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……

Good job you don’t work for Saatchi & Saatchi. Your version would have been pretty shit.

But then I’m not paid to produce adverts. Imagine being paid what they are to come up with this. They could still have had the nostalgia, they could still have connected via music, they just didn’t need to make the children look on edge and uncomfortable and the father look incapable of speaking to his own child. They chose to make it look like that so I’m sure it’s all part of the plan. It’s just sad that people have such awful relationships with their children that they see their own families in it.

Agreed. They’re embarrassed and awkward around each other which is a fucking weird state of affairs between a parent and child.

Possibly because it happened too quickly. But honestly, it's still weird, as though the son is a ghost...

Got what? That it’s normal for parents and children to not be able to string a sentence together each other together without collapsing into a world of intense awkwardness?

Saw it this evening. Didn't get it.

Their worst ever by far.

As the average age of an ad agency worker is about 32 - well, well below average, it’s likely it was made by people who have no idea really….

I have been a copywriter in advertising for 30 years and my husband was an account director. We both watched this in disbelief! The chance to work on such an iconic brand as John Lewis is an absolute privilege and then to be lucky enough to be chosen as the team to work on the brief is even more of a privilege. I can think of a million different treatments for the brief and yet they come up with THIS! Saying it missed the mark is putting it mildly. It doesn

The advert was about music and connecting via music for a father and son. Sorry you didn’t get that nuance. If it had been all wordy and jolly it would have been a very different advert.

Doesn’t seem to have missed the mark so much in the real world. Everyone on social media and all my WhatsApp groups get it.

Only on here do people seem annoyed and confused!

It is normal on mumsnet though I suppose. There are so many threads I read and just think how the fuck did you get to that point with your teenagers? Then you look back at their posting history and it becomes clear. They have other dysfunctional parents tell them it’s normal though so they convince themselves it’s fine because that’s easier than parenting right in the first place or sorting it out now it is bad. It’s weird af.

Maybe they got the next Apprentice candidates involved in making it. Its as bad as the ones 'the candidates' come up with.

https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/children-and-young-adults/advice-for-parents/cope-with-your-teenager/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/understanding-the-evolution-of-behavior/202506/why-is-my-teenager-so-grumpy-moody-and-self

Here’s the official line on it from John Lewis. The son had felt distant from his father lately (obviously according to this thread this never ever happens with teenage boys, it’s not even a thing and if does it’s your fault as a parent).

The son is finding a way to reconnect with his father. The dancefloor becomes a metaphor for memory, connection and unconditional love…exactly as many of us assumed.

But yes they probably needed to spell all this out for some people.

No abuse or menacing behaviour.

Christ this thread is depressing. So many people just want to pick fault because it doesn't fit with their lives.

Thankfully, I watched it early this morning and commented on the thread in the Christmas topic. I did wonder why there weren't many responses. Now I know it was because people just wanted to be arseholes on AIBU.

600+ posts on AIBU, and about 20 posts on the Christmas board post from 7am.

Says everything, really.

Do you think that everyone in a happy family walks around all day with an inane grin on their face and that a neutral expression indicates utter misery?

Anyway thanks to JL for reminding me why AIBU is best avoided 🎄

Just a couple of resources about why teens can be moody / sullen/ poor communicators and that it’s a normal part of development. Just for those crying dysfunctional parenting on this thread.

Apparently. They must be grinning and talking at all times. Otherwise there’s abuse and an unhappy family…

Just why are Christmas ads on so early?? Makes me turn off not buy!

I liked it (mum of teenage boys)

I can’t see how it could be remotely described as “menacing”?

A bit of peace and quiet after the chaos of Christmas morning is a sure indicator that social services need to be called.

I’ve just had a read of that thread and it’s exactly the same as this one!

Are you so stupid that you think that's what I was implying?

Well done

Here’s your perfect parent medal 🏅