Ep 6. Holiday Hell

Life After People: The Series season 2 episode 6 named "Holiday Hell" is an intriguing exploration of what would happen to our cities and towns during the holiday season if all the people suddenly disappeared. The episode takes the viewer on a journey through some of America's most beloved holiday destinations, including Disneyland and Times Square, to see how these places would be affected without the usual hustle and bustle of tourists and locals.

The episode starts with a trip to Rockefeller Center, decorated for Christmas with a giant tree and an ice skating rink. With no one to maintain the rink, the ice begins to crack and break apart, leaving behind a frozen wasteland. The famous holiday window displays at nearby department stores also begin to deteriorate, as no one is there to change the scenes or turn off the lights.

Next, the show visits Times Square, a destination known for its bustling crowds and flashy advertising displays. Without people to maintain the electronic billboards and clean up litter, Times Square quickly becomes a ghostly relic of its former self. Christmas lights and decorations hang forlornly above empty streets and abandoned buildings, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

The episode then turns to the happiest place on Earth, Disneyland. The theme park normally welcomes thousands of visitors every day, but without anyone to operate the rides or maintain the grounds, the park quickly falls into disrepair. The water in Splash Mountain begins to stagnate, while the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle becomes overgrown with plants.

The show also explores how holiday traditions like the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New Year's Eve ball drop in Times Square would be affected in a world without people. The massive balloons from the parade begin to deflate and rot in the streets, while the ball that traditionally drops at midnight on New Year's Eve stays stuck in place, slowly deteriorating over time.

As the episode progresses, the show explores how the animals that are normally associated with the holiday season would fare without humans. Reindeer, turkeys, and other animals commonly eaten during holiday meals would likely flourish without the threat of slaughter, while domesticated cats and dogs would be forced to fend for themselves.

Finally, the show examines the impact of holiday-related waste on the environment in a world without people. Without anyone to dispose of plastic, wrapping paper, and other materials, the holiday packaging and decorations begin to pile up and slowly rot away, creating an unsightly and potentially hazardous mess.

"Holiday Hell" is a fascinating and thought-provoking exploration of what our world would look like without the chaotic energy of the holiday season. While the idea of a world without people may seem bleak and depressing, Life After People: The Series demonstrates the resilience of the natural world in the face of human absence, leaving viewers with a sense of awe at the power and adaptability of nature.