It came out on December 7th - like Pearl Harbor sinking my soul watching.
You have two stories: a) a rich guy versus artifact-driven hateful Santa, b) Claudia, Artie, a piano and Artie's estranged Father.
Myka and Pete end up in Los Angeles. Live in Los Angeles. "L. A." is NOT hot bods, rich and movie stars. However, viewers are tortured to try and feel for a guy with wealth, expensive home, nice clothes, estranged wife, a daughter. No Artifact, he destroys lives to stay rich.
Seriously, there is ZERO reason to feel for this man.
The only motivation is for the two Feds to get the artifact and get back to The Warehouse.
On the other hand, Claudia wants to make Artie happy with a piano from his youth. Caveat, she discovers Artie's dad wants to know why she wants the piano, White Lies end up with Artie and Father in the same room.
Can Claudia keep the lies going long enough to unite the two? Rooting for Claudia the optimist is infectious. Judd Hirsch has been about for decades. He can bring any character to life --- but has been given 30-minute sitcom shows. Here, he's let loose to be a real Jewish Father frustrated in his son Artie's choices in life. Still, you feel for the piano teacher. Taking Artie's side is too easy. But, that does not happen.
Claudia is Santa.
Claudia's biggest gift is not the piano but uniting the two. Claudia brings us to hear both side hoping to resolute their indifference.
Compare this with the rich guy attacked by Artifact fueled Santa, viewers wait through half the hour to see how Claudia will do with Artie Senior and Junior.
That is how this episode rates: half good
This was an amazing show some of us came late to appreciate. It is up there with Star Trek and X-Files, Stargate SG-1,.. This disappointed, but still has a loyal lover forever.
