The 2012 Summer Re-Watch: Everwood "Unhappy Holidays" Review

A scene in "Unhappy Holidays" crystallizes the episode's message, or theme, for the viewer. Andy treated a teenage boy who burned his feet walking on coals. The boy, Charlie, lives on an Indian Reservation and wanted to train for the rite of passage that marks a boy becoming a man. His father, after the boy successfully walks across the hot coals, explains to Andy that the father's tested more than the son. The father learns how to be a father to a man instead of a boy. The episode's about the Everwood parents watching helplessly as their children actively decide to make mistakes. The Abbots and Andy Brown try to intervene and control their respective child's decision-making, to treat them like the little kids they used to be, but the technique doesn't work. Amy and Ephram are teenagers and eager to make little and big mistakes.

Amy Abbott's descent into a Lifetime Movie of the Week plot reaches bottom. After weeks and weeks of sadness and Abbott domestic discord, the family reaches rock bottom over Thanksgiving dinner. Tommy Callahan is the catalyst for the fall, but he's inconsequential, an easy target to blame. Amy's issues are deeper than a bad buy employed by the local drug store. James Joyce said he wanted his literature to be a good looking-glass for which his countrymen could peer into and see themselves in. Harold and Rose avoid the looking-glass constantly, unable to admit their culpability in Amy's descent from town princess to depressed, sad and manipulative girl. Harold looked the other way. Rose saw what she wanted, interpreted instances of smiles and light in her daughter's eyes as confirmation that the worst passed, just like when a severe thunderstorm passes in summer and leaves behind some bent branches but a beautiful day. Harold learned about Tommy's reputation from Bright and accused Amy of hiding the boy's identity because she's become a manipulative and hurtful person. Pudding pie isn't even served before Tommy politely leaves the house after aggressive interrogation from Harold. Amy and Harold yell at one another. The next morning, Harold and Rose found out their daughter ran away in the night, not to Tommy, to who knows where. The last words she spoke to her parents were filled with hate, hate for them, hate for herself, and she wished for death finally, because she can't feel anymore.

The Abbotts make a choice in next week's episode that Andy makes in "Unhappy Holidays." Before the morning comes, Harold took refuge in a local bar, where Andy sat drinking as well, both deflated by fights with their children. Harold wonders when a dive bar on Thanksgiving night became preferable to sitting in his home, enjoying his family. Andy realizes their setting is too depressing, so they head over to the local casino, which is where Andy has the enlightening chat with Charlie's father. Harold goes home $7,000 poorer, receives a scolding from his wife and mother-in-law, and feels as low as a husband and provider and father can feel. Rose defends him against her mother by admitting the loss of money is a rare mistake for an otherwise exemplary father and husband. Several hours later, they must deal with their missing child.
The choice Andy makes involves Ephram's relationship with Madison. Andy loses his cool when he finds them kissing on the family room couch. The reasons for frowning upon the relationship include the law and the ethics of the situation. Ephram pouts and accuses his father of being jealous he has someone and Andy doesn't. The moments were rare when Ephram acted like a complete Dawson Leery but when they come they're unpleasant. I should note the line's written so that Andy finds the courage to kiss Linda on the mouth and tell her he wants to be with her, to forget about the roses and the balloons and just be there for her, disease or no disease. Andy's adamant about the mistake the Ephram-Madison relationship and I couldn't agree more because it's my second least favorite arc in the series. The forced break-up causes a ripple effect in the Brown household. Delia's most affected. Her brother is miserable; her baby-sitter and best friend can't handle being around the boy who makes her 'undone.' It's miserable to watch. I mean, it's actually miserable to watch. I briefly detailed my issues with the relationship last week and those issues remain: I can't buy into what the writers wanted us to buy. I would've preferred the writers told the same story but without a 20 year old babysitter and all of the drama that comes along with it. From scene #1, there's been zero sense of passionate romantic feelings between Ephram and Madison. The relationship is a massive misfire.

Andy's actually most concerned with Ephram's heart being broken for the first time. None of the characters consider what actually happens in the season finale when weighing the pros and cons of this courtship. The innocence of the concern is part of the charm of Everwood. The innocence extends to Ephram, who perceives himself as a man because he cleans the fireplace and brings wood into the house from the backyard, but he wants to have a girlfriend finally and is willing to fight for this chance. Madison listens to Andy list this concern about first heart-break. When Andy tells Ephram he won't stop the relationship, it's because he needs to let his child make mistakes and learn from them. Loving someone is an act of growing-up.

The happy moments are few and far between in "Unhappy Holidays." The episode was the last before a long hiatus on TheWB. Andy gets the girl before the episode fades to black, though. Linda and Andy kiss at a Christmas Tree lot while the first snow of the season falls. More importantly, The Chief told Andy about the ancient tribes using the time before the first snow fall to allow the gods to guide them to their winter encampment--it's the time of the Sojourn. The Chief's words reverberate throughout the episode. The next run of episodes will be the time of Sojourn for the characters. Everyone's on a new journey. It'll be interesting to watch where everyone ends up, whether one makes it to a safe encampment or is buried in the snow.

Other Thoughts:

-Delia looks like she wants to power bomb her father and Linda through a table when they kiss. Poor Delia's always getting sent off to get something or look at something while the Brown men dance around for the women they want. I also think Madison's inability to stay for Thanksgiving dinner because of feelings for Ephram was disappointing.

-Betty White guest starred as Rose's mother-in-law, eight years before signing Betty White to a guest stint became the trendy thing on the internet. Betty's great as the irritating mother-in-law, though I would've liked to see Amandes and her get more material besides 'mother-in-law emasculates Harold.' This Betty's only appearance on Everwood, though she might be seen in "Family Dynamics" briefly.

-The snow effect on TV is nice except when it hits an actor or actress' hair. It looks like pieces of paper blowing around.

-John Pogue wrote the script. Jason Moore directed.

UP NEXT: "Family Dynamics"--The Abbott family is in turmoil; Andy takes Delia on a special bonding trip to regain her trust. Watch it on Amazon.com.

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