#11: Silver Bells, Golden Rules
Original airdate: January 27, 1998
Production no.: AM-111
Written by: Martin Vale & Elise Pritchard
Directed by: Leonard K. Ames
Guest stars: Helen Drake as Judge Hopkins; Victor Bell as opposing counsel
Screen capture from my EP tape. Please credit this site.
THE WHOLE STORY (SPOILERS!!!)
Alan is furious that the department store Santa has been replaced by a woman. He casts Tempus Reductum and the office becomes a 1955 Christmas: Bethany in a red dress, Daniel absent, Ronnie as the butler, Rachel serving a ham that is moving.
Daniel crosses the threshold in a 1990s suit and says, “This isn’t how it happened.” The line is not in the closed captions. Alan reverses the spell. Continuity: the Codex can rewrite time, and Daniel can walk through it.
⚖ CASE OF THE WEEK
Santa Claus v. The City: unlicensed nostalgia.
💭 INSIDE ALAN’S HEAD
Alan imagines a 1955 Christmas where he is the father and the reindeer are law clerks.
📖 CODEX LORE
THE ALTERNATE: the Codex can rewrite time itself, not just people. Daniel crosses it on foot.
My Two Cents
The 1950s episode is so well done!! The grain on the picture looks real. But the ham scene gave me nightmares. I think Daniel being the only one who sees it is important. I give it 🍔🍔🍔🍔 out of five burgers.
Best Quote
DANIEL: This isn't how it happened. This isn't ANY of how it happened.
Continuity Watch / Theories
Daniel's line is not in the closed captions. I checked on a friend's tape.
A second screencap from my VHS archive
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Last updated: June 10, 1998 | Webmaster: McBurgerMan97 | McBurgerMan97@aol.com