Main Plot: Max is haunted by the spirit of a man, who died when Max failed to help him after an auto accident.

Max: This was an extremely thought provoking episode. It creates an interesting and heartbreaking dilemma. Knowing you have the ability to help/save someone; wanting to be able to do so with impunity, but unable to. What do you do? How much should you put at risk for a stranger? Max’ guilt and remorse over the death of the man he failed to help is understandable, because he is such a sensitive and caring individual, but he was being much too hard on himself. When he said "Why couldn’t I trade my life for his?", I wondered why he felt he was required/expected to risk his life for another; a stranger no less. And only martyrs and saints would risk TORTURE for someone they don’t even know. In addition, although it wasn’t his foremost fear and reason for not acting, he WOULD be putting the others at risk as well. He had every right to fear the consequences of his actions and besides, he has a responsibility to avoid capture and remain alive; an entire race of people are depending on him. How much can we expect from him? How much should he expect of himself? As much as he’d like to, he cannot help everyone, so he has to make choices. When does he help and when does he walk away? He can’t save them all. Those are tough choices to make. He’ll have many more tough choices to make, as leader of his people. Does he have the temperament to be a leader and make tough choices?

I wasn’t sure if the "spirit" was just supposed to be a representation of Max’ guilty conscience or if it was really supposed to be the dead guy’s spirit. I thought it was just a representation, until Max went to Brody’s house and they weren’t there. How would Max know that they went to the hospital? If it was actually the guy’s spirit, it seemed in the beginning that he wanted Max to make amends to his family, so why did he do a complete 180 when Max decided to help a different family?

I’m very confused. I’m not sure if this is a continuity issue/problem or if I’m just misinterpreting it, but in Leaving Normal, Max said "Liz, when I saved you, it was because you were shot, and there was a bullet in you. Something was happening to you that wasn't supposed to happen. It was before your time. But I can't just heal people. I'm not God." I thought that meant he could not cure a fatal illness. So then, how was he able to cure their cancer; what was the difference? Are we supposed to assume everything Max said was a lie? Leaving Normal was a very moving episode and that would diminish it. The accident fit in with what Max said he could "fix", but not the cancer. And let’s face facts here; if he is able to cure cancer, he would not have to keep this a secret. Anybody who could cure cancer, alien or not, would be revered as a god, by all nations of the world, not captured and tortured. Anyway, now that Max wants to heal people, without arousing suspicion, I wonder if they will have him decide to become a doctor? I think most viewers assumed that would be his chosen profession, if he didn’t have to be leader of a planet.

I never realized before that Max didn’t believe in God. I guess when he told Liz he wasn’t God, I just assumed he believed in Him. I have a vague recollection that there was some mention of it another time, but I can’t think what it was and don’t have time to go through every episode (not that that would be a hardship, I just don’t have the time) so if anyone else remembers, let me know. Then again, I suppose what happened to him in The White Room could cause him to question his beliefs.

I was LOL at the opening when they are discussing the necessary "parameters" of the tree and I was on the floor when he pulled out the tape measure. God forbid it should be an inch or two off!

Brody: I was shocked to learn that Brody had a daughter and she was dying of cancer. I never anticipated that story arc. It’s quite a coincidence that both he and Sydney had inoperable, terminal, bone marrow cancer. Did he feel guilty that his was cured but hers was not? Was that why he wanted to reestablish contact with his abductors? Did he hope to convince them to cure his daughter? Now that she is cured, will he give up the search?

Isabel: OK, I thought the Christmas Nazi subplot was very amusing, and her ordering everyone around, to be sure she has the perfect Christmas, fits her personality, but I got the impression that she, supposedly, has been doing this for some time and I don’t remember her being such a "joiner" - Director of the Pageant, President of the Hunger Drive, Christmas dinners at the nursing home, the Christmas dog show - somehow I can’t picture the Isabel of last season doing any of those things.

Her rant about wanting a MERRY CHRISTMAS, like a normal human being, was very funny but also very telling. She is the most afraid that they will lose touch with their human side, the more they explore their alien side, and she’s clinging to all that represents being human; which, I think, is why she sided with Max so quickly when he wanted to help Sydney, even though she still hasn’t forgiven him totally for helping Liz. Although, I think the fact he asked first, helped.

Isabel must have one hell of an allowance if she can afford all that leather clothing and pearl earrings, or does she have a job we aren’t aware of?

Tess: They are definitely doing a make-over on Tess. Last season she was portrayed as a manipulative b***h, but it’s obvious they are trying to humanize her now. I really like the new Tess but that doesn’t leave us anyone but Nicholas to hate and distrust, and I doubt that he will be in every episode, so I’m guessing they are planning on introducing a new adversary. Hmmm, maybe Howie’s character from Destiny? Anyway, I got a real kick out of her trying to infuse the Christmas spirit into Jim and Kyle and also how she demanded her own chair! I am curious though; how did she know to say Jim missed Amy in the note? It was obvious that he was smitten with her but she wasn’t in Roswell during their brief dating period, so how did she know they had dated? Kyle seemed just as surprised as Jim when Amy arrived so, if she asked him about her, he obviously didn’t get suspicious.

Jim/Kyle: I just loved all the Jim/Kyle, Jim/Kyle/Tess and Jim/Kyle/Tess/Amy scenes! Jim and Kyle were just toooo funny, trying to watch the game "around" Tess and doing the sideways cheer; Jim trying to help the players "visualize"; Jim flirting with Amy in the supermarket (I really hope they expand this story arc, I love them together); Jim panicking when Amy rings the doorbell; Kyle’s look when he realized that Tess made his favorite dish for him, and I really loved the one he had as he watched her carry the turkey into the dining room (I think he’s really falling for her and I am so hoping that they eventually get together!).

Maria: At first, when Maria told Michael the bumper was very thoughtful of him, I thought she was equating it to when he made her the napkin holder, and that she would be satisfied with that as her gift, knowing how much time and effort he put into it, not taking the easy way out by using his powers. I was a little disappointed that she expected more. (sigh) I guess Isabel knows Maria better than I do. BTW, what did Maria get for Michael?

Maria is always "coming to the realization" that "x" is more important than "y" ("I just wanted to let you know that I heard about what you did for Sydney and those children. This whole thing with Sydney has made me realize how stupid I’ve been about this gift thing. I don’t need a gift." and "After what happened to Alex last night, that's just, like, not what's important to me at all. So, if that's why you're acting strange, you can just stop. It's over. I mean...just go back to being your usual self.", etc.) but it only lasts until the next episode. She doesn’t really learn anything from it, so she doesn’t really "realize" what’s important.

I thought that whole, considering marrying Brody because she felt sorry for his daughter, was a bit over the top. I was glad that Liz had enough sense to convince her to let Brody have time alone with his daughter. How did Maria know Sydney had no mother? Are we supposed to assume that Brody said something to Maria OR that Maria is jumping to wrong conclusions?

Michael: I felt sorry for Michael. Granted, the electric toothbrush was a boner of an idea but why didn’t Isabel just tell him to buy Maria jewelry, instead of telling him to "Think about all that you and Maria have shared, all that she means to you. Then start coming up with some ideas. OK? A Christmas gift should be personal, thoughtful, and something someone would never get herself."? Very good advice, but she should have known how he would interpret that and that jewelry would not enter the equation; although personally, I think the bumper was a very sweet idea.

When Michael told Max he was pissed that Max was more capable at healing others, it made me think "just one more reason to envy Max Evans" but, more importantly, it shows he’s not as cold and unfeeling towards strangers as he’d have us believe.

General: We have new information. Not only does using their powers deplete their energy (kudos to Jason for being able to show us so well, what a strain this was on Max), it depletes their powers.

Continuity issue/problem: Michael and Maria were not "together" last Christmas so why would Maria think Michael needed to make up for last year and why would Isabel say "Last year was your first year together, and you didn’t give her a present?"

Jim and Kyle will know it was Max who healed the children, if they hear the report about the silver hand print. I wonder if they will say anything about the risk he took?

At least they are admitting that Maria is still 17 and didn’t magically "age" her to 18, to make Brody’s interest in her more acceptable.

When Max was healing Sydney and he got flashes of her past life, who was the guy sitting on the couch? Will he be significant later on?

Did anyone else think that Shiri looked especially radiant in this episode?

Blooper: There was definitely someone in the laundry room when Michael was telling Max about hedging his bets.

Kyle: His mind and body are in deep conflict. When one’s heart and one’s mind are not in balance, one’s body is the first to fail.

Jim: I’m very concerned that you’re starting to make sense to me.

Kyle: We like it in the garage. I use it to dry my socks.

Isabel: You know, is it too much to ask, that one day a year, I can be like a normal human being, with a normal life, and have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!?

Maria: This must have cost you a fortune.

Michael: I’m sure they will.

Maria: I don’t need this gift. This year my gift is you.

Liz: I thought you didn’t believe in God?

Max: I believe in you.