Archie's gung-ho focus on the spirit of Christmas annoys his friends who are looking forward to other things. When Archie is forced to stand in as a store Santa, he tries his best to keep the spirit. But when he finds himself locked in the Lodge department store, he finds a spirit of a different kind — one determined to destroy Christmas for Riverdale!
This episode includes examples of the following tropes:
- Aesop Collateral Damage: Santa tells Archie that his friends needed a lesson on the true meaning of Christmas and Archie being missing on Christmas Eve forced them to refocus. Of course, this also required that Archie (who hadn't done anything) had to spend part of the holiday alone in the department store. That said, Archie did ask for a new weird mystery to write about for Christmas and Santa ended up delivering just that.
- Arbitrary Skepticism:Santa: Archie, you believe in ghosts, werewolves, aliens, and monsters! Why is it so hard to believe the real Santa Claus would come to Riverdale?
- Be Careful What You Wish For: The only thing Archie wants for Christmas is a new weird mystery for his column, and Santa gives him just that as he’s locked in the Lodge department store with a vengeful spirit, living toys, and a monstrous Christmas tree.
- Brick Joke: When Mr. Lodge tracks down Veronica at the party, he asks how she got Archie to forgo singing all his usual Christmas carols, off-key. She says he isn't there yet. After letting Archie out of the store, Mr. Lodge comments that if Archie wants to sing his usual carols, he won't complain about it.
- Chekhov's Gun: At the beginning, Archie confesses that he asked Santa for a really good story for his column. The events with the Christmas Phantom and the living toys and tree were the answer.
- Christmas Episode: Archie is super excited for Christmas, but when investigating a mystery leads to him getting locked in the Lodge department store on Christmas Eve, the holiday may not just be ruined for himself but for everyone in Riverdale as well.
- Description Cut: When he tries to call for help and gets a busy signal, Archie groans that no one will notice his absence with all the festivities happening. The scene cuts to a subdued Jughead, Betty, and Veronica, who are all waiting for him to arrive and reminiscing about their holiday traditions.
- Dreaming of a White Christmas: Despite it being December and it still hasn’t snowed, Archie predicts that it will in time for Christmas. Of course, with this trope being played straight, he’s right.Archie: What? No snow yet? Oh well, maybe later. It always snows in time for Christmas in Riverdale!
- Freudian Slip: Mr. Lodge when he asks Veronica if she knows anyone that could fill in as the store’s Santa:Mr. Lodge: Do you know any suckers - uh, responsible teenagers - that need to make some chump change this Christmas?
- Heroic Sacrifice: Archie is willing to give up ever getting to enjoy Christmas again if it means saving the holiday for the rest of Riverdale.
- How the Character Stole Christmas: Archie sees a group of animated toys and goes to investigate. He finds a being calling itself the Christmas Phantom. The Phantom claims the commercialized modern Riverdale doesn't deserve Christmas and plans to take it away with some kind of magic. Archie grabs the book and runs with it.
- Living Toys: The Christmas Phantom makes the toys in the mall come to life to serve as his own personal army.
- Locked Up and Left Behind: Archie realizes before leaving the store that he's forgotten the presents he bought everyone, causing him to go back. Unaware of this, Mr. Lodge locks the doors, trapping him inside.
- Long List: One kid that visits Archie when he’s being the department store’s Santa has a Christmas list so long that Archie falls asleep while he’s reading it.
- Mall Santa: The previous one quits, alleging that the Christmas tree came to life and attacked him. Mr. Lodge calls Veronica to ask if any of her friends would like to make some cash. Veronica recommends Archie, and advises her father to tell him about the weird circumstances first.
- Meaningful Name: Chris Nicholas’ name is a Portmanteau of Chris Kringle and St. Nicholas - two aliases for Santa Claus.
- Santa Claus: The real identity of the Christmas Phantom.
- Secret Test of Character: One moment after the Christmas Phantom corners Archie comes across as a sort of test. The Phantom challenges him to prove his desire to save Christmas for Riverdale by agreeing to sacrifice experiencing it himself. Archie agrees, but says he's keeping the spell book. The Phantom doesn't care, even declaring it a present, and Archie looks at the book to see it's a copy of A Christmas Carol.
- Still Believes in Santa: Played with; Archie admits to asking Santa for a weird mystery to start off the year early in the episode. When he unmasks the Phantom to reveal Santa, he's astonished, and the man in red asks why he should feel shocked to see the real Santa Claus when he believes in all kinds of strange things.
- True Meaning of Christmas: Archie seems to be the only one who values spending time with his family and friends on Christmas. The rest of his friends only care about the gifts, food, and financial opportunities of the season. Even the Christmas Phantom recognizes this quality in him.
- Urban Legend: Mr. Lodge tells Mr. Bailey the legend of the Christmas Phantom, a ghost that haunts the department store basement after the rest of the original building burned down 30 years before.
