|
|
|
|
Original Air Date: December 15, 1985 Review completed December 18, 2005 "Christmas Shoplifting" After already having to cut down her very large list, Punky is running into trouble buying for everyone for Christmas. After a demonstration from a classmate and overhearing Henry wishing out loud, Punky steals a scarf from a mall store. Through a mishap, Mike gets caught with it and ends up in jail. Henry goes to the police station to bail him out, and Punky confesses to get Mike out of trouble. If you're following these in the order posted, you'll note that this is the second out-of-order foray into Season Two. Why? Because a Christmas lover like myself just can't resist the opportunity to get the theme into the Review section. That, and it saves the first Christmas special (and my favourite, incidentally) for posting right on the big day itself. THAT'S timing! Not to say that I don't have a fair bit to say about this episode. In fact, I've gone into this one before in the Columns section. Yessir, going into this episode takes us smack into the middle of Punky's message block, and looking at the episode, the influence of that is all too clear. It's a decent enough episode, but can no more top the first special than it can break out of the format restrictions of its currently airing peers. I suppose the best overall judge of this episode would be my sister, a casual Punky fan who's been viewing episodes in a relaxed sort of way. (And, incidentally, is only thirteen, thus being a fair bit younger than the series itself. How many kid's shows can boast that kind of endurance?) As the episode went on, she began to call out plot points about a minute or two before they would happen, and was right every single time. It served as a marvellous illustration of how concerned the writing team was about hitting the right points to serve the message, and perhaps not enough about fleshing out the concept to make another standout. I do have to point out some things about the episode I really liked first. Little things, the type that would normally be the icing on the cake. First of all, the announcer over of the mall's PA succeeds at bringing some well-timed jokes into those scenes, an especially good thing to see considering how many times the series has used that gag. This is probably the most successful use of that device, marred only by a truly odd throw-away shot at Nell Carter towards the end of the scene. A charming thing, and the scene most reminiscent of the first special's incredible characterisation, is the initial scene where Punky is checking her list. Very few scenes at this time in the show's life really show off Punky's universal charm, and that makes all the sweeter to see Punky being considerate of everyone around her. I can't quite convey, in text, how it looks without making it look like an after-school special kind of thing, but it doesn't come across that way at all in the actual episode. Just trust me on that one. A strong point is Henry, in general. He finally comes across as a firm, effective authority figure without having to take the responsibility of choice from the kids. (Like in, say, "Milk Does A Body Good". But that's later.) In particular, I really liked his solution to finding a suitable punishment for his larcenous ward, though as a retail worker, I'd argue on the side of "cruel and unusual punishment". However, cruel as it is, it's effective and a decent change from the wise old Uncle Henry from the last few episodes before this. Effective doesn't describe all of the episode's moments, however. The writing team hits a few good gags, but more blow up in their faces. The "Comrade Natasha" joke just seemed forced, never mind how relevant it was in 1985. The incarcerated Santa is good for a laugh on first sight, but hangs around and quickly wears out his welcome. And every single joke thrown out by Richmond, the young would-be career criminal, is something The Simpsons did better as an off-hand serious moment during Bart's shoplifting episode. And do I really need to point out the inconsistency of Punky standing up to Richmond so steadfastly and then caving in like a minute later, after he's gone? Then there's a sequence that both deserves and has already gotten a full paragraph from me; the actual theft. To think that any storeclerk would be dull enough to not watch the intensely nervous young girl who BOLTS out of the shop and SCREAMS upon being stopped by someone else...well, that's just dumb. Even just the ordinary joe grabbing Slurpees at a 7-Eleven knows full well that anyone could be a shoplifter, but on this show, you apparently have to be a young male with a relaxed pace. And black, but I'm pretty sure the creators weren't intending that to look like a factor. Still, with the way the scene is presented, it's kind of there anyway. The funny thing, though, is that my biggest problem isn't with any of those things; it's how much leaner this episode looks stacked next to the previous year's special. I'll grant that it's not the fairest comparison, especially with "Yes, Punky, There Is A Santa Claus" being probably my favourite episode, but for "Christmas Shoplifting" to fall so far short is astounding. My blame goes quite squarely on the insistance upon message at this point in Punky's lifespan; this couldn't just be an episode about celebrating the holidays, or even seeing old friends. (Seeing T.C. Fenestra again for Christmas could have been interesting.) No, it had to teach, because by this time, Punky has to be educational. Bullspit. It really sucks the fun right out of my viewing experience seeing the show have to contort itself into relevance. "Christmas Shoplifting" sinks under too little character and too much moral. C'mon guys, it's Christmas. Drink some eggnog, have some Christmas cookies, relax. Don't teach on the holidays. - Jimmy Vibes |