Yes, it is October but Countdown to Christmas has begun. So, curled up in my bed on a Saturday night waiting for 8:00PM to hit and me to allow Christmas joy in my cold dark soul. Hallmark’s Countdown to Christmas signifies hope, and hope has begun with A Royal Montana Christmas.
A Dude Ranch, Royalty, and Christmas? For some reason this sounds like it will work. And hey, it may sound like it will work because it does. The jist? Princess Victoria of Zelarnia need a change of pace and decides to go to a Dude Ranch in Montana for that change. It’s there she meets Huntley Blaylock, who gives them an experience that is well – not Princess treatment. Blaylock is definitely embracing the rustic life. He doesn’t know she’s a Princess but she definitely enjoys the work of the ranch. When he finds out that she’s a Princess, what will change? As her time comes to an end in Montana does she even want to go home?
Fiona Gubelmann and Warren Christie star in this years Countdown to Christmas opener that has set this season on a right note.
A PRINCESS
Where they come up with names for these countries and the accents that fit them, I am not sure. But I love them. Princess Victoria is busy and her assistant Gabriel is reading off the schedule. It gives me hives listening to all the things. Victoria doesn’t like how busy things are and wants things to change. Gabriel tells her now isn’t the time to reinvent the wheel, but it doesnt mean she doesn’t want to.
It’s advent lightening and lets just say Victoria is not good at public speaking. Her sister is prim and proper and Victoria is just cringing. Her Mom is trying to be positive, but Victoria is off to the next event and the next. Gubelmann could have done without the accent, but the sentiment of Christmas is alive and well.
Inspired by memories Victoria decides that she’s going to make changes. Her sister and Mom. as well as Gabriel are in the kitchen eating cookies and Gabriel is just tossing more things on the schedule.
Victoria says that something doesn’t feel right. Her Mom wants her to do things, but Victoria wants to connect with people. She wants to change the crown. Victoria is having doubts about taking on the role.
Her idea? She wants to go back to the Dude Ranch she and her father went to. The Grand Duchess agrees as long as she’s back by the 19th.
MONTANA
Bad first impression when she gets there and drives over a box of Christmas decorations. The dude in a cowboy hate is cranky. But, Montana – well that’s beautiful. Snow, Christma spirit, and driving over another box. Getting to the states isn’t what she expected.
There is something peaceful about Montana. It’s as far away from home – but I think that Victoria is looking to hold onto her father. With things changing she needs to find some balance. Everyone on the ranch is excited and they can’t wait to partake.
Gabriel may be my favorite character ever. Why? Because he’s blunt and has no idea how to be on a ranch. Yet, everyone is welcoming and sweet. I just have a hard time believing that anyone would want to head out to a ranch for Christmas. Dude Ranch = hard work.
Huntley seems to be taken a back by Victoria and I am not sure why. Victoria and Huntley have very different personalities. She’s trying to get to know Huntley and he’s trying to put a distance between. From the beginning he’s got an attitude.
When I listen to Victoria talk about her Dad, I have to think that she’s on a road of grief that she can’t escape. Maybe I am wrong. We shall see.
EARLY MORNINGS
Victoria and Gabriel set out for their first day. Come to find out they think it’s a fashion show. The breakfast looks devine and you’re going to need carbs. Huntley seems to really excited to watch them doing chores – as they are about to get their work on with gross stuff. Gabriel and Victoria aren’t going to give up. I applaud this.
There was so much work to get done and Victoria wants “real cowboy stuff” after a hard days work. Memo to myself – never wear white on a farm.
Part of the fun is watching Huntley and Victoria trying to get along and their friendship grow. I am wondering if I am supposed to be thinking about the line between good and evil – since Victoria is in all white and Huntley’s got that black hat on.
The two laughing and enjoying themselves – you need to have someone that you can count on. We can all see the attraction is there and yes, we know that they will act upon it, but question is when and will it even work? They both have walls up, but is that because of the lives they lead? Maybe it’s because of being hurt before.
INTO TOWN
Gabriel avoiding manual labor – well, I have never related more. Victoria wants to go help Huntley with the festival of lights. I have to admit that I didn’t think of royalty and manual labor. Seeing the two talk and get along, sharing memories – it’s great how you can see that the two of them really need someone and they are allowing others in.
Victoria doesn’t know if she’s like her Dad. She feels like she closed off a little because life is hard. She’s blabbering on and wants to hear about Huntley. Talking about the things you love the most and still trying to hold on hope – well that’s hard. They are both talking about dreams gone, but I wonder if that is them flirting. Or just being vulnerable.
The two at a bar – it’s fun. Victoria seems to out do him on everything but Huntley doesn’t mind. Victoria is excited and wants to take on planning the holiday dance as a fundraiser. Huntley isn’t sure about the dance and I wonder why. He looks upset and angry. Yet, instead of talking about anything – their excuse is “its complicated.”
Huntley seems to be excited over Victoria, but the dance seems to have crossed a line and I am not sure what that line is. I do, however, hope that Huntley finds a way to let go and allows whatever joy was taken from him to return.
Sometimes it takes a moment of clarity to know what you need and want. Huntley looks around and he’s scared of taking the joy of the ranch and it’s surroundings – afraid that its failing. He doesn’t get that he’s not a failure. Things happen. Huntley not being able to play baseball – it’s hard. But what he’s doing is existing and not living and is hard.
A MINUTE…
Huntley agrees to the dance, but Victoria forgets she’s got to be home. Her Mom wants her home, but Victoria wants to make a difference. She explains her vision and is so excited for it all. Her enthusiasm is beautiful.
What that enthusiasm is doing also though is it’s making Huntley fall for her. These two are afraid of what a future can bring.
Victoria isn’t as passionate about the things back home as she is about the things on the ranch. Maybe it’s the way that she can remember her father so well there. I wonder if she’s looking at the wrong things to find the right thing to do. And I do wonder if Victoria realizes that what she needs to know is that most likely all that her Dad truly wants (most likely) is or herself to be happy.
Grief is strange though – sometimes we don’t even realize that it’s grief. We see it as change and that change is terrifying. In the same respect, I think if we’re not changing, what are we doing?
Huntley is letting down his walls – you can see it. And you wanna save him from being hurt. He’s gone through it. But Victoria – she has also. The thing is – complications are a part of life. Whatever it is – whatever is the complication that you’ve faced or are facing – well, that’s something to work through. Complication move things forward.
STOPS AND TREES
Huntley and Victoria are opposites, but they push each other and bring out a different side of each other. They are smiling and laughing and finding their way towards the answers they seek.
You’re supposed to feel love and joy in your life. For these two – they’ve let go of ever feeling like they are going to feel that. Huntley even admits that he feels more alive now than he has in a long time.
Putting together this dance – yes, it’s a fundraiser. However, I also think that it’s going to be something that brings Huntley and his family together. They need it – that sense of community and magic that stopped a long time ago.
Huntley and Victoria remembered meeting when they were kids. He remembers her and he asked his Dad all the time if she was going to come back. They are so excited that they found each other. But before they can move forward she has to tell him the truth – she’s a Princess. Does it change things? Maybe. It sure made it awkward when he tried to kiss her.
I think that finding out that she was a Princess made Huntley feel inferior and as if he wasn’t good enough. Yet he still can’t stay away from her.
PRINCESS
Telling Huntley that she’s a Princess, has changed him and Victoria. Maybe the best advice he got was that she was still a person – so that he needed to go after what he wanted. He does want Victoria.
When you have to admit who you are – does that mean that things have to change? Possibly. I think it’s a reminder to enjoy what is right in front of you and live in that moment. Huntley takes that concept and moves forward with it – inviting her to the Festival of Lights.
Huntley and Victoria are like teenagers. Their cute little crushes. Victoria – this ranch has changed her. She feels confident. She feels at ease. None of us could have expected her to find herself the way that she has in Montana. That being said – while I want to believe in love, I also believe that she needs to go home.
Escaping ones life is something that we all want to do at certain points. But finding your purpose – it’s a gift. Victorias gift – in part – will be changing the monarchy. Huntley understands her and yet he doesn’t. He doesn’t want to give her up. He feels something between the two of them and doesn’t want to give it up.
She can’t give immediate answers – like he wants and needs. His life is a lot but hers is on a bigger scale. The memories that she has built on the ranch – well that will forever mean a lot to her. That ranch means everything to Victoria because of her time with her father there. And finding someone else on the ranch – that’s enough to know that this place is magical.
THE DANCE
Victoria asking Huntley to the dance and it’s adorable. Very adorable to see these two together. But also absolutely adorable to see how the dance comes together. No matter what happens – this dance, this past week, all of the memories were everything.
Huntley tells Victoria that he’s decided that he’s going to stay on the ranch. He wants to be with Victoria but she can’t ask that of him. She knows that this time on the ranch – her time with him – has changed her. They have break each others hearts in order to move forward and I have to admit, I cried. I cried when he grabbed her cheeks and kissed her as passionately as he could. He loves her completely.
The way that his face looks empty when he finds out that she’s gone. It was as if pain was all he had left.
That dance was an amazing idea – allowing the people of the town a way to come together. But saying goodbye – does that make a good last memory? The truth is when you’re leaving the people that you love behind, nothing is a good last memory.
More times than not what you’re left with is the pain of goodbye. Returning home. Victoria is more confident and poised. She carries herself gracefully. Gabriel is even glad to be home and carries himself the same way.
Victoria has become this woman that loves her country but also loves Huntley. She’s filled with the love that she still feels for her father, even though he’s gone. She is so deeply in love with Huntley and being home won’t be easy.
Their love was a love that stands the test of time and distance. Her returning to Montana – to Huntley – shows that her heart is guided by love. Victoria has given her title to her sister. She wants to be in Montana.
In looking for a break, she found herself and opened her heart. She found love.
And that is the greatest gift that we can ever hope to achieve. It’s the greatest gift of all.
