Twelve Dates Til Christmas isn’t the typical holiday rom-com because it focuses on Kate learning about her dating quirks and growing from them, as much as on the charming dates.
Twelve Dates Til Christmas Episodes 3 and 4 dove into the characters’ depths, revealing why Kate often ran from relationships, hurting people in the process.
These installments also showed how so many characters were connected and why some legacies and traditions in Blexford were sacred.
When Kate’s mother showed up unexpectedly, she stirred up trouble but also observed two blossoming relationships that those people were in denial about – Mac and Evelyn, and Kate and Callum.
Sometimes, mama drama can be entertaining.
Bad Karma Comes Back to Bite Kate
The holiday escape room date was one of the cutest. It was a shame they wasted it on a suitor who bore a grudge against Kate, so there was no real chance for romance.
Liam and Kate dated a few years ago, and then Kate ghosted him when she grew afraid that things would become serious.
Ever since her mom abandoned her as a teenager, Kate had been afraid to let people grow close.
While I sympathized with Kate, I’ve also been ghosted.
I knew how Liam felt and understood what he meant when he said being ghosted makes you question everything about yourself and the person who ghosted you.
He didn’t know if he had done something wrong or what.
I thought they had put that behind them and begun again as friends, since Kate even accidentally texted Richard the wrong thing when she was texting both guys at once.
It was so funny watching her juggle two men at once that my heart broke when Kate realized it was a game and Liam had ghosted her.
While it may have been just karma, Kate has been through so much that I felt for her as she looked lost and alone.
Mac and Evelyn Move On, but Get an Unwelcome Surprise
As mentioned in the Twelve Dates Til Christmas Series Premiere, I appreciate the amount of screen time an older couple gets.
I also liked that these two episodes explained the connection between Evelyn and Callum, and that since she was his mother’s best friend, they looked after each other.
Since he was too busy preparing for the pop-up, Callum volunteered Mac to accompany Evelyn for her yearly trip to Brighton.
Initially, Evelyn did not appreciate needing a man to look after her. But once stranded there, she revealed that she had learned of her late husband’s cancer diagnosis in Brighton.
Since then, she and Callum returned to scream and grieve their losses together. This trip was different as she and Mac opened up about their pasts, danced, and later returned to the cliffs to scream together.
They had taken a pivotal step in their relationship, but then Delilah returned, making them, especially Evelyn, feel uncomfortable.
Evelyn didn’t want to be the town’s gossip or known as a romantic book trope. She’d finally gotten used to being single again and was scared to make that final leap again, especially if she’d have to deal with Delilah.
Delilah’s Arrival Triggers Kate’s Trust Issues, Making Her Examine Her Choices
Delilah’s unexpected arrival threw Kate’s life into upheaval. Delilah made mistakes years ago, but she still loved Kate and seemed fond of Mac.
She just craved exciting adventures and couldn’t sit still in a small town like Blexford.
While Delilah butt in too much, her mother’s intuition seemed correct as she sensed something with Kate and Callum, as soon as Callum didn’t want to interfere with Kate and Richard.
I suspect Kate’s main problem was that she’d grown used to dealing only with her mother in small doses, and now she was staying with her, opening her mail, and intruding on her time with her friends and her dad.
Kate’s mom left right before Christmas, so Kate felt her mother had no right to partake in the new traditions she had started with her dad, like having English tea.
I loved how Date eight involved Kate realizing her relationship weaknesses and taking her frustrations out on old holiday decor.
She finally recognized that because she was afraid to trust anyone, she kept things light and superficial so that she wouldn’t face abandonment again.
Kate couldn’t move on until she revealed her feelings to her mother.
While Mac insisted she didn’t have to forgive her mom, Callum pushed for her to give her mom a chance.
He’d already lost his mother and assumed she’d regret it if she turned her back on hers when Delilah made the effort.
Mother-daughter relationships are often complicated, so it’ll be interesting to see if these two can make peace in time for the holidays, and now that Kate bared her soul, whether she makes better choices.
Callum Makes a Difficult Decision About the Pear Tree
Callum never looked comfortable about doing a pop-up event to promote his mother’s Posh Pies, but he did it to appease Sarah.
The problem was that Sarah cared more about making Callum famous than the work involved in making the pastries.
Kate, Laura, and Evelyn were all there to help prepare them and serve the massive crowd because Callum was family, and they believed in his dream and preserving his mom’s legacy.
Watching Callum’s life fall apart was heartbreaking. That brand promoter didn’t care about him; they only cared about making money.
I understood why Callum wouldn’t change the name and disrespect his mom’s memory, but
Sarah only complained that Callum made her look bad.
I hate that Sarah turned out this selfish. She never told Callum about Oliver, putting Kate in a problematic position for staying quiet.
Should Kate have warned Callum? Considering their long history, I understood his extreme reaction.
It seemed like she cared more about her dating woes than him, but I’m relieved they reconciled fairly quickly.
Someone like Sarah wasn’t worth losing their friendship over.
Callum’s Reveal Will Put a Kink in Kate’s Decision
Several people commented that they thought Callum had feelings for Kate. I initially thought so too, but then brushed that suspicion aside as he was a concerned friend.
They’ve known each other for years, with Kate offering support as Callum lost his mom and reopened the Pear Tree.
I’m happy to be wrong since Julian Morris and Mae Whitman possess a natural chemistry between Callum and Kate.
I loved the flirty banter and angsty kiss between their younger counterparts, too. The Hallmark Channel excels at finding younger versions of characters.
Callum has always loved Kate, but brushed those feelings aside to be her best friend and still be in her life.
It explained why he was so protective of her and why he hated that she joked about bringing him as a date or their kiss long ago.
Hosting the latest date at the Pear Tree flooded his memories for him, and it was one of the first times he’d hosted another event there.
He didn’t remember those times mockingly, but with fondness. I love that he kissed her impulsively, saying that if he did, he meant it, leaving Kate utterly confused.
She thought Richard was her number one choice, but it’s evident to everyone but her that there are sparks between her and Callum.
Over to you, Hallmarkies.
Are you pulling for Callum or Richard to win Kate’s heart? What are your thoughts on Kate’s mom?
Let us know in the comments.
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If you like Christmas movies, don’t miss any of our Hallmark holiday movie coverage. If you’re a Hallmark fan, I also cover When Calls the Heart. Interested in more analytical and passionate pieces? Check out our editorials and op-eds.
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