Lucy van Pelt can curdle fresh milk with her stare but she has a heart of gold. She is a girl who wants love. A heart-warming tale centred on the loveable Peanuts character gets told in Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne, which is showing on Apple TV+.

It’s Christmas time and Charlie Brown and his merry gang are preparing for the big day. Charlie is warming up for the big occasion by watching Citizen Kane while Lucy waits for the person who makes her happy — Grandma.

Andy and Olaf are not often seen in Peanuts comic strip but they have a role in the new Apple TV+ title

Unlike in the comic strip, some of the less-seen characters turn up at Charlie Brown’s house, like Andy and Olaf, who are Snoopy’s friends and so does Belle, the beagle’s sister, and Spike. Andy and Olaf live together on a farm. Andy looks similar to Snoopy but has longer, shaggier hair. It’s one big party at the Brown household until Charlie realises that he couldn’t get around to any of his previous year’s resolutions. He feels like a failure while his “five-cent” psychiatrist Lucy does her “best” to make Charlie feel the way he does. The boy wanted to paint a masterpiece but is told to settle for something that’s remotely creative. He needs to adjust his expectations to match his abilities, says Lucy.

But bad news arrives within 10 minutes of the cartoon — Grandma can’t make it to the party. And the only person who is overjoyed to heart that is Lucy’s brother Linus because Grandma always tries to take away his security blanket. Lucy is not someone who gives up. She starts preparing for New Year, hoping Grandma would turn up or at least all her friends in the neighbourhood would have fun. Ultimately, she goes to bed with one question in mind: “Am I not loved?”

Of course, she is loved by all. Of course, this is Christmas time. And of course, this is the Peanuts gang we are talking about, so the ending is always satisfactory. But complicated questions get thrown around and feelings are explored. The short special episode resulting from Apple’s expanded partnership with WildBrain has everything that touches the heart. Not always will things go according to plan but there is always something to look forward to and friends whom one can turn to. That’s the spirit of Christmas and Snoopy Presents: For Auld Lang Syne captures it perfectly. It’s truly a toast to the good and best things taking place at a bad time.

Coming Up

Next week, Apple TV+ will present Swan Song, an emotional journey told through the eyes of Cameron (Mahershala Ali), a loving husband and father diagnosed with a terminal illness who is presented with an alternative solution by his doctor (Glenn Close) to shield his family from grief. Set in the near future, Swan Song explores how far we will go, and how much we’re willing to sacrifice, to make a happier life for the people we love. Also starring on the December 17 release — helmed by Benjamin Cleary — are Academy Award nominee Naomie Harris, Golden Globe Award winner Awkwafina, and Golden Globe Award nominee Adam Beach.