Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark's Holidazed: S1 E5 - The Lewin Family

• Garry & Amy

Share episode

On this episode of Pour The Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time, Garry and Amy unwrap Episode 5 of Holidazed: The Lewin Family. When Linda Lewin shows up at her daughter’s house with a much younger boyfriend, Evan, the holidays get a jolt of drama. What starts as an awkward reunion with her ex-husband Robert takes a surprising turn when Evan and Robert strike up an unexpected bromance. Dennis Haysbert and Loretta Devine shine as Robert and Linda, a long-divorced couple still untangling 35 years of history. Grab your wine & settle in. This episode is all about unexpected connections, second chances, and the wonderfully messy dynamics of family during the holidays.

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 Hallmark Channel. I'm Amy.

Garry:

And I'm Gary and I'm a pourer in the wine.

Amy:

You're a pourer and you're a pourer in the wine.

Garry:

That's my one job pour the wine, our cap set.

Amy:

Today we're going to be recapping and reviewing episode number five of Holidays. Yes, the Lewin Family, Woo-hoo. It originally aired on December 5th 2024 on Hallmark Plus and aired on the Hallmark channel on Sunday, July 20th 2025 as part of Christmas in July.

Garry:

Christmas in July For 2025. Ho, ho, ho.

Amy:

We're about winding down. Yeah, we are we only have about a week left, which is sad, but then it'll be on the holiday season Time is a fly Countdown to Christmas.

Garry:

We would love it if you would click that follow button on your favorite podcast platform so you don't miss an episode If you listen on Apple or Spotify. You can also leave us a review, and hopefully it's a positive one.

Amy:

Are you going to sing it next time? It's on episode Episode. Oh my gosh, okay.

Garry:

You can also find us on YouTube and social media, all the socials Facebook, instagram, blue Sky, x and.

Amy:

Threads. You can even email us at.

Garry:

Yes, you can.

Amy:

Send us an email Let us know your thoughts about holidays, christmas in July, the upcoming Countdown to Christmas, information that we've gotten so far, or anything Hallmark-related. Yes, we'd love to hear from you.

Garry:

We might even read it on the pod.

Amy:

That's right, that's right.

Garry:

So tell us who's in this one.

Amy:

All right, the Lewin Family starring Drum roll. Dennis Haysbert plays Robert Lewin and of course we all know and love Dennis Haysbert For Hallmark. He was in Christmas Everlasting Some of his other work in his over 40 years of acting 40 years. Good on him includes the movie Summer Camp, the tv series lucifer or he played god, of course we like that series he was in the tv series 81 episodes of the tv series 24.

Amy:

he was in the movie waiting to exhale, which also starred loretta divine, who is also part of the Lewin family, and he was in the Major League movies. He played Pedro Serrano in 1989, 1994, and 1998. Wow and he's the voice of.

Garry:

Allstate.

Amy:

Allstate.

Garry:

He has a very powerful voice right, you recognize it anywhere Like a Barry White.

Amy:

Like a Barry White.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Loretta Devine plays Linda Lewin. She has been acting for over 40 years as well and has nearly 200 acting credits. So at first glance, out of the 200, I didn't see any other Hallmark work. Right, so I'm sure someone will let me know.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

If she did. But I didn't miss it on purpose. I just didn't miss it on purpose. I just didn't see any yes. Shoot us an email. She was in an episode of Dr Odyssey. She was in 45 episodes of Family Reunion. She's actually done a lot of voice work in animated series. She voices I think it's Haley in Doc McStuffins for 131 episodes. She was in 22 episodes of Grey's Anatomy. Okay, she was in 26 episodes of Eli Stone, which we love that TV series. She was in 81 episodes of Boston Public.

Garry:

Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Amy:

And, as previously mentioned, she was in the movie Waiting to Exhale in 1995 with Dennis Haysbert, whitney Houston, angela Bassett, lila Roshan. Did you ever see that, which one? Waiting to Exhale? Maybe we're going to have to watch it. Oh, it's so good.

Amy:

Oh, it's so good. Okay, we're going to have to watch that On the list. Sir Darius Blaine plays Evan. His hallmark productions include Christmas on Call and Caribbean Summer. So good, okay, we're going to have to watch that On the list. Sir Darius Blaine plays Evan. His hallmark productions include Christmas on Call and Caribbean Summer. Excuse me, he was in a few episodes of the Rookie. He was in the TV comedy series Grand Crew, which we really liked. He was one episode of that.

Garry:

And they canceled it.

Amy:

I know, oh, we really, Because I mean there was a lot of wine in that one.

Garry:

Yes, it was awesome Clank clank, clank clank.

Amy:

He was in a TV series called the Big Leap for 11 episodes. He charmed. He was in Charmed. That comes up a lot.

Garry:

Yeah, it does.

Amy:

Also for 17 episodes, and he was in the more recent jumanji movies, welcome to the jungle in 2017 and the next level in 2019 wow, okay, yay, yay, she says robin fanfare plays jennifer lewin. She plays the daughter, so dennis hazebert is the father. Um, loretta divine is the mother, right, right.

Garry:

So yep and uh, you have robert and linda right and evan I'm sorry I didn't mention this.

Amy:

He is Right, right, so Yep, and you have Robert and Linda yeah Right. And Evan. I'm sorry I didn't mention this. He is Linda's younger boyfriend, right, okay? So Robin Fanfare plays Jennifer, the daughter.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

For Hallmark, the adult daughter. For Hallmark. She was in Winter Love Story, Pride, prejudice and Mistletoe and one episode of the good witch, oh some of her other work, huh there's good good witch yep. That comes up also. Some of her other work includes one episode of riverdale star trek discovery for nine episodes and one episode of designated survivor. Oh, that's keifer sutherland. Yes, we heard that one.

Garry:

Lennox leac in that one.

Amy:

Lennox Leacock plays Max Lewin. He plays the teenage son of Jennifer and Mike. He has eight acting credits so far. He was in A Magical Christmas Village for Hallmark and that was actually his first acting credit.

Garry:

Oh, he did a good job. Not too bad. Yeah, he did a really good job.

Amy:

His other work includes three episodes of the series earth abides and the best version of love movie. I mean you know, hey, jeff joseph plays mike lewin, he plays um jet. No, this is where I'm confused, right, so you have. You have robert lewin, you have, you have Robert Lewin, you have Linda Lewin, right. And those are her parents. Those are Jennifer's parents.

Garry:

Yes, it is. But IMDB has Jennifer's husband Mike, as Mike Lewin wouldn't he have a different last name I don't know, maybe he took on her name oh, maybe he did I don't know I don't know, she's boss woman, so max is lewin.

Amy:

Maybe they just named him all lewins because I was like wait. That's a little confusing all right anywho, that's just my little, my little two cents, all right anyway so jeff joseph on imdb plays mike lewin, hallmark wise. He was in an aurora tea garden mystery reunited and it feels so deadly. A garage sale mystery movie, murder in d minor and some of his other work includes eight episodes of the tv series big sky okay three episodes of a million little things, the chilling adventures of sabrina.

Amy:

One episode of the Sopranos. I always like to find these little tidbits. He was in the movie Made in America. Do you remember that one?

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

With Ted Danson, whoopi Goldberg really cute really funny. Yes, and he was in the Christmas movie, scrooged with Bill Murray.

Garry:

Uh-huh, Uh-huh. Yes, he was Okay. That was very yes, he was.

Amy:

Yeah, Sarah Jane Redman plays Gail. Some of her homework work includes A Reason for the Season, a Royal Runaway Romance and an Aurora Teagarden mystery. How to Con a Con and my best friend's bouquet okay. Some of her other work includes the fall of the house of usher. That was on netflix.

Amy:

We watched that she was in an episode of that. She was in 21 episodes of the tv series siren. She also was in chilling adventures of sabrina, just like jeff was, and she was in 12 episodes of Smallville, ooh and X-Files the OG that comes up a lot too, between 1995 and 1998, and Gail is the girlfriend or the date the swipe right, I don't know. The two day girlfriend, the what the swipe right?

Garry:

I don't know, the two-day girlfriend just saying the what the two-day girlfriend, the two-day girl.

Amy:

Well, so far you don't know there all right, so is it time to drop the synopsis it is time to drop the synopsis.

Garry:

So linda brings home her younger boyfriend, evan, for the holidays, to her family and ex-husband Robert's surprise. But Robert and Evan may have more in common than not.

Amy:

Dun dun dun. We'll probably give away some spoilers.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Not probably we will, yep. So if you haven't watched it yet, go watch it and then come back to our review. Push pause on our review. Go watch it and then come back to our review. Push pause on our review. Go watch it and then come back push play.

Garry:

Yes, yeah, please do. It sounds awesomeness to me awesomeness.

Amy:

Is that a new word?

Garry:

it is for me, okay, gary isms gary isms so what do you think?

Amy:

well, let's, should we kind of see where we left off? Yeah um, let's do do that the last time.

Garry:

Yeah, yeah, we can do that, but before let me take a sip of some wine.

Amy:

You're taking some wine, yeah, I had to get a little sippy sip. Yeah, I got a little frog in my throat tonight.

Garry:

I know Stuff is going around around here, I know.

Amy:

So so when we last saw the Lewin family, linda had arrived with her much younger boyfriend at her daughter's house. Yes, and it's also Robert's daughter's house.

Garry:

And Robert's already there, dennis Haysbert. Yes.

Amy:

The Allstate guy yes, so they arrive at their daughter's house and they talk about.

Garry:

Well, it's funny because they Mike and Jennifer jennifer talk.

Amy:

They're like I hope that's the uber driver, oh yeah when, when linda get pulls up right and then, and then evan gets out and they so that's kind of where it ended, right, and and, um, robert just kind of gives a look, and then doesn't he turn around and go back inside the house, right so? That's the last time we saw them, so we know something's brewing there.

Garry:

Yes, yes, yes, but we're not sure inside. So that's the last time we saw them, so we know something's brewing there.

Amy:

Yes, yes, yes, but we're not sure exactly what. So that's kind of the starting point and I like that this particular episode starts off with. You know, robert is waking up and he isn't that when he hears like Linda and her much younger boyfriend, evan, are having like a pillow fight or something in the next room.

Amy:

Well, you don't know what's going on. You hear them kind of banging on the walls and laughing and having a good time and he wakes up and he's like rubbing his knees and he looks at himself in the mirror and I was like I feel that.

Garry:

Yes, I feel that a lot. It's terrible getting old. I'm with you, robert.

Amy:

Yeah, I don't know how old robert and linda are, um the actors, um, they're probably supposed to be in their what?

Garry:

late 50s, early 60s, and we're like 50s.

Amy:

So I was like, oh gosh, those mornings when you wake up and you're like oh, and then you look at your face, you feel younger, but sometimes yes you don't look at. You know in your head, you don't always feel younger. But yeah, I just really like that opening scene because that is.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

I related.

Garry:

Let's just say that I like that opening scene too, and to kind of jump off of that is when Evan and Robert come out of the rooms opposite ends of the house, yes, and they meet in the hallway and they both have to go to the bathroom, and it's like this Western type music.

Amy:

Yeah, it's the Western music.

Garry:

That was so good. That was really cute, Really cute. I really really liked that and doesn't.

Amy:

Evan, say something you know, I know you're older, you got to go.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

Like I'll let you go first. Yeah, they were going back and forth on, you know, age before beauty or whatever. But yes, that was a really good, really good scene. That was really funny. And then you know, you kind of get a sense of, as the morning progresses, that um, linda's trying to show off because she has a boyfriend and she's like I've been skydiving and yoga and I'm doing all these things and she's like really overdoing it because.

Amy:

Robert, her ex is there and she wants to show him like, look how free I am now. And she's really kind of going over the top right.

Garry:

Yeah, well, that's how her and Evan met was skydiving.

Amy:

Oh right, right, that's how they met Right.

Garry:

That is so funny, Like who would meet skydiving right, right, right At that age I'm not getting in an airplane and jumping out.

Amy:

I am not ever doing that I didn't want to do that when I was younger and I don't want to do that now, and I'm. You know, we have learned in our life to never say never, Right. Because, once you say never, here it comes. Nevering like it, never, never before Right.

Garry:

No, you're right, You're absolutely right.

Amy:

But I don't plan on, you know, right Me either. I don't have that as a bucket list item. Right Jumping out of an airplane yeah, skydiving.

Garry:

But it's so funny because you know, linda, she apologizes to Jennifer for not letting her know about the younger man.

Amy:

Oh, right yeah.

Garry:

Because she didn't think that Jennifer would understand. And Jennifer's like you're right, I wouldn't. But then she's like you know what, mom? It's your life.

Amy:

You do what you want If you're happy yeah.

Garry:

You know, be with who you want to be with.

Amy:

And you know well I mean we'll kind of get into it a little bit that they made evan a nice guy. Yes, like he's a younger guy, he's a kind guy. You know, he's got that little competitive spirit with robert, of course. Right, you know like they go to build the right.

Garry:

They're supposed to assemble the booth for max, for max at the fair right for the festival, whatever they call it, yeah, um it's ikea furniture and robert of, I think Evan says something like you know, I'll help build it or something, and Robert's, like you know, it's Ikea furniture.

Amy:

You know, assembling Ikea furniture is not building.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

Kind of like mocking it, like it's so easy to do Right and then Then it comes crashing down, and then it comes crashing down. They start to do it, and they're both kind of jockeying for dominant position, right, and then it didn't go so well, did it?

Garry:

No, because Max comes up, mike comes up and they're like what in the world happened? And then they both point fingers at each other.

Amy:

That's right. That's right. He did it, he did it.

Garry:

So that was, that was kind of a cute.

Amy:

That was a cute scene. I really liked it.

Garry:

And what about broom ball? Never heard of it. Never heard of it either until this, but it's like street hockey, only with brooms.

Amy:

Street hockey. Oh yeah, it's kind of funny.

Garry:

And their ice rink is bales of hay.

Amy:

Yes, yes, that was an awesome scene, so. Robert and Evan are on opposite teams, of course.

Garry:

No, they're on the same team, are they on?

Amy:

the same team.

Garry:

Yeah, they're on the same team. Oh, I thought they were. No, the other team was wearing green vests?

Amy:

Oh, because it had the dad, the Camarena dad. Yes, he was the rest this is a little crossover right, so we see the Woods' daughter.

Garry:

Annie, Annie right.

Amy:

She's there and her friend Is Stephanie, there in the front.

Garry:

I don't remember.

Amy:

But yeah. So this is where a little bit of the crossover happens.

Garry:

Right, right, which seems to be the theme, and we'll talk about the Cameron F family in the next episode. Yep, they're up next.

Amy:

Yep, so next yep, so they kind of, but they kind of have a tussle and robert kind of knocks, him knocks evan over the bails of hay, or a bale of hay.

Garry:

Yeah yeah, that was another good scene and it's funny because they were on the same team, but they I didn't realize, but this this. You know jockeying to be. You know I don't know if they were fighting for the love of uh linda or not, but it was cute. They were just fighting to show who was better. You know what'sockeying to be. You know I don't know if they were fighting for the love of Linda or not, but it was cute.

Amy:

They were just fighting to show who was better. You know, it's a guy thing. Guys do that Like I'm better, I can make the goal, I can, you know whatever. And then Robert kind of gave him a little bit of a nudge.

Garry:

Yeah, and then. So Robert and Linda and them are in the kitchen and Linda's like you need to go apologize to him.

Amy:

Oh yeah, Because they're making him a sandwich.

Garry:

Yeah, so she hands him the sandwich Right because Evan's all laid up in the garage, so, linda gives Robert the plate of sandwich and Robert goes in there and he, you know, apologizes. And it's still funny because they're both like you didn't push me. And he's like what did he say? I laid you out.

Amy:

Yeah, Evan and Evan's. Like you didn't lay me out, I fell over the like they tried to.

Amy:

Yeah, it was just it was kind of cute, you know the banter between them was. I mean I felt like in this episode they really did a good job of it being. It was serious, but not too serious. They didn't hate each other, they weren't totally trying to undermine each other other than the competitiveness right. So it wasn't, like you know, super cheesy or over the top or but it was just kind of fun. And then in that moment, that scene that you were talking about, in the garage where it's just the two of them.

Amy:

Right then they start realizing they have more in common. They start talking about soccer.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And how they each played the same position Right, and then they start.

Garry:

Mid-center is what it was.

Amy:

And then they start talking and laughing. And then the rest of the family, linda and Jen and Mike they can't believe they hear laughter from the garage because they thought they'd be at each other's throat. So it's kind of, you know, it's kind of right what the holidays are about finding common ground.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

You know, even if you know you may have split ways with some, parted ways with somebody, it doesn't always happen. No.

Garry:

As we know. No, it doesn't.

Amy:

But yeah. So I thought that scene, I thought it was cute, I thought it totally worked.

Garry:

Yeah. And then we find out, you know, mike actually gave up his job as an engineer, so that because Jennifer got partner Right, I think, with her dad's- firm.

Amy:

Yeah, that's kind of. Another underlying current is that she's sort of a workaholic.

Garry:

Right, she works all the time.

Amy:

Yeah, she doesn't have a lot of time for her family, or Mike, or Mike, yeah.

Garry:

So we learned that. And then that's when Linda wants to go to bed thinking, oh, evan's going to come with her, yep, but now Linda wants to go to bed.

Amy:

She wants to go to sleep.

Garry:

Evan's new buddy, his buddy Robert. Decide to go out and have a drink at one of the local bars.

Amy:

But it's kind of cool because it flipped the story on its head, right.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Because you think they're going to be combative, the whole episode, and you think, okay, that's what this episode is going to be about, and then we're going to see how it kind of ends up and what's going to happen and and what's going to happen, and then they go out together to a bar.

Garry:

And of course Linda is like what is going on with this?

Amy:

relationship here.

Garry:

Because she wants to make it seems like she wants to make Robert jealous.

Amy:

Yeah, that's what I said when she was talking about, like I did yoga classes and skydiving and all the things he would never do. Yeah, exactly.

Garry:

And so they're at the bar and they're talking and you got Al Green playing in the background, the music, and Robert's like, oh, you're an old soul. And he goes, you really like this. And he's like, yeah, I like this, he goes Linda.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah.

Garry:

He's like well, yeah, but I still like the music.

Amy:

I still like the music.

Garry:

Yeah, it was kind of cute. And then they just they continue to talk back and forth. And then, uh, evan sees a woman looking at robert, right, right, and you find out it's gail, and he's like, nah, I'm too old for that dating and she doesn't like me. She's not looking at me. And then the bartender comes down and says this is from the lady and he's like Robert's still got game.

Amy:

Yes, he does. He was looking pretty good to her.

Garry:

So then Robert goes off and talks to her have you ever done that?

Amy:

Have you ever bought somebody a drink in a bar, sent a drink to somebody?

Garry:

I don't think so. Maybe Maybe, I don't know.

Amy:

I never have. I wouldn't have had the courage to do it. Well, I mean, I guess as a female it'd be different but I didn't buy like a female drink.

Garry:

I'd buy some people. That's what I meant.

Amy:

It's like a female, like hey, send her a drink. Hey, baby, yeah, back in the day yeah, that's funny.

Garry:

So you find out that, gail, she's a retired nurse, right?

Amy:

so oh, that's right. Do we find that out there at the bar?

Garry:

yeah, I think it's at the bar, because he, when robert goes over there and starts to talk to her, they kind of go back and forth, and Later on he comes back to Evan and he's like I got a number. That's cute, I got some digits.

Amy:

Well he goes, we airdrop numbers and Evan's like all right man. He's like how do I find the number? I thought that was so funny. He's like where did the number go? That was funny I thought that was so cute.

Garry:

So cute, yeah, because it's kind of cool how they put in the little technology kind of stuff. Yeah, yeah, and we had a scene, oh yeah.

Amy:

Yeah, we had a scene in the middle of all that too, where Max is talking to his dad, Mike, about Annie, Because, of course, in one of the previous episodes you know, Annie tried to take a selfie with Max, or she did, and she kissed him on the cheek.

Garry:

And yeah, Max kind of he was surprised and freaked out.

Amy:

And then he tried to find her and you know, and all this stuff, and he's like she's, you know, she's wearing different clothes and she's acting all extra, you know, and I just thought that scene was really cool. And then Mike is like well, well, you know, sometimes relationships change one minute it's all comfortable, and then the next minute it's not right kind of realize he's talking about his relationship right with jen and then they kind of just sit in that moment, yes, and he's like a light bulb kind of goes off too for him.

Amy:

So yeah, that was in between, like the bar scenes.

Garry:

They were kind of going back and forth, I think right so then you fast forward to the morning and you hear this music jamming and it's I think it's hello black. I can't wait for christmas.

Amy:

It's jam oh yeah, you looked at the song, so I think it's linda, mike and, uh, jennifer.

Garry:

They all meet in the kitchen like what in the world.

Amy:

What is going on?

Garry:

It's too early in the morning, so they go into the garage. And who's in the garage?

Amy:

Robert and Evans Yep.

Garry:

Putting the booth together.

Amy:

They put the booth together and they had the little drills.

Garry:

And the drills they're pushing the button to the music. It's like zzz, zzz, zzz.

Amy:

I thought that was a really fun scene, yeah that was cool and he ended up getting the booth up and I love, I love how, um. I think that's when jen says mom, you found the perfect. You found the perfect guy for dad yeah, that was kind of funny yeah, I thought that line really worked and then mike is like yeah, you found a younger robert and linda's just like oh, you know, because she did not want them to get along.

Amy:

She wanted, you know, you could tell she really wanted Robert to be jealous of Evan throughout this and Robert wasn't. Nope, he wasn't having that Because they were married for what? 35 years, something like that, 35, 36. Yeah, Yep.

Garry:

And then you had the breakfast scene.

Garry:

The breakfast scene that was funny too, because they both like over easy. So Robert goes and he shows him how to make a good over easy egg. Yeah, they're both like salt and pepper. They're kind of like twins, almost Like they pass the salt and pepper. And then, as Linda, I think she's going shopping with Jennifer or something, yeah, she's leaving. Then, as Linda thinks she's going shopping with Jennifer or something, yeah, she's leaving, robert and Evan look at each other and they both at the same time go paprika.

Amy:

But as Linda's walking out, she stops and mouths paprika at the same time they say paprika and then she kind of rolls her eyes.

Garry:

She is.

Amy:

She's dating the younger version of Robert, so she's attracted to the same type of man. I guess you could say right, yeah.

Garry:

I mean, you know, you like what you like, yeah.

Amy:

Hey, you know, you know.

Garry:

Yeah, so then I think Robert and Evan go shopping, right?

Amy:

That's when, yeah, yeah, because Evan has a gift for Linda Right and Robert's, like you know, like because he knows he used to give just a, like, a general gift. Yeah, not something from the heart kind of thing he never thought it was ever thoughtful, right, thoughtful, thank you, yeah, so so then does he offer to go shopping with them?

Garry:

Yeah, I'm trying to remember. Yeah, he goes shopping with them.

Amy:

Right, so they go. So Robert and Evan go off on a little shopping spree. Yeah, right and that's, and I thought it was cute. While they're out on the shopping spree, robert gets a text from the woman from the bar Right, gail. And there are all these emojis Emoji heart, emoji smiley face, emoji kiss I mean I thought that was cute and I'm like I send a lot of emojis too.

Garry:

Yeah, I thought that was so funny because we saw that in the woods family too, right yes with the one sister who sends yeah yeah, but while they're shopping, robert actually finds a gift that evan can give to linda right, and it's a sphere lamp type of thing.

Garry:

And at first I guess Evan thought man, are you for real, man? Are you just trying to get me in trouble with Linda? And he's like nope, this is the gift. She'll love this gift. And then that's when I think Robert starts getting the emojis and he asked he's like I don't know what to do. And he said and Evan's like I'm like'm like first of all, we can change the way oh yeah, that leads into a makeover moment for robert yeah, that's right.

Amy:

That's right. There really was a lot that happened in this episode, you know that's right, and but it happened at a really good pace really really good yeah, yeah so they go shopping and uh, update uh robert's wardrobe.

Garry:

Robert's looking good, he's looking good A handsome man.

Amy:

He's looking sweet, so then they go home, right, and that's when Linda's like what has gotten into your father, you know? She was jealous she was a little bit jealous. She liked what she was seeing.

Garry:

I think she did, she did.

Amy:

She's like oh man, if you would have dressed that way when we were together. She didn't say that, but yeah, you can kind of.

Garry:

What prompted this change of clothes. And then that's when Evan says oh well, you know, robert's got a date with a new woman.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, so that's really cute.

Garry:

That was cute.

Amy:

And then they get. So we get to the gifts, the gifts, yeah, the gifts. We get to the gift scene. Aw, aw.

Garry:

And what does Mike get?

Amy:

So Mike gets a shirt.

Garry:

Kind of like what. Robert used to give Linda. Right Now Jennifer is giving to.

Amy:

Mike. They're not really thoughtful, and Linda earlier tried to tell Jen her daughter, daughter like, look, you know you want to give him something more personable, like you know he something like he. He needs a shirt, but he may not want or. So I forget the phrasing it was. You know, it was really really well done, like get him something special, don't just give him something he needs. You know he's gonna wear and he does. And mike kind of opens the shirt. He's like, oh yeah, it's a shirt, thanks, you know.

Garry:

So it's kind of like those two are running parallel yes, so she's like her dad. Yeah exactly, yep. And then linda gets her her gift. Yeah, which is the lamp, the sphere. And we find out it. It, when you turn on it shows the northern lights up on the ceiling. Yeah, and Linda always wanted to go see the northern lights. But they never seemed to be a good time, is what she said.

Amy:

Right, because Robert was always working or something came up. Always working.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And I thought it was so sad the way she looked at it. And then Evan, and that moment he kind of realizes that you know you're not going to be able to. You know he could move forward with the relationship with Linda, but they have that history that past and all of that.

Garry:

Yeah, that's not going to go away.

Amy:

It's kind of cool that Robert finally realized it, even if he's moved on too Like I, made mistakes. This is what you, you know. So he knew she always wanted to do that and that was probably well, not probably, but it was why he bought it. That.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

Or he wanted Evan to buy it for. Linda.

Garry:

Right, and she knew instantly that it was him. And then she was. I don't know if she was happy or shocked that he actually gave her a thoughtful gift.

Amy:

What Evan, that Evan did.

Garry:

No, or that Robert, that Robert.

Amy:

Through Evan.

Garry:

Through Evan. Yeah, finally gave her a thoughtful gift All this time. Now you want to give me a thoughtful gift?

Amy:

Yeah, after all this time. So then we move on to the festival.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Right, and you kind of see Max is talking to Annie's friend Stephanie.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

So we're kind of bringing that story back in. It's kind of weaving into this one right, and I thought it was cute because they had Max say you know, oh, her mom found Annie you know, and we had seen that in the woods.

Garry:

Yeah, so that's where it picked up from Family, yeah, on that part of it and Stephanie was like I don't know why she's mad. You know it's got lots of views. I can't remember exactly what she says, but she said I posted the picture and it got lots of views. Yeah, and she wasn't sure why.

Amy:

And Max is like I don't know I and Max is like I don't know. I just don't want her to be sad. Right, I thought that was so sweet. He's such a sweet kid.

Garry:

I know, at such a young age to say something like that, yeah, yeah, but you know they've been friends, yeah.

Amy:

So then you have, you know, the festival's going on and Linda and Robert kind of have a reminiscing moment Right, and then Robert's date walks up Gail. Gail, here comes Gail. Oh, yeah, right.

Garry:

And she talks about. I think she just came from yoga or something.

Amy:

Something. Yeah, and they're going to be playing tennis, tennis.

Garry:

And that kind of sets Linda off. She's like tennis, we play tennis, and so.

Amy:

Or she said Robert used to play tennis, but then he stopped.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

You know she gets all in her like a little. You know she's a little bit in her feels in that moment, like she is a little bit jealous now that Robert has somebody, even though she's dating a man.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Maybe not half her age, but close to half her age, right. And so this woman comes up, and now Linda's a little jelly jelly.

Garry:

Yeah, it's so crazy. And now Linda's a little jelly jelly, yeah, I know it's so crazy, right.

Amy:

And then Robert's like okay, and he says to Gail, you know, let's go get some cider. And Linda's like okay, let's go Three of them, right.

Garry:

So that's when Robert and Linda go off to get the cider.

Amy:

And so they leave Gail and they leave Evan behind, and Evan kind of sees them talking, talking and he's kind of getting a little bit jealous, I mean, cause you know there's history there and you don't know he understands, but it's like, don't use me to get to him. Right Kind of a situation Right.

Garry:

But I thought what Robert said to Linda about you know, Evan is a good guy, yeah, and that, uh, yeah, and that he's happy that she found someone you know to go see the Northern Lights with. Yeah, that was kind of cool and she kind of says I know you gave me that gift.

Amy:

That's right. In that moment she lets him know. Right that she knows it was really from him. Yeah.

Garry:

So they go back and they hand everybody their drinks and I guess Evan asked to talk to Robert and they're over by where the train set is going and they're talking and Evan's kind of like you know what's going on. I saw y'all over there talking and I think Robert goes to move a ribbon off the track and as he's doing it the train falls off and Evan goes to grab it, but then he knocks.

Amy:

Robert down. So it's kind of like a reverse of the broom ball.

Garry:

Broom ball, yeah, and uh, and only he knocks robert down and robert's, like you know, don't fuss with me, I'm okay. So he goes to try to stand up and his knee gives yep, oh man, and now we got another injury right, yeah, so now he's injured, he's injured and he goes well.

Amy:

What's funny is because, like at the beginning, right when evan hurts his knee, he's got like a bag of peas on it or something. And then we see Robert, doesn't he have like?

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

He's in the house.

Garry:

So right. So that's when we. The next scene is them back at the house and Linda and Jennifer they're going to the pharmacy to get some, some stuff to help Robert with his knee and everything Right. So that leaves Evan and Robert at home by themselves.

Amy:

By themselves, right. And that's kind of when Robert says it's hard to start a new relationship in the shadow of a 35-year marriage and then Robert tells Evan, you know I'm going to give you the space and respect it, right, and you know, I know, basically, like I know, I shouldn't have been doing that.

Garry:

Yep, and then Evan and then Robert talks about well, I guess I blew my date and Robert's like no, give me your phone, let me help you out, let me help you out.

Amy:

Yeah, you see him texting somebody.

Garry:

And so the scene cuts to Linda and Jen at the pharmacy. Yeah, and Linda's kind of like going off and her daughter Jennifer is like Mom, what's going on? Yeah, because she can see.

Amy:

She's like is there still love there? Yeah, and then Linda. And then I think it's interesting because Jen is like well what, you know what happened, you know what what? And, and Linda says it, it happened simply quietly, without even noticing. And that's so true because you can get, you know, stuck in a rut and you can or you just become complacent, or you just kind of let things go and you just you know you're busy, the kids are young, and you just don't pay enough attention to it, and it just sort of happens sometimes, you know, and it's not on purpose, it's not always some big thing, it just.

Amy:

I just love the way she worded that. I think that was just brilliant writing in that moment, I agree you know. And then you know jen says something like 35 years is a lot to leave behind and linda's like what if I didn't leave it behind? So then you kind of get a glimpse that she still loves robert. Maybe there's that little spark there right.

Amy:

So well, the storm starts does it start while they're at the store I think it's getting ready too so now we have the storm starting starting, which is the end of every episode right and then jen and linda get back from the store and they walk in right and they start to talk to robert and then out from the kitchen, walks. Gail right, the nurse, the nurse. She comes and she sits next to Robert and Linda's face is just yes, yeah.

Garry:

Because one of the things was when they were at the store, Linda wanted to buy some soup and Jennifer was like soup. He's not going to want soup. And when they got back home, that was one of the things that Gail had given to Robert was soup, that's right and had an ice pack on his knee, so she had taken care of her man, right, she took it.

Amy:

Gail was taken care of. Yes, robert, robert got him a good woman there.

Garry:

So Good, kind woman. And that's when the lights go out.

Amy:

And the lights go out and now we're at the same spot. Yep, For all the other episodes right.

Garry:

All the other episodes. So, did you have a tinsel-topped moment in this one A?

Amy:

tinsel-topped moment. I liked the moment that we just talked about with Robert and Evan evan, where robert says you know 35 years, you know basically like I understand there's a lot there and I need to not have those moments with linda like like he did at the festival right like because, even though nothing's going on, it's still right. They have a lot of memories together and he needs to respect their space so they can build their relationship.

Garry:

Their memories, yeah.

Amy:

Right, right. So I think that and, like I said, it would be equal to Linda saying you know, it basically went away simply quietly.

Garry:

And.

Amy:

I just I thought that that was so true in a lot of marriages, you know.

Garry:

Yeah, I agree with you, it just happens. It kind of creeps up and just sort of happens distance and well before you know it, you're, you know, doing different things and yeah, well, yeah, what about you?

Amy:

what was your tinsel top moment um?

Garry:

I think when, when mike and max had their little talk, I thought that was yeah, that was really nice. Yeah, well, they're both realizing things right, mike the adult and right and they yeah, so that was my tinsel top I mean, I think this story really.

Amy:

I like the flow of this episode um, I know we're going to get into how many ornaments so how many ornaments would you hang?

Garry:

I'm giving it five.

Amy:

I would give it a five also. I just I love the flow. I loved how they, you know, had the the banter, at first between Evan and Robert and then they flipped it and they got along, and then they flipped it again and they didn't, and then they flipped it again, you know.

Garry:

so I thought that was.

Amy:

I thought that was really well done.

Garry:

And I like how they played off of each other, like the whole cast. Yes, it's really, really good. I love the humor, the comedy, the emotions, not only with just the adults but with the kids.

Amy:

The kids?

Garry:

Yes, I just thought and I loved how they brought back the other episodes.

Amy:

Like some people, sprinkled it in.

Garry:

Sprinkled it in, so that's why I'm giving it five. What about you?

Amy:

I already said five. Did I say it? I don't know, have I drank too much wine? I don't know.

Garry:

Maybe, okay, well, is that a wrap? Then that's a wrap, all right. Well, thanks for tuning in. If you really liked the show, we would really really appreciate your positive review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And if you didn't really really like the show, we'd still appreciate your positive review.

Amy:

Be sure to follow us wherever you get your podcasts and on social media, so you don't miss a thing. Until then, fill up your glasses and push play. Thanks for listening, cheers.