 This episode received generally positive response from critics . Todd VanDerWerff of The A.V. Club gave " Road to the North Pole " a positive review , stating that it is " a satisfying episode of Family Guy all around , filled with funny gags and nice moments . " He especially praised the musical segments , and the portrayal of the North Pole , writing that " the way the episode kept <unk> more and more ridiculous <unk> on top of each other kept the whole thing funny . " He rated the episode an " <unk> " . Jason Hughes of TV Squad also praised the songs and the depiction of Santa 's factory , though he found the delivery of the episode 's message " heavy @-@ handed . " Kate Moon of TV <unk> gave the episode 3 @.@ 6 out of 5 stars . She said , " I had mixed feelings about this one , despite its clever moments and hopeful ending . While I normally have no problems about Family Guy ’ s shocking or offensive themes , I felt bit <unk> about the direction of this Christmas episode . " She went on to say , " Perhaps it was the way that the series <unk> on something as innocent as Santa and his elves and twisted them all around . Or perhaps it was the <unk> reindeer . Whatever the specific reason , the <unk> nature of Family Guy seemed just a little too graphic for me this time around . " 
