'tis the season to be depressing
As the Christmas season approaches, the time comes for an important seasonal question: what's the bleakest, most depressing Christmas-themed episode of a TV series you've ever seen?
Note that it has to be a Christmas-themed story, not just something that aired around Christmas. This disqualifies the final episode of Blake's 7, which would otherwise sweep the category.
My vote goes to "A Different Kind of War," from the 1969-70 series Manhunt, which aired on London Weekend Television. Manhunt follows the tribulations of two French resistance members and a British airman on the run in occupied France. One of the resistance members, codenamed Nina, has crucial information and must be smuggled to Britain or killed rather than fall into German hands.
"A Different Kind of War" is set at Christmas 1942. Our heroes, weary and cold, take refuge at the house of Paul Menard, old friend of Vincent (the other French resistance member and leader of the three fugitives). Even though Paul is known to be collaborating, Vincent assures everyone that for their friendship's sake, Paul won't betray them. (Incidentally, it is implied about as heavily as could be got away with in 1970 that Vincent and Paul were lovers.)
But Paul isn't alone in the country house where he's spending Christmas. With him is his long-lost half-sister, to whom he seems inappropriately close; it's later revealed that they're sleeping together. She isn't welcoming to his old friend Vincent, and tensions rise. As the bickering worsens and mistrust deepens, we learn that Paul and Vincent were both, in their university days, Nazi supporters. Vincent has changed his mind; Paul hasn't. Nina, whose grandmother was Jewish, starts to snoop around the house and uncovers evidence that Paul is helping to plan the deportation of French Jews to concentration camps.
Paul's sister/lover is killed in a struggle with Jimmy, the RAF officer, and it becomes clear that Paul will have to be killed as well. Vincent insists on doing it, but then collapses in grief; meanwhile, Nina has slipped upstairs and shot Paul so Vincent won't have to. Our heroes slip away into the cold and snow of Christmas Day, leaving behind two corpses, and with their own trust in each other more strained than ever. The End.
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halotolerant has nicknamed this episode "Merry Incestuous Nazi Christmas," and I have every intention of rewatching it on Christmas Day, because apparently I am that kind of person.
So, what are your choices for the bleakest Christmas episode?
Note that it has to be a Christmas-themed story, not just something that aired around Christmas. This disqualifies the final episode of Blake's 7, which would otherwise sweep the category.
My vote goes to "A Different Kind of War," from the 1969-70 series Manhunt, which aired on London Weekend Television. Manhunt follows the tribulations of two French resistance members and a British airman on the run in occupied France. One of the resistance members, codenamed Nina, has crucial information and must be smuggled to Britain or killed rather than fall into German hands.
"A Different Kind of War" is set at Christmas 1942. Our heroes, weary and cold, take refuge at the house of Paul Menard, old friend of Vincent (the other French resistance member and leader of the three fugitives). Even though Paul is known to be collaborating, Vincent assures everyone that for their friendship's sake, Paul won't betray them. (Incidentally, it is implied about as heavily as could be got away with in 1970 that Vincent and Paul were lovers.)
But Paul isn't alone in the country house where he's spending Christmas. With him is his long-lost half-sister, to whom he seems inappropriately close; it's later revealed that they're sleeping together. She isn't welcoming to his old friend Vincent, and tensions rise. As the bickering worsens and mistrust deepens, we learn that Paul and Vincent were both, in their university days, Nazi supporters. Vincent has changed his mind; Paul hasn't. Nina, whose grandmother was Jewish, starts to snoop around the house and uncovers evidence that Paul is helping to plan the deportation of French Jews to concentration camps.
Paul's sister/lover is killed in a struggle with Jimmy, the RAF officer, and it becomes clear that Paul will have to be killed as well. Vincent insists on doing it, but then collapses in grief; meanwhile, Nina has slipped upstairs and shot Paul so Vincent won't have to. Our heroes slip away into the cold and snow of Christmas Day, leaving behind two corpses, and with their own trust in each other more strained than ever. The End.
halotolerant has nicknamed this episode "Merry Incestuous Nazi Christmas," and I have every intention of rewatching it on Christmas Day, because apparently I am that kind of person.So, what are your choices for the bleakest Christmas episode?