Martin's twin brother Kenneth - a foreign correspondent - is arrested and detained in Kurdistan, and the Lanes are worried that Cathy will be crushed when he doesn't arrive in time for Xmas.
This is an okay episode, not one of the series' best nor a Sixties best. The opening scene is cute and actually realistic. Patty and Ross are being especially sweet to each other just because of the Xmas spirit - yes, that often happened back in the day. Not sure if it still affects siblings the same way today.
When Cathy is recalling all the past Xmases she spent with Kenneth, Martin and Natalie's concerned expressions in the reaction shots are perfection. There is a nice exchange between the cousins when Patty says "Don't look for miracles", Cathy replies "Isn't that what Xmas is all about?".
William Schallert AND Patty Duke both do double-duty when he plays both Martin and Kenneth in the last act. The best part is watching both Patty and Natalie's uneasiness when they think the real Kenneth is actually Martin (who is botching their best-laid plans). Natalie gets very annoyed and Patty's squirming over what she thinks is a bad situation. Neither are aware Cathy's father indeed has arrived and now there are TWO Kenneths in the Lane house.
At the end, Patty breaks the fourth wall and informs the audience that although Cathy got her Xmas wish, her father has been fired and needs to get his job back so, Tune In Next Week.... (the second part is not Xmas related so I am not including it in my Top 75 Xmas Episodes coverage).
Patty's hair looked the best in Season 1 when it was styled in the longer, loose flip. I think it's the prettiest she looked on the series. The scenes at midnight when Kenneth arrives has the girls in fancy dresses. A still of Patty wearing the same dress appeared on the cover of the 1964 Whitman children's book "Patty Duke and Mystery Mansion". 6/10.
This is an okay episode, not one of the series' best nor a Sixties best. The opening scene is cute and actually realistic. Patty and Ross are being especially sweet to each other just because of the Xmas spirit - yes, that often happened back in the day. Not sure if it still affects siblings the same way today.
When Cathy is recalling all the past Xmases she spent with Kenneth, Martin and Natalie's concerned expressions in the reaction shots are perfection. There is a nice exchange between the cousins when Patty says "Don't look for miracles", Cathy replies "Isn't that what Xmas is all about?".
William Schallert AND Patty Duke both do double-duty when he plays both Martin and Kenneth in the last act. The best part is watching both Patty and Natalie's uneasiness when they think the real Kenneth is actually Martin (who is botching their best-laid plans). Natalie gets very annoyed and Patty's squirming over what she thinks is a bad situation. Neither are aware Cathy's father indeed has arrived and now there are TWO Kenneths in the Lane house.
At the end, Patty breaks the fourth wall and informs the audience that although Cathy got her Xmas wish, her father has been fired and needs to get his job back so, Tune In Next Week.... (the second part is not Xmas related so I am not including it in my Top 75 Xmas Episodes coverage).
Patty's hair looked the best in Season 1 when it was styled in the longer, loose flip. I think it's the prettiest she looked on the series. The scenes at midnight when Kenneth arrives has the girls in fancy dresses. A still of Patty wearing the same dress appeared on the cover of the 1964 Whitman children's book "Patty Duke and Mystery Mansion". 6/10.
