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

[Purplefoo]

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2025/nov/04/john-lewis-christmas-advert-countdown-90s-club-classic-where-love-lives

I genuinely thought it was about an abusive dad or a murderous son at first! So intense……

When the music on the dance floor faded out i thought we were going to find out one of them was dead.

It’s so weird! The dad is SO intense

It definitely isn’t an uplifting experience

Its very sinister, all the cowering looks and the sister looks terrified as well

It's definitely a bit heavy and not Christmasy at all. No idea what they were thinking.

Yeah, this is so unchristmassy 😂. The son looks petrified.

The comments on YouTube are like "this is about ME. I used to be a raver too", so imagine there is an audience for it

It made me cry! I think it’s absolutely brilliant.
Dads and teen sons often struggle to stay connected on a personal level - they can chat about sport etc, but struggle with more meaningful stuff. This shows a magical moment of realising how well they know and love each other. Marvellous! 🩵

I wasn't aware John Lewis sold vinyl records 🤔

I’m assuming that father and son have a fractious relationship and struggle to show each other their love (maybe even forget it sometimes inside the frustration of their everyday interactions). The album is the son showing his dad that he does care enough to know what makes him happy, whilst the thoughtfulness of the gift reminds dad how much he loves his son, whatever other issues they may have.

From the article quoted:
John Lewis will be selling a limited edition vinyl record featuring both versions of the track via the Rough Trade record shop sections already in stores and via its shopping app.
Profits from the £14.99 record will go to the John Lewis Partnership’s Building Happier Futures programme, which helps people who have grown up in care.

The JL account switched ad agencies not long ago so different vibe

They’re selling a ‘special limited edition’ of this record. Because they have to legally if it’s in their ad!

Yes, I think they needed to switch it up. But not sure this is it.

From sickly sweet to mildly threatening!!!

I get it - was it meant to be difficult to understand?

It is just executed poorly and the vibe is all wrong (to me)

This is why I find all their advertising annoying. It never makes it obvious what they actually sell.

Yes, I get that at the end. But it’s also menacing and weird

They sell record players though…

I really like it. Thought provoking, accepts some family relationships are difficult (and Christmas can intensify this), nostalgic and modern at the same time. And a great tune! Bravo.

My God some of you are spectacularly missing the point!

It’s about fathers reconnecting with their children (a son especially). The son bought the record for his dad, which takes him back to his younger days - and remembering how much he loves his son, and how close they used to be. The gift and the (now teenage) son seeing his dad enjoying it, bring them back together again. Strengthening the bond between them.

I thought it was brilliant. Managed to be moving without any of the schmaltzy Christmas stuff we’ve seen before.

I admire what they are trying to accomplish but nothing beats the trampoline one with the dog- I loved that! Edgar the dragon was also brilliant. I’d love more of that.

Well it's definitely not on the level of when the hare bought the bear an alarm clock. I couldn't even work out if it was Christmas day!

Omg just watched it - it's terrible
I guess they were trying to be experimental but that was NOT it. Especially for a Christmas ad. Felt like one of those scary 90's ones for Childline!

‘Felt like one of those scary 90's ones for Childline’

😂😂😂😂

Well, at least it's not a breathy slowed-down ballad.

Let us be thankful for small mercies.

I can sort of see where they are going with it, the whole son being a toddler then a baby on the dancefloor with dad but the slow music and the fact it's empty and dark doesn't quite work for me.

They would have been better keeping the upbeat track, meeting his future wife on the dancefloor and dancing with her to it, doing a nice montage of their life so far and raising the kids (upbeat track still playing throughout, 90s/00s fashion and culture throwbacks galore,) then cutting back to the present day. And THEN doing the slow track and the hug.