If you’re like me, you love a good Hallmark-style Christmas movie: the predictability, the idyllic small town or majestic castle, the friendships, the cheesiness, the wholesomeness, and the happy endings. But you’ve also probably reached a point, whether it be fleeting or permanent, where you want the best of the Hallmark-style Christmas movie, but with just a little more edge or oomph. Or maybe even something you can relate to a bit more.
I definitely reached that point last year (2019). I wanted something that transported me into a world that was wrapped up in the holiday season, but was a little less cookie-cutter and a little less predictable than the typical Hallmark-style movie. Cue Home for Christmas.
Home for Christmas is a Norwegian series about a single 30-something who, to stop the constant inquiries about her relationship status, declares to her family that she has a boyfriend and he’ll be joining her for her family’s Christmas dinner. (Or is it Christmas Eve dinner? I totally forget now.) The thing is, she doesn’t actually have a boyfriend, so now she has to find one … in 24 days! The premise may sound cheesy and familiar, but this was such a fun and delightful watch! In fact, I watched the first season (six episodes) three times during the 2019 holiday season. Three!! The main character is real and relatable, and the situations she finds herself in are funny and endearing. The show also has a level of authenticity to it that you don’t typically find in Hallmark-style Christmas movies—it feels so much more like the real world, while still providing that escapism you’re looking for. The show is sweet and funny, and it does a great job building the main character’s relationships with her friends, family, and coworkers. It also has an MA rating, so it definitely has a bit of an edge. Oh, and it takes place in Norway, so there’s plenty of snow!
I watched the series with subtitles (I’m not really a fan of dubbing). It currently has a 7.6/10 on IMDb and a 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. The show is available on Netflix in the U.S., and season two drops on Dec. 18, 2020. I cannot wait!!
Bonus: Home for Christmas is written and directed by Per-Olav Sorensen, who also wrote a Norwegian short series called Quicksand. I was so surprised when I learned that, because I had previously watched Quicksand and it is the complete opposite of Home for Christmas. It’s about a school shooting. Quicksand is also worth the watch. It’s available on Netflix in the U.S., and has a 7.5/10 on IMDb and an 83% on Rotten Tomatoes.
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