‘Lopez vs Lopez’ Recap: ‘Lopez vs Santa’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

LOPEZ VS LOPEZ -- "Lopez vs Santa" Episode 309 -- Pictured: (l-r) George Lopez as George, Brian Posehn as Nicolás, Brice Gonzalez as Chance -- (Photo by: Nicole Weingart/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 307 of ‘Lopez vs Lopez’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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Truly, there are few network television shows out there that are landing the holiday episode as well as Lopez vs Lopez on NBC. After all, it’s first holiday special, accomplished some serious wonders. In part by bringing the cast of The George Lopez Show into the fold for a reunion, which was quite the gift for television fans. But more so, because it explored what a Latinx holiday season looks like. Since it explored the wonder of Nochebuena and how certain Latinx family members (moms) love tinsel on the tree. But more importantly, it captured the season in the raw and showcased how our family struggles can bring us together when we appreciate what we are trying to accomplish through experiencing them. All of which is the point of these specials, for they are to explore how and why we celebrate the season and to explore its meaning.

If anything, that is top of mind today, simply because the show offered up its second holiday special last night and well… it was just as impactful as the first and explored some powerful truths about the holiday season that we don’t talk about enough. For instance, ‘Lopez vs Santa’ made it clear… that people are sometimes sorrowful during the season. Sure, it’s joyful and fun and beautiful, but life still happens during the season, and it can bring us down, as evidenced by Rosie’s journey here. Because La Reyna de Navidad (The Queen of Christmas) was La Reina da la Tristeza (The Queen of Sadness) this season. For she struggled to find joy when she and Josué made plans for a holiday union, and that reminded her of her failure there and sunk her, and that was a powerful reminder of that particular lesson.

Not to mention, the show also explored how sometimes… the holidays can make people angry and remind them of the past. Which was the case with George. Because he was trying to help Mayan find the perfect gift for Chance in this tale, but along the way… he revealed how much he disliked Christmas, and that got him into a full-on fight with a mall Santa on several occasions. Which even made Chance weary of the season. Which didn’t make sense because he normally enjoyed the holidays. But some digging on Mayan’s part revealed that since George was in recovery and on a healing journey, that he came to realize how miserable he was during past holiday seasons, and how few good memories he harbored when the holidays rolled around. Which truly hammered home how hard the holidays can be on people who have had rough experiences with it because of their family and other factors.

Which in way, almost made it seem as though this episode was going to serve as the foil to the original and not celebrate the majesty of the season. But that was all part of a plan. One that revealed that a show about life, and its ups and downs… had to be honest in its presentation of the holidays, so that it could explore how we truly find meaning during the season. Which is, through the people we love. For there are people in our lives that lift us up. By giving us moments that fulfill us at our very core and provide us with purpose during the season. Or they help us to understand that the memories we make now, matter more than the ones that might haunt us. Which is what Quinten and Mayan did for Rosie and George here, and that did indeed cheer up that duo, courtesy of a perfect holiday episode. For it did remind us that the real gifts in this life are the people we surround ourselves with, and our family.

Because they all bring us joy, and love, and an understanding that we can never falter in this life with them in our lives, and they are the reason for the season, and they do indeed… make it special. Which means that once again, this show deserves all the praise, for giving us a beautiful story. One that truly showcased the season in a realistic light that was relatable and of course, the show also made us laugh as only it can. Because let’s be honest, watching Chance beat down a mall Santa with a giant candy cane is the stuff of legend, as was watching George try to embody the role, and even Quinten going the extra mile here for Rosie paid off in laughter as well, and even Oscar’s one liners here were above and beyond, and well… all of these elements just remind us of how special this series is and how the wait for next week’s episode will be difficult. Since we are all eager to enjoy more life lessons from a show that mirrors it so well. Until next time.

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