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"Pain in the Mouth" | Premiere Order "Dexter vs. Santa's Claws" |
"Dyno-Might" | 
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"Pain in the Mouth" | Production Order "Dexter vs. Santa's Claws" |
"Dee Dee's Rival" |
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| Dexter vs. Santa's Claws | |
| Season 2, Episode 37c | |
| Episode name reference to/pun on: Santa Claus | |
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| Air date | April 29, 1998 |
| Production number | 234c |
| Storyboard by | Kevin Kaliher |
Dexter vs. Santa's Claws is the third segment of the thirty-seventh episode in season 2 of Dexter's Laboratory. It first aired on April 29, 1998.
In this episode, Dexter tries to convince Dee Dee that Santa Claus doesn't truly exist and he is simply Dad in disguise. He, however, goes too far and ruins the family's Christmas in the process.
Plot[]
On a snowy winter evening in Dexter's laboratory, Dee Dee types out what she wants for Christmas. Dexter catches on and Dee Dee tells him that she's sending her list to Santa Claus. Dexter tells her that Santa doesn't exist and Dee Dee is merely wasting her time. When she asks about the presents, Dexter tells her through a rap song that Santa Claus is simply Dad in disguise and Mom is his only reindeer. Dee Dee tells him about how Santa and his elves at the North Pole make toys for all the good children.
To prove his theory, Dexter mutes Dee Dee by sliding a metal wall between them and walks away. Later that night, as Dexter sleeps in his lab, he is startled awake by an alarm as Santa Claus and his reindeer land on the rooftop, allowing Dexter to carry out his plan. In the living room, Santa Claus magically appears through the chimney just as Dexter exits his lab through the circular rug.
Dexter, thinking that Santa is Dad in disguise, prepares a camera to take a photo. Santa snatches the camera out of his hands, tosses it aside, and shoos Dexter away. Angered, Dexter tackles Santa and tries to pull his mustache off, with Santa retaliating by throwing Dexter off his back and teleporting out of the house. On the roof, Dexter walks toward Santa holding a razor to shave his beard, but is cut off as one of Santa's reindeer chases him around. When cornered, Dexter, thinking the reindeer is Mom in disguise, tells it that he won't be a boy forever. While the reindeer glances at Santa confused, Dexter pounces onto it and rips its antlers off, making the reindeer cry.
Fed up with Dexter's antics, Santa grabs Dexter, stuffs him into the chimney, and takes off. Dexter then uses the chimney as a fighter jet and goes after Santa. Meanwhile, Dee Dee wakes up shivering and goes to the window to see Santa flying by, but her happiness turns sour as Dexter zooms past. In the skies, Dexter fires a missile at Santa's sleigh, which he defends himself by throwing one of his sacks and presents at it. After that, Dexter fires several lasers at the sleigh itself, causing Santa to lose altitude and crash into the Dexter family house, leaving behind a messy living room in his wake.
Dexter nears Santa with his razor and starts shaving Santa's beard and mustache. While doing so, Dexter notices Dad standing over him with his hands on his sides, to which he realizes his fatal mistake as Santa stands up. Mom looks at what was left of the family's Christmas tree and starts crying, and Dee Dee demands for her presents. Dexter apologizes for ruining Christmas again and explains that Christmas is about being with family, friends, and singing Christmas songs. Dee Dee interrupts, saying that Christmas isn't about that. When Dexter asks, Santa responds with; "The presents."
Quotes[]
- Dee Dee: Hi, Santa!
- Dexter: Come back here, Dad!
- Dee Dee: Dexter? DEXTER!!!!
- Dee Dee: Those better not be my presents!
- Dexter: Hold still, father!
- Dad [angry]: Dexter, what are you doing?
- Dexter: Shut it! Hold still! Ha, ha! I'm almost [stops and turns around]
- Dad [angry]: Dexter, what have you done?
- Dexter: [nervously] Um...
- [As Santa gets up, Dexter sees, albeit too late, that he isn't Dad]
- Mom [gasps]: And just look at our Christmas tree! [sobbing] Oh, Dexter.
- Dee Dee [angry]: And where the heck are my presents?! [Dad, Mom and Dee Dee get angry at Dexter]
- Dad [angry]: Dexter, what do you have to say for yourself?
- Dee Dee [angry]: You blockhead! That's not what Christmas is about!
- Dexter: It’s not? Then what is it about?
- Santa Claus: The presents. Ho, ho, ho!
Trivia[]
- The episode plot is a parody of Christmas specials, most of them usually being lighthearted in nature.
- This episode contradicts the events of "The Beard to be Feared" where Dexter himself met Christmas Elves and went to the North Pole. A possible explanation is that this episode takes place before "The Beard to be Feared" canonically.
- This episode was featured on the The Powerpuff Girls: 'Twas The Fight Before Christmas VHS/DVD and on the Cartoon Network: Christmas Rocks DVD from 2007.
- This episode was featured in Cartoon Network’s Happy Holidays from Cartoon Network YouTube live stream in 2022 and 2023.
- It was the second episode in the stream following The Powerpuff Girls Christmas special "'Twas The Fight Before Christmas".
Cultural References[]
- Dee Dee calling Dexter a "blockhead" references the Peanuts comics, where it is commonly used as an insult.
- As Dee Dee waves to Santa Claus, the song "Jingle Bells" plays in the background.
- This piece was also heard in the episode "Trapped with a Vengeance", as Dexter whistles the song while walking home.
Goofs/Errors[]
- Dee Dee takes the microphone from Dexter during his rap. But, in the next scene, the mic on her hand disappears.
- Throughout the episode, the number of reindeer changed.
- On one of the computer screens in Dexter's laboratory, there were only two.
- While Santa Claus was on the roof of the Dexter Family house, there was only one reindeer.
- Finally, while Dexter was chasing Santa, there were eight of them.
Production Notes[]
- This episode along with "Dexter and Computress Get Mandark!" and "The Justice Friends: Pain in the Mouth" were produced in the same year of 1998 according to the credits.