Hallmark’s Mistletoe Murders Season 1 gets all the stars from me as a cozy, intriguing, and must-watch series. The show seemed promising from the first few episodes, but I wanted to watch the entire season to get a feel of everything we’re in for and to see if it’s worth investing in if there are more seasons. The answer is a resounding yes.
With a cliffhanger marking the end of its first season right as we get a delicious moment of the romance finally turning sparks into fire, the need for Season 2 might be a bit feral on my end. More so, because right off the bat, the initial mystery of Sarah Drew’s Emily Lane is unclear, and I’m not a patient when it comes to wanting answers. All of that angstiness aside, the show is a lot of fun and especially joyous around the holidays to provide something different than what we usually get.
It’s worth noting that while the formulaic content is always welcome here, the unique premise of Mistletoe Murders feels more akin to the romance novels I’m personally more used to. The slow burn leading up to the eventual romance is exactly what I’m in the market for. Plus, throw in a single-dad detective trope? Yes, a thousand times yes. Emphatic yes.
Further, having each murder span two episodes instead of one not only guarantees that it doesn’t feel unrealistic in a small town but also allows us enough time to understand suspects and motives in order to feel attached to the overarching story. This way, each arc also gives us more insight into Emily, Sam, and Violet’s dynamics, making this small (eventual) family easy to appreciate. We’re not fully aware of every little detail, but with new developments, opening ourselves to this small world becomes easier and easier.
Sarah Drew is incredible at fleshing out characters, making them easy to care about and root for. Even with the few movies I’ve seen her in, the characters feel like they’ve been with us for quite some time. This is certainly the case in Hallmark’s Mistletoe Murders Season 1, but more than anything, Emily feels complex and incredibly grounded. While I haven’t listened to the podcast the show’s based on, the first season makes it apparent that there’s enough meaty content to go off of. Each performer is incredible, but pair someone like Drew with Peter Mooney, and I’m fully invested. Despite being new to the actor, how he brings Sam to life and everything he shows us behind the cinnamon roll detective’s ambitions makes the show an undeniably charming joy.
Murder mysteries are already a load to balance and in the hands of the wrong writer, coupling it with romance might not work. Yet, here, it’s a large part of the magnetism, and while some moments do feel a bit cookie-cutter, it’s still so fascinating that it’s easy to let that slide. The characters drive the majority of the plot, which, in turn, makes the story one worthy of supporting and getting attached to. While it’s no Endeavour, Hallmark’s Mistletoe Murders might just be the best thing to come from the network’s holiday season. (If it helps sell it even further, it features one of the best and most achingly romantic first kisses on the network thus far!)
Mistletoe Murders Season 1 is now streaming on Hallmark+.
First Featured Image Credit: ©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Peter Stranks