The perfect Tiny Tim:
It is so easy for "Christmas Carol" adaptations to reduce Tiny Tim to little more than a prop. "God bless us, Everyone!" He squeaks, and suddenly Scrooge, the original Grinch, falls to pieces over this kid he's known about for all of three minutes. This is the character that finally starts to cut through Scrooge's icy heart. Why? Because he's cute? Benjamin Bunny is cute...
"Catch!"
Because he's disabled? This is 19th century London. I'm sure Scrooge has seen a kid with rickets before. So why Tiny Tim? Well thanks to the masterful direction in "Muppet Christmas Carol", we can see the impact Tiny Tim has on Scrooge, his family, and the entire story.
Scrooge first sees Tim perched atop Bob's shoulder as they make their way home from church Christmas Eve. It's clear that they're as close as father and son can be. However, while the Ghost of Christmas Present is charmed, Tim doesn't make much of an impression on Scrooge. Not until Bob says a line straight from the original text:
"He told me that he hoped the people saw him in church because it might be pleasant for them to remember upon Christmas Day who made lame beggars walk and blind men see."
Scrooge is astonished. Despite his young age, Tim is spiritually mature and wise. And despite his disability, he keeps an upbeat, cheerful demeanor, giddy for Christmas and everything it brings. When his parents start to squabble, he defuses the situation with a positive attitude.
Scrooge is moved to tears as Tim leads his family in prayer. Because yes, "Bless Us All" isn't just a song, it's a prayer that God will bless this family and that they will always follow in His ways. Their goose is small, their house is a shack, but they consider themselves blessed. Scrooge has everything, but he's alone and miserable. The Crachits have little, but they have love. And Tim, through his joy and optimism, is a constant reminder of that.
When Scrooge inquires of Tiny Tim's future, the Ghost of Christmas Present answers, "I see a vacant seat by the chimney corner and a crutch without an owner. If these shadows remain unaltered, I believe the child will die."
"If these shadows remain unaltered..." For the first time, Scrooge is forced to confront how his own actions, his miserliness toward his fellow man, affect those around him.
HE is Bob's employer. HE has been keeping this family in poverty.
Scrooge could have paid Bob enough to buy a warmer house, more coal, better food. He could have paid him enough to buy medicine or a better doctor for Tim. Their fates rest in his pocket book. And yet Bob and Tim still toast him at the dinner table. Scrooge might not have done much, but for the little he has done, they're still grateful.
The Crachit house is a home of love. And Tiny Tim is its heart. If Scrooge doesn't change, they may lose him.
That's why "Muppet Christmas Carol's" Tiny Tim is the perfect version of the character. It allows us to see Tim not just as a guilt trip for Scrooge, but as a person who's important to his family. There are stakes to him dying. There are stakes to Scrooge not changing, aside from an eternity dragging chains.
At least he won't be lonely.
What else is there to say, except...
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Second part of redecorated Christmas ornaments... some may require a little bit of imagination.
Let us begin with Bettlejuice
And now... one I don't particulary like the way it ended up but is recognizable enough. Maybe?
Jareth, th Goblin King
And finally a really hard one to guess... Sleepy Hollow (The Tree of the Dead and a very bad Windmill)
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