This is one of the best Christmas calenders of all time. It was produced long after my childhood ended, but I am sure I would have loved it if I could have watched it when nine years old...
The idea about ghosts who try to scare away people from their ancient family home, but who have to surrender to unafraid and scientific-minded children, borrows very much from "The Canterville Ghost". But - that does not matter. The story still feels new and original, with all the typical modern Swedish issues thrown into it.
This series has (almost) everything: a big, exciting castle to explore, Christmas magic, science fiction, adventure, courage, strange occurrences, a mystery to solve... But it is also grounded in a reality that most children can relate to: parents who are well-meaning, but busy with their own professions and lives and not really understanding... and the same goes for teachers. Sibling rivalry and sibling love. An awakening interest for the opposite sex. Etc..
The reasons I still do not give it 10 stars are three:
The idea about ghosts who try to scare away people from their ancient family home, but who have to surrender to unafraid and scientific-minded children, borrows very much from "The Canterville Ghost". But - that does not matter. The story still feels new and original, with all the typical modern Swedish issues thrown into it.
This series has (almost) everything: a big, exciting castle to explore, Christmas magic, science fiction, adventure, courage, strange occurrences, a mystery to solve... But it is also grounded in a reality that most children can relate to: parents who are well-meaning, but busy with their own professions and lives and not really understanding... and the same goes for teachers. Sibling rivalry and sibling love. An awakening interest for the opposite sex. Etc..
The reasons I still do not give it 10 stars are three:
- it is sometimes a bit slow - and my daughter, who is in fact nine, thinks so too
- there is very little music in it. I would have loved more Christmas songs - that contributes a lot to the Christmas atmosphere
- the producers were too afraid of the Politically Correct mafia, to enter almost anything at all about the real reason that we celebrate Christmas. Which I find to be an omission in a series for children, as so many children today do not have parents who talk with them or take them to church