The last episode of Holidazed wasn’t what I expected, but maybe it was what I needed. Maybe, just maybe, I needed someone to tell me the way that things should have ended, and I can’t really knock Holidazed, because they did just that.
They reminded me that everyones story has its own path and that we need to respect that. There are a bunch of moments that shape the way that peoples lives are meant to be and if you just open yourself to the possibilities, who knows what will happen.
And a lot did happen. Stories were wrapped up, but as they were wrapped up with open endings. Why? Because these peoples lives aren’t over. Every moment is a way for their lives to continue and for them to grow.
I think that sometimes, I expect everything wrapped up in a bow, but I have to remember that bows are one thing and the relatability of reality is a different thing. We just need to embrace it.
Because our story isn’t anyone elses, but seeing the way that stories can “end” when they are just “beginning” is a beautiful thing.
The Manetti-Hanahan family is the only family on the block with power (they have solar) and so they invite everyone on the block over to celebrate Christmas. That’s complicated, but hey, what isn’t complicated?
THE HILL FAMILY
Josh Hill needs to make choices. He’s really not too good at them and I think that is because he is afraid of letting people down. However, he’s letting himself down, so that is not really working out for him.
He shows up at Nora’s to help her build the bike for Theo and I was honestly shocked that Nora took the help. But, she did and I think that it was important that she did, because she needed to see that side of him. The side that really cares about her and Theo and the side that leaving is hard.
Josh has feelings for Nora, and he needs to embrace them. Nora inspires him to be himself and to not have his life dictated by someone else.
But it’s Theo’s Christmas present to Josh that makes him realize that Australia is not where he needs to be. His girlfriend realizes it too. Theo’s gift was a picture of life and it was really a beautiful thing.
Josh changed seeing that picture. He found himself in that picture and well, that’s all that we can really hope for – that we find ourself. It was that picture and the meaning of family that made him decide to stay and not go to Australia. He decided to tell Nora his feelings and to figure out things for his parents on his terms.
And all of that was a great thing.
THE LIN FAMILY
Grandma Lin may be my favorite person – because she’s just so matter of fact and cut throat. But she’s not mean about it. She just wants her family to be honest with her and tell her the truth about who they are.
You see, she’s pushing the whole wedding thing and even finds that one of the guests is a minister. So, she wants it to happen that day.
But, it was her pushing it that made Ted fight for his relationship. But, how he had to do just that – I can’t even imagine how had that was. Ted came out to his Grandmother and she told him that she knew. She knew he was gay, but it broke her heart that she hadn’t told him. She doesn’t care that he’s gay – she cares that he hadn’t told her, because she loves him no matter what.
Seeing her say that it broke her heart was one of the hardest things to see – because it was just that Ted had to do the hardest thing ever and it was met with emotional guilt. IDK, I just think that it was just a lot for Ted to see.
Marcus tries to talk to her, and I think that she heard him, but was also put off that someone tells her the truth. She’s gotta make up her mind as to what she wants.
But she kinda did get something that she wants. She got to see a wedding. Marcus and Ted end up getting married. And that was just a beautiful moment.
THE WOODS FAMILY
Sisters are complicated. Sometimes they don’t know how to communicate and sometimes they do. Lucy and Sylvie don’t know how to communicate, but they find themselves trying.
And I think that is hard to know that you have messed up with your sister and they are afraid to tell you the truth. They are afraid because they felt jealous of you. I think that watching Sylvie and Lucy figure out their space is something that anyone else with a sister can relate to.
Seeing these two come together and let their guard down for each other was something that I can relate to. Most of us can.
Sisters are a special bond – even if they don’t see it originally. But them coming together – eventually – is a great thing.
THE LEWIN FAMILY
The Lewin family is very complicated. They are all experiencing love and like in different forms. They are figuring out what love is and who they love.
What has been beautiful about this family is Robert and Linda finding their way. They had gotten a divorce for a reason – but we get to see them find that those reasons may not have been something that would last.
Everyone makes a million mistakes in life. Sometimes that biggest mistake is taking people for granted. Robert was a workaholic and Linda felt taken for granted. Now that Robert is retired, he realizes what he did.
And Evan realizes the bond between Linda and Robert.
Sometimes it takes the extreme to see what is right in front of you.
Evan leaving, realizing that he can’t compete with Robert – I actually felt for the guy. I felt for him because I knew that he actually cared for Linda. But I loved that he saw the bond between Robert and Linda, and knew that they needed each other.
And Robert giving Linda the gift of going to see the Northern Lights. That was beautiful. Robert has always seen her dreams, he just didn’t realize that she wanted him to be a part of her dreams.
But them going to see the Northern Lights together? That was beautiful. That was special. The look in Lindas eyes was one filled with love and patience. I am rooting for them.
The Camarena Family
Love is a crazy thing that sometimes evolves through drama. And if there is anything that we know when it comes to The Camarena Family, there is a lot of drama.
Now, Papa Camarena doesn’t want to go to the Manetti-Hanahan’s house without an invitation. He doesn’t want to have to call a truce with Papa Manetti-Hanahan, but the wives make them do just that. They agree to call a truce for just that day.
We all know that Katie Manetti-Hanahan and Gaby Camarena haven’t gotten along. Katie helps Gaby with her audition video and it is really damn good. I was watching it and was like, I would totally watch that show.
But there is something else that needs to be fixed. Kevin doesn’t want to go over, because of him and Katie breaking up. It’s complicated. Love is complicated. And it takes a lost llama to get him to go over.
Katie and Gaby have squashed their issues, and Gaby wants Kevin to be with Katie. She’s learned that people change and that Katie isn’t the same person she was. But it was a beautiful thing to see Kevin see that he didn’t need to stay mad. He needed to grow the same way that his sister has.
But you can’t help but love Kevin for protecting his sister.
The Manetti-Hanahan Family
Connie and Chuck are characters and I absolutely love them. They are complex and they are so committed to their family. They are willing to push the boundaries and they are not afraid to be just who they are.
Chuck may act tough all the time, but opening up his home show just shows that he’s not as sinister as he seems. He’s a family man and he loves his wife desperately.
He also loves the llama in the backyard.
Seeing them open up their home and really embrace all the people there, but also they still pay attention to Connie and if she is sick – you see them all coming together.
What I loved was it was Grandma Lin that got Connie her test results. She made a phone call and told them what to do. And she can do that because she’s donated a lot of money.
Seeing the relief on Connies face when she gets the test results and the families faces also – I loved that they are really there each other. The family may be complicated but there is so much love there.
It was also beautiful to see how the family comes together because you need that. Like you really need to see that it is allowing others in is not a bad thing. The Manetti-Hanahan family is coming into their own and seeing who they really are without pretense – it’s a good thing.
I believe that the perfect ending to this story was all of the families coming together and really seeing that they aren’t all so different. They all need each other though. Life intersects and we need other people. We need to have people to love and people to love us. I think that Holidazed does a great job showing that.
And hey, what’s better time to do it than when you’re experiencing the magic of Christmas.
