Ah, it's that time of year again, Christmas and just like last year, I have plenty of Christmas reviews in store for you. I've decided to start off with a series of review of Christmas episodes. Starting with a a review of the Christmas episode of So Weird. Let's begin.
Episode Title
Fountain
The title here is a bit of a double meaning as our story truly starts at a soda fountain in a mall and it also refers to the Fountain of Youth as in this episode, we see our main character Fiona get younger and younger. In that sense, I like the title because it is a bit simple and it makes perfect sense for this episode's title to be Fountain.
The Plot
I'll be the first to admit that part of this episode in how it handles the aging backwards and going back in time is somewhat similar to that The Cuckoo Clock of Doom from Goosebumps author, R.L. Stine. However there are enough differences to make this episode stand on it's own. The episode opens on Christmas Even in a mall, as we see our main characters are doing some last minute Christmas shopping. Fiona, our main character, who goes on tour with her mother who's a rocker just wants to spend Christmas at home but her mom, Molly (MacKenzie Phillips) takes a concert gig to perform for the needy. This leaves Fi in a downer state as this isn't the Christmas, she wanted. She just wanted to have a traditional Christmas at home with her family. She ends up going to a fountain, where the soda jerk, Nick (put 2 & 2 together) gives her a cup of coca and after a sip, it not only makes her younger but takes her time as we first see her at Christmas when she was 12.
And this keeps happening as we see her at 9, 6, 3 and finally as a baby. Now she does eventually get back to the present. Now if, I did have one minor complaint with this episode, that some of the de-aging felt abrupt and disjointed but in a way, I can forgive the abruptness as I think that is what they were going for. Perhaps, the best de-aging was when 12 year old Fi said something about getting back to the present and in the next scene, we see her as a 9 year old and her mom thinks that she is looking for the Christmas presents.
I think the big thing to take away from this episode is that no matter, where you are, you can always have Christmas with your family. Now you may think that Fi aging backwards was unneeded for this story but I feel that it was used as way to show her all the great Christmases, she's had in the past with her family and that she can still have a good one even if it isn't at home. I thought it was sweet, how this episode went about in telling it's story.
Characters
Now there are really only two characters to talk about. Yes, there were other characters here but in the overall story, there are only two that truly affected the story. With that out of the way, let's begin.
Fiona "Fi" Phillips played by Carla DeLizia (age 14), Rachel Victoria (age 6), Other ages unlisted.
Again as stated, Fi is taken through time to her past to see what Christmas is really about. Here's the big issue though, one of the things I think that this episode was going for was trying to show that even if you aren't home, you can still have a family Christmas yet most of the scenes in the past take place in home. Now I think another thing that this episode was trying to convey when it comes to Christmas is that even if your holidays are delayed because such as in Fi' case, her mom has a concert gig, that doesn't mean you can always work around. I'll say that there was a nice payoff and kind and the episode came full circle when the show took us back to Fi's very first Christmas and she gets to spend time with her father,who had died in a car crash, when she was only three. So in that sense, it was nice to see her get to spend time with her dad and actually be able to remember it. There was also a cute scene with 3-year old Fi and her mom, who was crying because of her husband's death. But Fi comforts her mom by saying that even though they'll always miss him, he'll always be with them.
That was one of the most touching moments and that and seeing her get to dance with her father. Because according to this episode, Fi has a tradition of a Christmas dance that was apparently started with her father. But because of his death, she didn't get to spend much time with him. That almost seems like Nick was trying to not only teach Fi a lesson but at the same time, give her something, she never had. At the end, we see Fi return to her current age in a much better mood and ready to celebrate the holidays.
Nick played by Jonathan Walker
Now even though, it's never stated, I was led to believe that Nick was indeed Santa Claus. Now even though Nick wasn't in the episode much, he did play an important role as he's the person that set the events in motion and throughout the entire episode, Fi wanted to find Nick to undo what he had done but she had to go through all of it. Now this is just speculation on my part but I believe that Nick purposefully made sure that Fi couldn't find him because he didn't want to give her an easy out and wanted to complete the actions so that she could learn her lesson. Which still, the show could've handled better but for the way, the show handled the idea, it was okay.
My Final Thoughts
All in all, this is an okay episode and I feel that it's a good way to kick off the Christmas reviews. Now again, I feel the idea of Christmas with family not having to take place at home could've been handled better. Perhaps, I'm taking away the wrong thing from this episode but that's what I got from it. Overall, not a bad episode and I had a good time watching it. Join me tomorrow as we head to the House of Mouse for...
Pete's Christmas Caper
Episode Title
Fountain
The title here is a bit of a double meaning as our story truly starts at a soda fountain in a mall and it also refers to the Fountain of Youth as in this episode, we see our main character Fiona get younger and younger. In that sense, I like the title because it is a bit simple and it makes perfect sense for this episode's title to be Fountain.
The Plot
I'll be the first to admit that part of this episode in how it handles the aging backwards and going back in time is somewhat similar to that The Cuckoo Clock of Doom from Goosebumps author, R.L. Stine. However there are enough differences to make this episode stand on it's own. The episode opens on Christmas Even in a mall, as we see our main characters are doing some last minute Christmas shopping. Fiona, our main character, who goes on tour with her mother who's a rocker just wants to spend Christmas at home but her mom, Molly (MacKenzie Phillips) takes a concert gig to perform for the needy. This leaves Fi in a downer state as this isn't the Christmas, she wanted. She just wanted to have a traditional Christmas at home with her family. She ends up going to a fountain, where the soda jerk, Nick (put 2 & 2 together) gives her a cup of coca and after a sip, it not only makes her younger but takes her time as we first see her at Christmas when she was 12.
And this keeps happening as we see her at 9, 6, 3 and finally as a baby. Now she does eventually get back to the present. Now if, I did have one minor complaint with this episode, that some of the de-aging felt abrupt and disjointed but in a way, I can forgive the abruptness as I think that is what they were going for. Perhaps, the best de-aging was when 12 year old Fi said something about getting back to the present and in the next scene, we see her as a 9 year old and her mom thinks that she is looking for the Christmas presents.
I think the big thing to take away from this episode is that no matter, where you are, you can always have Christmas with your family. Now you may think that Fi aging backwards was unneeded for this story but I feel that it was used as way to show her all the great Christmases, she's had in the past with her family and that she can still have a good one even if it isn't at home. I thought it was sweet, how this episode went about in telling it's story.
Characters
Now there are really only two characters to talk about. Yes, there were other characters here but in the overall story, there are only two that truly affected the story. With that out of the way, let's begin.
Fiona "Fi" Phillips played by Carla DeLizia (age 14), Rachel Victoria (age 6), Other ages unlisted.
Again as stated, Fi is taken through time to her past to see what Christmas is really about. Here's the big issue though, one of the things I think that this episode was going for was trying to show that even if you aren't home, you can still have a family Christmas yet most of the scenes in the past take place in home. Now I think another thing that this episode was trying to convey when it comes to Christmas is that even if your holidays are delayed because such as in Fi' case, her mom has a concert gig, that doesn't mean you can always work around. I'll say that there was a nice payoff and kind and the episode came full circle when the show took us back to Fi's very first Christmas and she gets to spend time with her father,who had died in a car crash, when she was only three. So in that sense, it was nice to see her get to spend time with her dad and actually be able to remember it. There was also a cute scene with 3-year old Fi and her mom, who was crying because of her husband's death. But Fi comforts her mom by saying that even though they'll always miss him, he'll always be with them.
That was one of the most touching moments and that and seeing her get to dance with her father. Because according to this episode, Fi has a tradition of a Christmas dance that was apparently started with her father. But because of his death, she didn't get to spend much time with him. That almost seems like Nick was trying to not only teach Fi a lesson but at the same time, give her something, she never had. At the end, we see Fi return to her current age in a much better mood and ready to celebrate the holidays.
Nick played by Jonathan Walker
Now even though, it's never stated, I was led to believe that Nick was indeed Santa Claus. Now even though Nick wasn't in the episode much, he did play an important role as he's the person that set the events in motion and throughout the entire episode, Fi wanted to find Nick to undo what he had done but she had to go through all of it. Now this is just speculation on my part but I believe that Nick purposefully made sure that Fi couldn't find him because he didn't want to give her an easy out and wanted to complete the actions so that she could learn her lesson. Which still, the show could've handled better but for the way, the show handled the idea, it was okay.
My Final Thoughts
All in all, this is an okay episode and I feel that it's a good way to kick off the Christmas reviews. Now again, I feel the idea of Christmas with family not having to take place at home could've been handled better. Perhaps, I'm taking away the wrong thing from this episode but that's what I got from it. Overall, not a bad episode and I had a good time watching it. Join me tomorrow as we head to the House of Mouse for...
Pete's Christmas Caper
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