Amazing Stories (TV Series) Thanksgiving (1986) User Reviews

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[sonnyschlaegel · 9/10 · 11 May 2007]

Dora and Calvin, her step-father, are living in the desert, running a 'Last Chance' gas station. They don't have much money, and Calvin is an ill-tempered man, scolding and commanding Dora all the time. He's digging a well, hoping he'll strike water so that the situation will improve. One day, as he is digging, Dora prays to her late mother for help. A few moments later, Calvin comes up again and says that something strange has happened: the ground disappeared beneath his feet. They let down a lamp on a long rope to see how deep the well is now. It must be very deep. Then a very strange thing happens: someone or something is tugging at the rope, and when they have pulled it up again, the lamp has gone - it has been replaced with something different...

One of the episodes that are really amazing in my opinion. There's some mystery; I really wondered who or what is at the bottom of the well. And there's some horror - the ending has a nasty twist. I liked the actors, too. Kyra Sedgwick is good, and Carradine is delicious (perhaps I'm a bit partial because I liked him so much on 'Kung Fu').

I think there should have been more episodes like this one, 'Mirror, Mirror...' (#1.19), and 'You Gotta Believe Me' (#2.5), episodes that feature mystery and / or horror. And I think if you liked the episodes I have mentioned (#1.19 and #2.5), you'll probably like this one, too, and should consider watching it when you have the chance.

Now THAT'S creative!

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 23 June 2015]

Calvin (David Carradine) is a nasty guy living in the desert with his step-daughter (Kyra Sedgwick). He treats her rather poorly and berates her yet she seems blissfully happy despite this. One day, something really weird happens with the well Calvin is trying to dig. It turns out to be a much deeper hole and there is SOMETHING living down there. When he drops a flashlight down there, whoever or whatever is down there shows their gratitude by tying a small bundle to his rope. When he opens it, he finds it's full of gold!! Now the greedy Calvin is going to the store to buy LOTS of flashlights to send down into the hole! During his absence, the step-daughter sends down a dictionary and some ham. This time they include a note, in English, explaining that their scholars have deciphered their language and they are thanking them for the ham...and they want more food. They also include some very expensive jewelry. Next, she sends down some raw chickens. What's next?

"Thanksgiving" is unusual in that it's completely original, funny as well as creepy. Had the series had more shows like this one, no doubt it would have lasted much longer.

Interesting funny creative episode that's touching and fun.

[blanbrn · 9/10 · 26 November 2019]

This "Amazing Stories" episode from season 2 called "Thanksgiving" is one that's interesting and entertaining and shows acts of kindness and good nature. It involves Calvin(the late David Carradine) who lives on a desert ranch with his stepdaughter a wanna be country music singer. And Calvin is mean and cold as after finding a hole on his property something is up is it a hideaway for gold? Only his stepdaughter finds that it is a want and need for food and she starts sending just that only to be rewarded in return! Overall clever and heartfelt and touching story of discovery and kindness.

What a Thanksgiving !

[elshikh4 · 24 January 2009]

Wanna talk about the most attractive element in here? Then it's the writing. It made a story that managed to be enjoyable, on many levels, in such short time too.

It represented 2 kinds of characters, so 2 types of dealing with any new matter or new people. (Kyra Sedgwick) was the sensitive dreamer who wants to communicate, love, and understand. On the contrary, (David Carradine) is the greedy predominant who wants blindly and ignorantly to get rich by the strange recent development, and if he couldn't, then he would attack, invade, and ruin.

The plot is magically simple, and the thrill is basically within the question of: who's below, and what's next? In fact, the beauty of the writing is not in that structure, or that suspense, only, but also in the great moment of the heroine when she was about to kill her stupid step-father, then she faced the very reason why he does exist "he's needed, to make things bad, that's his role" then she withdrew fully satisfied. At that point, fate, or the her mother's soul, whatever the heroine believes in, through the unseen creatures, gives her the thanksgiving of her life, when she knows that her step-father has been eaten as a turkey!

It's some episode about having faith, hence thanking God always for everything, or everyone, we have, so the reword would be quite equivalent, yet with twisted sense of humor that made it close to acute black comedy.

For the other attractive elements, (Kyra Sedgwick) mastered her role, so its accent. And (David Carradine) understood the spirit of the whole episode, being the best human mule he could be.

I guess some viewers felt a little disappointment with this one, but that may come from the unanswered question about the aliens. However, remember the episode's title to catch on the right meaning of it, where the aliens were just an excuse to assure the belief, and to show the irony of 2 kinds "the artist" who wants to give, and "the dictator" who wants to take only.. Nice military outfit for him at the end too.

It's about faith, the human greed, and it's an amazing story anyhow for anyone who wants not to think as well.

The Original Hunger Games!

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 27 May 2014]

David Carradine, the subdued Kane in the show "Kung Fu," plays a despicable stepfather to the ever optimistic and sort of dumb Kira Sedgwik. He runs a gas station that looks like its ready to collapse and spends his days trying to create a working well. He berates her at every turn, spray painting over a Norman Rockwell calendar that has the classic Thanksgiving scene and cutting the strings on her guitar (she has a twangy country western voice and enjoys singing). He never misses a chance to tell her how dumb and worthless she is. One day, the bucket that is sent down the dry well, returns with a chunk of gold, wrapped in a paper containing cryptic symbols. He sees this as the stroke of luck he has been wishing for. He heads for town and while he is absent, she begins to send things down the well. The first time it includes part of a ham sandwich and a dictionary. When she pulls up the rope, there is more gold and other valuable baubles and a note (they have used the dictionary as a codebook and can now communicate with her). Of course, we know he will be back at some point and things will come to a head. Sure enough, he has bought a tow truck with a winch and sends another load (this time a bucket of cheap yellow flashlights) down to whomever is there. The conclusion is priceless. A fine episode.

Ta Very Much!

[IcyTones · 10/10 · 30 June 2020]

THANKSGIVING The other Reviews plus the Introduction highlight what this Amazing Story is about. Whilst I realise that this story is also about America's celebratory 'Thanksgiving' day, my Review 'shares' what I took away from the story rather than the movie itself.

Ever noticed the word 'Thanks-Giving' & how being 'Thankful' differentiates itself away from being a 'grateful' 'ingrate'?

Without being too hung-up on terminologies, 'Thanks-Giving' means that there is a rule that has to be established, and that rule is to be Thankful for what we already have and to be Thankful for what we are 'about to' receive - be it bad or good. We have to give Thanks for receiving it - be it bad or good - after we receive it, before we receive it & during the endurance & evaluation of ownership & receivership - ie: during its time with us. We have to 'Give' Thanks at all times for the 'thing' we receive/d -be it good or bad - a Thanks that honours & praises the 'powers-that-be'. This is 'The Law'.

When you operate within 'The Law' you now have 'permission' to place an 'Order' - ie: a way of being, doing & having, a way of receiving, a way to get more, a way which isn't alphabetical, numerical, or random, a way that has nothing to do with character, heart, love, luck or truth, a way that doesn't rely on religion, religious practices, language or any other 'man-made' fantasies.

It's no different to the 'world wide web'. There are certain procedures & protocols to follow if you want to place an order online. There are just simply rules to follow if you want to be, do & have.

If you're a visitor to a large complex building, park or town, there' s usually a map which highlights 'You Are Here'.

From where you are, you are expected to use the map - you don't have to, but you can navigate yourself around the complex. Likewise, 'Thanks-Giving' is an opportunity to navigate our way around the complexities of life. It acknowledges 'The Powers That Be', it evaluates the how, what, when, where, who & why you are here. That map provides you with a plethora of routes to get to where 'you' 'want' to be. You can 'choose' to be adventurous & go the long scenic route or go the shorter way round. You even have permission to take legal shortcuts. You can even choose to 'go wherever the wind blows you'. It's all your choice - providing you remain within the law of 'Thanks-Giving'.

Ironically, throughout the Amazing Story of 'Thanksgiving', I don't recall anyone ever saying 'Thanks/ThanQ/Thank You' - not even the 'hole people' as Dora calls them.

The 'hole people' didn't even answer Dora's questions of 'how are you/who are you'? That tells me that being 'Thankful' is not about saying it, it's about your presence of mind or state of consciousness. Are we really 'Thankful' for what we have or don't have? If we are, then why do we hanker after a substantial life changing Lottery Win? That's because most of us are not 'Thankful' for our 'Lot', we are just 'grateful' that our lives are better than others.

In this Amazing Story, Dora didn't beseech an 'unknown' god, or pray in the name of one representing god, she sourced the power of her strength, which was her dead mother's spirit.

In this Amazing Story, Dora 'Gave' the little she had. In the process of obeying her step father Calvin's orders, she still 'Fearlessly' committed herself & her time to the requests of 'the hole people'.

In this Amazing Story, Dora 'Gave' 'the hole people' portions of her meal, some meat/poultry, some of her 'pretty' things and her dictionary. She also 'carefully' packed an appropriate sized receptacle.

Meat was & still is the most valuable food commodity on the table or for trade - especially for poor families. The dictionary represents communication, intelligence & knowledge. Her pretty things represented Dora's beauty within. This was Dora's way of 'sharing'. In her dark simplistic world, Dora was open minded & open to other possibilities of existence within the 'darkness' of the well.

In this Amazing Story, Dora was more 'curious', about the 'hole people'. Notice - 'hole' people as in 'whole' people - ie: their existence is more wholesome or superior to human existence.

By contrast, Calvin - Dora's Stepfather, - a hard working man with some obvious good traits, a man prepared to go the extra mile when a situation presents itself. Whatever his motives & reasons, Calvin continued to nurture his step-daughter Dora, and continued to put to good use the situation he found himself in, long after Dora's mother died. Hence why he received 2 Gold Nuggets for one large torch that he accidentally 'gave' away. However, Calvin applied logic to his good traits. His skewered thinking thought if he 'gave' more torches, he would receive more gold nuggets. When it didn't pan out the way, he got angry & was ready to destroy the source of his affection - which is what destroyed him in the end. In other words, Calvin was not prepared to give up his lifestyle unless it had rich pickings for him.

Whatever it is that you believe in, whether or not you believe in the powers of: blessings & curses, being prepared or pre-prayered, education, the devil, god, good, Jesus, Lucifer, mediums & spiritualists, satan, the laws that govern mathematics & science etc, etc - one thing's for sure, you cannot get away with distant or quiet navigation.

You have to call out, scream out, shout out, speak out, be verbally loud & clear to the air or in the air. You can't get away with muttering to yourself, quiet prayer, solemn prayer in your head. Dora wanted to change aspects of her life. She calmly asked her dead mother's spirit to help them find water, but in desperation she 'Called Out' or 'Yelled Out' to her mama to make 'something' - 'anything' happen & that's just what happened in this Amazing Story.

Dora didn't get hung-up on the semantics of being specific and saying I want this, that & the other. She was angry with her step-father because he was mean to her. She was tempted to destroy him by cutting the rope that would see him disappear to the bottom of this obviously deep & dark well & presumably never be able to climb back up, but that's all it was 'temptation'. She never gave in to the temptation, but by asking for 'something' which can be 'anything', it gives glory to the 'powers-that-be', it honours the powers-that-be, it praises the powers-that-be & more significantly it trusts that that what the powers-that-be gives or grants you, will be the best & most longer term 'solution' to 'your situation'.

That's exactly what happened in this Amazing Story... Dora got many - as in 'multiple' any' 'some' 'things' that soothed her heart.