‘NOS4A2’ Recap: ‘Welcome to Christmasland’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 209 of ‘NOS4A2’.

​Over the course of the past two years, we’ve talked at length about how the AMC series, NOS4A2, has done a phenomenal job of bucking against the trends and tropes that the horror genre tends to operate within. Simply because this series refuses to give into cliché and for its efforts, the audience has been treated to one supremely unique horror tale. For not only does this series take the time to tackle topics that are quite frankly, outright taboo in regard to this genre, it also excels at providing the audience with inspirational ideas on how to improve their lives. Something that is outright unheard of in horror, making this series about as special as they come.
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But while it has been a refreshing treat to indulge in a different kind of horror story, there are elements of this genre that are outright unavoidable and necessary in order to push the story along. Which is relevant to today’s discussion, simply because the next episode in this fantastic series, took the time to provide its loyal audience with some key elements that everyone enjoys when they take part in a terrifying experience. Specifically, the fact that at some point, our hero and our villain/monster need a proper showdown. One where the audience finally sees the baddie be punished for their special brand of evil and that’s exactly what went down in ‘Welcome to Christmasland’, since Vic McQueen and Charlie Manx faced off at last on Charlie’s home turf.

A feat that came to fruition courtesy of Millie’s conversation with Vic last week. Wherein she showed Victoria a weak point between Charlie’s inscape and the real world, something that she and Maggie were happy to exploit. But before this dynamic duo could finally give Charlie his just desserts and grab Wayne, they had to navigate the enormity of Christmasland, first. Which allowed for the story to remind us one more time, of exactly how evil Charlie really is, in order to raise the stakes. Something that came to fruition by way of a little down time with Wayne. Where Charlie was eager to reinforce the lies, he’s been feeding young ‘Bats’. Which motivated the young man to renounce the McQueen name and become a full-fledged member of #TeamManx. Meaning that Vic was going to face one hell of a challenge in bringing her baby home.

But there was mention of Charlie finally being punished for being Charlie and once we got done with that uncomfortable moment, the wins finally stopped for Charlie Manx. For an honest admission from his daughter brought them to the house on the snowy hill, wherein Charlie was finally forced to face his past and this was just an utter delight to watch. For all of his fears were put on display in front of his shifty little eyes and watching him buckle and crumble over having to be near the woman he thought he left behind and every bad memory that’s ever plagued him was satisfying for certain. But while we could have watched that for an entire hour, because Manx has had this coming for quite time some, there was a showdown that needed to happen in the center of town. 

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For Vic and Maggie finally found their way to the Wraith and Wayne and Charlie, upon his return to town, and well, this ended up being quite the messy showdown for certain. Because Bats simply refused to let Christmasland go and Charlie was more than happy to inform his children that it was time to play with their visitors. Which meant that poor Maggie and Vic were on the run and unable to find peace or a moment to catch their breath from the demonic little elvish children that inhabit this place. But it did give them time to plant lots and lots of bombs around town, the kind that actually did manage to hurt Charlie and terrify him. To the point where his own daughter began to realize that Christmasland was likely coming to an end, motivating her to renounce her father and this ‘wondrous’ place and set out on her own. An act that infuriated Charlie to no end. 
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Which brings us to the best part of this episode. Because Charlie’s fury and Vic and Maggie’s desire to escape the evil sugarplums of Christmasland, with Wayne, brought this trio together in the middle of a grand ice maze. Wherein the bombs around this twisted little tinsel town finally wounded and aged and weakened Charlie, allowing for Vic to finally enjoy the upper hand for a change and beat that rotten man within an inch of his life. And given the chance, she would have ended him in cold blood in order to exact revenge for every wound he’s ever inflicted upon her. But thankfully, Maggie was there to keep her on the high road and to refocus her on the mission, and that’s what made this particular tale so special and wonderful; the fact that it found a way to inject a noble concept into a story that was designed to feature all-out action.

For this entire season has focused heavily on the Brat finding her way in the world and healing her wounds and her pain and using the latter in a positive manner for a change. And not killing Manx, regardless of what stopped her from doing so; served as the apex of that particular journey. Because it made her better than him. And as an added bonus, despite her physical and mental wounds, she pressed ahead in the bravest way imaginable and she confronted her ailing son and did her best to talk a little sense into him, and whether he liked it or not; he was coming home with mom. If anything, it was just wonderful to see Vic finally realize her potential as a hero and see her be this brave and this strong and now that she and Wayne are uncomfortably reunited, how they will get out of this living hell will likely serve as the focus for next week’s season finale. Since Christmasland is burning and collapsing when this particular tale comes to an end. 

Which should make for one intense finale for certain. One that could see more people die since leaving an imaginary world on the verge of collapse, with bloodthirsty demon children running about cannot be safe in the slightest. But alas, we will have to wait to see how that particular nightmare is going to play out. But in the meantime, we can revel in one incredible tale. One that finally saw Manx suffer to no end, and one that offered up nothing but intensity from beginning to end and that just goes to show that this series can accomplish anything storytelling wise. For it can be a powerful drama, a character study, an action/adventure extravaganza or a traditional tale of terror on a moment’s notice, and now that Christmasland has fallen and Charlie is at his weakest, it should be interesting to see how this wild and incredible season will come to a close. Until next time.

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