Let me be clear, I was pretty excited about Finding Mr. Christmas since it was first announced. I have a weakness for reality TV, and this felt like the kind of reality TV that would be less about drama and more about fun, which sign me up? But I didn’t actually expect it to be more than just …background entertainment. Fun background entertainment, at that, but just …background entertainment with cute guys.
Then, at some point during the Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 1– and really, how cruel is that there was an elimination? I love them all – Jonathan Bennett turns to Daxton and tells him “You are never too much, and you’re always enough,” after Daxton shows his ugly Christmas sweater, which celebrates the LGBTQ+ community. And then, I was like are these…. feelings that I’m feeling? Are those tears in my eyes? Am I in love with this show?
Dear reader, the answer is yes, I am.
MORE: Check out our interview with Jonathan Bennett and the cast of Finding Mr. Christmas.
Jonathan Bennett, The Host that You Are
A big part of it is Jonathan Bennett, who we’ve seen in countless Hallmark movies – including The Groomsmen series, and yet who has never been as charming as he is here, because this is the real Jonathan Bennett we’re seeing. And though the setup for the show feels a bit like a Christmas overdose at first, complete with hot chocolate, by the time the men are stripping off their shirts to put on the ugly Christmas sweaters they just crafted, well … it all kinda works.
Credit to Bennett and Melissa Peterman, who is hilariously also appearing in Happy’s Place on NBC at the same time as Finding Mr. Christmas is being released on Hallmark+. Peterman is, we know, a gifted comedian, but this show also allows her to be her kind, empathetic self and it’s hard not to want these people to do well because you like them, and also so they can get a compliment (or maybe even a hug) from Peterman.
But, as I said before, this ship is steered by Bennett and you can feel it in every second. Watching a Hallmark show, particularly one about finding the network’s next leading man, is supposed to leave you feeling like there’s no wrong choice. All these guys are great. And the show doesn’t just that, but it reminds you that the leading men Hallmark has now – like Bennett, are pretty amazing as well.
MORE: Count down to Christmas with us! Here’s the full schedule.
Why Did You Leave Me, Isaac?
The thing about this show that’s a problem – and it’s likely going to get more problematic with every episode, is that everyone is so damn likable! Isaac was a firefighter who just wanted to make his family proud. How can you root against that? And yet, how can you really root against any of these guys? It feels super cliché to say that whoever wins we’ll be happy, but whoever wins I’ll probably be okay.
Even if I did like Isaac. And his ugly Christmas sweater. I’d even buy one just like that, my family has an ugly sweater Christmas!
In the end, Isaac probably shot himself in the foot by going last in the challenge, because at that point he was just too nervous, and this is about acting at the end of the day. He also likely thought Blake wasn’t going to be that big a competition and Blake came with the improv and killed it. My favorite bit, though, just like the judges, was Hayden throwing the bow and pretending he’d never had one. 10/10, no notes, would watch that Hallmark Christmas movie. And it didn’t hurt that they had Erin Cahill to act against.
Anyway, have I said this is the best reality TV show out there? Melissa Peterman! Jonathan Bennett! 10 (well, 9 nine now) good-looking men who are not afraid to show their emotions and who actually seem to like and support each other engaging in healthy competition! I’m feeling the holiday cheer already.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 1? Share with us in the comments below!
New episodes of Finding Mr. Christmas release on Thursdays on Hallmark+.
