It’s great that, covering these famous Halloween specials, I’ve been able to also cover three pieces of pop culture that are a major foundation of my existence. Now, I can finally rave about how amazing and wonderful Charlie Brown and his comrades are, by reviewing one of their most famous half hour specials It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The 48 year old special airs on Halloween night on ABC this week, but I doubt there’s anyone that hasn’t seen this fantastic half hour at least once.

Linus has always believed in the Great Pumpkin, a deity that he believes brings presents to kids. Wanting to be the first person to see him, he stakes out the pumpkin patch he deems most sincere in order to catch a glimpse of the fantastical being on Halloween night. Despite the other kids taunting his beliefs, he soon is joined in his crusade to witness the Great Pumpkin by Charlie Brown’s little sister, Sally.

I’ve seen this special enough times now to memorize it by heart, so I feel like I can’t give a balanced critical analysis this special so deserves. That being said, my own personal opinion of the special is that it’s a wonderful slice of television that is perhaps one of the best things Halloween has inspired (along with those massive bags of Milky Ways). Nary a moment goes by that isn’t filled with joyous animation or a perfectly timed joke. Every single character contributes to the main plotline in some terrific way, although Snoopy does get his own mini story that gives him time to shine in his World War One flying ace personality.

In both the comics and television programming, Linus was one of the best characters, able to wax philosophical in one story, then flip on a dime and breakdown over losing his precious security blanket. This kind of variation in a person makes him a perfect protagonist for this show, which allows him to be mature and wise over the topic of a fictional holiday creature. Seeing the way different characters react to his ideas of the Great Pumpkin provides some of the shows most amusing moments. Some of the shows few not so amusing moments come from it’s animation, which is a little more noticeable slipshod than the Christmas special; while some backgrounds look like paintings, other settings remain inconsistent in appearance, namely the house where many of the kids hold their Halloween party.

While the animation errors in this episode are a little glaring, It’s The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown remains one superb TV special. The world of Charlie Brown is one filled with brutality and humor, and while many of it’s television adaptations failed to live up to the comic strip, Great Pumpkin continues to be a wonderful show that always amazes one with it’s wisdom and humor. Let me put it this way; this show is the total opposite of getting a rock while trick or treating.