These days, when people think about elves around the holidays, they usually think of the jolly creatures who populate Santa’s workshop. Or maybe of Will Ferrell mainlining maple syrup pasta. But what people often forget is that Christmastime traditions hail from the pagan rituals of old. And that many of our mainstream holiday symbols actually have their footing in myths, not all of them cheery and sweet. But now, Netflix’s new series Elves is bringing back the dark magic of the winter with a take on the fae creatures closer to their original visions.
Netflix has released an official description of the six-episode show, sharing:
Hoping to reconnect over Christmas, a family of four travels to a remote island in the Danish archipelago, only to find it controlled by members of a strongly religious community living in balance with fierce creatures in the woods revealed to be… elves. Real, monstrous beings that inspired the folklore and myths we all know. When the girl in the family finds and brings home a baby elf, she inadvertently disrupts the balance and throws everyone on the island into a life-or-death battle for faith, family and pure survival.
Fairy spirits such as elves were not known to be warm and fuzzy in their most ancient forms. They certainly did not make toys for children… Except in the event that they wanted to lure them into the woods. In fact, elves and fairies were known for stealing children away. And this preview certainly hints at something like that. Although it remains for us to see whether the elves or the humans are the true menaces of this fairy tale.
The preview of this series also feels kind of like Midnight Mass meets Gremlins meet E.T., and we dig it. Plus, we have to say that baby elf is cute. We probably would take it home too. Better try our luck with elves than a radical, isolated community, if you ask us.
On US Netflix, Elves releases November 28.
