Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 3: Tangled Lights, a Surprise Exit & a Big Mistake!
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Finding Mr. Christmas episode 3 on Hallmark+, including who was eliminated.
Finding Mr. Christmas episode 3, titled “Falling for You,” cranks up the festive charm and holiday competition! With last week’s elimination still lingering like the last crumbs of a Christmas cookie, our remaining hopeful hunks are pulling out all the stops, each vying for that coveted Hallmark leading-man crown. Hallmark royalty Brooke D’Orsay steps onto the ice for the Star Quality Competition! Watch as she leads the guys through a classic Hallmark movie moment that’s packed with heart and holiday charm. But wait, Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman have cooked up a top-secret test to find out who’s got the biggest heart in the game. Grab your mittens and get ready for a flurry of fun in Finding Mr. Christmas episode 3!
Look for the Girls Gone Hallmark recap on Finding Mr. Christmas episode 3 on Wednesday.
The first two episode of Finding Mr. Christmas will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Wednesday, November 13th starting at 8pm.
A Jingle Jolt: An Unexpected Exit We Didn’t See Coming
The episode kicks off with a dash of holiday drama: our remaining eight – wait, make that seven – contestants are buzzing about the whereabouts of Daxton. Turns out, poor Daxton’s been having some trouble seeing all the Christmas magic and went off to the hospital to get his vision checked out.
And then—boom!—the holiday bombshell drops: Daxton calls with the news that he has a detached retina and needs immediate surgery, meaning he’s bowing out of the competition. It’s a tough, bittersweet moment, and the guys are genuinely bummed, especially Hayden, who’s been close to Daxton since day one.
In a heartfelt nod to his friend, Hayden removes Daxton’s stocking from the fireplace mantle, a little reminder that this Christmas journey is about more than just the competition. We’re all cheering you on, Daxton – wishing you a speedy recovery and maybe even a comeback for season 2!
In another “did he really just say that?” moment, Gage admits he may have been a tad too confident in the last Star Quality Challenge and vows to refocus on securing that Mr. Christmas crown.
Gage’s moment of reflection doesn’t last long before he’s practically giddy over Daxton’s exit, seeing it as his golden ticket to edge closer to victory. Is he just playing the game, or are we watching the rise of this season’s Hallmark holiday villain?
Related: Read our recap of episode 1 here and don’t miss our special podcast episode!
The Festive Face-Off: A Mess of Merry Lights
The guys gather once again in Santa’s Workshop, where host Jonathan Bennett has a new challenge ready to crank up the holiday cheer – and the physical stakes!
This Festive Face-Off puts their strength and patience to the test. Thanks to his victory in the last Star Quality Challenge, Parker scores an advantage: he gets to choose the teams. Parker pairs Hayden with Jonathan, matches up Gage and Elijah, and keeps himself with Blake and Ezra.
It’s a muscle-powered showdown as our Hallmark hunks take on a giant, tangled mess of Christmas lights, each team struggling to lift, pull, and (hopefully) untangle the festive chaos. But don’t be fooled by all that brawn – these lights have them all tied up in knots!
Sidenote: At this point, the number of times “bro” has been dropped is off the charts. I’m starting to wonder if there’s a drinking game in here somewhere – one more “bro,” and we’d all be settling in for a long winter’s nap.
In true a holiday mishap, Parker manages to slice his hand open on a string of Christmas lights. I mean, really? I’ve watched contestants on Survivor knock themselves out cold and tumble headfirst into fire, yet here’s pretty boy Parker, defeated by twinkle lights.
Meanwhile, Gage and Elijah power through, even managing to beat out Parker’s three-person team to snag the win.
Related: How to watch Hallmark+ without a subscription
The Star Quality Challenge: Lead with Heart
Hallmark royalty Brooke D’Orsay joins the guys for the Star Quality Challenge, adding a touch of star power – but her presence isn’t the only challenge they’ll face! Not only do they need to memorize lines and build that signature Hallmark connection with their leading lady, but they’ve also got to do it on ice skates on a rink that’s about as smooth as a gravel driveway. Watching these guys stumble around while trying to be dashing is pure holiday gold!
Meanwhile, judges Melissa and Jonathan have a sneaky little side mission. They’re on the lookout for which guy truly “leads with heart” – so they’ve set up a few “accidents” to test them. Cue the planted skater taking a tumble and the ice skate vendor who drops an armload of skates, both clearly in need of a helping hand. The question is, will our aspiring Mr. Christmas contestants rush to the rescue, or will they stay laser-focused on the scene at hand?
Parker steps up first, and despite the pressure, he surprises Melissa and Jonathan by connecting beautifully with Brooke, showing incredible warmth and charm. Having previously landed in the bottom two for his acting, this newfound spark is a welcome surprise. Parker also passes the judges’ sneaky side mission.
Aussie Hayden is up next, and he and Brooke look absolutely picture-perfect together. In a gentlemanly gesture, Hayden drapes his denim jacket over Brooke’s head to shield her from the light rain – a move the judges found sweet, though I can’t help but question why he’d cover his co-star’s face! But Hayden’s heart is in the right place; he even aces the secret mission.
Former athlete Jonathan steps up next, delivering his lines and charm like a pro. He’s got the charisma down, but the judges note that he struggled a bit with finding his mark on camera – a minor hiccup in an otherwise smooth performance. On the bright side, Jonathan nails the super-secret “lead with heart” mission, stopping to lend a hand when needed.
Then there’s Gage, who… well, I couldn’t even tell you if he connected with Brooke or remembered his lines, because the real show was his complete lack of holiday spirit. When the planted skater took a nosedive right next to him, Gage didn’t so much as blink. Instead, he threw out a joke that flopped harder than an undercooked cookie. Standing mere inches away, he didn’t lift a finger to help. Guess Gage missed the memo that “Mr. Christmas” is supposed to come with a side of kindness.
Then there’s country boy Blake, who, despite having zero acting experience, pulls off yet another decent performance. Sure, he flubs a line, but Blake’s got a knack for covering mistakes with that easy country charm of his. We’ve seen it a few times now, though, and I sometimes wonder if he’s leaning a little too hard on the charm card. But true to his Southern gentleman roots, Blake passes the secret “lead with heart” mission with flying colors, stepping right in to help without missing a beat.
Elijah steps up next and the judges are all aglow, calling him a natural. Not that we’re surprised – after all, this guy has Broadway credentials on his resume. With his effortless delivery and warm presence, Elijah brings all the Christmas magic to his scene. And as expected, he passes the secret mission.
Model Ezra steps up next, delivering a performance that’s…fine, but not exactly lighting up the Christmas tree. He’s got the lines down, but it lacks that extra sparkle to make it memorable. However, where Ezra really shines is in the “lead with heart” mission – he’s as quick as Santa on Christmas Eve to help the skate vendor, showing he’s got more than just a pretty face.
Elimination Ceremony
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 3 of Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+, including who was eliminated.
The guys line up for a tense elimination as the judges deliver their feedback. Guest judge Brooke D’Orsay praises Hayden as a standout, while Jonathan Bennett commends Parker for bringing real chemistry to his scene. And then there’s Elijah, who everyone agrees has that unmistakable “it” factor. In the end, it’s Elijah who snags the win!
In the bottom three, we’ve got Ezra, who was charming but about as dynamic as a Christmas ornament that doesn’t twinkle. Jonathan delivered a solid scene, but missing his mark with the camera is a bit of a red flag for anyone eyeing the title of Hallmark’s next star. And then there’s Gage – who did fine in the scene, but let’s be honest, he totally flopped the “lead with heart” mission. Turns out, being Mr. Christmas means more than just standing there looking merry.
Jonathan is safe, model Ezra lives to charm another day, and it’s Gage who’s sent packing.
Don’t let the door hit ya, where the good Lord split ya, Gage.
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I have to mention something that no one seems to have noticed in Ep 3 of Finding Mr Christmas. I am not a fan of Gage, but he was the only one who was in the scene when the skater fell! I can see where he wouldn’t leave Brooke to help the skater because he might have blown his acting challenge! Everyone else had the skater fall or the skates fall AFTER Jonathan said cut. I think that makes a huge difference in his reaction.