Pour The Wine, It's Rom-Com Time

Hallmark's Holidazed: S1 E7 - The Manetti-Hanahan Family

• Garry & Amy

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On this episode of Pour The Wine, It’s Rom-Com Time, Garry and Amy dive into Episode 7 of Hallmark’s Holidazed! In the Manetti-Hanahan household, Christmas brings family feuds and neighborhood drama. Matriarch Connie’s attempt to enforce a no drinking, no swearing, no fighting rule only amplifies the holiday chaos, putting her dream of a perfect holiday season in jeopardy. Virginia Madsen and John C. McGinley lead the charge in nailing the messy magic of family: chaotic, flawed, and perfectly imperfect.

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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.

Garry:

I'm amy and I'm gary and I am a pouring, you're a pouring some chardonnay, chardonnay gosh, it's like 100 degrees again. Again, again.

Amy:

Here today. It was Jeez Louise.

Garry:

I don't know about you. So a nice crisp Chardonnay sounds good, but I'm ready for fall.

Amy:

Me too.

Garry:

I'm done with this 100 plus weather, at least maybe 80 degrees.

Amy:

That would be a cold front for us now.

Garry:

You're not kidding.

Amy:

Should we dive into it? Yeah, let's do it All right. Today we're reviewing episode seven of Holidays the Minetti-Hanahan family. It originally aired on December 19th 2024 on Hallmark Plus and aired on the Hallmark channel for the first time on Sunday, july 27th 2025.

Garry:

Yes, it did. Yes, 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 you leave a positive one.

Amy:

Fingers crossed.

Garry:

Yes, you can also find us on YouTube and all social media.

Amy:

You can also email us at pourthewineitsromcometimeatgmailcom. Drop us a line. Let us know what you think about the podcast about Hallmark. You can also email us at pourthewineitsromcomtime at gmailcom. Drop us a line. Let us know what you think about the podcast about Hallmark, about Christmas in July, even though it's winding down.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

Or anything.

Garry:

Anything. Anything, we'll talk to you.

Amy:

We'll talk to you.

Garry:

So tell us who's in this one, who's in?

Amy:

this one. All right. Virginia Madsen plays Connie. She's the mom. Her acting credits go back to 1983. She has a ton, unless I missed it, though I didn't see any other homework work for her oh wow I might have missed it, but she had a lot of acting credits. She was in the netflix christmas movie operation christmas drop. She was in 10 episodes of the series Swamp Thing. Swamp Thing 15 episodes of Designated Survivor.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

The movie Joy Joy 13 episodes of American Gothic and that first acting credit that I talked about in 1983. You want to know what it was? What? The movie Class. Do you remember that Class With Jacqueline Bissett, rob Lowe and Andrew McCarthy? Way, way, way back then? I don't remember that one. Okay, all right, anyhoot Moving on Moving on. Holland Rowland plays Katie. She's the daughter. We did discuss her during the last episode. The Camerina family.

Garry:

Yes, we did.

Amy:

So if you would like to hear more about what she's done for Hallmark and some of her other work, go listen to the beginning of the previous episode.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

Right, episode 6. Yep, when we reviewed Episode 6, sorry, john C McGinley plays Chuck and he's been around for a hot minute, just like Virginia Madsen, but I didn't see any other homework work on his IMDb either. No, but I could have missed it. Some of his other work includes four episodes of Brooklyn, nine-nine 20 episodes of the series Ground Floor. He was in Burn Notice for six episodes.

Garry:

That's a great, great series.

Amy:

And, of course, he is widely known as Dr Perry Cox on the TV series Scrubs, in which he appeared in 182 episodes. Woo Let it go Woo Speaking of 80s films. Like Virginia Madsen, he was in the popular and sometimes controversial films Platoon oh, wall street yes and born on the fourth of july wow, you know those right.

Garry:

Yes, okay, I know those man, that's awesome lucy guest plays rebecca.

Amy:

She is the daughter-in-law okay she's married to clark the son. I still think that's a Christmas vacation reference.

Garry:

It is, it has to be.

Amy:

A few of her work for Hallmark are Romance to the Rescue, a Summer Romance Time for Me to Come Home for Christmas and one episode of Chesapeake Shores.

Garry:

Okay.

Amy:

Some of her other work includes one episode of Creepshow. She was in six episodes of the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina All right and an episode of Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce. Oh, that comes up a little bit too.

Garry:

Yeah, it does that show.

Amy:

Giles Panton plays Clark. He is the son. He's married to Rebecca, like I just mentioned. He's been in several Hallmark productions, including the Christmas Promise. It was always you over the moon in love. He was in six episodes of Chesapeake Shores.

Garry:

OK.

Amy:

He was in a gingerbread romance and one episode of Signed Sealed Delivered the series.

Garry:

Oh OK.

Amy:

Some of his other work includes Secret Life of my Other Wife.

Garry:

Oh, an episode of Alert.

Amy:

Other Wife, oh, oh, all right, an episode of Alert Missing Persons Unit. He too was in Girlfriend's Guide to Divorce for two episodes. Man, there it is again, and he's also done a ton of voice work, including 15 episodes of Lego Dreams.

Garry:

Lego.

Amy:

Three or four Zs at the end of that and 18 episodes of Ninjago Dragons Rising.

Garry:

Oh wow, that's a tongue twister.

Amy:

Adam Stafford plays Wally he's a son-in-law. He's married to Lori, one of the daughters. This is his Hallmark premiere. He has a dozen acting credits, including one episode of Alaska Daily, three episodes of the Inbetween and he was in the Flash the Flash For two episodes. I don't think that's still on, I think.

Garry:

I don't know. I don't know, we didn't watch it, so Hilary Jarden plays Lori.

Amy:

She's the daughter and she's married to Wally. Her Hallmark work includes Christmas Under the Lights, blind Date Book Club, one Bad Apple, a Hannah Swenson Mystery Right in Front of Me, a God Wink Christmas Met for Love and All Things Valentine. Yeah, she's done a ton of Hallmark stuff. Some of her other work includes an episode of Untamed. Two episodes of Fire Country. She was in the TV series Van Helsing for 15 episodes and one episode of Fringe. Oh, there's.

Garry:

Fringe again. There's Fringe again. Love me, some Fringe.

Amy:

Azriel Dowman plays Marvin. He's one of the grandkids Okay. This soon-to-be 12-year-old has over 50 acting credits already. For Hallmark he was in All I Need for Christmas A Season for Family. We Need a Little Christmas and Time for them to Come Home for Christmas. And some of his other work includes the Hulu series Good American Family. He was in five episodes of that, one episode of the popular TV series Shogun Okay, and four episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians I think that's on Disney.

Amy:

Yeah, I think so yeah you think so, you agree, I agree, you agree.

Garry:

I concur.

Amy:

Mila Jones plays Willow. She's another one of the grandkids. She's nine years old. Oh, wow, and she, she's another one of the grandkids. She's nine years old and she has over 20 acting creds on IMDb For Hallmark. A few of her other projects include Santa, tell Me, junebug, magic and Mistletoe, guiding Emily and Five More Minutes, okay. Some of her other work includes Monster High, the movie Monster High. She was in the TV series Supergirl for eight episodes and she was in one episode of the Good Doctor.

Garry:

Man, these kids are killing it.

Amy:

I know.

Garry:

Good for them.

Amy:

I know Awesomeness. William Kosovic plays Maddie. Of his eight acting credits, this is his hallmark premiere. He's also been in an episode of Tracker.

Garry:

Oh, wow.

Amy:

Three episodes of the fall of the house of usher. That was on netflix, and also on netflix an episode of virgin river huh, there's virgin so there you go. We had quite a few in this one that was a list, because it's the parents, the kids, the grandkids, the spouses I know there's right.

Garry:

Wow. So is it time to drop the synopsis?

Amy:

for season one, episode seven. I think it's time to drop the synopsis. Go for it, woo-hoo.

Garry:

The Manetti-Hanahan family's Christmas rivalry escalates yearly. This time, however, connie hopes for peace, urging Chuck to end their longstanding neighborhood feud.

Amy:

Bum, bum bum, I think she's actually trying to have them all in the feud with each other.

Garry:

Not just the neighborhood feud.

Amy:

Yeah, I didn't get that so much.

Garry:

But don't forget, we'll probably give away some spoilers, definitely going to give away some spoilers, so if you haven't watched it yet, please go watch it and then come back to our review.

Amy:

Press pause Go watch, come back, press play. Yes, listen to our review. Press pause Go watch, come back, press play. Listen to our review.

Garry:

All the above.

Amy:

There's a lot in this episode.

Garry:

Yes, it's a big family.

Amy:

Yes, yes. What'd you think?

Garry:

I loved it, but where are we picking up from the beginning?

Amy:

From the very first episode. Yeah, I believe so. The first episode we had Connie. The beginning From the very first episode yeah, I believe so, the first episode we had Connie the mom she wanted to give them all behavior contracts. That's awesome. They couldn't swear, they couldn't drink, right? No arguing, no arguing, no negative stuff, no person. And they were all kind of poo-pooing it, right, because none of them wanted to do it.

Garry:

And if they did, they'd have to go spend time in the shed.

Amy:

If they broke any of the rules.

Garry:

Yes, yeah the shed. Yeah, so that was awesome.

Amy:

And then at the very end, they go to light. Was that in the first one? They go to light the lights like the grand lighting of the house, Like the griswolds yes. And they go out and it lights up for like a second.

Garry:

Yes, it's beautiful.

Amy:

And then the power goes out. Yep, so that's kind of, isn't that where we left it? But it's just their house. Now there is a power outage at the end of every episode, for the family for the neighborhood.

Garry:

Yep.

Amy:

But this particular scene is just Just their house for now, right. So that's kind of where we left off. So the power is out, so we pick up what the next morning or something, I think.

Garry:

Yes, so here, when this one starts, it's of Connie and she's videotaping the previous year. A video is showing of the previous year.

Amy:

Oh, right right.

Garry:

Where Chuck gets arrested. So you know good old old chuck, he loves those rivalry, you know rivalry. So I think he took it a little bit too far this time and uh got arrested but isn't she showing it like she's showing this too right? She's showing it on an ipad, but you don't know it at first, so I thought that was a pretty cool intro to this particular family's episode.

Amy:

Right, and this is where she's talking about them signing the behavioral. Behavioral Take a sip of wine, yeah document which Chuck is reluctant to do. Right, he doesn't want to sign it and I like that. Connie says our only family tradition is conflict.

Garry:

Yes, it's kind of funny. It's messed up.

Amy:

Because Chuck says he's not going to sign it. And she's like you sure, Right, you sure about?

Garry:

that I know it's mm-mm-mm-mm-mm, but it's funny because they're sitting around in the dark talking about Katie and Marvin tells them she may have like stockholm syndrome because katie's over at the uh um kevin's house oh, yeah, all right so katie, the daughter is at the neighbor, their neighbor. That they, yeah, the little kid, one of the grandsons is like oh she's got stockholm syndrome.

Amy:

I know the one that's like super smart.

Garry:

Yes, yeah, I found that cute.

Amy:

And then we get to the scene where Connie's standing at the mantle and you see the mantles all burned up. Well, it's not there, right, it's not there and she's got these pictures, and I think there are pictures that other people have sent them Like when you get Christmas cards and people have taken a family photo and she's kind of looking at them and Chuck's like you know, those are fake happy people.

Amy:

Why do you want that? You know, I just thought that was so funny because I mean, we've been through it where we, you know, you're trying to take that Christmas card, that perfect Christmas card picture, and it's like just smile, you know, to the kids and you know you go through all this heartache to get the perfect picture and in reality that's not what was going on at all during the photo shoot. I mean, we know that firsthand right, yeah.

Garry:

And then you get Chuck telling Connie that he doesn't think the contract is lawful, it's so funny. She's like did you run this through a lawyer and then come to find out it was one of the grandsons?

Amy:

It cuts to him talking to one of the grandsons. He's like it didn't work. You know, I thought that was really cute.

Garry:

Yeah, he's like. You didn't sell it, did you?

Amy:

You didn't. Yeah, that was really cute, right. I mean, there was just the pace of this episode was so fast. I know you know, when we were watching it we try not to talk about it and give our opinions and we wait until the podcast, but I was like, wait, stop pause. I got to. You know, I had to get my brain straight.

Garry:

I know, because it was like it was fast, it was very quick the pace was very fast, yeah, yeah, which was good.

Amy:

I mean it worked, but for taking notes in that it was kind of yeah, a lot of stopping and starting. Yeah, so then you see, I like the crossover. This is where we get. Katie has come back home for the chainsaw.

Garry:

Yes, yes.

Amy:

So she's getting the chainsaw and she's heading back to the Camerina's house, right? And of course, in the previous episode she's at the Camerina's with the chainsaw, right, right, when they go to cut down the tree. So, now you kind of see the before, the prequel of her, and she's talking to her dad and she's, you know, trying to tell him that Kevin is the love of her life and he just doesn't want to.

Garry:

Chuck doesn't want to hear it. He doesn't want to hear it. Yeah Right, he's like la la, la, la, la, la la. You know, I know it's sad, right, oh wow, but she takes the chainsaw anyways.

Amy:

And she goes, yep, and she leaves, she goes next door.

Garry:

So then you have Clark and Chuck talking about solar power, which I thought was an interesting scene, because Clark asked about the solar panels and the backup batteries that he gave his dad last summer. Right who never installed them Right. And Chuck says something like green's a color, not a solution.

Amy:

So I thought that was funny, because they still don't have power in the house Right. So they're trying to figure out how to. And then that's when you kind of instantly get the gist that Chuck and Clark kind of they're not on the same I don't want to say same page, but you know, chuck's like the manly man.

Garry:

Yeah, yes.

Amy:

I don't know how else. To you know he's rough and tough.

Garry:

Yeah, he's like the tool man dealer.

Amy:

Yeah, yeah, and Clark is more like hey, let's use, you know green energy.

Garry:

Let's use solar energy. Work smarter, not harder.

Amy:

Yeah, work smarter, not harder. So you kind of see that dynamic right away and it picks up, you know, pretty quickly.

Garry:

Yeah, that's where they end up having the competition of who can get the power up and running.

Amy:

Right and I like that. Clark is like I paid for your college, but you don't have to rub it in my face.

Garry:

You know when.

Amy:

Clark tries to say something to him about the solar panels, like you said, and the backup batteries. Right, so yeah, and then you have. And then you have Wally, the son-in-law.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

He's like this do-de-do, so funny.

Garry:

He's like the he's making a meat house Instead of a, gingerbread house Instead of a gingerbread house.

Amy:

So he's got like what salami, salami pepperoni.

Garry:

He's got some cheese on there. It's actually pretty cool what he's doing.

Amy:

He really thinks he's on to something.

Garry:

Yeah. And then meanwhile you get the two kids, willow and Marvin, in the bucket lift. Oh yeah, that's right, I mean them kids are just getting into some trouble, boy. So Willow gets to keys and Marvin starts to drive it. They end up running in the back of Chuck's truck.

Amy:

That's right, that's right.

Garry:

And guess who gets put in the shed? First timer Wally, wally is the first one.

Amy:

And then I love how his wife Lori's like if Wally's getting dinged, none of us are safe you know, because he's like the nicest guy and it was his job to watch the kids. So he gets in trouble because he was supposed to be watching the kids and they were wreaking havoc. Yes, outside with the cherry picker. Yeah, that was so funny yeah, yeah, that was so funny, yeah, that was pretty cute.

Garry:

And then you see Chuck breaking out the old generator. The old generator and he's hooking up power so that Connie and the girls can blow dry the kid's hair.

Amy:

Right, he's trying to.

Garry:

And that didn't last long, did it.

Amy:

No, it didn't. It lasted not long. Yeah, you're right, Not long at all. Clark was like and how many amps are those, and you know.

Garry:

And then that's when it goes.

Amy:

Because Chuck tries to act like see it works.

Garry:

The generator works.

Amy:

And then it goes out. Yeah, that was pretty funny.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And then you know we forgot to mention that Connie mentioned she wants to go to the stroll.

Garry:

Right the holiday stroll.

Amy:

Right and Chuck is like we don't do that.

Garry:

Yeah, no.

Amy:

And even the kids were like we don't go to that, we don't do that, we don't do that, yeah. So then you're like, oh man, do they end up at the stroll? Yeah.

Garry:

Are they going? To go, because in the last one and she wants him to pick up a reindeer from the reindeer farm, not from the stroll, but but from the reindeer farm, reindeer farm, and she Now, was that for the stroll?

Amy:

Yeah, I was confused by that.

Garry:

I think so. Well, maybe I don't know, I'm not sure. What do you think?

Amy:

I'm not sure at all. That's why I asked yeah. So then you have the scene where and I thought this scene was really good we go to the salon because I guess they take the kids right because they're going to dry. Isn't that what they're doing?

Garry:

Right At the salon.

Amy:

They're finishing drying the hair at the salon and it's Rebecca, lori and Connie and you see the dynamic Rebecca and Lori kind of have this Rebecca's the sister-in-law. Lori's. The dynamic Rebecca and Lori kind of have this Rebecca's the sister-in-law, lori's the daughter, and Rebecca and Clark are like they eat the healthy foods and you know they're always kind of saying, oh, that's too much sugar and all that jazz, and Lori kind of mocks them a little bit for it.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

So you kind of get to see that in this, you know, in this particular scene, and Rebecca and Lori try to tell Connie that you know our bantering is part of our love language.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Like that's kind of what we do, and they kind of go back and forth a little bit with a little bit of bantering, and then it goes a little bit too far. Right, because I think that's when Lori mentions, like you know, rebecca, when you say you give your kids too much sugar or whatever Too much sugar. You know, it's like I'm a bad parent and Rebecca kind of is taken aback by that and she's like that's me telling you I love your kids and I want them to be healthy.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

And Lori's like, or it's, you know, it's being nagging and telling me I'm a bad parent, right. And so then they both, you know, and then Rebecca realizes that things that she's been saying might not have come across the way she wants them to, right, and it's really about her love and, you know, care for the kids.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And she's not trying to be right she just cares.

Garry:

Yeah, yeah, but I see both sides of it yeah, yeah.

Amy:

So laurie thinks it's positive and says it's about the health of the kids and rebecca's like it's superior and annoying. So now they're way around.

Garry:

Laurie is the one that says it's superior. Oh oh, you're right, I'm sorry. I'm sorry, you're right, you're right. I got the news. There's so many in this episode. You're right, you're right.

Amy:

Rebecca thinks it's a positive and says it's about the health of the kids, and Lori says or it's superior and annoying. And then they're kind of at an impasse and Rebecca gets upset, yep of, walks out of the room because she's tearing up, because now she feels badly and right and connie looks at uh, laurie, laurie and laurie's like what?

Garry:

I didn't do anything wrong. She didn't want to go to the shed.

Amy:

That's what that was about no matter how old you are, when your parents look at you like that, when they get instantly. I mean you could be in your 30s. You're like I didn't do anything. What well, that's her fault, you know? Yeah, so that's kind of where we are with their dynamic.

Garry:

And then it gets back to Clark and Chuck and their competition with who can get the power up and running first. So they're kind of sabotaging each other by unplugging the power tools. Oh, right. And Chuck knocks the ladder down.

Amy:

That's right, that's right.

Garry:

And then that's when Connie and the girls come back from the salon.

Amy:

And that's when so they all get home, right? Yes, connie, rebecca and Lori. And Chuck mentions to Connie that Kevin came by the neighbor right who's dating their daughter, katie, that he came by to ask for Katie's hand in marriage, which we saw in the last episode. But Chuck is referencing it here and he's basically proud that he said no.

Garry:

I know.

Amy:

And Connie's like oh, chuck you didn't, what did you do?

Garry:

Boy Chuck can't get out of his own way. You know what?

Amy:

scene that reminded me of.

Garry:

What.

Amy:

When she said oh, Chuck, you didn't what. It reminded me of Christmas Vacation, when the boss's wife comes in to their house.

Garry:

That's right.

Amy:

And she finds out that her husband has gotten rid of the bonuses and she's like you, didn't you? Know, or something like that these Christmas vacation, you know, flashes keep coming and I don't know if it's intentional or not, but that's what I thought of in that moment.

Garry:

It seems like it is, though. Yeah, and that's when Willow gets back into the bucket. Lift again the bucket lift.

Amy:

Oh my gosh, it's just crazy. And then you kind of see that Connie's missed a phone call. So you realize something's going on. She immediately leaves Yep Right, because she's upset. She goes to.

Garry:

Sit in her car to see if she can get the call, and then she cusses.

Amy:

And then she cusses in the car. Yeah, and everybody's like shit is that when they're watching her in the shed? Yes, yes, when she missed the call, when she missed the call right, right, right, so they, they see the kids the kids are watching her.

Amy:

I'm sorry not not the grandkids, but her adult kids and their spouses are watching her and they know something's off with her, and then she gets in the car and then she drives away. So now you're kind of clued into the fact that there's something going on probably more serious going on with her, but you don't know what. And then she goes to town, right. I guess you assume she drives off. I guess we don't know where yet yeah, right, right, so then you.

Garry:

The next scene is someone ate part of the part of the meat.

Amy:

Someone's eating the meat off of the house.

Garry:

It's like so crazy like who would eat the meat house. But uh wally, he's not mad, because he's like oh, maybe I have something here people are onto something, yeah, something.

Amy:

This is kind of funny. He's like hey, I have a great idea. Laurie's kind of like yeah, okay, yeah, and then he.

Garry:

Then he talks to clark out in the garage about he, how he wants him to beat chuck in the contest, because no one could beat chuck and wally does, wally talks. To clark yeah, and wally's like you're done right, and he's like, well, technically, yes, but um, you know he's holding back because he really doesn't want to, I don't know, embarrass his dad or whatever, but yeah, so that's where that scene goes oh, you're saying so, so clark knows he can right, he can turn, he can do it, he can turn the power back on, but he's giving his dad kind of a shot right at it.

Amy:

Well, yeah, and then you go back into the kitchen and laurie finds rebecca eating the meat off the house in the pantry she's like secretly in the pantry, you know, eating the meat, and, and laur Lori then apologizes that she was mean, right. So they kind of have a you know, they kind of have their moment in that moment.

Garry:

I guess, but the funny thing about that scene is Lori grabs a cup because she wants to sneak into the pantry and drink wine.

Amy:

Oh yes, that's right.

Garry:

Which is a no-no on the contract.

Amy:

Right so they're not supposed to drink alcohol, so she has to hide to drink it. Right, so she goes in there and she's like she pulls that box wine down.

Garry:

She pulls it down. She's like I'm drinking wine. Yes.

Amy:

And that's it basically. And then you find out Rebecca says that they've been trying to have more kids but they can't. They've been going through fertility and it hasn't been working. And you know she's probably not going to be able to have more kids. And you know and Lori apologizes, she realizes that what she said, because I think at the salon she said something like well, when you have three kids running around that are hungry, let me know. I know. You know, and that hurt Rebecca. And then you find out why.

Amy:

So yeah, that was that scene there you go and then you have Chuck going to get the reindeer that he did not reserve. I think he got ran over by the reindeer.

Garry:

You saw that one coming right oh yes, and I loved how the person that was at the reindeer farm was like Chuck goes, well, what will it take to get a reindeer? And so they're rattling off all this stuff and then the kid goes and a reservation.

Amy:

And a reservation.

Garry:

So Chuck was like what else do you have in there? Which I thought was pretty funny.

Amy:

Chuck is crazy man, and then you get to the scene where they pull up to the holiday stroll.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And I love that because they get out of the car and it's slow motion.

Garry:

Slow-mo.

Amy:

Clark gets out, he's in like an elf costume.

Garry:

Yeah.

Amy:

And Katie's got her Mrs Claus costume, which of course we have seen in the previous episode right.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Towards the end of the previous episode and and Connie gets out and the grandkids get out, and it's funny because Chuck earlier had said you know, we don't wear reindeer headbands.

Garry:

Yeah, we don't wear a costume, we don't dress up.

Amy:

We don't dress up and they're all like. They have headbands on and they're all in the. You know the holiday spirit to go.

Garry:

Yeah, and this was because Katie had come home from the Camarillo's crying, oh yeah. We didn't talk about that because that's right. When they they saw the video and ken was like you know, I don't, he broke up with her. He broke up with her. And connie is like you know what we're going?

Amy:

we're going to the, the um holiday, holiday stroll, that's right, that's right. Family, because I jumped the gun there. Yeah, you're right, you're right.

Garry:

I mean, katie was like I'm not going alone and Connie was like no, you're not.

Amy:

No, you're not, we're all good.

Garry:

We're all good.

Amy:

Well, they have that family meeting and Clark's like I want to talk to him.

Garry:

You know he wants to like beat him up. Yeah that was funny talking about how they're going to destroy Kevin. Oh, poor Kevin, Poor Kevin. So, yeah, so now we're at the holiday stroll and Katie asked her mom if what was it? She was unkind to someone in the past. Does that make you a bad person?

Amy:

Well, that was before. That was in the bedroom. Yeah, that was before. That was before they get to the holiday stroll. Yeah, yeah, I jumped the gun.

Garry:

And Connie explains it depends on what you do with the apologies, right. Right, so you know we all do bad things and you know you got to apologize and learn from it.

Amy:

Right, and I think yeah. And that's where Connie says the apology doesn't ring true unless it comes with an indication that you won't do it again.

Garry:

Right.

Amy:

Right. So that's kind of where. Yeah, that was kind of a cool mother-daughter moment. Yeah, and that's when they decide to go to the holiday stroll. So then we're there.

Garry:

We're there and Wally tells Laura that maybe she's looking too much into the wine incident because she's telling him how mad she is that Rebecca had declined when she tried to offer an olive branch.

Amy:

She thought it was like a peace offering to have wine. She thought it was so rude.

Garry:

Like she had snubbed her nose to her.

Amy:

Now, we would never turn down wine.

Garry:

No, no, no, no, no I'd be like what you're not giving me, the box sacrilege yeah, but we find out why later.

Amy:

but right, but yeah. And then, um, and then connie sees chuck and he doesn't have a reindeer. No, he does not, he's got a llama, a llama.

Garry:

A llama.

Amy:

Which is so funny and he's like. His name is Dasher.

Garry:

I know it is so funny Cause he's trying to explain. You know how good this can turn out. And she's like when are you just going to apologize for not getting a reindeer? You know Right, getting a reindeer, you know right, and you can tell that it really hurt her. But you know what chuck is chuck, right he tries to make the best of it.

Garry:

Well, he, yeah, I guess he screwed up he didn't make the reservation and they were all gone, the reindeer and then connie tells chuck what happened with katie and he's like oh no. So he says hold the llama, I'll be right back.

Amy:

Yep, so he goes off, right Right.

Garry:

And that's the scene where Connie goes up on the stage to see Kevin.

Amy:

Not Connie Katie, I mean Katie, sorry Katie.

Garry:

Katie goes up on the stage to see Kevin and you can hear the kids say where's Mrs Claus. And then she takes the ring and she says something. I can't remember exactly what she says, but she puts the ring on him and says something like well, santa, dumped mrs claus, yeah and then you see chuck come up and then all heck breaks loose and the snowman falls and they and kevin and chuck fall on top of each other well, and then you see, and then, and then.

Amy:

So connie's waiting with the the llama, right she's standing there, and then so her adult kids come back with the grandkids yep right and they're all everybody's like. The grandkids are in trouble because they tried to steal candy right, and they're all kind of bickering and arguing and they get in the car and then here comes Chuck with like security.

Garry:

Connie's like not again and Connie's just looking at him like and he's like.

Amy:

the good news is I'm not getting arrested.

Garry:

Yes, I'm not getting arrested.

Amy:

I just thought that that was so funny, because here they are. You know, you're trying to go to the holiday stroll, it sounds like a great idea, you want to have this Hallmark moment, you know, at the festival. And then you know, with little kids and they're tired and they tried to steal something, and you know, and the siblings are still kind of fighting and it's just like, and then Chuck gets into a brawl with the neighborhood with the neighbor's son you know so.

Garry:

And Willow's. Like I wasn't stealing, I was borrowing, yeah she she's funny. But then that's when connie kind of gets upset and yeah, she says I just wanted one christmas and says it could be her last yeah, and then they're all like what?

Amy:

and then the storm and then the thunder starts.

Amy:

So now we're at the point that all of the episodes end up at right. So now we're at the storm. Then they go back to the house and she's explaining to them that she had, you know, a biopsy, right, and she got a phone call and she missed the phone call because they're all heathens, no, they're you know, because they're you know, they're just. She missed the phone call and now she can't find out until after the holidays. And so she just gets really upset and she, you know, and then they're all I forget. What do they say to her? They, I don't remember, I forget what the kid, her kids say. And she's like, listen to yourselves. I just said I might be sick and none of you asked me how I was feeling.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

And I forget what. They were kind of bickering still about, right. So then she goes to her room because she's upset and Chuck is visibly upset, and this is the first time we kind of see a glimpse of his emotion, even though he doesn't really show it Right.

Garry:

Yeah, so he goes up into her room and right, yeah, so so he goes up into her room and to their room. He lives there too yeah, and he wants to know why she didn't tell him yeah and uh, he's like. You know what? I've never lost anyone under my command and I'm not about to uh lose you yeah, I thought that was really sweet.

Amy:

And he says I'm not big on feelings, you know and then he gets into his military kind of yeah and she goes yes, sir.

Garry:

And he's like don't give up on this family yeah.

Amy:

And they both cry. So you kind of you finally see that glimpse of his you know emotion.

Garry:

So Chuck goes back downstairs and he's getting ready to tell him we got to. You know, we got to pick this up and we got to make her feel good about this Christmas. So the family pulls together and they start to fix the mantle. You know, they start to get things that were broken fixed and they're going to take a picture, they decide they're going to fix the mantle and they're going to get their family picture finally.

Amy:

Yes, because they never get a picture. Yes, and she's always wanted one. So, in the midst of all of this, um, rebecca and laurie have another moment right so it's the daughter and her sister-in-law and um they, I forget if, oh, I think, I think laurie tries to offer her wine yeah, rebecca wine the good stuff, because maybe it was too cheap before. So she offers it to her and Rebecca kind of gets sick a little bit from the scent Right.

Amy:

She smells it and she's like and then Lori realizes Rebecca might be pregnant. Yes, and Rebecca hasn't even realized that yet. Right, and she's like, oh my gosh, she's like no way.

Garry:

And she's like, I think so.

Amy:

I think. So you know, and they hug each other, so they have that realization and so it's kind of a cool moment. So they've come together a little bit right, and then we go into Clark finishes his power source finally, right, right, and you have this scene between Clark and his dad Chuck, is it the garage? His dad chuck, is it the garage? Yeah, I don't want to say in the garage, and chuck actually says that he's proud of clark and he's impressed with him.

Amy:

Yeah, and clark is like is that part of the contract? Because they agreed to be nice to each other. I thought that was kind of cool.

Garry:

He's like no, I'm really proud of he's like no, it's real, you know.

Amy:

So I thought that was so. Chuck has kind of had a you know. Come to Jesus moment there where he's like no, I'm really proud of you, you know. So that was, that was really cool, so, and then, they, they turn on the power.

Garry:

Yay, they have power again in the house. And they cut to Connie in bed and when the lights come on she lights up Her face, lights up Right. She goes running out of her room onto the landing of the steps and she looks down and her family's down there all dressed up ready for a picture.

Amy:

They have all their like ugly sweaters on.

Garry:

Yes, even though some of them were kind of cute.

Amy:

Yeah, yes, they were, so they're like we're ready to take a picture right, so they're ready for the family photo.

Garry:

She comes down with the contract and she rips it up. She says before we do this rip, rip, rip, rip and they're all like yay, and then I like it how Chuck says.

Amy:

I refrain from turning on the Christmas lights outside. Even though they got the power back, he didn't blind the neighbors. He didn't blind the neighbors and she's really, and that's when she rips up then the contract.

Garry:

And she kind of tells him you can go ahead and do it, and he's like no, because everything I have is right here.

Amy:

And he points to his phone, yeah, so I thought that was cool, so sweet, yeah, yeah, it really kind of came around.

Garry:

So Wally goes and hits the timer on the camera. And they run back and there's the flashing lightning.

Amy:

And the lights go out and the power goes out to the entire neighborhood after they just got their power back.

Garry:

And then the camera takes a picture, which I thought was awesome.

Amy:

Yes, yes, and none of them are looking or smiling?

Garry:

Yes, that is an accurate of them are looking or smiling? Yes. That is an accurate depiction of what happens Of a family picture, Of a family photo?

Amy:

right. If you've ever tried to take one. Yeah, and we know we have a lot. So, yeah, ooh, there was just so much, there was a lot. That was a fast-paced episode. It flowed really well. I didn't feel I mean, if I wasn't taking notes, I wouldn't have felt lost. You know, but I was like, oh my gosh, there's just so much, a lot of family dynamics, a lot of coming together, coming apart, coming together, you know.

Garry:

So it just it really worked yeah, between the adults and the kids.

Amy:

They did a really good job, yeah so what was your tinsel top moment? My tinsel top moment would be Chuck coming around.

Garry:

Yes.

Amy:

When she you know it's too bad, she might be sick. We don't know, for sure what's going on. But when he comes around and you see the flashes of emotion and with his son he finally says he's proud of him. And you know he's this rough and tough, tough guy, but you see the softer side of him for a little bit, for a little bit. You know it's not going to change him totally, but I kind of like the glimpses of that yeah, that was, I thought that was really good and I also liked the message of you know, our chaos is our love language, because sometimes that's true.

Amy:

That's what yeah you know, if you didn't have the banter. You think sometimes. Think sometimes you're like are they mad at me? Why aren't they joking with me? What's going on? You know, and sometimes you can take it too far, but I just felt like they portrayed the family dynamics of everything.

Garry:

Yeah, and I think Connie realized that at the end she was like why am I trying to change them? This is our family, this is who we are.

Amy:

Well, but they soften. They turned a little bit, they did change a little bit, and then you know so.

Garry:

When they need to come together, they come together.

Amy:

They come together, but that was my tinsel top moment too. What Chuck Yep? Oh, okay, yeah, I really like that.

Garry:

So, out of five ornaments, how many will you hang on this tree?

Amy:

Fiver.

Garry:

Me too.

Amy:

I'm a fiver. I'm liking these episodes, so we're what. This is episode number seven. Yeah, we have one more so 35 ornaments for me, seven times five.

Garry:

Yeah, me too. 35, you too.

Amy:

So we got a lot of ornaments on the tree yeah that's true, I have a feeling the final episode is probably going to be a five. Not that I'm prejudging, but I'm kind of liking the series. I like how tidbits of other families, other scenes you've seen kind of come together. You're seeing either the prequel or what happened after. You know the pre or the post of a scene.

Garry:

I just think it's really really well done, and I also like how they focus on the house.

Amy:

Yeah, each person's house. Yeah, it's pretty cool Each family's house. So that was cool.

Garry:

Yeah, so is that a wrap? That's a wrap, Okay. Well, thanks for tuning in. If you really really liked the show, we would really really appreciate your positive review on Apple podcast or Spotify, and if you didn't really really like the show.

Amy:

We still appreciate your positive review. We'd still appreciate it. We know it takes time out of your day, but if you have some extra time and you'd like to leave us a review and let us know how we're doing, we'd really appreciate it. We might read it on the pod. 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.