Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 5: Everyone is Ecstatic!
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Finding Mr. Christmas episode 5 on Hallmark+, including who was eliminated.
Finding Mr. Christmas Episode 5, “Laughing All the Way,” is here to sleigh! This week, the holiday charm is dialed up to full-blown marshmallow overload, and we’re still on the edge of our seats after last week’s juicy cliffhanger – what’s going to happen with Parker?
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What Will the Boys Decide About Parker?
Picking up from last week’s elimination drama, JB gives the boys a choice: keep Parker or send him packing. Cue Jonathan, who’s torn between being the nice guy or chasing that sweet, sweet win. Blake? Same story – likes Parker, but winning is the name of the game.
The boys huddle up, and when they return, Ezra’s chin is quivering like he’s gunning for an Oscar. If this is acting, then honey, I’m here for it. Jonathan, meanwhile, is side-eyeing Ezra like, “Seriously, bro?” Elijah steps up as the spokesperson, announcing they want Parker to have another shot. And suddenly, Jonathan Bennett and Melissa Peterman are teary-eyed. Wait, did I miss a deleted scene? Where’s all this emotion coming from? Nobody cried like this when poor Daxton had to leave due to injury!
JB pulls out the ultimate Hallmark move and instructs the guys to chase Parker down before he leaves. The squad storms into the house mid-stocking grab, and Parker’s reaction? Well, it’s… something. In an awkward exchange that screams “multiple takes,” the boys ask how he feels, and Parker – bless him – delivers the flattest “Dude, I’m ecstatic!” of all time.
The Festive Face-Off: The Great Marshmallow Squeeze
The next morning, Ezra and Blake are by the fireplace, casually lifting weights because, you know, priorities. Blake’s waxing poetic about how “thick” the competition is now – everyone supposedly on an even playing field. Uh, hard disagree, Blake. Meanwhile, the other guys are sipping coffee and cracking jokes about Parker’s dramatic save.
Jonathan makes his grand entrance late to breakfast, and suddenly it’s all about protein and gains. Because, of course, boys gonna boy. Cue the festive JINGLE BELLS as Blake rallies everyone with a classic “Let’s go!” – seriously, go listen to our interview with Daxton for the tea on this exact phrase!
Jonathan, ever the worrier, is stressing about being too “middle of the road.” But no time for nerves – it’s time for the Festive Face-Off in the “Yuletide Yard.” And let me tell you, I am absolutely “ecstatic” for the Big Brother inspired challenge!
Here’s the deal: JB splits them into three teams of two for a hot cocoa relay. The goal? Transfer cocoa from a pot to a giant mug using marshmallow sponges. Oh, but wait, the catch – you have to soak up the cocoa, squeeze it into your partner’s marshmallow, who then squeezes it into the mug. First team to make their mug overflow wins. It’s messy. It’s ridiculous. It’s exactly what we came here for.
Melissa joins JB, and the teams shake out as follows: Elijah and Ezra, Parker and Jonathan, and Blake and Hayden.
Blake can’t resist flexing his football experience, but he’s clearly sweating over the possibility of losing and – gasp – it being his fault. Meanwhile, Parker and Jonathan are basically the marshmallow version of Laurel and Hardy, struggling to grasp the technique. Elijah finally cracks the code and starts slinging cocoa like a champ.
Every pass looks like it’s going to be the one to make the mug overflow, but nope – false alarm. I can’t help but wonder: how long did this madness take in real time? Finally, with a satisfying spill over the edge, Hayden and Blake clinch the win. Their reward? An advantage in the upcoming Star Quality Challenge.
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The Star Quality Challenge:
Back at the house, it’s “snowing,” and Elijah starts hyping everyone up to head outside, saying, “Being from California, it doesn’t snow. And it’s just like, genuinely super exciting for me.” Um, hold up – does Elijah not know California has mountains? Sure, the Inland Empire isn’t exactly a winter wonderland, but let’s not rewrite geography here, my dude.
The boys bundle up to “play in the snow” and the American boys take it upon themselves to teach Hayden the fine art of throwing a football. Hayden shares how close he’s gotten to Blake over the past few weeks. We also find out he’s been in touch with Daxton, and we’re treated to a photo of him rocking an eye patch like he’s auditioning to be the captain of the next Hallmark Christmas Cruise.
The boys head out for Star Quality Challenge. During the car ride everyone chats about the high stakes, Hayden is wondering what magical advantage awaits him, and Jonathan, ever self-aware, asks if he’s the only one who hasn’t won a Festive Face-Off. Spoiler alert: Parker hasn’t either. Cue the group cheerleading session to pump each other up. Adorable.
They roll up to meet JB at The Christmas Café, where the next challenge is revealed: improv. No scripts, no safety net. Just vibes. JB drops some sage advice about listening being the key to success, and then introduces the queen of improv herself, Melissa Peterman. Enter the guest judge, JB’s The Groomsmen co-star BJ Britt, who gets a robust round of applause.
JB explains the setup: pairs again, but this time it’s every man for himself. As Festive Face-Off champs, Blake and Hayden get the power to pick the pairs and performance order. Naturally, they keep themselves together and take the first slot. Then it’s Parker and Elijah, and finally Ezra and Jonathan. Parker is pumped to team up with Elijah, while Elijah is low-key panicking.
JB outlines the rules: each guy will get a name, occupation, and a quirk to weave into their improv scene alongside BJ, JB, and Melissa. The twist? Anytime they hear jingle bells or a phone ring, they’ve got to bust out their quirk mid-performance. It’s chaotic, it’s ridiculous, and it’s bound to be Hallmark gold – or cringe. Either way, I’m here for it.
First up: Hayden and Blake. Blake struts in ready to roll – classic “let’s go!” energy. His quirk? Acting like Santa Claus every time he hears bells. Enter Hayden, whose quirk is thumb wrestling. Yes, you read that right. Hayden absolutely nails it, thumb wrestling BJ Britt with so much intensity you’d think there’s a championship belt on the line. Things take a hilarious turn when the guys start spreading jelly on BJ’s thumb (because, obviously?). It’s so chaotic I’m actually laughing out loud. And Hayden walking out while thumb wrestling himself? Pure gold.
Next, it’s Elijah and Parker. Elijah is a tree farmer who shoots finger guns and shouts “pow-pow.” From the get-go, he’s on, vibing with BJ and Melissa like they’ve been comedy partners for years. Parker enters next, tasked with clucking like a chicken whenever the phone rings. And… oh boy. Parker immediately gets mixed up between BJ and Jonathan Bennett, which, to be fair, isn’t totally his fault because Melissa did accidentally point at BJ and say “Jonathan.” Then the clucking begins. But Parker, sweet Parker, keeps turning his back to the camera. Elijah, in his talking head, is already worried, saying their energies didn’t match, and honestly, he’s not wrong.
Finally, we’ve got Ezra and Jonathan. Ezra is feeling confident, remembering their past glory with Erin Cahill in the first challenge. His quirk? Screaming “I’m back, baby!” whenever prompted. He does… fine. Not spectacular, but not a disaster. Then Jonathan comes in, flexing aggressively every time the phone rings. But here’s the kicker: Jonathan doesn’t listen. Melissa tees him up for a great opening, and he completely whiffs. Then she gives him another gift about taking his jacket off, and he blows past that too. Remember JB’s whole speech about listening? Yeah, Jonathan must’ve zoned out during that part.
The judges weigh in: Hayden crushed it—total home run. Blake brought great vibes. Parker… well, he couldn’t find the camera. Elijah went all in and committed to the chaos. Jonathan missed key cues. And Ezra? Solid effort for a first-timer, but they think Jonathan wasn’t the easiest partner to work with.
Elimination Ceremony
Warning: This post contains spoilers for Episode 5 of Finding Mr. Christmas on Hallmark+, including who was eliminated.
Blake gets his pat on the back, Elijah gets kudos for going all in, and Hayden earns a gold star too. BJ is another great guest judge, basically a Hallmark cheerleader, hyping the boys up with compliments all around. Then – drumroll – Elijah takes the win. That’s Star Quality Challenge victory number two for him, folks.
Now, for the drama: Jonathan and Parker land on thin ice. Poor Ezra gets deemed “safe,” but they don’t bother saying anything about his performance. Like, not even a “good job, buddy.”
It’s Jonathan’s first time in the bottom two, and Parker? Well, Parker’s sent packing. Again. Cue the tears as Parker thanks everyone, looking like a Hallmark hero who just lost his Christmas spirit. BJ, proving once more why he needs more Hallmark roles, gives Parker a hug full of feels and delivers a heartfelt pep talk. Seriously, cast BJ in everything.
Goodbye, Parker – may your next adventure have less clucking and more camera-facing moments. Stay “ecstatic,” dude!
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