I’ve seen numerous people this year asking about the metaphysics of #MuppetChristmasCarol and how its different layers of reality work. If you’ve seen the other Muppet films, it’s really very simple:

The reality of the world of the Muppet films always contains an extra framing layer where the Muppets are actual Hollywood actors playing characters.

In most of their films, they play versions of themselves. In this one, they play Dickens characters. Thus ‘Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit’, etc.

Although most of the actors this time around don’t break the fourth wall as often as usual, we get a hint when Gonzo as Dickens whispers in Sam’s ear and calls him by his real name, to correct him.

So no need to wonder what time the film actually takes place or how the anachronisms work or if Gonzo is actually meant to be Dickens here. The answer is it takes place the year it was filmed, they’re all in a movie, and no, he’s Gonzo playing Dickens.

It’s a bit complicated but this is why, in THE MUPPET MOVIE, they keep pulling out a script. Kermit is in a movie about his own life, playing Kermit.

Even in THE MUPPETS, there are clues they haven’t actually broken up all those years but are playing versions of themselves who did.

And, yes, I realise I’ve said it’s both simple and complicated, but that’s how the Muppets roll.

And as long as I'm going on about #MuppetChristmasCarol, which is genuinely one of my favourite films, I'd also like to just bring up a context that I'm guessing a lot of people watching today don't realise and is why the Tiny Tim death scene lands with such emotional depth.

When #MuppetChristmasCarol was created and filmed, it was in the wake of not only Jim Henson's recent death but that of Richard Hunt, the only openly gay Muppet performer (probably best known for bringing Scooter and Janice to life), who died of AIDS briefly after Jim died.

All of the Muppet performers were reeling from these two losses. #MuppetChristmasCarol was in many ways a test to see if the Muppets could even exist without Jim and to an extent, Richard as well. These are the first losses they had.

This is also actually why some of the main Muppet performers took more of a backseat this time around. They weren't sure if anyone other than Jim could anchor a Muppet film as Kermit yet, and Frank wasn't ready (if he ever was) to do a large role as Piggy and Fozzie without Jim.

And so, when you hear Kermit (Steve Whitmire) and Piggy's voices breaking when discussing Tiny Tim, that's genuine. They're still very much in mourning for Jim and Richard.

It's another nuance that makes #MuppetChristmasCarol mean so very much to me. The Christmas spirit that the characters try to instill in Scrooge, that's the spirit of love, warmth, kindness, and humour that Jim and Richard represented.

And if you’re interested in more of my Muppet and Jim Henson writing, please check out http://www.hensonblog.com . I haven’t updated in forever but I’m planning on returning to it soon!