It definitely would not be Christmas without this one. It's snowing outside right now, and I am in the mood for Charlie Brown. Tvtropes.org says "This is not a Christmas Special. This is the Christmas Special." And judging by how much today's children still love this special (I have seen many preschoolers be told, "If you have good behavior at school/take a nap/etc, you can stay up and watch A Charlie Brown Christmas, and it always works) and how much adults love it, I would have to agree.
Charlie Brown is depressed. Christmas is coming, but he's not happy. He doesn't feel the way he's supposed to feel. Pretty accurate portrayal of depression. Linus claims that Charlie Brown is the only person who could take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. I think we all know that's not true.
Lucy gives Charlie surprisingly good advice-- he needs a project. So she makes him director of the Christmas play, a job which he takes very seriously, but everyone else just wants to dance. Ultimately, Charlie Brown decides what the play needs is a tree. Everyone wants him to get a huge pink aluminum tree, but of course he falls in love with the little tiny tree. Barely a branch. It's so cute. I would have done the same thing if I were Charlie Brown. The other kids make fun of his tree, leading Charlie Brown to cry out in frustration that no one will tell him what Christmas is all about. Linus steps up and quotes the Book of Luke. Ultimately, all the other kids come to Charlie Brown's house and decorate his little tree, and they all sing "Hark the Herald Angels Sing."
The plot sounds so ridiculously simple, and yet it is the most lovable and heartwarming 30 minutes of television I can imagine. Thank goodness Charles Schulz stuck to his guns and did not let the network put a laugh track or Santa Claus in it, or take the Biblical speech and jazz music out.
Visuals: 4 out of 5
Spirit: 5 out of 5
Nostalgia: 5 out of 5
Humor: 5 out of 5
Music: 4 out of 5
Overall: 5 out of 5
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