On the horizon, potentially choppy waters.

For the first seven episodes of season 47, ourSNLin Reviewvessel enjoyed a relatively peaceful sea.

And for the most part it all felt very organic.

But now, an existential threat:Kate McKinnonwill return after being absent all season.

The fact is the show has thrived with new blood being given a chance to answer the call.

The cast size is already huge how will Kate (with her outsized stage presence) fit in?

Fasten your sails, my dear Coneheads.

Cold open

Oh god, here we go.

Kate McKinnon is Dr. Fauci.

“Do people still think I’m sexy or are we done with that?”

We’re getting an update from NIH, answering queries for the holidays.

CDC Players act out various scenarios Mikey Dayloses his vaccination card and is banished from society.

The next scene:Bowen Yangis traveling home for the holidays.

Santa (Kyle Mooney) is at the mall, and his testicles are as big as grapes.

And oh boy, they’ve revivedPete Davidson’s Andrew Cuomo impersonation.

Makeup lines and all.

Chloe Fineman crushes Lauren Boebert, as doesCecily Strong.

“Anyone say, ‘Wishes it would go away?'”

asks the creepy, yet beautifully eyed Ted Cruz (Aidy Bryant).

This is meta, but not in the way the show realizes.

YES, GO AWAY.

We don’t need these overstuffed cold opens, or these tired political impressions.

How do you do this kind of sketch without James Austin Johnson?

Monologue

Eilish comes out wearing a strawberry shortcake dress, or sexy Mrs. Claus.

“You may know me from my hair or my clothes.”

She discusses wearing baggy clothes.

Her parents were both actors growing up.

She once wrote a movie and cast herself and her brother as her son, but not Billie.

Billie is giggling a lot and calls up a picture of 16-year-oldColin Jost.

Isn’t this from when he worked as a reporter and copy editor for the Staten Island Advance?

He describes Eilish as a “major talent.”

He is also intrigued by her brother Finneas O’Connell.

“He has a lot to do with making the records I understand.”

Previously Eilish was impersonated by cast memberMelissa Villasenoron the show.

“Christmas Cards”

Alex Moffatcomes home from work.

His wife (Villasenor) has placed their holiday cards on their fridge.

All the images come alive, to comic effect.

“Oh my god, their rat dog is still alive?!”

cries Moffat, looking at an image of her friend’s decrepit dog.

He needs a new spine.

Miley Cyrusappears in a cameo andPunkie Johnsoninsisted they take a picture together.

Eilish is Melissa’s bitchy high school frenemy Andrew Dismukesis hilarious as her incel son.

“TikTok”

This is clever a spoof of everything you see on TikTok.

Viral dances, #fitcheck, put a finger down, etc.

James Austin Johnson crushes his Homer Simpson.

Chloe Fineman is obsessed with Blake Lively’s dress.

Nice to see them try this format, hitting on the app’s many trends.

This is the kind of modern, engaged sketch they should be doing.

“Hip-Hop Nativity”

Eilish andHeidi Gardnerare updating the standard nativity show.

“Too old school, too Boomer.”

Gardner tries out her pimp walk; Kyle Mooney immediately joins in.

This rides a fine line.

“Teach me hip hop c’mon,” deadpansChris Redd.

Andrew Dismukes is playing a twerking baby Jesus and they give him a butt implant.

“Praise him!”

cries a deranged Gardner on the candy cane stripper pole.

Silly, an excellent showcase for Gardner.

The play is such a success in the end that Lin-Manuel Miranda will direct the film version!

“Lonely Christmas Ad”

Billie Eilish observes a lonely, widowed Kate McKinnon.

She invites her over for Christmas dinner.

“Are there any Black people over there?”

inquires the old woman, handwriting a message.

Lots of Kate tonight.

Turns out it is an ad for NextDoor.

This jumps from acoustic strummed guitar ballad to something more raw, punkier at the end.

A jam, in other words.

This song received four Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

(It’s also one ofEW’s top 10 songs of the year.)

“Weekend Update”

Colin Jost,the $70,000 man, starts off as always.

The upcoming holiday gets some commentary from Punkie Johnson this is delightful.

She talks about her shady, judgemental uncle and his homophobia.

She discusses her desire to have kids but have them not be straight.

Her motto: a “‘ho smashing household.”

Bongo the Octopus joins him to predict the Sunday football game: Packers or Bears?

Instead Bongo writes he will die in seven days.

Dismukes accepts his fate.

“you’ve got the option to see what man cannot.”

This is hilarious, subversive.

His next guest is Taco the Talking Dog.

He can solve basic math problems.

Taco is shy and won’t face Andrew: “Are you scared?”

he asks, worried about Dismukes, who’s going to die.

I am shocked they let this on air honestly.

Usually things this original get cut for time, amiright?

“You mettheSanta, like in the Bible?”

They keep questioning her.

This is cute, not sure Billie quite lands the blend of comedy and song here.

“I don’t think I’m on good terms with Santa!”

they croon, a la the Andrews Singers.

Kenan Thompsoncomes out as Santa to applause.

They’re awkward; “we’re weird but we love you.”

“Kyle’s Holiday”

Oh wow, a Kyle pretape made it to air!

Congrats to him for this and “Saturday Morning All-Star Hits!”

Here’s the gist: Mooney just wants to hang out with some of his show castmates.

But, of course, everyone has plans and he is deeply off-putting.

Even the “yo Don’t Destroy” guys want nothing to do with him.

Second performance: “Male Fantasy”

This melancholy ballad reflects on depression and heartbreak.

I believe it is the final track on her recent album, and just got agloomy music video.

A litany of every item or detail you’ve got the option to think of.

So many lists, this kind of humor it’s like a distant cousin of Stefon, oddly.

Billie giggles at Kate’s mugging.

“I am chaos.”

He was a good egg, not conceited, but a real person, not a showbiz key in.

He was a thoughtful Canadian, good looking and possessed a wicked sense of humor.

To me he had the classic looks of a 1940’s movie star.

In the style of Ray Milland or Cary Grant.

When I shot ‘Java Junkie’ Peter improvised lots of touches that added to his character.

When Peter grabs an entire hot coffee carafe and swigs it down that idea was contributed by Danny Aykroyd.

I will miss Peter.

He was a gentle, genuine, deep person and a good friend."