Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 2 sees the reality competition settle into a groove. The first episode is all about setting the rules and introducing you to the players. The second episode, however, has to prove it the show can stand on its own. And Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 2 clearly establishes that there’s enough charisma in Hallmark—and in this show, to sustain an entire season.
If the first episode was all about how good the host and guest judges were, the second is about the men actually vying for the title, and some really, really stand out. Not that we weren’t, as always, a little giddy at seeing Tyler Hynes. That move with the flowers? That’s why he’s one of Hallmark’s top leading men. But it’s starting to feel like this show has a few other men who could give Hynes and Bennett a run for their money.
MORE: Check out our interview with Jonathan Bennett and the cast of Finding Mr. Christmas.
WHO STOOD OUT
A few of the guys really stood out in this episode, starting with Parker and Ezra who could not take one bad picture. The camera loved them, the ladies loved them and it’s hard for us not to love them. But there was also Hayden, who might not have excelled at the challenge, considering it’s probably not super professional to get so emotional it takes a while to get a good shot, but he touched our hearts. And then there was Daxton, who is just a ball of sunshine and who we just want to see do well at everything!
Some of the other guys did not do so well, and it’s easy to see why David went home, but it’s also really easy to see why this challenge was hard for him. I know nothing about angles, either. I would probably not be able to stand there and compete with people who actually model for a living, no matter how good I looked. It feels a little unfair, but competitions like this always are. And in this one, well, it’s just going to get harder and harder to see the guys go as we get into the season.
MORE: What did we think of Finding Mr. Christmas episode 1? Check out our review!
WHAT IS TOXIC MASCULINITY?
One of the best things about the show so far is not the challenges, the guest stars, or even how quickly the guys take off their shirts, it’s the real sense of connection you can feel between them, in their downtime. One of the things that makes Hallmark so attractive isn’t just the romance, it’s the notion that men can be vulnerable too, and that being vulnerable is a strength, not a weakness. Hallmark is the land of no toxic masculinity, and these guys all feel like they not just understand that, but like they live it.
That’s no small feat, and it’s a credit to the casting department as well. Not one of these guys is giving ugh not Hallmark material. Not one of them feels like they would be happier somewhere else like they’d be better off not sharing their emotions or being open on camera. Instead, they’re all really excited about being themselves and getting to be part of this group.
Sure, some will be better at some things than others, and we will still have to say goodbye to most of them before we get to the end, but it’s easy to believe these guys will remain friends going forward. And that, well …that just makes me want to see them in movies together if I’m being honest.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 2? Share with us in the comments below!
New episodes of Finding Mr. Christmas release on Thursdays on Hallmark+.
