Beloved holiday classics are certainly not above criticism. As much as we love to sit down and watch our favorite Christmas movies over and over again every year, these repeated viewings can really highlight the flaws or character traits that seem to go against the spirit of Christmas, and in no film is that more obvious than in Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer.
‘Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer’ has been a staple of the holidays since it first aired in 1964.
I watch it every year, all of my friends watch it every year, you probably watch it every year (and if you don’t, what are you doing reading this article?!) — it’s totally beloved, with memorable songs and beautiful animation and a terrifying yeti that gave me nightmares as a child.
What more could you want in a Christmas movie?
The story of Rudolph is just as well-known.
As we all know and sing happily every year, Rudolph was an outcast of a reindeer because his nose shone red and bright, but once it became clear on a very snowy and blustery Christmas Eve that Santa would need that glowing nose to help guide his path, Rudolph becomes a beloved figure to all the North Pole, and everyone lives happily ever after!
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But let’s look into that just a little deeper.
Why exactly is Rudolph an outcast for his nose? The answer is pretty simple: because Santa Claus is a huge jerk.
I know, I know. I don’t mean to speak ill of jolly old Saint Nick, and I’m certainly not talking about the real Santa, if there’s any kids reading this. But in the Rudolph movie, Santa is inexcusably mean, and it’s time we acknowledge this.
He’s cruel to Rudolph from the day he was born!
Almost as soon as Rudolph is born, Santa comes waltzing in with his little song about how Rudolph will never get to be on his reindeer team, but he’s not ever clear about why exactly that is. Why would Rudolph’s nose stop him from being able to pull a sleigh?
Santa just doesn’t want him on the team because he’s different.
Santa only starts treating Rudolph kindly when he becomes useful to him.
Oh, now that you need a bright light at the front of your sleigh, you’re a jolly old fellow again, huh, Nicholas?
If your friends are only your friends when you can do something useful for them (for FREE, I might add) then they’re not your real friends, and you can do better!
Santa’s not just mean to Rudolph — he’s mean to his elves too.
You know, his entire little army of creatures who only exist to serve out the job he gives them? He’s rude to them too! They do an entire choreographed song-and-dance routine for him, and what does he do? He yawns and barely even acknowledges it!
That is NOT being a good boss. He should watch out or those elves might unionize.
All in all, Santa was just a real jerk.
Sure, everything works out in the end for the best, and it doesn’t mean I don’t absolutely love the movie, but it does mean that when my kids are watching it, I’m going to tell them with no uncertainty that this Santa doesn’t really represent the real Santa, who would never treat a reindeer this way.
Do you agree? Let me know how you feel about Santa’s behavior in the comments below!
