Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 2: Puppies, Photoshoots, and the Quest for “Mr. December”
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 2 of Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+, including who was eliminated.
Episode two of Finding Mr. Christmas, cheekily titled “Mr. December,” cranks up the holiday heat with a whole new level of festive cheer – and fierce competition. After a surprise elimination in the premiere, only nine merry men remain, each one determined to become Hallmark’s next leading man. With twinkling eyes and a killer gift-wrap game, these contestants are ready to sleigh the competition! This episode brings new holiday hurdles, personal stories that tug at our tinsel-covered hearts, and a serious showdown in the Star Quality Challenge. Here’s your gift-wrapped rundown of all the highlights, laughs, and wrapping paper mishaps from Finding Mr. Christmas episode 2.
The first two episode of Finding Mr. Christmas will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Wednesday, November 13th starting at 8pm.
Jitters and Jingle Bells
As the episode kicks off, our remaining nine contestants are definitely feeling the frosty tension after last night’s elimination. The guys are lounging around, trying to shake off the nerves, but Parker can’t stop talking about what he should have done different in his scene with Erin Cahill.
Just as the group starts to relax, the unmistakable sound of jingle bells rings out – a surefire sign that the next Festive Face Off is about to begin! Suddenly, everyone’s wide-eyed and ready, eager to stand out and dodge the dreaded chopping block. Hayden, fresh off his Star Quality Challenge win, is feeling the pinch. With a victory already in his stocking, he knows he’s got a target on his back – Santa’s Workshop just got competitive!
Related: Read our recap of episode 1 here and don’t miss our special podcast episode!
The Festive Face-Off: Wrap Battle
The guys are back in Santa’s Workshop, where host Jonathan Bennett greets them with a wink and a warm smile, reminding them that being a Hallmark leading man is about more than just good looks. These holiday hunks need a whole range of skills, and today’s test? The delicate art of gift-wrapping. This Festive Face Off cranks up the holiday heat: they have just 10 minutes to wrap not only a standard box but also a bizarrely-shaped item plucked from under the tree – one that, ideally, tugs at their nostalgic, Christmas-loving heartstrings.
Cue the ultimate holiday wrap battle! Gage is radiating confidence as he lets everyone know his mom is a pro gift-wrapper… and yet, bless his heart, he’s somehow the worst wrapper of the bunch. Meanwhile, the other guys dive in, snatching up treasures from under the tree—everything from a sailboat and a giant teddy bear to a tiny piano and a pair of ice skates. With every frantic tug of ribbon and swirl of tape, it’s clear this challenge is about way more than wrapping skills. It’s a full-blown Christmas spirit showdown, with each guy trying to make his holiday memories sparkle brighter than his bows. And Parker? Well, let’s just say his giant teddy bear with a ribbon slap-dashed around its neck looks like a cry for help. Plan ahead, bro.
Side note: I need to know – is this Hallmark-branded wrapping paper? Because if it’s that fancy double-sided kind, I’ll take two rolls, please!
Enter Melissa Peterman, back to judge this merry disaster of half-wrapped “gifts.” Tasked with choosing the top three, she’s visibly struggling, even wondering aloud if these guys were blindfolded during the challenge. Still, she manages to crown three contenders: Daxton’s sled, David’s rocking horse, and Elijah’s mini piano. Each gift comes with a heartwarming story, from Daxton’s childhood holiday hopes to David’s memories of growing up in Egypt, and Elijah’s mini piano, tied to his life as a singer and his dreams for his soon-to-arrive daughter. And then, to seal the deal, Elijah belts out “Deck the Halls,” with JB enthusiastically shouting, “Know your brand!”
Needless to say, Elijah, our theater guy, wraps up the win for this Festive Face Off. And I’m just here swooning harder than ever.
Related: How to watch Hallmark+ without a subscription
The Star Quality Challenge: Photo Shoot
Ezra stumbles across a note announcing the next challenge, and it sounds like it’s photo shoot time. Cue the models in the group, who are already polishing their grins. Elijah’s pumped, knowing he’s got his extra-photo advantage lined up. Outside the Finding Mr. Christmas mansion, the guys meet up with JB, MP, and two Hallmark superfans, Niki and Vickie, who look ready to melt.
Shameless plug here: We are absolutely available for season 2. Imagine a challenge where the guys have to win over a podcast audience – just saying. Slide into the DMs Jonathan!
Jonathan reminds the contestants that photos are crucial for a leading man – whether promoting a film or charming fans at a meet-and-greet. Parker is convinced he’ll crush this one, while Gage is banking on his “million-dollar smile” to carry him through.
Then, in swoops Tyler Hynes, and the superfans basically dissolve into a puddle as he hands out dandelions like some dreamy Christmas prince. In true Hynes fashion, he gives the guys a pep talk, wishing them fun with their shoots.
First up, Blake, who might be low on experience but high on strategy – because what does he do? Off comes the shirt, on goes a cowboy hat and rope, giving us full Hallmark cowboy vibes. But JB adds a twist: an adorable puppy as his co-star. Blake rolls with it and nails the shoot.
Gage tries to pull off a playful peek-a-boo with some ornaments, but all eyes are on Jilly the dog and my eyes are on Gage’s half-tucked shirt – the same look he sported in the ugly sweater challenge. Daxton breaks out the suspenders and scores some cute shots with his pup co-star. Meanwhile, Jonathan, sporting a red sweater and no shirt underneath, rolls around with his dog, admitting that his furry partner is hard to work with. Parker, true to form, looks like a pro, dialing in his moves and nailing every frame.
Elijah’s going for “crazy, sexy, cool” but ends up looking more turkey than sultry thanks to a giant turkey hat. While Elijah resets, Tyler steps in to sweet-talk the pup, probably missing his own dog, Rusty. Then Ezra, another model, hits the set with a mix of confidence and nerves since he’s never worked with a dog. He requests to go shirtless (because why not?) and leaves everyone in awe of his abs, especially Niki and Vickie, who are practically narrating every muscle.
Then comes Hayden, who instantly melts when he sees his puppy co-star, remembering the dog he lost in a recent divorce. Emotions run high as JB and Tyler comfort him, and somewhere in a producer’s trailer, there’s probably a fist pump happening. His photos turn out stunning, too.
Elimination Ceremony
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 2 of Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+, including who was eliminated.
The guys gather in a tense lineup before the judges at elimination, with Elijah confessing he’s “sweating bricks” – though we’re pretty sure he might’ve mixed up his idioms here, as we’ve never heard of “sweating bricks.”
Hayden’s nerves are also showing, worried his “lack of professionalism” might send him packing. Facing them are Melissa Peterman, Jonathan Bennett, and Tyler Hynes, ready to deliver the verdict. After some suspenseful deliberation, Blake, Parker, Daxton, Ezra, and Hayden emerge as the favorites of the night.
And the winner of the Star Quality Challenge? Parker! After barely escaping elimination last episode, he’s positively glowing over this sweet redemption.
Now, for the bottom three: David, Gage, and Elijah. Elijah is quickly declared safe, leaving David and Gage on the chopping block. Gage, visibly shocked, takes a swipe in his one-on-one with the camera, saying he “totally gets” why David’s in the bottom two – are we seeing the rise of a Finding Mr. Christmas villain here? In the end, it’s David who’s sent home.
Don’t forget your mistletoe, David.
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