Review: Corner Gas Animated “Tinsel-itis”

 

 

Overview:

It is Christmas time in Dog River, and everyone is getting ready.

Brent and Lacey struggle with finding personalized gifts for one another. As the pair try to extract information out of each other, both end up confused.

Wanda’s Christmas light display is causing a nuisance for the city. When Davis and Karen have to step in, they start a war they cannot win. But even Wanda will learn to care for her fellow man these holidays.

Oscar and Emma are trying to prepare for their annual Christmas eve party. When neither of them wants to do the work, they take advantage of Hank’s giving nature. Hank goes all out for his friends, including hosting the party for the “sick” couple.

Our Take:

Corner Gas Animated wraps up its third season that has been full of exciting moments. The season finale goes over the top with an ambitiously animated episode decorated top-to-bottom in Christmas.  

This episode got a redesign for the holidays that included winter settings, a festive opening credit, and some jingle added to the theme song. The characters got some new looks, the police cruiser gets tinseled, and even a bag of salt is sitting inside of the gas station. There was not a detail untouched in this specially themed episode.

In a recent exclusive interview with show star and creator, Brent Butt, we learned some background information for this season finale extravaganza. The biggest thing that this team managed is rushing the entire season’s production to get these episodes lined up with the year’s end. Overcoming quarantine obstacles to deliver a Christmas treat on a difficult year.

Going even further, Brent Butt released his first musical single these holidays, “Everyone Can Sing at Christmas”. There is an original animated video featuring all the Corner Gas characters available to find on YouTube.

Needless to say, there was a lot of hype around this festive special. The episode delivers in the best ways that Corner Gas Animated can. There are lots of laughs with plenty of themed humour. Especially when Wanda decides to enact some revenge on the local police force for stomping on her light display.

As mentioned in reviews all season, this show is at its best when all of the plots and characters are working towards one goal, instead of shooting off on their own storylines. Christmas works as the perfect vestibule for the citizens of Dog River to collide adventures. And the best part was that the episode delivered a plot with wholesomeness in tune with the holidays.  

Now we await any further news about a potential season four. It would be surprising if this popular franchise didn’t get picked up for another year. If we saw anything in this finale, it is that the series is as ambitious as ever, grounded itself enough to explore, and can accomplish some big things.

This episode was a thoughtful “Merry Christmas” message from Canada’s most famous and recognizable homegrown franchise, at a time when the country could use some extra joy. If anything, we must appreciate the effort and care that went into delivering this in time for the holidays. It was a special treat like we have never seen from the animated series.