The 25 Days of Christmas Episodes – Day 22 – Futurama “A Tale of Two Santas”
In this year’s installment, the Planet Express crew is hired to deliver a sack of children’s letters to Santa (mostly pleading for their lives) to “Santa’s Death Fortress on Neptune”. Arriving on Neptune, they see that Santa’s reign of terror has devastated the local economy and oppressed the residents. (Elves are from Neptune!) Fry, Leela, and Bender decide to take down Santa once and for all.When an attempt to blow up Santa’s head with a paradox fails, the Planet Express crew tries to escape, and the heat of their jets melts the ice just enough to trap the psychotic robot. With Santa down, the Neptunians can go back to making toys again, which is their true love. (Aside from alcohol and gay sex. It’s in the top three, though.) Their rushed, slipshod efforts create enough toys for the children of the world, and Bender steps in as Santa Claus.
The only problem is, the world hates and fears Santa, so Bender’s attempts to deliver toys (“I come bearing Tri-ominoes!”) only throw the populace into a panic. Whenever Bender comes down a chimney, the residents react with violence. Shotguns, flamethrowers, whatever’s handy. Poor Bender takes an absolute beating here. When he finally gives up and dumps the toys down a sewer (which, hilariously, is right next to a Toys for Tots donation box), the police catch him. A short trial (which means an appearance from the 31st Century’s greatest lawyer, the simple country Hyper-Chicken) results in Bender being sentenced to death for Santa’s crimes.
Bender is to be executed by two electromagnets (“When this random number generator reaches zero. 10! 3! 12! 3 again!”), but his friends arrive all dressed like Santa. Except for Zoidberg, who’s disguised as Santa’s best friend, Jesus. And then, the real Santa shows up to rescue Bender and recruit him to “join my slaying tonight”. The two robots tear the city apart, while Fry and the others cower in their home. And just maybe, that’s what Xmas is all about. Hiding in terror with the ones you love.
Best Line – Mayor Poopenmeyer: “My God, the real Santa! Get him, Jesus!”
Christmas Tropes:
Santa Claus – Oh man, this is so full of Santas. Aside from the “real” robot Santa, we’ve got Bender subbing in, and most of the rest of the cast wearing Santa disguises.
Musical Number – “Xmas Day”, a catchy little number performed by the Neptunians. (“These toy soldiers are painted poorly / and they’re made of inferior wood.”)
References to other seasonal holidays – Bender runs across KwanzaaBot, who’s delivering the traditional Kwanzaa gift – a book titled What the Hell is Kwanzaa? KwanzaaBot mentions the Hanukkah Zombie, who eventually makes an appearance in the Bender’s Big Score movie.
Celebrity Guests – KwanzaaBot is voiced by Coolio. KwanzaaBot absolutely kills me. That’s why I 
picked this episode over their first Xmas episode – I wanted to mention KwanzaaBot.
picked this episode over their first Xmas episode – I wanted to mention KwanzaaBot.Learning a lesson – Terror is best shared with those you love. Also, a lobster dressed as Jesus is really funny.
Cheer-o-meter Score: This is one of my absolute favorite episodes in the countdown. Still, it’s a little short on the cheer, what with all the violence. Since Xmas does eventually bring everybody together, I think I can justify a 4.
