Why’s the John Lewis’ Xmas Ad so bloody menacing!

So there are issues in the house then?
Obviously some teens just like headphones/music. But many who wear them all the time, round their neck when not actively using them, often have reason to do so.

Yes, I realise that he's remembering clubbing and is not actually clubbing. The clue is in what I wrote: "He's reliving clubbing."

I thought I was clear that it didn't make sense for his son to be in his clubbing memories, but apparently not.

He’s taking presents upstairs off the table

The first time I saw it I wasn't concentrating at the beginning and thought it was one present under the tree before Christmas so was really confused why the dad was opening it already. It doesn't make any more sense really as 'son doesn't tell dad he's got a present for him but just leaves it under the tree' - why? That's so weird. Son creeps down the stairs looking apprehensive. Then massively long flashback of dad clubbing. Then the whole fading to black, in a sinister 'someone's died' way. Another flashback to dad holding baby, shedding tears. Dad and teenage son embrace like someone's died. Obviously it's a Marmite ad, with some people saying they found it moving, but I just think it's rubbish storytelling, taking a decent idea and executing it badly.

You have to be joking for effect?
I don’t believe you don’t get the symbolism.
To help you out in case you are serious:
He’s not clubbing, he’s remembering clubbing.
He’s remembering it because of the present his son bought.
He notices his son standing there waiting to see if he liked it.
He remembers his son’s birth and early years, which cuts through his clubbing memories.
He gigs his son.

But most people who found the advert emotional haven't called anyone hysterical, yet you are telling them they are having a hysterical overreaction?

Not sure what point you are trying to make but this isn't kind either?

Wow I just watched the dog on trampoline and hare & bear JL Christmas adverts and both made me cry. They were so lovely! 😻 Not idea what they were thinking with this year's rubbish.

I love it! Choosing that track is a stroke of genius for me and not just for the lyrics - it appeals across the generations. My son "introduced" me to this track on holiday last year! He had just discovered it and was overjoyed to learn that I already loved it so much. I must confess the advert made me cry because I actually experienced a lot of the emotions shown by the dad - remembering how I used to dance to it before I had even met DS's dad. I remember looking at DS, thinking of all the great holidays we'd had together over the years and wondering where the time had gone and a feeling of inexpressible joy that everything that had happened had brought us to this place where we were listening to Alison Limerick together with DS on the decks. It was a realisation that this was indeed where the love lives. It sounds so incredibly cheesy when I write it down and my kids think I'm a hopeless old softy, but that advert absolutely nails that emotion. I can't wait to show them. I think our kids love it when they get to see a bit of the younger us, the bit before we were a parent. I love the fact that the dad is remembering his baby boy, but the son is also getting a little window into his dad's youth.

Yep. It’s really clever and look! We are all talking about it. Tbh I can’t remember the last few years JL adverts and this one is going to go viral. Ad agency has pulled a blinder.

I just thought it was boring and didn't see the point of it. Not a bit Christmassy!

Well, you see what you see in it. I see a miserable family having a Christmas nobody wants or enjoys, where the women do the cooking & housework while the son slopes off to his room & Dad swiftly abandons tidying up to play with his new toy & feel sorry for himself.

I said he'd given up on his son because he doesn't seem to have any memories of the kid between being a little boy & being a teenager. I expect Mum spent those years doing the school run, feeding the kids & talking to them, though, so that's alright.

As I say, I'm not a natural JL customer, but that's the impression I got from a first viewing. Maybe I should watch it again to check, but I honestly couldn't bear it.

Well yes this is a tad more menacing

Not a bad effort though!

Is it sponsored by Fathers 4 Justice? How to placate the family abuser, just for one day.

If people are projecting their bad experiences onto this ad, that's because what is depicted chimes with their bad memories of walking on eggshells, on a day that's supposed to be joyous, because of the behaviour of an adult and/or the atmosphere created by them.

For really menacing you need the Argos ad

What about the Bear and the Hare as well!

I don't know what demographic they're aiming at. I expected it to have more mass appeal and to appeal to women more than men. As it so heavily features a middle-aged man and his teenage son, and women do most of the buying, not sure how it will make money for JL.

I love this.

Gosh there are some perfect parents with perfect teens on this thread. Who bizarrely are lacking in the emotional intelligence to understand all teens are different - doesn’t matter how good your parenting skills are. Many are shy, anxious, moody etc.

Me too!

Totally unrealistic. The teenager would have said you didn’t even open my present and then gone stomping off and slammed his bedroom door.

Particularly because some of the people calling others "hysterical" for not liking it are admitting to crying over an advert.

Nothing wrong with showing your emotions but if anything is closer to a hysterical over reaction it's sobbing over a mawkish ad for a middle class department store, not making a snarky comment on a chat forum.

They sell random stuff. No idea about vinyls, but I know they sell vintage clothing.

I actually think its quite a clever advert. It is about how a thoughtful gift can bridge divides when words can't. I bit of teenage angst or parents not managing teenage changes well can create an invisible divide, but underneath it all they love each other.

I can’t think of a profession that involves house visits to teens that doesn’t mean there’s been some issue for the teens. Maybe not ND, but an issue.

I didnt say the focus of my visit was for the teen. However I always make time to chat and see how things are even if they are not part of my case load, like I do if a grandparent or family friend is in the house when I call.

Yes I agree, I did actually reply to my own post because the advert I was sent yesterday (and described in my later post) was not the one described here. I’m completely baffled!

Didn't see the son doing much clearing up tbh.