Love is strange. I think that is something that we all can agree on. It’s one of those things that has a different definitions for everyone. It’s something that you will always feel – even as it fades into other emotions. In Episode 5 of Holidazed, I would even still challenge that even in feeling dislike or hate, that there is love.
We’re focusing on the Lewin Family. Linda and Robert have both settled in their daughter, Jennifer’s, home for Christmas. There is some shock that is going around, as the couple is divorced and Linda has decided to bring home her much younger boyfriend. Evan is handsome and charming, but his very presence is setting off Robert.
Robert and Linda had been married for thirty five years. The both of them are headstrong, stubborn, and filled with words that they’ve never said. Having them both at Jennifer’s house was a choice, but one that definitely provided a story line that made the show.
As with all of the Holidazed episodes, we’re examining the meaning and dynamics of family during the holiday season. This is why I love it so much, because families come in different shapes and sizes. The Lewin family is experiencing after effects of divorce and the way that it is handled in the show makes you reexamine what you think about divorce and the people involved.
Linda seems to have felt resentment towards Roberts work. He was always working and didn’t take the time to live. Evan – is much younger – and he’s willing to try anything. He’s made her life adventurous and is willing to do all of the things that Robert never would.
It’s no surprise that Robert and Evan clash. In my experience, men are always playing the “mine is bigger than yours” game. The two aren’t getting along at first but over time they do start to get along. Why? Well, because they are basically the same person. The only big difference between the two is age.
Both of them want to be seen by everyone around them, but that results in some hijinks and somethings that we didn’t expect. For instance – seeing Robert and Evan learn to get along. They both have garnered Linda’s attention. She doesn’t seem to like them getting along.
What I did love though is that no matter what happens – Linda is wearing her emotions on her face. Her poker face isn’t top tier and she’s definitely all over the place. But aren’t we all? It’s seeing her ex-husband and her boyfriend that seems to bring it out of her.
Evan and Robert end up spending a lot of time together and love to see it. The way that they are doing their best to hide their equal jealousy of each other works sometimes and sometimes it doesn’t. Each thing they do – even in positive ways – is some sort of jab at the other. That being said though, the parts of the episode that the two interacted were the best parts.
It’s Jennifer’s husband, Mike, that notices that Linda has chosen a younger version of Robert. Mike made pointing it out seem funny and well, I loved it.
What I also appreciate, that Holidazed, does so well is that they weren’t afraid to show Linda talking to her daughter and wondering if she made a mistake getting a divorce.
If there is one thing that I can say about Holidazed is that I believe that it is an important show about family dynamics, the holidays, and all sorts of variations of love. But then again, I also love that they are showing the dynamics of family and how just because your family isn’t like someone else’s, it doesn’t mean that your family dynamic is wrong. Every family is unique.
The episode ends with the bad storm (like the other ones have) with the storm that wipes out the electricity on the block.
I am anxiously awaiting the last episode – because I am curious to know how the blackout and storm bring this block together. Each family is so unique and so filled with life – even if sometimes that’s just existing.
What will change for the Lewins? Honestly, not sure, but am looking forward to it.
Holidazed streams on Hallmark+.
