Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2 Episode 1 Recap: New Hunks, Festive Face-Offs, and First Impressions
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2, including who was eliminated.
It’s back, baby! The hottest reality competition show on TV has officially returned – and yes, we’re talking about Finding Mr. Christmas. Last year’s breakout hit from Hallmark+ has moved into its bigger, shinier home on Hallmark Channel, and we’re already jingling with joy.
Girls Gone Hallmark has been ride-or-die for this festive fever dream since day one – where else can you find ten handsome hopefuls competing for the title of Mr. Christmas armed with nothing but charm, sweaters, and mild emotional damage? Episode 1 wastes no time decking the halls and our hearts as each man gets his moment to sparkle – or spectacularly stumble. Let’s unwrap the premiere, shall we?
Meet the Men of Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2
Ten men. One festive mansion. And a whole lot of stocking-stuffed potential. The cast of Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2 has officially arrived, and let’s just say – if Santa’s checking his list twice, these guys are definitely on the nice and extremely handsome list. From former athletes to aspiring actors to one guy with hair so good it should come with its own zip code, we’re breaking down every arrival like it’s draft day for Hallmark heartthrobs.
Craig: The Quarterback of Christmas
First to arrive is Craig, who rolls up solo looking like he just walked out of an ad for cologne. Football in hand, he surveys the mansion and deems it “sick,” which, in Gen Z speak, means “legit.” He struggles adorably with the front door (relatable), then gives us a Cribs-style tour of the jaw-dropping Christmas decor – think stockings for every contestant, faux deer, and enough twinkle lights to power a small town. He points to his stocking and whispers, “Craig,” like he’s hoping Santa will hear him. It’s giving shy jock with a Hallmark heart.
Robbie & Drake: Holiday Hair Goals and Heartfelt Feels
Next up, two guys roll in together – and suddenly the mansion has a hair icon. Enter Drake: a walking Pantene commercial who runs his fingers through his glorious mane while casually flexing his biceps. The camera loves him. We love him. We just hope he’s old enough to legally sign a Hallmark contract. His ride buddy Robbie is immediately endearing, sharing that his mom was a huge Hallmark fan. Childhood photos roll, and okay — we can’t roast that. My cold, sarcastic heart just melted a little.
Angel Energy
Angel strolls in next, and frankly, we’re smitten. He’s handsome, kind, and has that cozy-boy energy that makes you believe in Christmas miracles and long-distance relationships. He talks about his family’s love of Hallmark movies and shares his immigration story, and suddenly I’m tearing up in between sips of cocoa. Bonus points for the matching-pajama photos with his girlfriend – this man radiates main-character energy.
Davey & Gabriel: Double the Flannel, Double the Festive
If you like your Christmas with a side of lumberjack fantasy, may we present Davey and Gabriel? These two look like they just stepped out of a lumberjack-meets-Abercrombie catalog – flannels, mock turtlenecks, and cheekbones sharp enough to slice through wrapping paper. Davey, a new dad, instantly earns GGH-approved bonus points by gushing about his wife holding it down at home while he chases this festive dream. Gabriel, meanwhile, admits he’s new to acting and feeling a little intimidated. Sir, you are wearing a turtleneck in public. That’s the confidence of a king.
Jake & Logan: The Athlete and the Adorkable One
Jake, a former NFL pro, walks in and casually mentions he has no acting experience — which is a bold move for a guy who looks like a Hallmark lead sculpted out of gingerbread and gym sweat. He calls it his “sneaky surprise,” but let’s be real: the real surprise is the rock-hard eight-pack he’s hiding under that very polite holiday sweater. His wingman is Logan, rocking fingerless gloves and low-key nerdy vibes. Together, they serve athlete-brain and soft-boy-intellect, and we are not mad about it.
Rustin: The Rockstar Who Could Steal Christmas
“Like Justin, but with an R.” That’s how Rustin introduces himself — but honestly, no notes. With long, dark hair and a mysterious edge, he’s giving Tyler Hynes meets indie band frontman, and yes, we’re listening to his Christmas EP immediately. He plays it cool, but there’s something simmering under the surface — we’re talking sensitive artist energy wrapped in leather and mistletoe.
Marcus: Model Behavior
Tall, dark, handsome, and once a self-proclaimed chubby kid? Marcus has the makings of a Hallmark glow-up storyline and the modeling contract to back it up. He walks into the mansion like he’s shooting the winter collection for Banana Republic, and we’re fully on board. He’s sweet, stylish, and clearly knows how to smolder under soft lighting. Honestly, put him in a snow globe.
Let the Holiday Hunk Games Begin
The guys are barely unpacked when the soft launch of bromance and backstories begins. Davey drops the bomb that he’s a new dad, and suddenly we’re all in our feelings. Flannel-wrapped baby snuggles will do that. Craig muses that his biggest competition might be himself, which sounds either philosophical or like someone avoiding a real answer. We’ll allow it.
Meanwhile, the camera lovingly pans across a holiday dessert spread so glorious it belongs in a catalog — sugar cookies, gingerbread men, cocoa bombs. Drake and Gabriel lose their minds over it, but let’s be honest: not one of these men has eaten a carb since 2020.
And then? JB. That’s Jonathan Bennett, crashing in with more energy than a triple-shot peppermint mocha. He tells the guys what it takes to be Mr. Christmas: charm, humor, kindness, acting chops, and heart. He throws up a hand-heart, and the guys follow without missing a beat, like Santa’s hottest backup dancers.
The first event? The Festive Face-Off, where they’ll design their own Santa character and costume. The winner gets an edge in the upcoming Star Quality Challenge. JB drops the words “Balsam Hill” with the ease of a man who’s contractually obligated to, then exits in a flurry of flannel and flair.
Before the challenge kicks off, a little twist: Davey and Gabriel were roommates before the show. Is it a sweet coincidence? Is it a strategic alliance? Is it a future Hallmark movie subplot? TBD. Then the Hallmark bell dings, the garlands quiver, and the games begin.
The Festive Face-Off: Santa, But Make It Sexy
First challenge: Create your very own Santa — outfit, persona, the whole sleigh ride — in 30 minutes. This isn’t your grandpa’s St. Nick. This is their version. With glue guns. And fur trim. And delusional confidence.
Melissa Peterman joins as guest judge. She and JB together are the chaotic holiday hype team we’ve missed.
The guys dive in. There’s hot glue flying, ribbon unraveling, and at least one beard clinging for dear life. It’s giving kindergarten craft day, if your kindergartners were gorgeous adult men in thermal.
Somehow, through the glitter fog, they each channel a different kind of Santa. From North Pole zaddy to sleigh-it-on-the-runway realness.
Craig sleighs the competition (pun fully intended) with his “Santini Santa” persona — part spicy, part sweet, all Hallmark-worthy. He takes the win and secures the edge going into the next round.
The Star Quality Challenge: Hot Guys, Cold Slopes, Some Chill
Beards are off. Parkas are on. The men are dropped into the snowy peaks of Park City for their next assignment: a ski-in Hallmark meet-cute with actual queen Janel Parrish.
The vibes? High-altitude, high-drama, highlighter-core. JB and Melissa show up in matching neon ski suits so loud they could guide Santa’s sleigh.
The challenge: Deliver flirty holiday banter on skis without wiping out or forgetting your lines.
Craig, fresh off his Festive Face-Off win, smartly puts himself last in the lineup — love that strategy. He even sneaks in some bonus ski practice and gives Jake a few tips because he’s in his good-guy era. Meanwhile, Robbie coaches Marcus with the intensity of a man trying to land them both in a buddy rom-com spinoff.
The scene kicks off with Davey. He forgets to take off his mirrored goggles, so the entire scene plays out like he’s doing undercover surveillance. Angel crashes immediately (iconic), but recovers by joking through the whole thing. His energy? “Oops I fell, but I’m charming as hell so it doesn’t matter.” We’re obsessed.
Marcus nearly wipes out but saves it like a man who’s modeled in front of mountains before. Robbie glides in with a picture-perfect stop… and then immediately calls Janel a “beautiful jerk girl.” Sir??? And yet, the recovery is so smooth, we have no notes. Cast him.
Logan shows up and delivers his scene like he’s been practicing in the mirror since casting. Calm. Cool. We bet he had a script in his ski jacket. Then Drake arrives. Sweet, floppy-haired, golden retriever Drake. He comes in way too fast, flies right past Janel, nearly wipes out the entire camera crew, and has to full-body scoot backwards up the hill to get back to his mark. It’s physical comedy gold. Melissa and JB are wheezing. So are we. Someone check on the boom mic operator.
Gabriel struggles — he blanks on his lines and you can see the frustration on his face. We just want to hug him and maybe buy him a teleprompter. Rustin swoops in with improv magic, inventing a character called “Ski Patrol” and bantering with Janel about checking her boots. It’s weird. It’s flirty. It works. Rustin is now a problem for the other guys.
Jake, our gentle giant, forgets a line or two, but gives a sweet, earnest performance that reminds us why we love him. After the challenge, he shares how much he misses the connection he felt during his football days and we’re suddenly spiraling.
Craig closes it out like a man who’s been here before – smooth delivery, flirty sparkle, and that extra Hallmark seasoning that makes Melissa murmur, “he put a little flavor on that line.” She’s right. He’s seasoned. It’s giving romantic lead with zero pickup shots.
Elimination Ceremony: Deck the Halls and Pack Your Bags
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2, including who was eliminated.
The set? A forest of glittering silver trees. The stakes? High. The boots on Melissa? Unapologetically fabulous. The tears? Incoming.
JB, Melissa, and Janel Parrish gather the men to announce the results. The winner of the Star Quality Challenge? Rustin, our low-key rocker who said “what if I improv my way into a holiday movie?” and then did exactly that.
Logan, Angel, Craig, and Marcus are declared safe — they step aside looking relieved.
That leaves Davey, Drake, Gabriel, Jake, and Robbie in the bottom five — a group so good-looking it feels illegal to rank them.
JB delivers the bottom three:
- Gabriel, who’s got the heart but keeps tripping over the lines.
- Drake, whose ski crash is already in the Hallmark blooper reel archives.
- Jake, who hasn’t quite had his breakout moment…yet.
And then it happens: Jake is eliminated. And it’s brutal. He gets choked up talking about how much this experience and the brotherhood has meant to him. JB tears up. We’re crying. The emotional damage is real.
Jake removes his stocking from the mantel and exits stage left with grace, gratitude, and leading-man potential that will find its time. Hallmark, give him a call. He deserves A Very Tight End Christmas.
The final shot? Robbie, stone-faced, staring into the future like he’s already storyboarding the greatest redemption.
This show gets us.
We’re Your New Hallmark Besties
Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
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