Have Yourself a Very Little Christmas

It's December 23rd and hot. Dorothy suggests a Secret Santa, meaning the need to purchase just one present, the one designated for Rose's gift. The girls decide to help others in the church kitchen.

The show was undoubtedly firing on all cylinders by this point. I can only imagine how many millions tuned in for this Christmas cracker.

It's just delightful! I think it's a beautiful episode. It's funny, but it's incredibly moving. I think it really does capture the true meaning of Christmas, the genuine spirit of it, and the art of giving.

Rose is at her very best here. I can only imagine what a Christmas in St. Olaf would have been like; however, she is spot on: it isn't Christmas without fruitcake. It's September, time to get baking!

It hits hard; it really does highlight some pretty big failings in society, problems that still exist today.

Good to see the excellent Matt McCoy, a very fine actor, always makes me think of Police Academy and the hand that rocked the cradle.

Being British I still can't imagine a warm Christmas day. It must be amazing!

8/10.

The girls draw names to see who will buy for whom and all dread having their name picked by Rose. Later, they all serve dinner to the needy at Rose's church where Stan appears among the crowd.

Dorothy states she had to assault another shopper to get a coveted Batman hat - a popular franchise back in 1989 due to the movie. Sophia refers to Stan as "The Yutz of Xmas Past" and reveals the gift she sent to son Phil was from the Victoria's Secret catalog. The funniest part is Blanche's reaction during the name-picking scene when she realizes it's herself who will be getting one of Rose's dreaded homemade gifts.

The jokes are not as funny as in the excellent Season 2 Xmas episode and when we get to the dinner sequence, a lot of the lines sound like a Public Service Announcement.

Reverend Avery is played by Matt McCoy (WE GOT IT MADE, THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE).

Not up to par for THE GOLDEN GIRLS. 6/10.