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……

I thought it was absolutely brilliant. Maybe the son looked too intimidated at the outset (I would have gone more for sullen teenager) and I wouldn’t have had him run upstairs, but on the whole I thought it was really clever and stirring.

I liked it 🤷🏻‍♀️

I just watched it a couple more times and definitely cannot see the darkness some of you are seeing. I think it’s really uplifting.

It’s like that black/blue/cream/gold dress all over again!

That goes for every John Lewis advert.
You could argue about that one featuring Lilly Allen singing to some sappy cartoon about a hibernating bear. Or the soldiers playing football in the battlefield.
These ads just try to elicit some emotional response. Sometimes they get it right, like this time, for me at least. I found the WWI football game one insulting.

I get what the advert is TRYING to do, that doesn't need explaining.

People are a bit sad clearing Christmas away, as a majority of people are ( not everyone but adverts have to appeal to the highest %), Dad finds record, memories evoked, hugs and tears. Fin.

Problem is, this could be quite triggering to some, as the sadness of Chrimbo being over looks like something genuinely awful has happened, the family is TOO sad, on the point of looking scared.

And why did the son not point out to the Father on Christmas Day that he hadn't opened his present from him? that spoils the narrative as well.

If my child buys me a thoughtful gift, they would be waiting on pins for me to open it.

A few tweaks ..maybe the family could exchange rueful looks whilst packing away, an arm round a shoulder etc. Maybe we could see the son rushing out to a record shop on Boxing Day with his Christmas money, then sliding the record under the tree?

It's a nearly -but- not- quite-there from me!

£200 for a jumper 😱
This is why I don't shop at John Lewis.

It's so so bad! I didn't even understand it was Christmas day. I thought the dad found and opened his Christmas present early (which I thought was shitty of him 😂) and I didn't even understand what happened next.

£240 to be exact! I clearly live in a very different world to those spending such sums on just a single jumper.

Wasn't that Sainsbury's (the football one)?
These types of ads are all a bit naff really.
The only one I have ever liked is the Mog one for Sainsbury's.

They really should have gone for an ornament. They just won’t sell that many records!

Oh but apparently they also sell record players......😁

That’s probably why they look miserable, the thought of a huge credit card bill in January because they buy jumpers at £240 each.

I don't cry I'm sang froid in genral but I thought it was good.
Nice to see the male prespective as opposed to women rushing around creating the 'perfect' christmas and becoming a martyr to the cause. Makes a difference from the usual christmas slush.

I have a lot of elder millenial/Gen-X middle class dad friends who used to love dropping a pill at a rave and now have kids/talk about the good old days/shop in John Lewis instead.... I think they hit the nail on the head for their target market.

Gosh yes, it really reminds me of the film Aftersun with Paul Mescal, where his daughter is looking for him on the dance floor. And that did not end well... 😥so sad.

It isn't a point well made is it? The kid looks terrified of his Dad and I also thought one of them was dead! This is my era of song and it didn't grab me at all.

God, that is bloody miserable. It looks like it was brought to you by the same advertising team who do the drink/driving ads.

I don’t understand what some other people are seeing in this advert.

Dad doesn’t look remotely threatening, and the kid has that awkward teenage boy ‘don’t talk about emotion for Christ sake’ look about him.

I loved it.

(I also think the females don’t look downtrodden)

It was a nice enough little advert, I didn't find it sinister.

I disagree that the dad looked especially grumpy, or the vibe was menacing. Looked like a normal house with normal people in it for me.

Not every piece of media has a shock twist like someone's died. Sometimes things are just what they are.

The jumper will be left on the bedroom floor for the next 6 weeks because it doesn't occur to the lad to actually put it in the washing basket.
The gravy he dripped on it now won't wash out.
😂

I loved it.

I can't understand how they can get it so wrong. Are they trying to be un-christmassey.

What is christmassey for you?

I'm pretty sure there is no legal requirement for a retailer to sell a record because they use it in their ad campaign. I've never noticed a record stand in McDonalds.

For what it's worth, I quite like the ad. Can't say I found it menacing. A bit odd during the silent dancefloor bit, but not menacing.