Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark's Signed, Sealed, Delivered Truth Be Told

• Garry & Amy

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In this episode of Pour the Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time, Garry and Amy explore Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told. The POstables take a powerful journey in grief, hope, and healing as they deliver a letter from a soldier in Afghanistan to the daughter of a missing servicewoman. As if that weren’t enough, Oliver’s world is rocked by the sudden reappearance of his estranged father, bringing revelations that rewrite his past.

Whether you're discovering the POstables for the first time or have followed their journey from the beginning, pour a glass and join us as we unpack the symbolism, story arcs, and tear-jerking moments that make Truth Be Told unforgettable.


Link to article mentioned in the podcast.

https://moviemom.com/interview-martha-williamson-on-the-expanded-signed-sealed-delivered-movie-series/#:~:text=And%20as%20a%20result%20we,in%20one%20form%20or%20another.

Send us an email to pourthewineitsromcomtime@gmail.com! We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Music from #Uppbeat

https://uppbeat.io/t/abbynoise/mood-of-summer

Amy:

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

Garry:

And I'm Gary, and guess what? What I'm about to pour the wine you better pour the wine.

Amy:

It's wine time around here.

Garry:

Yes, it is.

Amy:

We would love it if you would click that follow button on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

If you listen on Apple or Spotify. We would really appreciate it if you would take the time to leave us a review. Hopefully it's a positive review Positive.

Garry:

Five star positive review.

Amy:

If not, we can take the handle. You know we can handle the constructive criticism, that's all right. You can also find us on social media, on all the socials Facebook, instagram, blue Sky, x and the Reds. Make sure you go like, follow, comment and we'll comment back. Yes, we will, yes, we will, we'll also follow back.

Amy:

We'll also follow back, yes, we will on the socials that is true, not that podcast if you'd like to drop us a line and you're not maybe you're not on social media, you prefer an email you can email us at pour the wine. It's rom-com time at gmailcom yes make sure you send us an email and we'll read it on a podcast sometime.

Garry:

Yes, we will.

Amy:

Just make it appropriate.

Garry:

Right. So today we're reviewing Signed, sealed, delivered. Truth Be Told. That originally aired on Hallmark Movie and Mysteries Channel on September 13th 2020 or 2020.

Amy:

2020. 2015. Almost 10 years ago, I know or no? Yeah, almost 10 years ago, I know or no? Yeah. Almost 10 years ago, yeah.

Garry:

And you can watch it on Hallmark Plus Yay.

Amy:

Yay, you can watch it anytime there, I know, or get the DVDs. People still watch things on DVDs, yeah.

Garry:

You sure can.

Amy:

This would be worth your money.

Garry:

Yes, it would be.

Amy:

For sure.

Garry:

So who's in this one?

Amy:

Well returning. In Science Hill Delivered, truth Be Told are the core four the Postables. Eric Mabeus plays Oliver O'Toole. Kristen Booth plays Shane McInerney. Look, I did it you did it. I had a hard time with her last name. Yay, cheers to that. Crystal Lowe plays Rita Hayworth, jeff Gustafson plays Norman Dorman and also returning is Gregory Harrison. He returns as Joe O'Toole. You can go to our podcast review of To the Moon and Back, where we go into detail about the work of each of those actors.

Garry:

Yes, you can. Yep, Check it out, get the details.

Amy:

So today we're going to be adding a little more detail about people who are in this particular movie who have not been in previous movies or the series Correct Right Yep, megan Carpenter plays Phoebe Amidon. I think that's how they pronounce it yes. It looks like this was her Hallmark premiere. She is also in Science Seal Delivered, the Impossible Dream, which I believe is the next one in the canon. We are watching them in order.

Garry:

Yes, we are.

Amy:

And she was also in Operation Christmas in 2016. Some of her other work includes Sight Unseen one episode in 2024,. The TV series Sea, one episode in 2019, and Fringe one episode in 2009. Fringe in one episode in 2009 like me some friend william b davis plays harper. I believe his hallmark work is this film and the next one the impossible dream. So I didn't know they returned until I started doing a little research. So that's, that's pretty cool it is he's done a ton of work.

Amy:

This actor has a lot of work, beginning in 1983. More recently, he was in the tv series upload 15 episodes between 2020 and 2023 the chilling adventures of sabrina, which we love. Two episodes in 2019 continuum which you really loved 15 episodes between 2012 and 2015, and but he's probably best known as smoking man in 43 episodes of the x-files from 1993 to 2018. Oh boy, okay that was pretty good that wasn't bad, oh boy, okay, I didn't watch x-Files when it was on originally.

Garry:

Oh, I loved.

Amy:

X-Files, but we watched it when it came back for a few seasons more recently.

Garry:

I guess, and the movie, but I didn't watch it originally Robert Maloney plays Captain Markham for Hallmark.

Amy:

He was in two of the Cherry Lane movies Christmas on Cherry Lane, 2023 and 2024. He was in Mystery 101, playing Dad in 2019, morning Show Mysteries, countdown to Murder in 2019, and While you Were Dating in 2017. Some of his other work includes this TV series Tracker one episode in 2024. Riverdale three episodes between 2019 and 2021. Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce, which we loved.

Amy:

Yes, we did One episode in 2015. And he, too, was in the X-Files Two episodes between 1995 and 1997. Wow, Jill Morrison plays Hazel the male carrier. I haven't even had a sip yet. She plays Hazel the male. I haven't even had a sip yet. She plays Hazel the male carrier. She's been in several Hallmark productions, including Wedding Season in 2023, A Second Chance at Love in 2022, Marrying Father Christmas in 2018, and she is in four more signed, sealed, delivered movies, which is kind of fun because I loved her.

Garry:

I loved her she was cute.

Amy:

Her other work includes Murder in a Small Town. One episode in 2024, a Million Little Things one episode in 2021. And her first acting credit was the movie, the cult classic Mean Girls in 2004.

Garry:

That's so fetch, yes, if you know, you know, you know.

Amy:

So there you go, all right. So that's who's in it.

Garry:

That's know, you know, you know. So there you go, all right, so that's who's in it, that's who's in it. So you ready for some Hallmark trivia?

Amy:

Lay it on me. Okay, lay it on me, let's get through this.

Garry:

Let's get through it. Which Hallmark original film features a time-traveling typewriter? Typewriter yeah, I know, that's what I said.

Amy:

Tire rider. I was not expecting that, but okay, I have no idea.

Garry:

Hey look, it has its own suitcase.

Amy:

Oh huh, we're here. All night, it was the movie the Love Letter. I don't know that one.

Garry:

Me either.

Amy:

Okay, maybe we'll have to look it up. Do you know what year?

Garry:

No, I do not Fail. It was an epic fail, wasn't it sorry?

Amy:

all right, we'll look that up, we'll look it up is it time to drop the synopsis?

Garry:

it's time to drop this synopsis.

Amy:

All right, here we go with the synopsis. The postables are on a mission to deliver a soldier's letter from Afghanistan to a teenager who's being relentlessly bullied, while Oliver's estranged father surprises him with news that shakes him to his core.

Garry:

Okay. So All right, I'm going to give you the first take on this one.

Amy:

Ooh, we had big feelings on this one, didn't we?

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

I think I got a little emotional in some of these scenes I think we both did in a few Yep, yep.

Garry:

Yeah, so what did you think?

Amy:

Well, I feel like every time we watch one of these movies and this is only the third one outside of the pilot After the series, the pilot and the series Right right, right and I just feel like they really brilliantly navigate the parallel between the story and the people. Behind the letter and the postables lives.

Amy:

So, they really tell all of these stories at one time, but they weave them so well and this movie was no exception. I loved it. Shocking, right. We we try not to talk about the movie as it's. I mean, we laugh out loud sometimes if there are funny parts and we kind of go, oh, that's cool or something, but we really try not to talk about it. But there were some. After this one ended, we were like okay, I just have to say this. I just have to say this Because we try to save it for the podcast, right, but this one was just so, so good. It's just, it's nuts. How many layers of storytelling they can pack in one movie.

Garry:

How many emotions can they pack? And?

Amy:

emotions. Yeah, in this one you have the mystery of the letter. Of course you have Rita and Norman trying to figure out what to do now after the kiss after their kiss. You have Oliver and Shane's relationship growth. You have Oliver and Joe. You have Oliver. Joe and Oliver's biological dad, yes, and you have Oliver learning more about his mom. Yes, you have Norman. We learn more about Norman. I mean, there's so much growth in this. My mind is like I know. On fire right now my brain.

Garry:

My emotions were everywhere.

Amy:

I know, I know and I also love how they don't shy away from faith and religion. Nope, right. So in this one, you know, god is mentioned.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

Oliver goes to the church at one point to contemplate, because he needs to go back to where things he needs to rewind when he goes. Yeah, to contemplate, and I love that they weave it into the storyline in such a way that it's not pushy or preachy.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

But it's a realistic look at how it's the compass and comfort of so many people and how religion and faith really guide their lives. Yeah, and I just love the way they do that. What about you. I have a little bit more about my first impression, but I'll let you go before I babble on.

Garry:

I have to say homework's three for three, Three for three. I have to say Hallmark's three for three.

Amy:

Three for three.

Garry:

I mean, you know, you said in the last podcast that Oliver just with his facial expressions can make you cry. Yes, he damn sure did. But I'm going to also say Norman in this one yes, damn, made me tear up.

Garry:

I'm telling you In a couple of of scenes which we'll get to, but I mean, I can't take it, I know and like you were saying that there were so many like stories going on, you know, I just I was like man, I don't know if I could take this anymore. You kept looking over at me and I know there was like some tears coming down.

Amy:

I was like oh, my god, I can't take this.

Garry:

I know, oh gosh, yes, and I love the uh introduction of hazel. I thought yes, that was so good it's like when you're way up here with the emotion, she comes in and she brings you right back down to earth and you're kind of like, okay, I'm happy again. And then they punch you in the face again with the emotion so I I really really enjoyed this movie.

Amy:

Right.

Garry:

And I got at the end of our podcast. I want to talk about something. Podcast, podcast. I have something, our podcast, and I don't know if whoever's listening to Postables, if you caught this, but I do want to talk about it because I thought it was interesting.

Amy:

Are we talking about it now or are you waiting? No, we're going to wait to the end. Oh, ok, that's like a teaser.

Garry:

That's like. I call it an interesting catch.

Amy:

OK, gotcha.

Garry:

Yes, so favorites. Oh, no wait, no wait, Go ahead.

Amy:

I just want to say one more thing, and of course course this will probably make it a little bit longer. I like that the movies pick up. You know, so far anyway, that we've seen where the last ones left off like it's the next day and it got me thinking. I wondered why. Because we didn't watch it when it aired no, 10 years ago right and and forward.

Amy:

Um, we just started watching it in the last few months actually. So I wasn't sure why they did that, why they moved away from the series, which I'm assuming didn't you know, I assume didn't do that great. Um, but now they they've moved to the movie format. So I was intrigued about why they did that. So I found an interview with martha williamson, okay who writes the movies, possibly co-write some of them.

Amy:

People will correct me if I'm wrong. She did an interview in 2015 with Nell Minow, who's known as movie mom, and I will put the link to the interview in the show notes or in the episode notes, so that people can go read it.

Amy:

But Martha said and this is a quote from Martha I'm loving this because we have essentially a whole new story Now. We were doing this series that was originally going to be about dead letters being delivered late, but the life of this quirky little group just took on more of a role. People embraced them so much and just fell in love with the two little love stories between Oliver and Shane and Rita and Norman and wanted more of the backstories of these folks and their lives. And then she goes on to say these people are postal detectives, which which actually exist. But they really became this little family and so I found that we needed extra time and hallmark really wanted us to go to the movies and mysteries channel right it is turning out to be very gratifying, so I thought that that was just.

Amy:

That was just really that makes sense, really interesting. Yeah, yeah, I thought that was cool and, like I said, we'll post the link to the article. She talks a lot more about the characters and things and, um, it's just really really good, yeah, yeah.

Garry:

So there you go all right a little tidbit for my own curiosity well, you want to talk about some favorite scenes?

Amy:

sure, let's it. Why don't you do a favorite scene first?

Garry:

When Norman asked Oliver to go on a walk.

Amy:

Yes, stop it. Are you going to tear up right now? Stop it.

Garry:

I love Norman man. I know he is just that guy who just I know he takes life. Whatever life gives him, he takes it and he smiles. Yes, he doesn't complain, and when he tells his backstories it's just like you just feel for this guy.

Amy:

Well, he gives little nuggets of what he's picked up throughout his life in foster care. And you see it on his face and when he compares, he's able to relate so much to so many of the other characters because of his experience.

Garry:

And what was funny is, as they were walking, he's telling Oliver what happened with the kiss.

Amy:

Right, right right.

Garry:

And she had said I love you. And Oliver said well, what did you say back? And he's like I didn't say anything.

Amy:

Oliver's. Like what Oliver's?

Garry:

shaking his head like oh my gosh, I mean, how many more clues you got to give Right, right.

Amy:

Here's your sign.

Garry:

But then he says he kissed her. And then the one part when he's saying you know we're moving so fast he goes. I have a five-year plan. He said, as fast as we're moving, we'll be married by.

Amy:

Thursday. I know that was funny. It was so cute.

Garry:

That's so Norman I know that is so, norman and you know about him.

Amy:

We just watched they were reshowing what is it? Three Wise Men and a Baby, Uh-huh. And Jeff Gustafson is in that one. Yeah, and he's a completely different character. I know, I know, and so you really see his acting chops there and how well he plays Norman.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Because we saw him, you know, in a completely different.

Garry:

He was kind of strict. Yeah, he was the boss of them.

Amy:

Yeah, so it was just really interesting.

Garry:

So what was one of your scenes?

Amy:

Well, this podcast would be hours long if I went over every scene, because I want to talk about everything in detail, but I won't.

Garry:

We don't have enough time.

Amy:

And it goes back to Norman, the way Norman looks at the trainee when she just casually picks up that dead letter, Cause you know Oliver's talking to the trainees at the beginning and she's just like like this one and he is almost like oh like it's sacrilegious.

Amy:

Yes, his face, like you were talking about earlier. The facial expressions yes, the facial expressions. So that was one that I loved. You just brought it up. The telling of the story of the kiss Norman is telling Oliver and Rita is telling Shane, and they go back and forth between the two.

Garry:

Yes, which was really, really, and they're in different locations.

Amy:

They're at the same time but different places. And then Oliver and Shane give their feedback too, and they're kind of it's just. It reminded me of Greece.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Summer Lovin' is what came to my mind. That's a good analogy I thought I just, oh my gosh. I thought that was so good. I just love the way that played out.

Garry:

It was just so well written yeah, yeah, because in that scene too uh norman had talked about well, what do I do? Do I do?

Amy:

I buy furniture do I buy furniture right and then?

Garry:

oliver goes, don't you think it's a little early to buy furniture?

Amy:

And then it dawns on him that he bought.

Garry:

Shane the porch swing. Yeah, and he's like that whole scene.

Amy:

Oh my gosh, yes, that was Yep, yep, that worked Definitely. I love the scene when Oliver and Shane are on the porch swing and the mail carrier comes up. And what I love about you know the mail carrier? It just reminds me, I mean, I know we get some mail now, but I know it's kind of, you know, people don't get as much mail. They don't mail personal letters.

Amy:

I mean people get packages and stuff. But I love, even before this scene, the mail carrier is kind of like here's a letter from your brother, here's a letter from your. You know like she's going through it and you know mail carriers did that, you know. Just I don't know it just cracked me up but in that scene where they're on the porch, she's like is that steve? Yeah, I thought that because she's she knows so much about, about, um oliver no, no, no, no, no, shane she knows so much about shane.

Amy:

They escaped me for a minute. So she gives her her mail and then she's like oh, here's a package from your mom, you know oh, yeah, oh.

Garry:

And she said and here's something from your insurance.

Amy:

It's just so funny to me, you know, and then, and then that of course that scene leads into the discussion between Oliver and Shane about Oliver's dad.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Right, they get into more, so he's really opening up to Shane and so that whole scene really worked. Yeah, it did For me and I had that too, as one of my favorites.

Garry:

You did when they were on the porch. And you get that backstory about what happened to Oliver and, of course, them eyes when he was talking about how his dad didn't leave a forwarding address, yeah, and then it's not until later on that you find out that he actually did Right.

Amy:

And it was actually his mom who did it.

Garry:

But at the point, you're thinking oh man, joe, a tool. What is wrong with you?

Amy:

He's a tool. He's a real tool. What does?

Garry:

he do. Come on, joe, what are you doing this poor kid? Yeah, he just wants to know his mom, right? I also loved the flashbacks that Oliver was giving when he was at the park, when he was a little kid, on the slide you weren't sure where that was going until the end, when him and Joe were talking and he explained and at first he was saying Oliver was saying no, I don't remember that, right, he didn't want to admit, he didn't want. I don't remember that Right.

Garry:

He didn't want to admit that he— he didn't want to admit what was going on, right, so that was another one of my favorites.

Amy:

Right, that was a great—yeah.

Garry:

I agree, you got another one. I have a few, oh you got a few, Not too many just a couple more.

Amy:

So when Shane is still at the DLO and oliver calls her out, he's like I know you're still here, yeah, this is like towards the end. And she talks about his faith being far greater than being an o'toole. It's after oliver has found out that his dad isn't his biological dad. He actually had a different biological dad and it's the man that ran off with his mom. Um, and I just thought he says, or she said, I want to walk over to you and put my arms around you and tell you everything is going to be okay. And what does she say? Something like but I know you don't right want that, or whatever. Then he says since when does what I want ever stop you?

Amy:

and I just thought, that was it was funny and sweet at the same time. And then she goes and gives him a hug and you're like you're tearing up, you, you know, because it's like I'm telling you, yeah, the tissue box, because it's really what he wants, but he won't admit it. He kind of words wordsmiths his way around it, Yep.

Garry:

He sure does he?

Amy:

says what he wants but you know.

Garry:

Right, right yeah because she's really good at getting him to open up.

Amy:

Right right.

Garry:

And he kind of does the same thing to her. They're both yeah for each other.

Amy:

That's what they do, and you just learn more and more information about each one. I love the fire pit scene between Oliver and Joe his dad. That was just really again his facial expressions during that.

Garry:

What were you going to say? And he drinks a beer.

Amy:

I know, does he have a sip? Yes, he has one sip, he has one sip.

Garry:

I sat there and watched and I was like he's not going to sip. That is he. He's going to go back to his yoo-hoos.

Amy:

He and Joe are sitting around the fire pit at the place that Joe bought or rented or whatever, and that's how he gets to Colorado right.

Garry:

To Denver. Yeah, because he talks to Joe and he's like you know, I don't even know who I am and he goes sure you do. You're the sum of all the choices that you've made. Yes, I thought that was so good. I think I wrote that somewhere. Yes, that was brilliant.

Amy:

You're the sum of all the decisions that you've made. You are who you are basically. It doesn't change who you are.

Garry:

Yeah, that was really good and powerful, which now makes sense after watching To the Moon and Back To the Moon and Back Right. Right, I'm glad because of the letters that he had.

Amy:

The that he had, yes, the stack of letters. So that was so. There's a stack of letters that joe has that he tried to send to oliver, because oliver's, like you, haven't been in my life. Yeah, you know and he's like but I sent you all these letters all these years, but you return them yeah, return to sender and, and shane calls him out on that too when this one yeah were.

Garry:

They had just come off the porch and Oliver turns to her and Shane is trying to explain to him. Give him a call. He wants to talk to you. And he's like well, he hasn't been in my life. And she's like you're, you know, you're the one that shut him out.

Amy:

Yeah, she does say that. Well, I don't know.

Garry:

There was a part where she says that in that scene she says that into the moon and back right about the letters but she says it, I think, again in this one but she does say you're the one who shut him out he didn't shut you off yeah something like that yeah yeah, that was oh yeah, no, there was so many scenes, so I really liked.

Amy:

So do you have any more scenes? I have one more go ahead, the look between shane and oliver at the end, the way they just look at each other. And then Joe notices and he looks between them. Oh so good. Yes, so so good. Give Eric Mabeus an Emmy right now, if you haven't given him one him one.

Garry:

All right. How about this scene where um norman tells they find out that there was sand involved in the letter, right, right. So norman goes right, I have a cousin, and then she, and hollifer is like you have another cousin yeah, that was funny. What did he say? Something about sand the handyman, or something, Something yeah. And then he tells a story about how, when they were in the foster care, they used to get their face. He said he must be smart with dirt, because the bigger kids used to rub our faces in it.

Amy:

Yeah, I guess it's because he gives you those little.

Garry:

Yeah, those little nuggets of what happened in his foster care, and I love how Oliver goes. Norman, I'm proud of you.

Amy:

Yeah, I know, you created the Norman Dorman solution yeah.

Garry:

You know liquid solution, and I just love how Oliver always sits there and lifts him up.

Amy:

Well, he recognizes that that's what he needs. Yes, you know he needs to hear because he hasn't been told it and he was in the foster care system and you know Oliver had a different type of upbringing and it's just cool that he recognizes that in him. So, yeah, that's really cool, and we haven't really talked about you know, Norman, unless you're going to talk about it in the cheers and jeers, but we haven't even talked about the letter.

Amy:

Really, right? So the letter is um the dead letter. Yeah, was burned and they're trying to figure out. Um, they, it's burned pretty badly yeah, because it was.

Garry:

Apparently it was burned by a male carrier who left their cigarette on the right. Who's no?

Amy:

longer alive, right, and then. So the story of the letter is it's written from a pilot who was in Afghanistan and he was writing it to a little girl about her mom, because the mom is presumed dead but missing in action.

Garry:

Basically they don't know where she is, and then there were some rumors Basically they don't know and then there were some rumors Right.

Amy:

There were rumors that she had helped the I guess the Taliban and the Afghans and they were connected to a terrorist organization. And then you find out that wasn't true, of course. But then Norman really helps the little girl because she's bullied by kids at school because of the rumors about her mom.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Basically being a traitor.

Garry:

I know Right.

Amy:

And just the things he tells her along the way.

Garry:

I thought it was really good. They were like they became pals right off the bat right. And I thought it was so sweet.

Amy:

Phoebe, he and Phoebe. Yes, and the fact that and she gravitated towards him yes, yeah, because they kind that. And she gravitated towards him yes, yeah.

Garry:

And because they kind of had the same upbringing right yeah, they were bullied. And he was having none of that with them kids. No, he, he was like I mean, there was a couple of scenes where he was like shut up and what are you doing? And when they were trying to take the ribbon and he was like what are you doing? And he's like I'm sorry.

Garry:

And she was like well, you know, maybe it's time for me to pull this down and take it down and move on and he was like no, you don't have to do that, but I thought the concept of the sand was pretty interesting. Right, Her mom would always send a letter back to her and she says, when you fill up that water bottle, that's when I'll be home.

Amy:

Yeah, that's when I'll be home. Yeah, aw, I know it's just oh. And then when Norman and Rita showed up near the end with that vase that she actually liked when she was in the DLO, that Phoebe liked when she was in the DLO, yeah, she saw it and they brought it to her and they thought that was cool, yeah, and then she put the sand in it.

Amy:

Yeah, she was like, stay cool, norm, stay cool, cute to him. So did you have any cheers really cute? Um, my biggest cheer we've talked about a little bit is basically when you can speak a thousand words without uttering a single one. Oh my god, and I mean it is off the chain in the series for real, the way you know we talked about the way oliver looks at shane, you know, at the serious times, but also when he's teasing her a little like when he questioned shane why Phoebe is with them.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

They were at the restaurant, right. And she's like why? And he's like why are we looking for the letter writer when the letter's been delivered? But he kind of smirks because, he's playing with her a little bit. I just think that's so cute. He's smiling during that time, and Norman too, with the faces the he looks at rita when he's trying so hard to figure out what to say. And he wants to say the right thing.

Amy:

He doesn't want to flub it, you know, when he uses his experience in the foster world as antidotes to phoebe, which we just, you know we just talked about and phoebe totally gets him um, you know, and it's not because of the fostering so much as just feeling like an outcast right, so he relates to Phoebe on that level. And then when Oliver tells him he'd be a great dad, and he tears up and he can't speak. Oh my gosh.

Garry:

It was like, from what I saw today, you would make a great dad.

Amy:

And Norm is just like and the tears came out. He looks like he's going to cry, but he doesn't. He wants to say thank you, but he doesn't. But you can tell how much that touched him and there you go. Yeah, what about you, cheers? I have more, a couple more.

Garry:

Yeah, again going back to the beer scene, and when Oliver had it for the first time and his dad even said so you know he's like, I think this is your first.

Amy:

Actually, I know it's your first. It's your first beer. Yeah, I thought that was very fun.

Garry:

Yeah, and again, when you said that Oliver had said you'd make a great dad.

Amy:

Yes, that was a very touching scene Because at the beginning and Norman says something like how can I be a good dad if I never had one? Or something like that if I didn't have one in my life. So it was good that that came full circle towards the end, because you can see how he related to the teenager.

Garry:

Yeah, my biggest cheer was when Oliver and Joe have it out at the park and he tells them. I did leave your mom with a forwarding address. She just didn't want you.

Amy:

And he was in the look on. Well, he doesn't say she didn't want you, she just wasn't fit or she wasn't at that particular time ready to have you. Well, I think he just kind of leaves it open at first and Oliver's like so she didn't. He realizes she didn't want to have the communication with me again with the face.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

You know when the realization crosses him that he's been wrong, all these years in blaming Joe.

Garry:

Yeah, wasted 15 years, yeah. And then when he tells him I remember the slide incident where mom yelled at me because I wouldn't come down this slide and she says she's leaving, but you sat right down.

Amy:

Right and waited Right. That memory comes back full circle.

Garry:

Yeah, I was like oh, my God.

Amy:

I just can't, I can't take it, I can't take it.

Garry:

So what else Did you have any more?

Amy:

Yeah, gregory Harrison is a stud at any age. Yes, he is. I thought he was so cute. And Trevor John when I used to watch that with my mom when I was a little girl, I was like he's so cute, yes. And then he has just aged very, very well. I just have to put that out there as there is a cheer. I love him. Yeah, the continuation of More Cousins of Norman. Oh, my gosh, we talked about that.

Garry:

Norman and his cousins.

Amy:

man Love it and then we've talked about it. My final cheer would be you know Oliver's storyline his dad finding you know his dad finding out he has a different biological father, mm-hmm Coming around to some painful truths about his mom. Yep, and I like that we get that information now in the canon.

Garry:

Right and it doesn't get dragged out.

Amy:

And I mean I'm sure it will come up again. I mean we know it doesn't to the moon and back, but I just like that, we know that now you know, and that allows for more growth of the character. You have that information and now in the future movies, movies we can just see his character grow more. Yeah, so I like that, yeah, yeah that's my two cents. No, that was it what about jeers?

Amy:

okay, the only jeer that I could come up with and it's hard with these movies. Okay, so if oliver and joe haven't spoken in what like like 15 years, how does Joe know Shane's name At the beginning, because he says you're Shane, right?

Garry:

Because he had the card with her name on it.

Amy:

Oh duh, oh my God.

Garry:

You know, Steve, and he made a reference. You're right, Remember he made a reference.

Amy:

I was like how did he know I'm so dumb? Okay.

Garry:

And she doesn't know that that's Oliver's dad.

Amy:

Right, Because I'm thinking how does he know who works in the DLO if he hasn't talked to him in 15 years? Right?

Garry:

Because she just started.

Amy:

I'm there like that can't be a mishap.

Garry:

I taking her stuff back to the DLO because she quit and the card fell out of her box and it was addressed to her. I am so dumb, All right, I'm done. But then she takes the card from him and starts walking away and he's like Shane, Shane, Shane, come back. And that was a reference to a 1953 movie. What was it called Shane?

Amy:

Shane. Where the little kid he made that, well, we had to look it up. We didn't know that, because I knew it had to be something, because the way he said it and Shane was like really. Like she hasn't ever heard that before. Yeah, that's how you know. It's a quote from a movie. Yeah, so we did, or you looked it up actually.

Garry:

Yes, I looked it up, I had to do it it has to be a movie.

Amy:

That was something else we talked about right after. Yeah, the emotions ran the gamut. I mean the whole, you know, afghanistan thing. You know we won't get into that too much, because here we are 10 years later and what's happened? Has happened, but you know it's at that time still emotional still. I mean you know.

Garry:

Well for a little child to find out that her mom didn't make it, I mean.

Amy:

Yeah, and to be raised by her grandfather.

Garry:

No that was.

Amy:

That's a good point too, because the pilot, when he finally the one who wrote the letter right meets her and I think she asks if she's still alive and and the pilot says, or is she dead? And he says I don't believe she's alive. And I thought that was good in the sense that it could give them peace of mind. Or now they know.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

You know there's no hope and you realize, and you also find out that she was actually doing good things and volunteered for a dangerous mission and she was a hero, yeah, and got caught up in it. She was not a terrorist.

Garry:

Nope.

Amy:

And she was trying to talk to the women in Afghanistan when the men weren't around. She was trying to develop that. So you do find out layers more and it's relatable to what was going on at the time and you know, for another 10 years, right or not 10, not quite 10 years, but yeah, unfortunately.

Garry:

So he said when he wrote the letter it was for a little kid.

Amy:

And now she's a teenager. Yeah Well, it had been two years. It was two years later.

Garry:

Yeah, and he didn't know how to tell her, but he ended up doing it in a good way, right, right, no, I thought that was, and she was almost like not relieved, but like she just needed somebody to say it. Yeah, you know, so she could move.

Amy:

Well, and start grieving, yeah, true, and then move forward, yeah, yeah, so.

Garry:

Well, I had one year.

Amy:

Okay, what's your year? I?

Garry:

just kids are so mean.

Amy:

Oh, I know.

Garry:

I know, come on, come on, guys.

Amy:

I know, I know, but that's how kids are.

Garry:

And I was into sports and I just I loved everybody, I talked to everybody and you know, back in the 80s, 70s and 80s you had your cliques, but I just talked to everybody. I didn't exclude anybody.

Amy:

Yeah, I mean I feel like I was friends with mostly everybody. I mean I was athletic but I got teased a lot in middle school.

Garry:

Well, so did I so did you?

Amy:

Yeah, I mean, I know we've talked about that, but it's just. It's so hard for kids I think now, especially with social media and everything and the bullying that goes on, and it is very serious and you know you can tell kids to suck it up, but there is also, you know, sometimes they need help.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And I'm not talking about like counseling necessarily. I'm just saying that like kids are mean and cruel and all this, I don't know how I would handle all the social media stuff if I were in high school today.

Garry:

Yeah, me too or middle school.

Amy:

I mean I would probably curl up into a ball and never want to leave. You know, I mean I'm telling you. I just I think it is hard and you know just the more communication you can have with your kids, the better. And you know kids are going to do dumb stuff and they're going to say dumb stuff. And you know, if you hear your kids I mean I know we were on our kids, like that was me Don't say that. You know we're not going to talk about people like that, you know.

Garry:

But You're right.

Amy:

Yeah, but Norman handled them.

Garry:

Yeah, he did. Yeah, Norman Norman.

Amy:

Norman.

Garry:

Norman. So let me go back. I mentioned at the beginning of the podcast that I wanted to touch on something real quick and I'm going to run through this real quick because we're running long here.

Garry:

On time, but did you notice the weeping willow in the scenes at the playground? I don't know if it was done intentionally or not, but the weeping willow tree is mostly predominantly associated with grief, mourning and loss, due to its drooping branches that resemble tears. However, it also represents resilient hope and the enduring nature of love and family, with its ability to endure hardship and maintain strength in the face of adversity. Look at you. There were four scenes that this tree was in. Okay, I'm going to read them real quick and I'm done. Okay, when Oliver and Shane walk by the Weeping Willow in the park, it symbolizes grief mourning. At this point, oliver just found out his father had passed away.

Amy:

Is this? You writing this? This is me. You found this. Okay, this is me.

Garry:

Right, I had to write it because I couldn't.

Amy:

I know, I know, I know I wouldn't be able to talk about it. I got you Okay, so that was one.

Garry:

There was another scene where Oliver walks past the Weeping Willow. After talking to Joe, he was sad just finding out the truth about his past.

Amy:

Okay, interesting, and this is all in the park. This is all in the park, in that park. Okay. Huh, and I know growing up, I'm saying right, like I know that, and as a kid I used to love weeping willows.

Garry:

I used to lay down inside, you know under the branches and it was so cool. Another scene was when Oliver walked past a weeping willow to meet a stepfather after seeing the lawyer. To me it was something kind of interesting being resilient.

Garry:

You know he's coming back right to see his dad, right. And then joe is explaining to oliver about his mother, with the willow tree in the background. I believe it's representing hope and family and enduring hardship. When joe atoll and shane meet for the first time, as shane took the letter from him and started to walk away.

Amy:

They were in the post office. No, wait a minute. No, that has nothing to do with it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

Garry:

Anyways.

Amy:

Rewind.

Garry:

That was the last one when Joe and Oliver have that, one last discussion where Joe tells them, but I did leave it.

Amy:

Right and that tree's in the background, so I them, but I I did leave it right and that tree is in the background, so I don't know if anybody else caught that.

Garry:

I don't know if it was done on purpose or an accident.

Amy:

I don't know if it's an accident. If you're into symbols, things pretty smart to me. I thought I, I felt like that that was in there.

Garry:

For that reason, very, very interesting, because, to do a deeper dive, both of those, all three of those stories, shane or not Shane, oliver, the girl and Norman, they all had that whole full circle come around of those emotions.

Amy:

Look at you. So there it is. I didn't even notice that. Look at you.

Garry:

Yeah, I wanted to tell you, but I was like, no, I'm going to save it. Is that what you said? I?

Amy:

know he did. He said I want to tell you something so badly, but I'm going to save it for the podcast. I'm like, okay Done and I'm better at moving on.

Garry:

It drives you nuts, it drives me nuts, but me I'm like okay, I cannot keep a secret. No, if I get captured, I'm singing, sorry.

Amy:

Oh gosh. Anyways out of we talked about how it has to be really, really good for us to give the five right Like, because we're handing them out like they're candy. But I'm going to go with the five.

Garry:

Me too, man. I just I feel like I can't. That's three fives in a row. I think maybe yeah, just the acting.

Amy:

What about you? You said you too.

Garry:

Yes, I'm giving it five.

Amy:

All right, is that a wrap?

Garry:

That's a wrap. Thanks for listening. Be sure to follow the podcast wherever you listen so you don't miss one. Also, follow us on social media. We'd love to have you leave us a review. We would On Apple Podcasts and or Spotify.

Amy:

Or send us an email.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Pour the wine. It's rom-com time at gmailcom yeah. Join us on Tinsel Tuesdays for our recaps and reviews of all things Christmas on the Hallmark Channel, and on Wednesdays for new episodes reviewing Hallmark movies.

Garry:

We'll also be dropping more bonus episodes of the Signed, sealed, delivered movies along the way, as we watch them. No promises on dates, but we are trying to watch them in between everything else.

Amy:

Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening.

Garry:

Cheers.