Virtually Christmas
| "Virtually Christmas" | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for the episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 3 Episode 16 |
| Production code | 320[1] |
| Original air date | December 3, 2022 |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Guest appearance | |
| Alfonso Ribiero as Mr. Extras | |
"Virtually Christmas" is the sixteenth episode of the third season of the American animated television series Big City Greens, and the 76th episode of the series overall. "Virtually Christmas" originally aired in the United States on December 3, 2022, on Disney Channel.[2] In this episode, after Cricket gets snowed in at the Remington's, he attempts to recreate his family's Christmas traditions inside of a virtual reality game.
A holiday-themed television special, this episode was directed by Anna O'Brian, written by Rachel McNevin, Ariel Vracin-Harrell, Destiny Wood, Raj Brueggeman and Kiana Khansmith, and storyboarded by Ariel Vracin-Harrell, Destiny Wood, Raj Brueggeman and Kiana Khansmith.
This episode was announced at the New York Comic Con in October 2022,[3][4] and features Alfonso Ribeiro, who guest starred as Mr. Extras.[2][5] The 3D animation was produced with Unreal Engine.[6]
Plot
[edit]Prior to the events of "The Move", Cricket, tired of his family's same old Christmas traditions, goes to Remy's place to play the virtual reality game Outpost Infinity, which got a Christmas update. Cricket ends up getting snowed in with Remy, but the latter reveals that he left a VR present for him at his house and Cricket suggests that they all go into Outpost Infinity to recreate the family's traditions, hiding the fact that it is a tower defense game.
They recreate Alice's house and then try to complete all of their family traditions, such as finding the fruitcake, while Remy holds off all the waves of monsters and Mr. Extras occasionally appears trying to sell add-ons. By the time they reach the last tradition and Cricket is about to top the Christmas tree with the star, Remy blasts into the house and warns them that a wave of monsters are coming, thus exposing their secret. With no option, the Greens fight off the monsters. They purchase a Christmas Cannon from Mr. Extras to use against the giant monster and later defeat it.
Afterwards, while the rest of the Green family and Remy continued fighting off the next wave, Cricket felt like it wasn't Christmas if he didn't top the tree with his family. Therefore, he takes off the goggles and finds a way through the snow back home. After he returns, the Remington's arrive and, since they didn't have their own Christmas traditions, joined in on the Greens'.
Voice cast
[edit]- Chris Houghton as Cricket Green
- Marieve Herington as Tilly Green
- Bob Joles as Bill Green
- Artemis Pebdani as Alice Green
- Wendi McLendon-Covey as Nancy Green
- Danny Trejo as Vazquez
- Zeno Robinson as Remy Remington
- Colton Dunn as Russell Remington
- Lorraine Toussaint as Rashida Remington
- Alfonso Ribeiro as Mr. Extras
Reception
[edit]Tony Betti of Laughing Place states "I love when Big City Greens ventures into these kinds of special episodes, and this Christmas one has enough charm to make it a staple of holiday viewing in households everywhere, including my own."[7] He also praised the animation, stating that it's "absolutely gorgeous and it has made me want a Big City Greens video game even more than I already do."[7]
Ratings
[edit]The special received 0.26 viewers on its premiere.[8]
References
[edit]- ^ "Big City Greens Episodes". Disney General Entertainment Content Press.
- ^ a b Newsdesk, Laughing Place Disney (November 26, 2022). ""Big City Greens" Takes the Green Family Into The Virtual World This Christmas". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Betti, Tony (October 15, 2022). "Where We Came From and Where We're Going With "Big City Greens" At NYCC 2022". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Pillot, Dempsey (October 6, 2022). "'Big City Greens' Christmas Special Announced". The DisInsider. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Cucco, Jackie (October 28, 2022). "These Disney Specials Will Bring Holiday Cheer to Your Living Room". The Toy Insider. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ "Taking 'Big City Greens' from 2D to 3D animation in Unreal Engine". Unreal Engine. December 15, 2022. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ a b Betti, Tony (December 3, 2022). ""Big City Greens" Celebrates Christmas In The Virtual World". LaughingPlace.com. Retrieved May 2, 2025.
- ^ Salem, Mitch (December 6, 2022). ""Saturday 12.3.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals"". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved May 2, 2025.