Circle Square - What the Dickens (S1E40)
Nelson Pine feels bah-humbug about Christmas, especially because he's a Christmas tree and people expect him to dress up in baubles and tinsel.
| Runtime (min) | 7 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2022-12-06 |
| Genres | Kids, Animation |
| Network(s) | 5 |
Storyline
In this Christmas-themed episode of Circle Square, Nelson Pine—a sentient Christmas tree—finds himself feeling decidedly bah-humbug about the holiday season. His grumpiness stems from the expectation that he, as a Christmas tree, must dress himself up in baubles, tinsel, and other festive decorations simply because of what he is. Nelson resents being reduced to a seasonal ornament and struggles with the pressure to embody Christmas cheer when he doesn't feel particularly cheerful inside.
The episode draws its title and thematic inspiration from Charles Dickens' classic "A Christmas Carol," exploring Nelson's journey through his holiday discontent. Through interactions with his Circle Square friends and the events of the seven-minute runtime, Nelson grapples with what Christmas truly means beyond surface-level decorations and societal expectations. The story invites young viewers to consider how we define celebration, identity, and the difference between outward appearances and inner feelings during the holiday season.
What kids learn
Children watching this episode can learn that it's okay to have complicated feelings about holidays and traditions, even when everyone around them seems excited. Nelson Pine's struggle with being expected to look and act a certain way simply because of who he is teaches kids about the pressure of expectations and the importance of authenticity. Young viewers see that feeling grumpy or resistant to celebration doesn't make someone bad or wrong—it makes them human, or in this case, a tree with valid emotions.
The episode also introduces children to the idea that our identity is more than what others expect from us based on appearances or roles. Nelson doesn't want to be valued only as a decorated object during Christmas, which helps kids understand that people—and trees—have inner lives that matter more than their outward function. This resonates with children who may feel pigeonholed by others' expectations at school, in sports, or within their families.
Finally, the Dickens reference offers a gentle introduction to classic literature and the tradition of Christmas stories that explore personal transformation and the deeper meaning of the season beyond materialism and decoration.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is it appropriate for a Christmas episode to feature a character who dislikes Christmas? | Yes, this approach actually offers valuable teaching opportunities. Nelson's bah-humbug attitude isn't presented as the final word but as a starting point for exploring genuine feelings about holiday pressure. Children benefit from seeing that it's acceptable to have mixed emotions about celebrations, and that working through those feelings is healthier than pretending they don't exist. The episode validates emotional honesty while still celebrating the season's deeper meanings beyond superficial decoration. |
| Will this episode make my child not want to decorate our Christmas tree? | Nelson's resistance is specifically about being forced to decorate himself and being valued only as an ornament, not about decorating trees in general. Most children will understand the difference between a sentient tree character's personal feelings and the fun family tradition of decorating. The episode actually opens conversation about consent, personal boundaries, and doing things because we want to rather than because we're expected to—lessons that extend well beyond holiday decorating. |
| What does the Dickens reference mean, and will my child understand it? | The title "What the Dickens" is a playful nod to Charles Dickens and "A Christmas Carol," where Ebenezer Scrooge famously dislikes Christmas before his transformation. Young children don't need to catch the literary reference to enjoy and learn from the episode. For older children or those familiar with Scrooge's story, it adds an extra layer of meaning. Parents can use this as an opportunity to introduce classic holiday literature if they choose. |
| Does Nelson learn to love Christmas by the end, or does he stay grumpy? | The episode's seven-minute runtime suggests a focused character journey, and Circle Square typically resolves its themes within each episode. While the specific resolution depends on the episode's actual content, the story structure implies Nelson works through his feelings in some meaningful way. The value lies not in forcing cheerfulness but in helping children understand that exploring why we feel resistant to something can lead to genuine appreciation rather than hollow compliance. |
| How can I use this episode to talk about holiday stress with my child? | Nelson's experience of feeling pressured to be something he's not during the holidays mirrors what many children feel during busy, expectation-filled seasons. After watching, ask your child if they ever feel like Nelson—expected to be extra cheerful or to participate in activities just because it's a holiday. Discuss which traditions your family does because they bring genuine joy versus which feel like obligations. This episode provides a gentle entry point for conversations about authentic celebration versus performative participation. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Duster the dog's pyjamas are accidentally destroyed by Vanessa. It's a race against the sunset to find some that match up to Duster's high expectations. |
| 1 | 2 | Tuft Owl wants to make a portrait of her father. Vanessa enlists the help of the wizards, Isabella the bear and Grindle to make paintings, photos and sculptures. |
| 1 | 3 | Caylee can't find her toy armadillo in the Ruffles' house. Vanessa enlists the help of some super-cleaners for help find the toy. |
| 1 | 4 | Shy yeti Grindle is trying to get to sleep, but some of his neighbours are making a lot of noise, so Vanessa the dragon tries to help him find the courage to speak up. |
| 1 | 5 | Wizard Gwen wants to top up her pocket money for a special purchase, so she runs a bric-a-brac sale with her brother Ben. |
| 1 | 6 | When the neighbours are enjoying a boat trip, the fog moves in. Vanessa the dragon rushes back to switch on her lighthouse but it fails to shine. |
| 1 | 7 | Keys has promised a new song to Radio Wyndley, but hasn't left herself much time to write it. She's low on ideas so visits her neighbours for inspiration. |
| 1 | 8 | Vanessa the dragon is looking forward to some personal time to fix up the lighthouse, but her neighbours are also in need of her assistance. |
| 1 | 9 | Douglas Pine is under pressure to win the sunflower growing contest, but he hasn't been listening to his grandfather's top growing hints. He looks for a handy shortcut to success. |
| 1 | 10 | Isabella the bear wants to find an exercise that suits her. She heads off with Vanessa to find inspiration with their neighbours. |
| 1 | 11 | Duster the dog's kennel is taken for repairs and he's left with a bland replacement. Vanessa appeals to their neighbours to find ways to make his new abode more homely. |
| 1 | 12 | It's Bestest Book Day but book lover Grindle the yeti isn't coming to the big event for some reason. Vanessa and the kids go to investigate and find book day outfit inspiration. |
| 1 | 13 | Tommy the drum and Keys the keyboard disagree on the ending of a song and break up their band. Tommy goes solo while Keys looks for a new bandmate around the island. |
| 1 | 14 | Wizarding architect Dilys is designing a new magical tower, but also writing a scroll to granny, cooking buns, magically watering houseplants and now she's got hiccups too. |
| 1 | 15 | Caylee wants to organise a surprise birthday for yeti Grindle. With Vanessa and Ma Ruffle's help she organises a big, bold, brash birthday celebration just the way she likes it. |
| 1 | 16 | Isabella the bear and Vanessa discover an old treasure map left by Isabella s adventuring mother. They follow the clues around the island, picking up helpers along the way. |
| 1 | 17 | Dustin finds a teddy bear, Mr Hugglesworth, and claims it as his own, not knowing that it actually belongs to one of his neighbours. |
| 1 | 18 | Gwen s mum Kira Kazam takes Gwen and Ben on a camping trip, but Kira s expert wizarding skills threaten to ruin the experience for the kids. |
| 1 | 19 | Tommy decides he needs a new look, but he s soon trying on a new personality along with a new outfit. |
| 1 | 20 | Daddy Dillydally may be a wizard of a cook, but he doesn t eat enough veggies! Vanessa takes him on a culinary tour of the island to discover just how tasty veggies can be. |
| 1 | 21 | Nelson Pine shows his neighbours around a long forgotten part of the greenhouse. But when he loses his way, he's too proud to accept their help. |
| 1 | 22 | Snowdon Owl is anxious about the family trip to Funfair Island. He's not a fan of the big rides, but doesn't want to admit either. |
| 1 | 23 | Wizard Ben is super excited to get his new rollerskates, but then worries about falling over, so Vanessa steps in to help. |
| 1 | 24 | Ma Ruffle has an audition for a role with a famous director! Her friends help her to practice for the audition. |
| 1 | 25 | Teacher Pa Ruffle has forgotten to book the school trip to Dinosaur Island! But perhaps there's more prehistory right here on their own Island than he realised. |
| 1 | 26 | Duster the dog's cousin Barrel comes to visit the island. But he finds Duster's neighbours a real bother and persuades a reluctant Duster to lead a more solitary life. |
| 1 | 27 | Alba Owl feels overwhelmed by the climate emergency. Vanessa and little Tuft Owl accompany her on a visit to their neighbours to see what local changes can make a difference. |
| 1 | 28 | Tuft Owl and Vanessa have a spooky mystery to solve on the island! A Spooky Cheese may be haunting the neighbours. |
| 1 | 29 | Baljit the lion comes to celebrate Diwali with his friends on Circle Square Island. |
| 1 | 30 | Snowdon Owl is worried his police detective skills are rusty. But then Duster the dog's pizza goes missing, so Snowdon and his assistant, Vanessa the dragon, try to find it. |
| 1 | 31 | When everyone else embarks on a big holiday, Grindle opts to instead stay behind on the island. |
| 1 | 32 | Isabella the bear, adventurer, and author, is supposed to be running a creative writing workshop for the children. However, she's run out of ideas. |
| 1 | 33 | Duster wants to sing with the island choir, but he doesn't have the patience to practice. |
| 1 | 34 | Vanessa loses a suitcase in the sea so goes on an underwater search with Grindle. |
| 1 | 35 | Douglas Pine wants to win a race at the wizards' magic sports day, but he won't listen to any advice. |
| 1 | 36 | Tommy the drum is babysitting Caylee Ruffle, but calming people down isn't his speciality! |
| 1 | 37 | Dub comes to visit the island. She has something important to tell Keys, but wants to find the best way to say it. |
| 1 | 38 | Vanessa is doing a sponsored silence, but really needs to tell her friends something important. |
| 1 | 39 | Gwen Dillydally uses magic to run the island's shop, but soon the products are all magically floating away! |
| 1 | 40 | Nelson Pine feels bah-humbug about Christmas, especially because he's a Christmas tree and people expect him to dress up in baubles and tinsel. |
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.