Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2, Episode 2 Recap: Reindeer and Rizz
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2, Episode 2, including who was eliminated.
Last week we said goodbye to Jake (gone too soon), watched Rustin rise as our first Shining Star, and learned that nine hunks remain on their quest to become the next Hallmark leading man. Let’s see whose tinsel tangles next.
Girls Gone Hallmark Reacts to Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 2
Morning at the Balsam Hill House™
The episode opens in the kitchen, where the guys are processing last night’s elimination over coffee and emotional vulnerability. Drake and Marcus talk about how supportive their loved ones have been – Drake’s family is all in on his Hallmark dreams, while Marcus casually drops that his girlfriend has pushed him the hardest – and you can practically hear women across Hallmark Nation wail into their cocoa: “Of course he’s taken.” Robbie quietly steals hearts talking about his boyfriend of two years and his fear of letting people down. Totally relatable, and honestly, therapy’s proud.
Rustin rolls in fresh off his win, giving humble king energy. The guys shower him with support while Davey low-key projects his insecurities through a “compliment” that basically says: you’re too good and it scares me. Noted.
The Festive Face-Off: Slinging Gifts and Taking Names
Cue the jingle bells. Jonathan Bennett calls the guys outside for today’s challenge, which he promises will test “muscles, agility, and teamwork.” Translation: chaos with a bow on it.
The task? Launch wrapped gifts into Santa’s sleigh using a slingshot. And yes, Melissa Peterman is there in a red coat and earrings shaped like actual bows because she understood the assignment.
The men immediately start strategizing like they’re planning a moon landing, not hurling presents into a U-Haul…excuse me, Yule-Haul. Drake’s childhood dream of being the slingshot guy is crushed when Rustin volunteers as tribute, and Drake just…lets him. Our sweet golden retriever energy boy.
Then it’s chaos. Gifts flying everywhere except the sleigh. Melissa’s heckling. JB’s over-explaining physics like he’s auditioning for a TED Talk no one asked for. I’m genuinely not convinced production tested this game before filming.
And then – against all odds – Robbie “the Lobby” lands the first gift. The crowd (and my living room) goes wild. Drake follows, then Angel, and suddenly it’s a reindeer rumble. In the end, Robbie’s team clinches the win like it’s the World Cup. Confidence restored, Robbie’s ready to conquer Hollywood and the North Pole.
The Star Quality Challenge: Harnesses and Heartthrobs
JB announces the next Star Quality Challenge – it’s photo shoot time, but not just any photo shoot. The guys will be embodying their “inner reindeer energy” for an Entertainment Weekly spread.
Somewhere, Tyra Banks just felt a chill down her spine. Nine men in harnesses are about to give face, and she knows her legacy is safe.
As the reward for winning the Festive Face-Off, Robbie, Gabriel, and Craig get first dibs on reindeer identities and the power to assign the rest. They’ve gone from slinging gifts to plotting sabotage.
Let’s Fly, Hunks – The Finding Mr. Christmas Reindeer Photo Shoot
Heather Hemmens arrives as the mentor (Hallmark royalty alert), giving acting advice while JB drops the bomb that the guys will be suspended 15 feet in the air.
Inside, it’s a full-blown pre-photo ritual: shirts off, resistance bands flying, and a level of commitment to preening that would make a fitness influencer blush. The absurdity peaks when you realize they’re doing all this in leather pants. Meanwhile, Davey’s sprawled on the couch radiating “I already booked this role” energy.
Then the chaos begins. Harnesses creak, lights blaze, and nine men attempt to channel their “inner reindeer.” Robbie’s face when he sees the crane says this was not in the Hallmark contract, but to his credit, he delivers – equal parts terrified and fabulous. Marcus is tossed around like a decorative bauble while still managing to look like a Calvin Klein ad. Drake gives sweet-Cupid energy, and Rustin commits so hard he actually gallops. Angel? The man smolders. JB actually names it: “RSF, Resting Smolder Face.” It’s both a diagnosis and a gift.
Craig’s attempt at a “wet look” quickly veers from high-fashion to high-chaos, but bless him for trying. Davey floats in like a pro – ten years of modeling experience and abs so defined that, as Melissa rightly points out, you could grate a wheel of parmesan cheese on them. She’s not wrong. And Gabriel seals it with one effortless shot that has the judges coining a new term: Rudy rizz.
Elimination: Deck the Halls with Drama
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Finding Mr. Christmas Season 2, including who was eliminated.
At elimination, Melissa stuns in cranberry, Heather glitters in green, and JB shows up in a white tux jacket looking every bit the dashing holiday host.
The group photo reveal (featuring Jonathan Bennett in the sleigh as Santa) is pure holiday camp. Someone tell Hallmark to print this as a calendar immediately.
Winner: Davey Hemsworth himself. Duh.
Bottom three: Craig, Angel, and Drake.
Craig survives, leaving Angel and Drake sweating under studio lights. Drake pleads his case, but JB delivers the bad news with genuine kindness, reminding him how much heart he brought to the competition.
JB tells him he reminds him of himself – full of love, energy, and potential – which is maybe the nicest “you’re going home” line in reality TV history.
As Drake removes his stocking, we all collectively whisper: We were rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!
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!
Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!
