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23: A Christmas Carol Part Two - Plot Analysis
19 Plays2 days ago
In this episode of Book Watch, we’re diving into a character analysis of Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic, A Christmas Carol, and the 1992 Muppets Christmas Carol adaptation. How well did the film capture the heart of the book? What changes worked—and which ones missed the mark?
In Part 2 we explore:
The plot and themes of the story and how well the Michael Caine and the Muppets cast portray those themes of generosity, class disparity, poverty, and the enduring effect of the Christmas Spirit.
Join hosts Chris, Jordyn, and Sarah-Daye as they bring on the holiday cheer and discuss what worked, what didn’t and what Christmas is all about.
Tell us your thoughts! Did you love or hate this adaptation? Let’s discuss in The Book Watch Lounge on Facebook
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Transcript
Introduction to 'The Muppets Christmas Carol'
00:00:00
Speaker
What is up, book watchers? We are back for another episode. I'm Jordan, and as always, I've got Saraday and Chris with me. How's it going, guys? Good, good. Ready to dive into the plot.
00:00:11
Speaker
Yes. Okay, so this is our second episode of a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, and we are covering ah the 1992 adaptation of The Muppets Christmas Carol, and we are going to get into all that right after this.
Adapting Books into Films: Successes and Challenges
00:00:39
Speaker
Welcome to Book Watch, the podcast where pages meet screens. Each week, we dive into the world of adaptations, comparing beloved books with their cinematic counterparts. From faithful retellings to bold reimaginings, we'll break down what worked, what didn't, and what made each adaptation unforgettable. Whether you are a bookworm, a movie buff, or both, grab your bookmark, grab your popcorn, and let's watch some books.
00:01:04
Speaker
Welcome back. um We are going to get through the major plot points. So we're going to kind of break it down. um The intro with Scrooge in his place of work, The Counting House with Bob Cratchit, and then go through each of our four ghosts, Ghosts of Jacob Marley, Ghosts of Christmas Past, Peasant Future, and then the aftermath. So the the little epilogue section section that we get. Yeah.
00:01:33
Speaker
Yeah, we'll just start in the beginning. And the Marley Marley was dead to begin with. That's the opening line. Kind of a weird line to open with for a Christmas story, but probably one of the most iconic opening lines. Dead as doornail. Dead as a doornail.
00:01:49
Speaker
Or a door knocker. whatever the case may be. um So the beginning scene is just introducing Scrooge, what his vibe is, what he's all about, where he works, the type of person he is, and kind of introducing Bob Cratchit a little bit, what he's all about um so how did you guys besides the addition of the Mubbity song that the movie has how did you guys think that the film lined up with the book as far as introduction of the these two main characters I kind of like how you're kind of following Scrooge walking through the streets and like you just see the back of them and then At the end, it's, you know, he turns around and he's like, shut up or whatever. Humbug maybe he says. um And it's like, yep, that's Scrooge.
Scrooge's Character: Book vs. Film
00:02:40
Speaker
Yeah.
00:02:42
Speaker
Yeah. I mean, I think we're going to saying it over and over here that this is really, it is a faithful adaptation. So, so much of this, even if it's slightly different is faithful enough to say, yeah, they did it well. Yeah.
00:02:54
Speaker
So he gets into his office and Bob Cratchit is there sitting shivering by his one little candle and his one little coal in the fire. and it's Christmas in England. So it is freezing outside and inside. And Bob Cratchit goes to Mr. Scrooge and is like... do you think we could like have a little bit more coal and extra scoop for the fire? what what do you think about that? And Scrooge is like, no, humbug, can't have it. um And then Scrooge's nephew, Fred comes in with all sorts of Christmas cheer and Scrooge is not having any of
Humor and Themes in 'The Muppets Christmas Carol'
00:03:34
Speaker
that. is...
00:03:36
Speaker
anti-christmas anti-good spirits um and i really love how they have the exact exchange from the book um scrooge is like why are you so happy like you're poor and then fred is like well why are you so bitter you're rich like if it's about money then shouldn't you be the happiest person um and i think that's a really good like setting the tone again of who scrooge is and kind of what the theme and the message of the stories about what do you guys think yeah man money doesn't solve any of it uh you know you can be the poorest person in the world and be miserable or the richest person in the world and be miserable so it's about a perspective a well that's like you know the heart of this story is the christmas spirit um and i also want to know that the little mice or rats or whatever they are
00:04:26
Speaker
um where he's like, how would you like to like be fired or whatever? And then it cuts back to them and they're in their little tropical outfits and doing a little tropical dance. And again, it's kids movie, it's targeted her kids. And like, that's just another little giggle that we all kind of got out of that. Yeah, it was fun. Yeah.
00:04:45
Speaker
That was cute. a little A little break there. um Because it's just in the book, it's just Bob Cratchit. There's no like other assistants in the office. So like if you want to include some humor, it makes sense to add in the little rat characters instead of having Bob Cratchit kind of break character and and be the one like goofing off. Yeah.
00:05:06
Speaker
It's a bleak moment with him handing out eviction notices and all that. So it was good to have that bit of ah com comedic relief there. Because otherwise you're like, oh, there's a bunch of people that are going to be homeless tomorrow in this book in this movie.
00:05:20
Speaker
Yeah. And to get that announcement like on Christmas is... heartless but again proving who Scrooge is at this point in time and you know just making it super super clear that this is not a good man so his nephew Fred they get into a fight a little bit and they're arguing about Christmas and you keep Christmas in your way and I'll keep it in mine but you don't keep it at all. i like, yeah, exactly. So leave me alone. um And so Fred leaves after inviting Uncle Scrooge to Christmas dinner with his wife and their friends.
00:05:56
Speaker
um And he leaves and then two portly gentlemen come in asking for donations for the poor. And that doesn't really go well for them. um Scrooge is
Marley's Warning: Consequences of Scrooge's Actions
00:06:09
Speaker
like, well, are there no poor houses? Are there no prisons? And they're like,
00:06:13
Speaker
yeah, but like we're trying to give them some Christmas cheer and some comfort and some, you know, warmth and some just like some reason to live, basically. Like some of them would rather die than go to these places. And Scrooge has like the most like disgusting line in the whole book, I think. He's just like, then let them die and decrease the surplus population. And that's really, really brutal for like a kid's story, I think. Although there are people who feel that way sometimes. yeah Scrooges that would think that people need to pick themselves up by their bootstraps or just be done with it. right but And he's like, yeah, I pay my taxes. My taxes go to those institutions. Like, why do I need to get more money? Yeah.
00:06:57
Speaker
I think it's a really. it makes a lot of sense for Dickens to put those specific lines in the book, given his history of having grown up in those poor houses. and doing the factory work as a child and like, you know, his, his father going to a debtor's prison, and like he lived that firsthand. And so like, it was an intentional choice for Dickens to make the bad guy say those things and so actively support those things because he's trying to, you know, spread that message to the readers. of Like this is, these are not good things. These are not things that we should be supporting. Like just,
00:07:34
Speaker
make it super duper clear to y'all I'm not for this so then we move along end of the day um Scrooge and Bob Cratchit have a little conversation about um can we get the day off tomorrow since it's like actually Christmas day and Scrooge says that they're basically robbing him because he's going to pay them for the day of work, even though they're not actually working. But he does relent. He does give them the day off.
Scrooge's Past: Lost Love and Loneliness
00:08:01
Speaker
and So then you get a little song of ah Kermit the Frog and the rats singing a little song about how happy they are um that it's Christmas and they get to be home for the day.
00:08:13
Speaker
And during that, there's the visuals of them cleaning that are pretty funny if you're paying attention to the actual actions they're taking. Yes. Yeah. And then we get throughout the song, we get the penguins doing ice skating and just like a total vibe shift from inside the house where or inside the the office where it's cold and everybody's like walking on eggshells and really nervous to everybody singing and laughing and having a grand old time and really feeling that Christmas spirit.
00:08:41
Speaker
um it's okay So then Scrooge gets home and we have the scene with the knocker. He's going to open his door and the knocker kind of transforms into the face of his old partner, Jacob Marley. And so in the Muppet movie, it is one of the it turns into a Muppet face, which is kind of funny. hmm.
00:09:05
Speaker
it was nice to see like the transition again like 1992 cgi was not that bad um it was like a very slow transition this was one of the moments i thought michael kane was a little bit of an over acting um but again i think it's for the kids movie they needed that overreaction to realize that this is actually a scary moment and not a funny moment um But yeah, just an a decent scene. And he did he did a good job after that being like, okay, whatever. I i i didn't really see what I think I saw.
00:09:37
Speaker
But then the careful walking up the stairs painting in the next part here. um and Yeah, it definitely showed his reaction in a visceral way for a sec. And then he had to say, it would go probably just something ate, as he references later.
00:09:51
Speaker
Yeah. And again, like we have Gonzo narrating, like, I have to remind you that Jacob Marley is dead as a doornail. Like he's like nothing else will be like magical or wondrous if you forget that fact. So he jumps in and then Scrooge talking he's Jacob and in the movie, Robert Marley appear to Scrooge and they start talking. He's making his jokes like there's more of gravy than the grave about you and talking about how you're like this apparition in front of him is just a bit of undigested food. And all of that is direct quote from the book. Yeah.
00:10:29
Speaker
Again, i can't i can't talk about it enough how cool it is that they take so many lines directly from the text and it's it's word for word. And Michael Caine just delivers it so well. Like, yes, the overacting in in parts, but also like I think he's a really great Scrooge and he delivers it so perfectly with that little bit of like menace and like intensity. But then like he's making a joke like you're gravy, not the grave. Like it's and it's funny. You chuckle a little bit.
00:11:00
Speaker
And then the Marleys sing their iconic little song for us. And Sarah Day, you loved that song. Marley and Marley. Marley. Yes. It's catchy for sure. It is. That is the only song I like.
00:11:18
Speaker
um And so then the Marleys warn Scrooge that they're covered in chains and cash boxes and ledgers. And they say, we forged these chains. through our actions in life. And right now, like we died seven years ago, or in the book, at least it explains that they died seven years ago. So at the time that they died, their chains were the same as Scrooge's and Scrooge has now added even more chains over the last seven years. since Marley died.
00:11:45
Speaker
um And so they're like, you so you're still alive. You still have a chance to basically to repent and and fix things for yourself. So you'll be visited by three spirits and they will you know try to convince you to change your ways basically. And they do that through words and through the song. And Scrooge is like, you guys are, I'm, I'm crazy. I'm just going to go to bed.
00:12:12
Speaker
Like, this is, this is not real. I'm going to bed. And then we the first. of seems like karmic system almost, like karma system a little bit, the way they were, know, chained down from what they did in life sort of. So, which was kind of interesting. And then he was able to, through Christmas, fix his karmic history, they think. So our karmic debt.
00:12:31
Speaker
so That's kind of cool. Yeah, absolutely. And so then we move and we get our first ghost, the ghost of Christmas past. And I think the way that they portrayed this ghost was a choice. what What did you guys think about how how the Muppets did this particular ghost?
00:12:54
Speaker
Well, i like I said in the last episode, I was shocked to see that it was actually like another puppet. I mean, she's young. like she's She's the ghost of Christmas past. So she's she's young. It's a little creepy now looking back on it. But again, when I was little, I thought that it was like it was just a kid.
00:13:14
Speaker
funny how you as a kid see other things that look like kids and it's just normal at that point. But yeah, it does have a little bit of an off-putting nature to it when you look at it now, if you don't look, if you look too closely at it. But I liked that it was, that one was the young child version of Christmas from the past. The middle was the adult version through the end of its life. And then the ah yet to come was the almost grim reaper kind of character. So I liked that visualization of them.
00:13:41
Speaker
For sure. Yeah. And it did come from the book that way. Yeah. Yeah. I think this, from what I remember of other adaptations I've seen, I think this character is the most like up for interpretation in terms of appearance. um Cause the way it's described, it doesn't say that it looks like a flame, but it says like there's two arms and two legs and then there's 12 legs and no legs and three arms. And it's like, it's very fluid and it's constantly changing. And so like, I think like,
00:14:13
Speaker
trying to portray that on screen is always going to be a challenge. So it just kind of depends on what the rest of the film looks like and the tone and the vibe of it. So I think it, this, like this version of it made sense within the context of it being a Muppet movie. Yeah. Yeah. And she was very flowy. So I think that kind of works with the description.
00:14:38
Speaker
Yeah. Okay, so then the Ghost of Christmas Past takes Scrooge way, way back to when he was a child and his schoolhouse. And we get to see poor little Scrooge all alone in the schoolhouse and all of the other boys running around outside and wishing each other Merry Christmas and going home for the holidays be with their families and him just sitting there and staying.
00:15:04
Speaker
It kind of reminded me of... Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, where, like, Harry, like, he doesn't, he's not expecting anything. Like, we hear in the in that story, like, how he he's lucky if he gets a pair of socks for Christmas. And so, like, he doesn't have positive associations with Christmas either. and so it kind of reminded me of that, like, this this poor little boy just, like, all alone and nobody cares about him and nobody loves him and he's just by himself. It made me sad for him.
00:15:33
Speaker
Mm-hmm. But he talks about how it it's a good time for him to get more work done. So it's, you showing that work ethic and like the idea that I can make more money. I can do more if I just use this time effectively. If I chase that American, I mean British dream. Yeah. It's almost like a self-fulfilling prophecy and he was sad and lonely. so he was like, okay, well I'll just get more work done. but then the,
00:15:59
Speaker
the Going to a couple scenes from now, he's still like a workaholic and still cares about money. So he kind of loses the girl because he's not turning that off. And so it now he's lonely and just cares about money. um so it kind of you know came back at him.
00:16:22
Speaker
What did you guys think of the choice to remove the scene with his younger sister? That happens in the book. They took that out of the movie. um I think for a kid's movie, um they also have to keep it quick. Because I did notice it was also three nights in the book, whereas in the movie, it's all within one night. And it's like three different hours.
00:16:46
Speaker
um So I think you have to cut certain things. And they needed to keep the lighter parts of the story to keep it, you know, entertaining for the children. Mm-hmm. Yeah, I didn't bump up against it. It didn't bother me at all that it was gone. It was just one of those things that, yeah, you remove for time when you're reading a story that's, you know, but roughly three hours long. You got to condense it a bit. So...
00:17:06
Speaker
yeah I just think it kind of took away any like humanization of him. sure um so Which again makes sense for a movie because you like you're leaning into the exaggerated parts of a character just like to make it super obvious to an audience because you can't get like the inner thoughts and like the minor details that you can get through writing. um So it made it definitely made sense for them to take it out I think but it's I kind of wish it was there just to like like I said just to humanize him a little bit and show that like he wasn't always the way that we see him at the beginning of the story. Like he did have love in his heart and he did have some Christmas spirit in his life at some point. And it just like, you can kind of choose to water that plant and have it grow within you, or you can choose to abandon it and turn towards other things.
00:18:00
Speaker
um But yeah, so continuing it with Christmas past. So then he goes and we kind of skip ahead a couple of years and see him when he's like a teenager or a young man who's working for, um in the book, it's Fezziwig. In the Muppet movie, it gets turned to Fozziwig and Fozzi the bear plays Fozziwig. And it's a Christmas party at work. And we get to see, like you guys were saying, how even though like it's supposed to be a Christmas party, he's coming in like, do you know how much this is costing? Like the company, like, what are we doing? Like, this is so like frivolous and silly and not important. um
00:18:36
Speaker
And then we meet the love interest bell for the first time. And we get to see like their little meet cute moment at the party when he bumps into her. um What did you guys think of this scene?
00:18:48
Speaker
okay no I know. I bet. Yeah. you um Yeah, I think that ah it definitely continues to show that character's um perspective of this is why are we, why are we being frivolous with this? week We're wasting money. And his boss is like, no, it's Christmas. We're having a party. You got to enjoy yourself. Go. And then here, meet this girl. She would be good for you. Maybe she can get you out of your shell a little bit. Maybe she can get you to lighten up a little bit sort of thing. and Yeah.
00:19:18
Speaker
Yeah. And then we skip forward again and we see another interaction with Belle and it's not as fun of a memory. and She's basically breaking up with him and telling him that it's because he values money and work more than her.
00:19:33
Speaker
um And she admits like her family is not wealthy. She doesn't have like a dowry for him. um But he's been promising like, you know, next year we'll get married as soon as this financial thing works out. Like, okay, well, It didn't work out as much as I wanted it to. So next year, next year. And he keeps like pushing it off. And she's basically saying like, if you really loved me for me, then none of this other stuff would matter and we could get married.
Scrooge's Realization: Family and Choices
00:19:58
Speaker
But these other things matter more to you than than I do. And that's why you choose them. And i can't, I'm not going to wait forever for you. Basically, I'm going to and live my life.
00:20:10
Speaker
um And we do see flashing forward to Christmas present, we do see her with a house full of children and a husband and living a happy, joy filled life. And that just kind of is a dagger in the heart for old Scrooge.
00:20:26
Speaker
Because that he's like he has the thought, he's like, that could have been me. And it's like, yeah, it could have. It could have. Too bad, you suck. But it gets the point across definitely that he could have been happy, but he chose to focus on his money and not marry his wife marry the woman he loved at one point when he could have, and but needed to have his ah finances in a certain spot before he felt like that was something he wanted to do. Mm-hmm.
00:20:54
Speaker
Yeah. And then I think that kind of wraps up Christmas past, unless you guys have anything else you want to touch on for that section. good Okay. Moving along. Ghost of Christmas present.
00:21:09
Speaker
I think this is, I mean, it's easy for this to be the favorite spirit, but I think this is my favorite spirit just because he's so jolly. Yeah. Like he feels kind of like Santa. feels kind of like, like a friend, like, Oh, come in. Like, let's like come eat. Like know me better. Like, You know, like he is really welcoming and like he's just more fun than the other one a little absent-minded. No, I'm a big absent-minded fool. I love that.
00:21:38
Speaker
Yes. oh so And there's a little Muppet humor like in that moment and perfectly placed because that that's the character to have of a Muppet joke. with because he's already so fun and he is like the physical or metaphysical since he's a spirit representation of Christmas and Christmas joy and the Christmas spirit and like what it means to be joyful during that time of year. and So he takes him, that spirit takes Scrooge around to a couple different places. He takes him to the house of his nephew Fred and his wife Clara and he gets to watch as they're all playing games and having a good time. And he gets to see how...
00:22:24
Speaker
they are like talking trash about Scrooge behind his back, basically, a little bit. In the guise of a game, but still, like he's compared to an animal that nobody wants around. like He's a beast. He's just all these not-so-nice comparisons to Scrooge, basically kind of playing like charades a little bit. like They have to guess who he is.
00:22:50
Speaker
i thought it was perfect how in Michael Caine portrayed scrooge in the scene and like the joy he's starting to show on his face of like trying to play the game and the one person guesses cat or whatever it was i said wait i guessed it first um you know like he's in it and again like looking back at um bell and like that's the life he could have had it's like you could be here right now enjoying this game with them and then it turns out he's talking about him and he's like oh wait like
00:23:21
Speaker
You just see it like the joy leave his face. um So i'm I'm really glad. I like how that visualization came together. Yeah, in the film, I think they did a good job with showing him being a little disappointed by it being him. In the book, I thought I almost felt like he was like, oh, that's damn clever. is what it Like the the sense I got of it. He's like, oh, that was a good that was a good call. I am a little bit like that. yeah you you You missed the point maybe on this one a little bit. Yeah. yeah um I think the real, with that interpretation in mind, I think the real like gut punch comes when he sees Bob Cratchit's family. And here's how Mrs. Cratchit talks about him. So that's the next place that the Ghost of Christmas Present takes him. He's like, what are we doing in this part of town? Like, this is where all the poor people live. Like, why am I here? And he's like, look in there, look in that house. And there's Bob Cratchit's family. And he sees Mrs. Cratchit, Miss Piggy, and their two girls and then their older son.
00:24:25
Speaker
you know, and and living in this poor, you know, house is not a big house, like very small, very cramped with that many people in there. and then he sees um Bob Cratchit Kermit walking up with tiny Tim. And this is the first time we see tiny Tim in the story. And, um,
00:24:45
Speaker
Scrooge is kind of standing there watching them have their Christmas dinner and he's seeing um Tiny Tim and he's he's not well. He's got a crutch, a little cane, and he you know has have he has trouble walking and his dad has to carry him around. um and they're having their dinner and bob crotchet is like let's raise a toast to the founder of the feast mr scrooge like without him paying me we couldn't afford all of this wonderful food um and miss piggy goes off on screw she's like founder of the feast my butt basically like they can't like he's terrible he treats you badly he barely pays you like What are we thanking him for?
00:25:28
Speaker
um yeah so he just, there that whole scene is just really continuing to drive it home to Scrooge like you've never thought about Bob Cratchit as a person with a wife and kids and like people to take care of. um And he immediately is drawn to tiny Tim and it's like, what's what's wrong with him? Like, is he okay? Like, what's what's the matter with him? um Again, showing that like there is a heart in there somewhere. It's buried very deep and right not easily accessible, but it's there.
00:26:03
Speaker
And I think this scene really shows the the ah character of Bob Cratchit being a really good man who wants to thank be thankful for his boss, even though he's not a good person. He cares for his family, every single one of them.
00:26:17
Speaker
um Throughout the whole scene, you see different moments of him valuing each one of his family members and giving the care that you know Scrooge has never shown to anybody. Yeah.
00:26:32
Speaker
So he yeah, um he asked the ghost of Christmas present, you know, i know you're not the ghost of the future, but what do you see for Tiny Tim? Like, is Tiny Tim going to be okay And the ghost, we he's starting to get gray hair. He's starting to, like, get kind of old because he's, you know, the he's present. He's that one day, Christmas day, and the day is starting to end. And he's like, I foresee an empty chair and a crotch with no owner.
00:27:03
Speaker
And Scrooge is like, that is what really, i think that's like the main thing that kind of gets him to turn. And that's where that line comes in too. His own words turn back against him too. Right.
00:27:16
Speaker
Yes. Well, he'd like the, yeah, the counting thing. if he If they die, then there's not as many mouths to feed. kind yeah Might as well get it over with, die, and you can... so will it yeah And he's like, holy cow, like that those are my... like I can't believe i said that. like I didn't yeah mean for him.
00:27:32
Speaker
yeah said it Right in front of Bob Cratchit about a kid who is just is struggling with disability and will probably not make it. and now and So that's just painful to hear.
00:27:43
Speaker
here yeah Yeah, I didn't even think about that. He said that right in front of Bob Cratchit and like even to Bob like he's I'm talking about you dude like you're you're the poor people that I'm talking about that if you can't survive you should go to a poor house well they'd rather die than let them die like that is really yeah that yeah that just took it to the next level for me actually that's crazy heavy stuff But yeah, I think the, again, like Dickens, like driving home that point of like poor houses are evil and the debtors prisons are evil. And like, if you support those things, you are like Scrooge, you are the bad guy in the narrative. You're the bad guy in this world. um And things don't change much.
00:28:31
Speaker
Yeah. Unfortunately. the world Yeah. That the spirit, the, happiest jolliest like most comforting spirit throwing those words back in his face like really hits different for sure um anything else for christmas present
00:28:54
Speaker
Miss Piggy's little moments of eating the food and all the different little things she does that makes it, you know, the fun interactions. The kids were fun, but, and then, you know, the love you see between the family. But yeah, I think otherwise it was a pretty good coverage of both that scene. We've talked about it in the past, but I'm just going to reiterate that I like the character design of the spirit. Yeah.
00:29:16
Speaker
Yeah.
The Specter's Lesson: Change and Redemption
00:29:17
Speaker
yeah is fun. Yeah. okay All right. Ghost of Christmas Future. We've talked about this one a little bit. The Dementor looking spirit and how he's super scary, especially for a little kid. And Gonzo, Charles Dickens, and Rizzo the Rat even say that they're like, are you sure this is okay for the kids? Like, this is a little scary. We're going to get out of here. We'll see you guys later.
00:29:42
Speaker
um and and so they they kind of go. Because throughout... The rest of the story, they kind of are interjecting with some asides and some like background information and their are little jokes and um antics and stuff like that. But this one, they're like, no, this is where it gets serious. We're going to head out. um So we see this specter and he this this spirit doesn't talk, which I think adds to that, like spookiness of it, because it really makes it clear that this is this is not like a person or a friend or like somebody that you could hang out with like Christmas present, like this is an other being, um that should And that's in the book. And I think almost every adaptation is portrayed that way, which really helps keep yeah the weight all the way all the way across.
00:30:30
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. So they start actually in the graveyard and Scrooge like won't look he's like I don't want to I don't want to see this like let's take me somewhere else show me the future and so we see a bunch of different people that Scrooge knows but like he doesn't have any friends so we can't say that they're his friends but people he knows in the community and they're all tough yeah yeah business people that he's interacted with and they're all talking about this person who has died and they don't ever mention a name just like oh we're so glad he's gone Like this guy was terrible. We're so glad he's gone. like you know, making jokes about this person who's died. And he's like, oh my gosh, that's terrible. Like, why are they talking about this person? Like, you know, this person doesn't deserve that.
00:31:18
Speaker
if you watch the design too, they're all pigs, which could be interpreted in certain ways. yeah They're all probably money changers and money lenders or whatever like him. And they're all pigs.
00:31:31
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. um And then we see like the spider character, um like the black market dealer um with things that have been taken from this dead person's house like that they're selling, you know, um in the book, there's a line where like the blankets are still warm. And it's like,
00:31:50
Speaker
so like but that's it speaks again to like how disliked this mystery person was that like I don't I literally don't care that he's his body is not even cold yet I'm taking his stuff and going on and selling it um that kind of like disres that lack of respect that this person held amongst other people and then we go on back back to Bob Cratchit's house and tiny Tim Scrooge wants something joyful to see, you know, someone who might have been happy about this. And so, or something a little more upbeat. So they go back to the crot Cratchit house.
00:32:32
Speaker
Yeah, and it's probably like the most devastating place to go because Tiny Tim has died. And there's a really great line in the movie that Kermit says. He's like, life is full of joinings and partings or comings and partings. And, you know, let us never forget this first parting there was among Which also the book. it was like, oh, so heartbreaking. Because it's always heartbreaking. It was really good call. Yeah. book, yeah. In the film, yeah.
00:33:02
Speaker
and I can't believe I'm about to say this, but Kermit delivered that line so well. Kermit the Frog really nailed that delivery. well and then in Michael Caine 2, this is one of the moments that was really good. Where he's like, oh no, like don't say it's Tiny Tim. like Don't tell me. um And like he is very pained to see that Tiny Tim has passed.
00:33:26
Speaker
And it's like, he hasn't even even met this kid in real life. Yeah, he didn't even know that this kid existed until the these spirits started taking him around. And he already... feels like he relates to him in some way, like a kid that can't quite fit in or something. Yeah, yeah. And he's ah yeah he's genuinely devastated when he here when he discovers that Tiny Tim has passed. And...
Scrooge's Transformation and Embracing the Christmas Spirit
00:33:51
Speaker
and So this combination of things of we're still trying to, he, Scrooge is still trying to figure out who this mystery man is. I think the dramatic irony in the book and in the movie is really good because like we've seen some of these characters before talking to or about Scrooge. And we kind of like, we, I think it's pretty obvious even reading the book that like everybody's talking about Scrooge, but he just, it's not clicking for him that,
00:34:18
Speaker
they're talking about him. And so he's just like, spirit, like, show me, is is this, are you showing me things that will be or things that may be only? Like, that's when he starts to be like, you know, I think he kind of knows without like admitting that he knows that this is him that is being talked about because he's like can I change can I can I repent can I make a difference can I fix this basically can I do something to help tiny Tim he's not even thinking because he doesn't know it's him so he's still not thinking about himself he's finally thinking about somebody other than himself can I what can I do to help tiny Tim and the spirit just points to this headstone and he rubs the dirt and the snow off and it says his name and he's
00:35:05
Speaker
falls to his knees he's begging the spirit please can i fix this can i sponge out the name on this headstone and i thought it was a really like again really word for word of the book and then a really good performance by michael kane like you really feel like the desperation in those moments desperation is a good word And the moment when he grabs the robes of the spirit and falls was a visual was so cool of him falling onto his bed and waking up. Yeah. Oh yeah.
00:35:37
Speaker
Or be, you know, being back home. And then he's so excited that he's like in his own bed. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. And so that brings us to the final scenes of the story, the aftermath, where he realizes i'm I'm back at home. It was kind of a dream, but it was super real. But I'm back at home now. And he rushes up to the window. He's a you boy, like what day is it? He's like, it's Christmas. Like, duh, Mr. Scrooge. Like, it's Christmas. Like, what do you mean? and he just is so excited, so happy. Like, I haven't missed it. There's still time. I can do this.
00:36:13
Speaker
And he starts like complimenting this kid. Like, oh, you're such a smart boy. You're such a clever boy. Like, go buy the biggest turkey in in the store and take it to Bob Crashit's house and I'll give you a five shillings. And it's like, and the kid is like, boom, gone. He's out of here. He's like, I can't believe it. Five whole shillings just for running an errand. This is great.
00:36:33
Speaker
And Scrooge puts on his best clothes and he's running around town. Merry Christmas to you. Merry Christmas to you. Merry Christmas to everybody. um and just live in that place.
00:36:45
Speaker
Ghost of Christmas present spirit out out in the world. The moment the introvert becomes an extrovert all of a sudden for so for no reason. Right. um i want to I think probably the biggest difference that I noticed is skipping ahead a little bit to the in the final interaction with the Cratchits.
00:37:08
Speaker
So in the movie, it happens like same day he carries the turkey with, you know, all the other townspeople to the Cratchit house um and has that interaction. And Miss Piggy gets to be Miss Piggy and be like, I'll give you a piece of my mind and blah, blah, blah. um And then in the book, he actually goes to his nephew Fred's house on Christmas and tries to like start making amends with his nephew and his wife. Yeah.
00:37:36
Speaker
She did go there in the movie, but he's only there for a second and he just invites him to dinner later or something. Yes. Yeah. um And they get to he gets to that night that he spent with the Ghost of Christmas present playing the games. He actually gets to play the games with them now. and shout out that it's a cat and like have his answer be heard and like participate with them. He cheated. He knew from his And so and then he the next day Cratchit comes in late to work and he's like, ohoh I'm to play a little trick on him. um and that's when he yells at him like i can't believe you're late i won't stand for this anymore i'm giving you a raise and bob cratch is like what what do you mean and then he explains like you know i realized i've been wrong i've mistreated you i'm giving you a raise and then he becomes it says he becomes like a second father to tiny tim and um and just like becomes part of the family yeah
00:38:35
Speaker
I love that Scrooge being a good person makes him just a sarcastic prankster that just like wants to go in and mess with people a little bit. It just kind of, you know, brings out that spirit in him. It's kind of fun. Yeah.
00:38:48
Speaker
Yeah. He's still got that mean streak. It just comes out as jokes now. yes are actually Yeah. um What did you guys think of the, this final wrap up scenes that we've got this little epilogue?
00:39:03
Speaker
Michael Caine singing stuck out. yeah It was fun. I mean, I think that it wrapped up the story in a very fitting way based on the book as well and kind of showed you that a person can change their ways is the point is the moral the story that if you're willing to accept love and give love that it will come back around and you will um hopefully not end up as a miserable um Scrooge.
00:39:29
Speaker
Yeah. yeah I mean, that's how iconic this story is that the name Scrooge has now become like an adjective like yeah or and even a verb. Like it.
Conclusion and Community Engagement
00:39:41
Speaker
Yeah. And then you can use it the other way. If you use the end of the movie, you could go around saying people that have good Christmas spirit are Scrooges. Go tell all your friends and family. You're such a Scrooge this year. Well, and the Grinch is the other one. And we had a conversation offline that we might do an episode about the Grinch being a retelling of um a Christmas Carol because they're both so anti-Christmas in the beginning and then end up having a heart.
00:40:06
Speaker
ye yeah it can make his heavy And then both versions end with the final line from Tiny Tim. God bless us, everyone. Everyone. Which I think is, again, like there's an iconic opening line and iconic ending line. Like, again, even if you don't know anything about the Christmas Carol, you've heard the line. God bless us, everyone. It's been put into other media over the years. um But I think it like that's kind of the catch all theme of the stories like everyone, everyone, all people deserve this.
00:40:42
Speaker
to enjoy Christmas and b part of the celebration and be joyful and every single one of us deserve that and so God bless every everyone yeah that's a great way to end the episode yeah alright do you guys have any final details to add about the Christmas about A Christmas Carol and the Muppets Christmas Carol adaptation well I think we covered it We've been through it. We had fun. talk about it all yeah
00:41:17
Speaker
All right. Well, thank you guys for joining us for another another episode of book watch. Be sure to like, and subscribe YouTube, Spotify, Apple podcasts, anywhere you can get podcasts. Basically we're there. Join us in the Facebook group, Bookwatch Lounge. Follow us on Instagram and let us know what you think, what your favorite Christmas Carol adaptation is or any other of your favorite Christmas movies that we should add to our rewatch list this year.
00:41:46
Speaker
Yes, and happy holidays. Happy holidays. Merry Christmas. That's a wrap for this week's episode of Book Watch. We hope you enjoyed diving into the world of page-to-screen adaptations with us.
00:41:58
Speaker
If you love this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a rating and review wherever you listen, and share it with a fellow book and movie lover. If you prefer to watch along, you can check out the show on YouTube, youtube.com slash at bookwatchpodcast.
00:42:13
Speaker
You can follow the show on Instagram at bookwatchpodcast. And you can follow me, Sarah Day, on Instagram at captain.mcd. That's M-C-D-E-E.
00:42:24
Speaker
And you can follow me, Jordan, on Instagram at jjcorrito. That's C-A-R-R-I-D-O. And you can follow me, Chris, at cyborgnight404. That's night with a K.
00:42:37
Speaker
You can also join the conversation in the Bookwatch Lounge on Facebook at facebook.com slash groups slash bookwatch lounge. If you'd like to support the podcast, you can join the Patreon at patreon.com slash bookwatch podcast. Tiers start at only $4 a month, and we would love to have you over there. Have a favorite adaptation you'd like us to cover or a book you think deserves a screen adaptation or just want to let us know of any feedback. Send us an email at bookwatchpodcast at gmail.com.
00:43:06
Speaker
Until next time, keep reading, keep watching, and we will see you next week.