Hallmark's Holidazed: S1 E2 - The Hill Family

The holiday drama continues on Pour The Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time! Garry and Amy dive into Episode 2 of Hallmark's Holidazed: The Hill Family. When Josh Hill (Ian Harding) heads home and ends up doing community service, he crosses paths with his old lab partner Nora (Erin Cahill) and her son Theo. With Christmas crafts, sweet moments, and big decisions ahead, Josh has to decide between a future overseas or something a little closer to home.

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Transcript

Amy 0:08

Welcome to Pour the Wine. It's rom-com time where we'll sip some wine and review all things rom-com on the Hallmark Channel. I'm Amy.

Garry 0:14

And.

Amy 0:15

I'm Gary and I'm a pourer. You're pouring the wine. What are you pouring tonight?

Garry 0:20

We're pouring a Chardonnay you surprised me.

Amy 0:23

With that we're doing a Chardonnay summertime whites. With that we're doing a chardonnay summertime whites? Yeah, because it's been so hot lately yeah, we do like calves, but a chardonnay will do in the summertime?

Garry 0:33

yes, it will. It will, especially on the porch should we?

Amy 0:36

yes, on the porch, we get right to it yes, let's do it today we're reviewing episode two of holidays the hill family. It originally aired on november 14th 2024 on hallmark plus. Holidays is now airing as part of christmas in july 2025 on the hallmark channel. Two episodes are dropping every single sunday in july who people? I'm assuming it's every single sunday, haven't mapped it out yeah, yeah, eight episodes.

Garry 1:05

How many, uh, sundays are there in july? I don't have that extra one in there right, there you go, and we would love it if you would click that follow button on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode if you listen on apple spotify or youtube. You can also leave us a review, and hopefully it's a positive review. Hopefully it is Fingers crossed. Yes, fingers and toes crossed. You can also find us on social media Facebook, instagram, blue Sky X and, of course, threads. We are.

Amy 1:36

Pour the Wine. It's rom-com time on all the socials. You can search for the name, not necessarily the at. You can search for the name, not necessarily the at, because I think on Twitter we're Pour the Wine Rom.

Garry 1:49

Yeah.

Amy 1:49

At Pour the Wine Rom. But if you search for the entire name, you'll find us.

Garry 1:53

Yes, you will.

Amy 1:54

Head on over to socials, like we just said, and let us know your thoughts about holidays, to Christmas in July or anything related to Hallmark or something we've talked about. Maybe you've liked or disliked one of our opinions. Let us know, let us know. You can also email us at pourthewineitsromcomtime at gmailcom.

Garry 2:12

Yes, do it.

Amy 2:14

Let us know your thoughts, do it. That's very.

Garry 2:19

So are we going to talk about who is in this particular episode? We are. We didn't. Can we talk about who is in this particular episode? We are.

Amy 2:24

For the review of episode number one. We did not list all the actors and actresses because there were a whole ton of them.

Garry 2:33

So we decided.

Amy 2:35

So the first episode showed a little bit of everybody, yep. And then for six episodes we're going to get each individual family, so we're going to talk about the actors in each individual episodes as we go along, correct?

Amy 2:50

And if we've already mentioned them in a previous episode. We won't redo everything Correct. We'll just move on, and then the last episode will be everybody, so we won't have to do anybody again. That's right. So all right.

Amy 3:03

In the Hill family, erin Cahill plays Nora Jacobs. She has over 100 acting credits. She's been in several Hallmark productions, including the Recent Journey to you in April of 2025 and Christmas at Sea, which is airing right now during Christmas in July. It's a docuseries about the Hallmark crews last November and I do believe that that is airing on Monday nights in July. She was also in five episodes of Holidays Deck the Halls on Cherry Lane, the Christmas Quest and Autumn at Apple Hill in 2024. Awesome, she was busy. She was Busy. In 2023, she starred in Christmas on Cherry Lane, hearts in the Game and A Taste of Love. Some of her other work includes two episodes of Blue Ridge the series in 2024, it Snows All the Time in 2022. She was on one episode of 9-1-1 in 2018, and she appeared in one episode each of House Castle and the Ghost Whisperer in 2010.

Garry 4:01

Wow, yeah, she's got some credits.

Amy 4:04

Ian Harding plays Josh Hill, and don't we love Ian Harding. Yes, Well, I do anyway, sorry, what a cutie patootie that one is.

Garry 4:13

Okay.

Amy 4:15

Along with the three holidays episodes, he was in two Hallmark movies the Magic of Lemon Drops in 2024 and Ghosts of Christmas Always in 2022. And how much do we love Ghosts of Christmas Always in 2022.

Garry 4:28

And how much do?

Amy 4:28

we love Ghosts of Christmas Always. A bunch, a bunch, a bunch. Really, that's your phrase.

Garry 4:33

I wanted to see the reaction on your face.

Amy 4:37

Okay, a bunch. We liked it a whole big bunch.

Garry 4:40

Yes, we did.

Amy 4:42

No, we really love that one. That one is like that's like top level for us as far as hallmark christmas movies it was so good, so cute. The magic of lemon drops I've heard really good things about.

Amy 4:54

We haven't seen that one yet, but we should watch that, but a lot of people really loved that one also okay so we need to check that one out put it on the list some of his, some of his other work includes our little secret, which was in 2024 on Netflix, and that was the one with Lindsay Lohan oh yeah, where they played, they had dated, and then they broke up and years later they find each other where she's like, engaged or something Right right. And she's at her like fiance's or boyfriend's house and. Kristen Chenoweth plays the mom of the boyfriend.

Amy 5:26

Right, right, right fiance's or boyfriend's house and kristen chenoweth plays the mom of the boyfriend right, right, and then she runs into him to his character and they have to add and she wants him to act like he doesn't know her right at all because she's never talked about that time in her life.

Garry 5:36

So that was really cute that was a cute one too he was in one episode of magnum in 2021. The updated version of Magnum PI. I was going to say you don't look that old OG Tom Selleck, you know.

Amy 5:47

Chicago Med. He was in 11 episodes in 2019. And he is mostly known for playing Ezra in 157 episodes of Pretty Little Liars from 2010 to 2017.

Garry 5:59

That was good.

Amy 5:59

A very popular series. I never watched it. Did you watch it?

Garry 6:02

Pretty Little Liars it popular series.

Amy 6:05

I never watched it. Did you watch?

Garry 6:06

it Pretty Little Liars. It sounds familiar. You're thinking of Big Little Lies. Oh okay, Nevermind.

Amy 6:09

No, no, no, Pretty Little.

Garry 6:10

Liars. This is why. I have you because I can never remember the names. That's right. That's right.

Amy 6:16

Big Little Lies with Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.

Garry 6:20

Yeah, no, if you haven't noticed already, I am not good with remembering episode names, or series names, or series names.

Amy 6:29

That was Pretty Little Liars. Entirely different series.

Garry 6:32

Okay, no, I did not see.

Amy 6:34

The little was in there. I mean, I'll give you that and lie, liars and lies. Okay, all right. All right, I'm trying to help you out.

Garry 6:41

Thank you.

Amy 6:41

Naomi Gonzalez plays Gabby Camarena. Now she is in this episode briefly, so we're going to talk about her work when we get to the Camarena family, which is episode number six.

Garry 6:51

Sounds good.

Amy 6:52

Sebastian Billingsley Rodriguez. This kid has 25 acting credits and he is 12. He's 12?

Amy 6:59

He's 12 years old. Oh my gosh, isn't that crazy. In addition to the three episodes of Holidays, he was in Three Wiser Men and A Boy, you know. Both of these were in 2024. Christmas on my Mind and one episode of when Calls the Heart in 2019. A few of his other work includes voice work in Cocomelon Lane, which is on Netflix. He voiced 15 episodes between 2023 and 2025. He was in the movie the Best Christmas Pageant Ever in 2024. He was in one episode of Nancy Drew in 2021 and the updated version of the X-Files in 2018. Cool, well, not updated, I guess revamped it was still.

Garry 7:39

Right, right. Yeah, I think they were just David Duchovny.

Amy 7:42

Yeah, yeah, gillian Anderson. Yep, Gwyneth Walsh plays Lorraine Hill. Her first acting credit goes all the way back to 1983. So she has more than 100 listed. So she's been working for a minute. She's done several Hallmark movies, including the Secret Ingredient in 2020. And that actually also starred.

Amy 8:04

Erin Cahill she was in Homegrown Christmas and it's Christmas Eve in 2018. In 2017, she was in my favorite wedding, like cats and dogs and a Haley Dean mystery Pretty cool. Some of her other work includes Virgin river 43 episodes from 2019 to 2024. She was in the TV series the hundred two episodes in 2019, continuum one that you really liked yes one episode in 2014.

Amy 8:31

52 episodes of uh da vinci's inquest between 1998 and 2002. Okay, and she was in one episode of er 2000. Er, er, that comes, that comes around occasionally. Yeah, barry levy plays sam hill josh's mom. Now, uh, lorraine hill's josh's mom.

Amy 8:51

I'm sorry, sam hill's josh's dad, excuse me he's been around for a minute also and has over 100 acting credits. He's been. He's done a ton of homework productions, along with three episodes of holidays in in 2024,. He was also in Leah's Perfect Gift. He played Leah's dad Okay, yeah, that's why he looks familiar and the movie called Just in Time. He was in the Wedding Contract and the Wedding Veil Expectations in 2023, eight Gifts of Hanukkah and Advice to Love by in 2021, and Christmas at Dollywood in 2019, just to name a few.

Garry 9:28

Wow.

Amy 9:28

Some of his other work includes Fire Country, one episode in 2024.

Garry 9:34

Okay.

Amy 9:34

A Million Little Things.

Garry 9:36

Oh, we really like that, we like that yeah, 2019 for one episode.

Amy 9:40

He was in seven episodes of Scandal Ooh Ooh Between 2012 and 2017. One episode of Scandal Ooh Ooh Between 2012 and 2017. One episode of Mad Men oh oh.

Garry 9:48

Another good series In 2014.

Amy 9:50

And he was in the original X-Files for three episodes between 1996 and 1997.

Garry 9:58

So we have two people.

Amy 9:59

Uh-huh Well.

Garry 10:00

Right.

Amy 10:01

One was more recent than the other. Oh I know BJ Harrison plays Mrs Kaiser. Now she these are three like, and they all three have huge amounts of acting credit. She has almost 150.

Garry 10:16

Oh, my goodness.

Amy 10:17

She's been in many Hallmark productions, including Sealed with a List in 2023,.

Garry 10:22

A.

Amy 10:22

Royal Runaway Romance in 2022, A Second Chance at Love also in 2022, the Christmas House, Jingle Bell Bridge and A Ruby Herring Mystery Prediction Murder in 2020. And she was in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered Higher Ground movie in 2017.

Garry 10:40

Okay, Uh-huh, we're not to that one yet, but we're getting there, yeah.

Amy 10:44

Some of her other work includes Family Law. She was in eight episodes of that between 2022 and 2024. A Million Little Things one episode in 2023. The series Made that was on Netflix, I believe, for six episodes in 2021. And I think the star of that is Andy McDowell's daughter, andy McDowell from the Way Home.

Garry 11:05

Right, right Okay.

Amy 11:07

She was also in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina for five episodes. We really like that. From 2018 to 2020. She also was in Da Vinci's Inquest for one episode in 2002. And she, too, was in the original X-Files. Here it comes in again. I had to mention it for two episodes between 1994 and 1997.

Garry 11:30

Wow, that's awesome, so is that it with the list?

Amy 11:34

For now. For now, that's it for the list. That was a long list people.

Garry 11:39

Well, as you probably know by now, this is the part where we go. Well, we're probably going to give away some spoilers.

Amy 11:47

Probably so, if you haven't watched it yet.

Garry 11:50

go watch it and then come back to our review.

Amy 11:53

So yeah, you've been warned. You have been warned so.

Garry 11:58

Man. So what are your thoughts? What did you think?

Amy 12:01

Do you want me to drop the synopsis first? I did it again I did it again.

Garry 12:05

We stepped to that. I know why am I doing that and I don't want to interrupt you because you're just doing so good, I know I was just drinking my wine while you were moving on.

Amy 12:13

I'm in my own bubble.

Garry 12:14

I'm just you know, it's all about me tonight. Woo, let it go.

Amy 12:19

I'm enjoying the wine. It's fine.

Garry 12:21

Let's drop the sun.

Amy 12:23

Okay, here we go. Josh is doing community service, helping with a Christmas display. He assists Theo, son of Sheriff Nora, with his ornament competition entry. As he works with Theo and Nora, Josh re-evaluates his work, relationship and family dynamics.

Garry 12:41

Wow, that's awesome.

Amy 12:42

That was a pretty good description. It was lengthy. Usually they're just like a sentence.

Garry 12:47

I know.

Amy 12:47

That's pretty good.

Garry 12:48

I know I go to sip a wine during that section and it's like, oh, I can't, you're done, yep, yeah, you section. And it's like, oh, I can't.

Amy 12:52

You're done. Yep, yeah, you don't have enough time for wine, with the synopsis usually All right. So what did you think of this episode of Holidays? What's your first take?

Garry 13:03

I loved it. I loved the scenery, I loved the setup of all the places that they shot. Oh okay, you know the-.

Amy 13:14

To the okay.

Garry 13:15

No, I really liked it. Yes, and I loved the slow pace of how the characters developed in this one. Okay, so, yes, I liked it, you liked it, you loved it, you loved it.

Amy 13:31

You're going with love not just light. Exciting and new, oh boy Okay.

Garry 13:38

What did you think and?

Amy 13:38

you haven't even had any of your wine yet have you, I know, and we're singing. We're singing. Okay, look at you.

Garry 13:46

What were your thoughts?

Amy 13:46

My thoughts were the same. I really, really enjoyed this episode. I love Ian Harding as Josh I mean. I know I was joking earlier about he's a cutie patootie but, I, just love his character because it's so up my alley His sort of like witty sarcastic sense of humor.

Amy 14:07

I love his one-liners. I just I really like, you said, the development. We really do learn a lot in this episode. Yes, a lot About him and maybe his past and about Nora and her past, and I mean we learned a little bit in the first episode, but this really expanded on that and you really, they did just such a good job in one episode of that particular storyline and I'm sure the rest of them are going to be the same for each family Right, but they really do.

Amy 14:39

I mean, it's hard to believe we only watched one episode.

Garry 14:41

I know.

Amy 14:41

And we know you know all this information. So, like you said, I really enjoyed the pace the flow of it. I enjoyed the writing of it. You know we laughed. We don't. We try not to talk about things before we get on the pod because we want to save things, but we were laughing and we're like, oh, that was cute. We kind of just gave little tidbits during this because we couldn't help it, so I enjoyed it. It was a great advancement of the storyline for that family.

Garry 15:08

I felt like yes, I thought so too. Yes, but, man, I'm telling you, I think we might have to watch it in separate rooms because, the more we keep watching these, the more I want to say something to you.

Amy 15:20

I know You're so bad. You're like I'm trying not to say nothing.

Garry 15:25

A couple of things we've watched. I've been like okay, just tell me, because I know you can't stand it, I know and it's just been one little thing, but it's just been one little thing, but yeah, and I don't like to ruin it.

Amy 15:33

We don't talk too much, or you'll start saying something and I'll go stop. Yes, I don't want to hear la, la, la, la, la. Yes, save it for the pod. Save it for the pod.

Garry 15:42

I know.

Amy 15:43

But this one was really cute. I mean we could tell each other we both, you know, by our reactions throughout watching it. So I mean it starts off with you know, josh is talking to his girlfriend Stacy, right, yeah, and so they're talking and he kind of brings up Nora, like in conversation and she's like who's Nora, right?

Garry 16:08

You know like oh, who's that?

Amy 16:10

Exactly, you know and Stacy is his girlfriend fiance, his girlfriend slash business partner. Right, right, right and he goes. I liked the line when he said I was always the guy who was most likely to well everything.

Garry 16:22

Wasn't that funny.

Amy 16:23

That was so funny. And then he said, and she was my lab partner. I just thought that was so funny. You know I cracked up because you know what it reminded me of. What's that? I gave her my heart and she gave me a pen.

Garry 16:35

Yes, say anything, yes.

Amy 16:37

That's my favorite. Say anything with John Cusack, yes.

Garry 16:41

I gave her my heart. She gave me a pen.

Amy 16:44

Only it probably would have been Nora doing that with him. But I just when he said I don't know it just reminded me of that line Like even though you know it's not the same connotation, but it just I don't know that's what I thought of, but I thought that was really funny. So, and then you find out his parents. So he gets off the phone with his girlfriend, right, and he's got to go do community services. His parents won't let him drive the car.

Garry 17:09

They took away the keys.

Amy 17:11

He's like a grown man. They're like you can't drive our car, dude, like we're on retirement income. That's right I thought that was really funny too.

Garry 17:20

That was so good.

Amy 17:21

So this is all like the beginning of the episode. He's like where are the keys? Like what do you mean? I can't drive it.

Garry 17:26

It's like he was 18 all over again.

Amy 17:27

He was like how do I get there? And they're like well, you can walk, you can, or I can take you, or I can take you, I can drop you off.

Garry 17:35

And what does his dad say when he drops him off? He says something like don't break anything.

Amy 17:39

Or something like that Does he really? Yeah, something like that. Oh, I think I might have missed that.

Garry 17:43

As he's pulling away.

Amy 17:44

He's just. He's so good in that role.

Garry 17:48

Yeah.

Amy 17:49

He is so, so good good.

Garry 17:52

So then he goes inside the community center and the manager of the center, who's you know, given out the assignments and stuff.

Amy 18:01

Right.

Garry 18:02

She goes, you know, she welcomes him in, and then she's like you're tardy. And he's like what do you mean? I'm tardy, it's only two minutes, I'm two minutes late. She goes, that's tardy.

Amy 18:10

You're tardy.

Garry 18:12

Right. And then the one lady because she said you're going to be on the Christmas tree decoration team and the lady that was doing that goes oh, you're the criminal.

Amy 18:24

Everyone's talking about You're the felon, doesn't she say felon?

Garry 18:28

I thought that was so funny.

Amy 18:30

It is really funny because it's like a small town right, it's around fast right, so they know a felon or criminal is coming to or got you know sentenced with community service, really. And then he meets Theo.

Garry 18:44

Yes, right.

Amy 18:45

Is that his first? Yeah, he didn't meet him in the last one, right what? Oh no, he did meet Theo.

Garry 18:50

Yeah, he met Theo At the police station in the last one. Yeah, you met Theo at the police station During the last one, right During his, and they kind of bonded the first time.

Amy 18:56

Right.

Garry 18:57

In that episode.

Amy 18:58

So he sees Theo again and he's like hey, buddy, and Theo's like that's not my name and he's like I know, but he's like never mind I know, His, it just cracked.

Garry 19:08

I'm telling you it's so cute, it's just thoroughly enjoyable, enjoyable, thoroughly enjoyable right. Yeah, and that's when.

Amy 19:14

Wait, I just got to say this part too. So the tree trimming ladies are, like take him away to Theo. They want Theo to take Josh somewhere else because they don't want him around.

Garry 19:25

Yeah, because he had an opinion about the Christmas tree with all the nutcrackers on it.

Amy 19:30

That's right he started to. Yeah, he was going to change the tree.

Garry 19:34

And Theo's like. You can come make ornaments with me because there's an ornament contest, oh gosh. So he goes with him and I thought that was funny and just the way, theo, I mean he's for that age.

Amy 19:48

Yes, he is really good.

Garry 19:51

He is really good, really his timing, with his lines, man.

Amy 20:05

I mean when he was going back and forth with Josh, when they were trying to talk about what kind of ornament he wanted, when he was trying to explain it with Theo was trying to explain it to Josh. Wasn't that hilarious? Because he was like you know, it's like when you're falling asleep and you're too tired to get up and you get a blanket on you, or you know, you get a warm, fuzzy blanket and then he gives like all these examples and he's like ugh, because they're just not getting it.

Garry 20:22

And you're down to the last kernel of the Cracker Jack box. That's what it is, and you want to get all the caramel and everything. Right, you don't want the peanut and Josh and Nora are looking at him like huh and he just throws his hand, that's the feeling. You get right that was cute.

Amy 20:40

I understood what he was saying when he said like a warm cozy. I mean, I thought that was a pretty good description for a kid, you know.

Garry 20:46

But it's hard to then transform that into an ornament right.

Amy 20:49

I mean the feeling.

Garry 20:51

So I thought that was a really cool scene. And then they needed some supplies, right. So Theo's like you know, mom, can you, can you take him to go get some? Well, they asked him to go. And he's like well, I don't have a car, I can't go, I don't have a car. And so Theo's like mom, can you take him? And so Theo's like mom, can you take him? And it's so funny because it's a cop car, right, it's the sheriff's car. She puts him in the back of the seat like he's a criminal. That was so hilarious.

Amy 21:22

Oh, and you know that was a little bit of her from high school. Just you know, sticking it to him.

Garry 21:30

Because then she's like oh, we got to make a stop.

Amy 21:33

And that's when we first see Mrsrs uh kaiser, his teacher, and he's like what, I have beef with her. Yeah, I know my goodness like what?

Garry 21:41

yeah, and I loved where her house was. It was like on the water yeah, it was pretty cool that was, and that was one of the scenes that I really liked was that whole area, that whole scene on the waterfront and where they're yeah, it was, it was pretty cool, but he's still upset about a grade he got.

Amy 21:57

You know, like I don't even remember the grades I got in high school, I mean I don't care. Yeah, now, well, I mean, of course he's younger than us in this, but and then what does he say? Um, he says they have beef and he says something about how he was class of 2010. And I'm like class of 2010.

Garry 22:16

Oh no, don't even go there.

Amy 22:18

What.

Garry 22:19

Yeah.

Amy 22:19

Are we watching with these young folks? I know it's like 2010.

Garry 22:24

I remember saying that when I was that age about my mom and it's like and now here I am Right. I mean it was only like 20 years after I graduated.

Amy 22:33

But and now here I am right. I mean, it was only like 20 years after I graduated, but it's fine, right? It was like he said that I'm like 2010. I don't want to cry.

Garry 22:41

But there was one scene when they were at Mrs Kaiser's house and Mrs Kaiser just wants Nora to hang something for her yes, and so she's doing that. And Nora and Josh are talking yes, and so she's doing that and her Nora and Josh are talking and Josh says something like I think you've been drinking a small town Kool-Aid, Josh. And then she says does it make you feel better to knock my life?

Garry 23:03

Yeah, because you know and he's like no, no, no, that's not what I'm saying, Because he's still thinking about going to Australia. You know, they got a business venture going on.

Amy 23:16

Well, and you can tell. Like you know, part of what we're learning is that you know he got out of that town.

Garry 23:21

It was probably too small of a town for him.

Amy 23:22

He was hugely popular, obviously did whatever he wanted and he got out and he views people who stayed as like why did you stay?

Garry 23:31

Right.

Amy 23:36

Not thinking that maybe that's their life and they have a good life. And she I think she says in that scene I'm perfectly happy here I love it here. This is my life Like what are you doing?

Garry 23:43

You know, and people always say that, why did you stay? And it's, and I always want to go well, if no one stayed you wouldn't have a town, no one would be here, right it? Would be run down. I mean this is where you came from. You know, always remember where you came from.

Amy 23:57

Some people leave, some people stay, that's right. I mean, and some people have a drive to go somewhere else and that's fine, but the people who stay, some people like the small town I mean, I didn't grow up in a small town but I can imagine there's charm to that- Right charm to that right, whereas the opposite then it's everybody knows you, you know, in a smaller town, not tiny but um yeah.

Amy 24:17

So he kind of makes that dig and you can kind of see and he feels badly right away yeah, you can tell he does, he really does so. So you're getting glimpses of him as like he's this, he's he's, he's likable in a way, because he's he's making jokes, he's trying to be funny, but he also has a heart and you see it kind of shining through a little bit. You see that he feels a little bit badly about that now that he's hurt her feelings, you know a little bit and so yeah, so then they.

Amy 24:45

So then we end up what back at the community center and theo and um theo's trying to explain what he wants in an ornament and that's, I think, when they're bick.

Garry 24:55

I think we jumped the gun a little bit. Yeah, we did.

Amy 24:56

But it's so.

Garry 24:58

They're bickering a little bit, they're going back and forth, and Josh is giving it back to Theo, I know, and Theo's like 10, you know in this and then that's when Nora's like okay, meeting with a handshake. Yeah, and he shakes. Theo's hand it's kind of cute, which Nora thought was really cool. Yeah, because you don't want to leave being angry.

Amy 25:19

Right, right, and then she leaves right, and then they see, they see Josh walking down the street. Josh walking home because he can't drive.

Garry 25:30

His parents won't let him, have their car and he didn't call him, you know.

Amy 25:35

I guess he just wanted to walk. Hey, you know it's. Hey, do you yeah?

Garry 25:38

and so they um, theo has his mom pull over and he gets into. He. He says something like because theo is sitting in the front seat and she made him sit in the back seat and he was kind of like oh, it must be nice to sit in the front seat, right yeah, he makes a little comment, and then, and then they both go, siren, siren and she does, and yeah, that was pretty cool.

Amy 26:00

So then they go to nora's house and he's kind of learning a little bit more about her and yeah right and just they're talking and yeah and then it's time for theo to go to bed. They ought to go to bed. And then how does he lean in for like a hug?

Garry 26:16

Yeah he, he starts to walk away and he goes. Oh, I need to get a hug and and Josh was taken aback.

Amy 26:22

Right, cause he's not. That's not his, yeah.

Garry 26:25

And then he was like who taught you how to get?

Amy 26:27

a hug.

Garry 26:30

And that's when.

Amy 26:30

Theo gives him the necklace that his dad gave him.

Garry 26:33

And he's like okay.

Amy 26:40

That's where you can see Josh is, you know?

Garry 26:41

he wants to break out of where he is. You know, you can see he's starting to think about the. There's that conflict between going to Australia, staying home.

Amy 26:47

Yes.

Garry 26:47

You know he's starting to rekindle those feelings for Nora and all that yeah.

Amy 26:53

Well, I don't yeah, yeah.

Garry 26:56

I mean, they don't really say that he had feeling.

Amy 26:58

Well, I guess he does at some point in the episode but. But we don't know that yet. Right, yeah, because he doesn't say it till later. So then Nora shows him how to hug and they have like a nice embrace. That was such a sweet scene because she's like no, you hug like this.

Garry 27:11

Let me show you you know, and she's like relax a little bit more, right, relax a little bit more, and then they both just lean in.

Amy 27:17

Yeah, that was such a really cute scene, so I really like that so then you know you go to the next day and he's back and I like it when he walks in and they're like seems like the only place you're welcome is ornaments, because he can't, they won't let him in any other station at the community center, which I thought was really funny so then they do some ornament making. Yep right, and is that when they're showing the ornament?

Garry 27:42

yes, that's when they're showing the different ornaments and theo's like no, no no, they still haven't come up with the right idea.

Amy 27:48

What did he call it?

Garry 27:49

the um he keeps turning. What did?

Amy 27:54

he? What did he call the ornament though the life?

Garry 27:56

the life star, the life star. Thank you, yeah, I was like the life star and he kept explaining how, what it should look like. And so they get so frustrated. Josh is like. You know what I do when I get frustrated I go and I, I go for a walk or do something and theo goes.

Amy 28:12

I know what we can do you know, and we can go and, and he's like what?

Garry 28:16

And then the next thing, they're at a carnival.

Amy 28:18

Which I thought was cool, did he has Stacy shown up yet?

Garry 28:24

at this point. No, she shows up at the carnival, which is funny too.

Amy 28:29

Yeah, so they go to the carnival and Josh and Nora are having a good time.

Garry 28:32

And.

Amy 28:32

Theo's there and they're all having a great time.

Garry 28:36

And then Stacey shows up. Stacey shows up Using that Find Me app on their phone, which is a little creepy, a little creepy.

Amy 28:42

Theo reminds me a lot of the little boy from Jerry Maguire.

Garry 28:46

Yes, he does. I can't think of the actor's name.

Amy 28:48

Well, he's an adult now.

Garry 28:50

You're right, a little kid from there, that's who he reminded me of.

Amy 28:53

But um, but yeah, so stacy shows up and she's, you know, she's kind of like if you're on a play date, community service must be over, yeah, which I thought was really rude it was a little rude, you know, that's what I thought, so, and then she's like he has really important work to do for tomorrow like what I'd have been like.

Garry 29:13

excuse you, it was so rude.

Amy 29:15

Yeah.

Garry 29:16

I don't know what that was all about.

Amy 29:17

No, Well, we know what it was all about. She's a little jelly jelly, a little jealous. She saw, you know she saw. She wasn't sure why he was at a carnival with another woman, and you know it's a fair it's a fair evaluation Okay.

Garry 29:43

Even though evaluation, okay, even though she was a little stalkerish with her, find my phone thing tracking him down, but true, true, yes, so, yeah. So then they go back to his mom and dad's house and they kind of hand out a gift to to them, and it's a gift that has a key to, uh, like a retirement place right and then look on his mom and dad's face was like they're like oh, thank you yeah, and they thought it was a great idea.

Garry 29:58

Oh, that's a great idea to put mom and dad in a old folk home. Well, it was like a retirement community kind of place, you know.

Amy 30:05

and then they're like you know, they have nurses on staff and I think his dad's like we don't need a nurse right now and she's like stacy says you will one day. Yeah, I'm like okay.

Garry 30:16

I know.

Amy 30:16

That was rude again, that was rude again.

Garry 30:19

That's two rudenesses she had in this one.

Amy 30:21

I think Josh is, in a weird way, coming from a good place, it seems like yes, he is he thinks he's helping them Right, because they live in a big house still and they're retired. But you know, when you get older, you know you're not necessarily feeble. You know, like his parents are probably a little bit older than us you know, so it's like they're still capable, they're still walking and you can't just take away their independence. You know, like they, you're the one who had two wrecks with their car in one night.

Garry 30:50

In one night, exactly, not not rex, but he got a ticket and then it rolled away right.

Amy 30:56

So, yeah, so they were kind of taken aback and they were like we appreciate this, but no, thank you I know right. So I mean that was so, but you kind of get again. They're just showing you how josh and stacy are how josh is with his parents. You see how nora is as a parent she stayed in the hometown. She's a sheriff. You know she's really loving her life despite her. You know her husband passing away.

Garry 31:20

Right.

Amy 31:20

So you just get a really good glimpse at all of them.

Garry 31:24

Right.

Amy 31:24

You know? So then you know, josh leaves Right Right.

Garry 31:29

He's like I'm going to go for a walk.

Amy 31:31

I'm going to go for a walk and then he has to go and he has to talk to the teacher because he needs to find out why she he needs closure. He needs to find out why she failed him.

Garry 31:40

Yeah, and he couldn't understand it, and it was all about a project where she said take your best project or take your best work, throw it away and then redo it with different.

Amy 31:53

With a different eyes, With different eyes through different eyes. Through different eyes and he couldn't understand that he couldn't do that because it was like do a project to perfection, like ball it up, throw it away and then do it again, like you said, but through a different set of eyes, which I thought was really good.

Garry 32:08

He couldn't do that, though Some people it's hard.

Amy 32:11

It's hard to get out of what you think is perfect yeah, can't think outside that, right he couldn't think outside that box. And then he's, and then all of a sudden he gets inspiration right he goes home and he starts.

Garry 32:22

He's finally got the idea for the ornament yes for theo, he finally understands right and that's when he's talking to stacy about that house that they were getting ready to present the drawing because, because he's an architect, yeah, in. Australia, and she kind of didn't understand what he was talking about, which really didn't matter, because he had the idea for the lifestyle.

Amy 32:43

Now, Right, it was because of his drawing of the house. Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's right.

Garry 32:49

So the next scene is him showing up at Nora's house, at Nora's, yeah.

Amy 32:53

And he wants to see Theo. The next scene is him showing up at Nora's, at Nora's house. Yeah, and he wants to see.

Garry 32:56

Theo and she's talking. He's talking to her and she's kind of like I don't want him to to go through this to get connected. He really cares about you and you're leaving tomorrow, and you know. And then Theo comes walking up and she's he's like what are you doing here? And then he shows him the life star.

Amy 33:13

Oh my God, that thing was so cool. It was cool, it was such a good moment, because Theo was like that's the life star, it's exactly. I mean, you could tell it was exactly what he wanted.

Garry 33:25

Yes.

Amy 33:25

You know, and then you find out why he wanted it. Oh my God, that was a scene. Would she? Yeah it, oh my gosh seeing. Oh, would she yeah so they all sit down and it's like I can't even describe the ornament.

Garry 33:41

You have to see it, so it's got light in the middle and looks like little uh grass, grass in it.

Amy 33:44

It's clear, it's clear and it looks like a I don't know what you say, a star wars thing, I don't know how to describe the shape like a sphere with looks like a sphere with some rings around it.

Garry 33:53

Yeah, there you go, yeah.

Amy 33:56

And there's a light in the middle. And why did Theo say he wanted it?

Garry 33:59

Theo was, he said, the life star. He wanted to use it as a home for his dad, you know, because there's so many stars up in the sky that he just wanted that. So he put three things in there that his dad liked a small little pine cone, a cracker jack.

Amy 34:17

Oh, yeah, and a blanket. Yeah, and that's why you said the cracker jack example earlier. That's why he used that and the blanket.

Garry 34:25

And the blanket yes. And then he used his necklace as the hanging. How to hang?

Amy 34:31

the ornament. Oh, how to hang the ornament, that's right, right, the necklace that his dad had given him and while he was telling that story, nora was just tearing up. I know, and you can see, and, and, and josh kind of looks at her and does he grab her hand, or I?

Garry 34:44

forget what he grabs her hand like it's. You know, your kid is awesomeness yeah, yeah, that was a real.

Amy 34:51

So so good, such a good scene.

Garry 34:53

And then they're like we got out. We got an ornament contest to get to.

Amy 34:57

Right.

Garry 34:58

And that's when they go back to the carnival so that he can enter in his ornament.

Amy 35:04

Theo can enter in his ornament, yep.

Garry 35:06

Yeah. So while they're doing that, guess who shows up again.

Amy 35:10

Stacy the stalker Stacy goes back. She's like that was a long walk.

Garry 35:15

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Amy 35:16

But and then um. So then they kind of get Some good news. Theo shockingly wins the ornament competition Spoiler alert right. But it shouldn't be too much of a spoiler alert. It is Hallmark, and then you can see Stacy's realizing the connection that has developed in a short period of time. Very short period of time about? Was um uh going back to uh josh and nora when he apologizes to her?

Amy 35:50

yeah, I think that was when they went to the carnival yeah, the first time, and they're standing there before stacy walked up and he was like you know, I'm really, I'm really sorry about what happened in high school because, you know, we became friends when you, when we lab partners.

Garry 36:04

Doesn't he?

Amy 36:04

say something when you were my lab partner. I wasn't real excited or something. And she says me either you know, to have him and he's taken aback by that.

Garry 36:12

He's like okay, I was popular, what you?

Amy 36:15

know, and then he just apologizes to her because he realizes you know he and you know kids when they're young like that. He listened to his friends too much. And she wasn't in his circle, circle, yeah Of cool friends Well, so-called cool friends, right, but he did really like her, but then he just never what talked to her.

Garry 36:37

Yeah, he said he was sad when the lab was over with. Yeah, yeah.

Amy 36:46

And that happens a lot. You know, in high school there are cliques and some people get left out and you don't give people a chance because you think you're a certain way and you're really not. And you know we all find that out the hard way. You know some people never leave high school.

Garry 36:58

No.

Amy 36:58

They think they're the same.

Garry 36:59

Yeah.

Amy 37:01

And they're not. And most other people grow up and realize that those people are not. I mean, I had a real. You know, for me personally, I had a really positive high school experience, but you know it can be hard for a lot of kids yeah, a lot, a lot of kids so but I thought that was really cool that he came around and he apologized.

Garry 37:20

Yes, he did you know, so which we didn't mention, no, we just did, he did, you know so which we didn't mention. No, we just kind of overlooked that. Yeah, yeah yep.

Amy 37:26

So theo wins the competition and stacy sees that there's something more going on than meets the eye and she basically tells josh that she's leaving in the morning and he has a decision to make either be on the plane or not, or not, right, so we kind of don't. We don't know of don't.

Garry 37:43

We don't know.

Amy 37:43

We don't know, we don't know that's insane. And we also forgot to mention that Gabby shows up briefly because she shows up at Nora's house yes, and she's. Is that the only time she's in it?

Garry 37:53

Yes, that's the only time she's in it.

Amy 37:54

I think so because she's Nora's friend and Nora's saying Gabby's coming over, over.

Garry 38:01

And then is that when josh leaves well, that's when she finds out that josh is there and oh, yeah, and gabby, you mean gabby I mean get with gabby, yeah, so that was a funny scene too yeah, that was really good, so so it looks like this is going to be a really good series.

Amy 38:15

Yeah, it's it's, it's real.

Garry 38:16

That was a really good opener, a second second really fantastic episode.

Amy 38:22

That was really well done, really well shot, really well written.

Garry 38:26

Yes.

Amy 38:26

And I mean, I just love Erin Cahill too. She is so fabulous.

Garry 38:30

I like her in this role.

Amy 38:30

She's just so sweet, yes, and so I just love her and the way she can get emotional, you know, and Ian Harding with him playing Josh, is just he nails it.

Garry 38:40

Yes, he does.

Amy 38:41

You know, I would be shocked if there's another character that becomes my favorite character in the show, because that's right up my alley.

Garry 38:48

Yes, it is.

Amy 38:48

And I just love that. So we're going to see.

Garry 38:52

All right. So what was your tinsel top moment?

Amy 38:56

My tinsel top moment would have to be the ornament when Theo you're like tearing up right now, when Theo says he did it for his dad and here's a blanket so he can see it right.

Garry 39:09

So he wanted it to light up so his dad could see the light, so he could see it.

Amy 39:12

So he could get comfort from right that stuff. So that was. I thought that was real, that would be mine. What about?

Garry 39:18

you what's yours? That was my tinsel top moment.

Amy 39:22

Same same. Yeah, I mean it has to be right, yeah?

Garry 39:25

Emotional when he sees it for the first time and the story he gives.

Amy 39:29

Yes, Really really good. And the look on Nora and Josh. Yep, yep, yep, yep. I think they have a winning series on their hand.

Garry 39:41

So, out of five ornaments, how many would you hang?

Amy 39:44

Five, all day, every day.

Garry 39:45

Yes, the tree is going to be packed, I think, by the end of this If we keep going this direction, it's going to be A tree.

Amy 39:55

You cannot see, because it will have all ornaments.

Garry 40:00

So is there a wrap? That's a wrap, that's a wrap, all right. Well, thanks for tuning in. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media. If you really really like the show and are listening on Apple Podcasts, spotify or YouTube, we would really appreciate your positive review. And if you didn't really really like the show, we'd still appreciate your positive review.

Amy 40:17

Your positive review. Find something positive right. Look at the positive.

Garry 40:21

It's Hallmark, come on.

Amy 40:22

We'll be dropping new podcast reviews of Holidays and the new to Hallmark holiday movies every week in July, so be sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts and on social media so you don't miss a thing. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening, cheers.