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Thursday, December 07, 2023

Christmas: The Little Drummer Boy: Book II

Christmas 



             Another Rankin-Bass sequel.  "The Little Drummer Boy: Book II" (classy with the roman numerals came out 8 years after the first special also aired on NBC. 1976 seemed to be the year of  Rankin Bass going back to things they've made before like with  "Frosty's Winter Wonderland" , "Rudolph's Shiny New Year" and this.  

             The first special wrapped up pretty nicely, Aaron's character arc has him finding about love and ends on Christmas, the very first Christmas.  The story of this second one has to be amazing for it to work and well... this feels kind of flat, but not bad. 

             It starts right after the last special and one of the wise man, Melchior, takes Aaron with him to a man named Simeon to tell him about the birth of Christ. Simeon  has made special bells to announce the birth, but they were taken by Roman tax collectors whose leader is named Brutus.  Aaron decides to help and get the bells back. The special really has a simple plot of bells get taken, bells have to get un taken. That's it.  There's not much investment for like Aarron since there's not much a big goal from him, except that he's helping to announce the birth of Jesus, by getting the bells back.  King Melchior doesn't add much either, he really is there because the plot needed him to connect to Simeon who is there because bells.   
   
         Brutus becomes the most interesting thing in this special. His mannerisms are  quirky, he's snarky, he loves money and also likes to call his 2nd in command in a fool.  Plus he sings a great song, that they liked so much they give a reprise to Aaron to continue it.   

I'm here for your taxes, tax collectors/ Copyright Warner 



     The plot wants to be mean, because the collectors need a fire to melt the bells into silver bricks so they'll be easier to transport. Guess what? That's right they burn Aaron's drum. That part annoys me. Remember that was last thing he had from his parents, so screw you special.  I think the writers didn't it on purpose just to make up drama or something. It's just mean.  (Somehow meaner than killing his parents) 

         The sentient animals that belong to Aaron are able to sneak the bells off whilst the fire is happening.  (Fun fact it takes  961.8°C for silver to melt)  Anyway, they are able to hide the bells. Brutus is unhappy but, like the first special, it's 30 minutes so that's not going anywhere. The bells are safe and oh Aaron gets a new drum and Aaron is happy now, so that works.  The ending with the children's choir doing the song "Do you Hear what I hear?"  is nice and well done.  It ends with "The Little Drummer Boy" song because yes. 

Anyway, these angels me not to go back / Copyright Warner 



                I don't this one is bad, I think it's mostly weak because it's mostly a story going the motions. Rankin-Bass usually makes an interesting story/concepts , interesting characters or both. Here they have characters who are there for the plot and have the plot just be the plot. Their villain only works for a second and really has not much going on either.   It is a downgrade from the first one, which I think is well done,  this one really just goes through the  motions. It is sad since this one was written by Jules Bass himself, under a different name (oh), yet there's not much that it really gives as a special, except that money song. I am happy to hear Greer Garson back for the narration role.   I don't think it shouldn't be watched, but don't expect too much from it. 

        That's it for now , tune in next time when we melt silver bells, silver bells. 

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