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Great Pumpkin (II)

What a treat to watch “The Great Pumpkin” last night. A few thoughts:

*Is that a reference to Monet--the image of Snoopy (as a WWII fighter) asleep on a haystack in the French countryside? And the sketches of tiny trick-or-treaters in a pack--are those meant to evoke thoughts of Bruegel? (Oh, gosh. Sweaty!)

*A great highlight is the passionate conversation between Charlie and Linus at the end. Both gentlemen are defeated. Each defeat has its own character. Charlie’s defeat seems to be a statement on life’s random malignancy: There truly is no reason why he, and he alone, would receive so many rocks in his treat bag, at so many houses. Linus’s defeat is different: Linus has been a fool, and he has suffered accordingly, and yet he can’t quite admit he has been a fool. This is how we end the show: With Linus fighting mightily against the tug of humbling self-knowledge. (Who could fail to relate?) What I really love is the gestures assigned to these two: They’re holding their faces in their hands, they’re gesticulating wildly. Very therapeutic.

*Lucy’s “journey,” in this episode, is striking. Lucy’s pain, anger, and harshness are difficult to take, particularly when she is antagonizing Charlie. But, often, Lucy has a point. Linus really *is* being daffy. A little care with the scissors *would* result in a better costume for Charlie Brown. At the end, we see Lucy wordlessly scooping up her brother and carrying him to bed. It’s a surprising, redemptive moment.

*One site informs us that “Great Pumpkin” is the *best* of the Charlie specials. (I’m not sure about that.) “A CB Christmas” is ranked number three--shockingly. (Number Two is something random I hadn’t heard of.) “You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown” fares well, and I can understand that. “Thanksgiving” is treated brutally. And “It’s Arbor Day, Charlie Brown” generates a rave. Who knew?

Happy Halloween!
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