A violent Christmas episode.
A few things going on here. The natives who control the land are hostile to the train. A small, maybe six year old, boy from the train gets lost and a contrived meeting takes place with this boy and an Indian boy who is about the same age.
Meanwhile, the train discusses how to celebrate Christmas, if it's celebrated at all. One man has a habit of playing Saint Nicholas, and he has something up his sleeve for Ward Bond, which is the most endearing quality of this episode.
The casualties from an attack are pretty contrived, which makes this "Christmas violence" no longer a message, but instead a contrived, badly written piece. The mix of tragedy and comic relief helps a lot, though, as does the relationship between the two boys, even if it is contrived.
A few things going on here. The natives who control the land are hostile to the train. A small, maybe six year old, boy from the train gets lost and a contrived meeting takes place with this boy and an Indian boy who is about the same age.
Meanwhile, the train discusses how to celebrate Christmas, if it's celebrated at all. One man has a habit of playing Saint Nicholas, and he has something up his sleeve for Ward Bond, which is the most endearing quality of this episode.
The casualties from an attack are pretty contrived, which makes this "Christmas violence" no longer a message, but instead a contrived, badly written piece. The mix of tragedy and comic relief helps a lot, though, as does the relationship between the two boys, even if it is contrived.
