’s ready to take back the North Pole. We find out over the course of the episode that he went mad from listening to the Gnomes. He even went as far as to imprison Betty and Noel back in the day.
As we find out more about him – he’s the actual person that created the “ho,ho,ho” saying and actually took the elves to the North Pole. But the thing is that he got lost in the power of it all and that drove him mad. While we don’t know why or how the imprisoned him yet, I am sure that we are going to get there.
Look, I know reading this review, it seems as though I hate this show with the passion of 10000 suns, but that isn’t it. I just know that this franchise used to be amazing. The movies were. I just wish that I felt like this was a televison show that I could sit down with my nieces and nephews and watch.
But I wouldn’t want them to fear Santa.
The Santa Clauses streams on Disney Plus.
