The search for Hallmark Channel’s next Christmas movie leading man took an unexpected twist in the second week of competition. During the “Finding Mr. Christmas” episode that aired on November 3, 2025, it was impossible not to love the challenges posed to the nine remaining contestants. But plenty of fans did NOT love seeing who got sent home in the end.
SPOILER ALERT: If you don’t want to know the results of season two’s second episode, stop reading here.
Present-Slinging Challenge Has a Heartwarming Finish
“Finding Mr. Christmas” co-creator, host, and judge Jonathan Bennett put the hunky contestants through the ringer on the latest episode, with help from lead judge Melissa Peterman and guest judge Heather Hemmens to decide on this week’s elimination.
First, the guys were placed in teams of three for their Festive Face-Off contest, called the “Sling-a-Long” (loving the puns!). Working together, they had to use a giant slingshot to catapult wrapped presents into a sleigh — a task that proved to be easier said than done.
Darling contestant Robbie, who was on Team Blue with Gabe and Craig, worried he’d fail miserably, given his perceived lack of athletic skills. But as he watched his game partners struggle to get their wrapped presents anywhere near the sleigh, he decided to give it a try. The very first present he launched into the air landed in the sleigh! Then he got another!
HallmarkThough one other group came close, Robbie wound up saving the day in a buzzer beater; as Bennett and Peterman counted down from 10 to indicate time was almost up, he launched another present into the air and it landed in the sleigh at the last second. It was impossible not to smile seeing Robbie, stunned by his achievement, leap into the air and run around with his teammates, all exuding pure glee.
And then he heartwarmingly told producers, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this, because in high school, I never really fit in with people that were playing sports. I will never forget this moment for the rest of my life. I feel accepted by these guys, I feel like a part of the team. It means more to me than these guys will ever know.”
‘Finding Mr. Christmas’ Contestants Play Some Serious ‘Reindeer Games’ for Celeb Photographers
The advantage Team Blue received for winning was getting to pick which of Santa’s reindeers each of the guys would have to portray for the next challenge, based on personality descriptions provided to them. Then, each hunk dressed up in nearly identical costumes to show their, ahem, assets — brown leather pants, shirtless with just a robe-like, evergreen vest and antlers.
One by one, each guy was hoisted into mid-air by a crane, challenged to emulate the reindeer’s personality they were given while posing for celebrity photographers. They only got 10 “clicks” of the camera to capture their best shot — and each one was photoshopped to create a vision of Santa’s sleigh, with Bennett playing Old St. Nick, as they flew through the air. Some nailed it, others flailed a bit, but the entire challenge was 100% entertaining to watch.
Hallmark star Heather Hemmens was on set to help judge, and she and Peterman kept us laughing with their comments, like Peterman’s “Mommy likey!” All of the contestants gave it their best effort and looked darn good doing it (thanks to Bennett’s hubby, Jaymes Vaughan, for testing out the challenge first!). But in the end, one guy still had to be sent “home for the holidays.”
Fans Stunned to See Youngest Contestant Drake Sent Home
HallmarkWhen it came time to announce the winner of the Reindeer Games competition, Bennett announced that he, Peterman and Hemmens had chosen Davey as the winner. As for who would be sent home, it came down to the bottom two — Angel and Drake.
“Drake, you started out the photo shoot with confidence,” Bennett told the perfectly coiffed hunk, “but you just couldn’t commit to your character. We saw more Drake than Cupid.” Angel, meanwhile, was told, “You came with the face, but the body wasn’t in sync.”
“Unfortunately,” Bennett then said, getting teary-eyed as he delivered the final blow, “Drake, you’re going home for the holidays.”
Viewers immediately took to social media, shocked to see Drake go home, including one who wrote, “No Drake, no watch.” Another exclaimed, “Justice for Drake!! ❤️ gone too soon!”
Someone who clearly also hated to see Jake Schum sent home during the first week, wrote, “Another hunk sent home before his time!?!? What is going on with this season?!?!?”
The first two episodes of “Finding Mr. Christmas” are available to stream on Hallmark+ and the third week of competition will air on Monday, November 10 at 8 p.m. Eastern time.
Listening to the judges talk , their attitude is the guys are more professional then they really are. I think Angel should have gone home. For the first week no one should be sent home.
I agree with your assessment. Angel or the one making goofy faces should have gone home, not Drake!!!
I absolutely do NOT agree with Drake going home. His pictures were great and he has that sweet leading man quality enjoy watching. Judges made a mistake with this one. I think he would have grown every week and won the competition.
Drake shouldn’t have been eliminated. He’s the best looking, and he did better than that other guy. I was very disappointed 😞
Big mistake judges! Drake is the best looking one of the lot and kindhearted to boot. Angel or the one making goofy faces up side down should’ve been on the chopping block. What were you thinking? It’s not worth watching if you make bad decisions like this. You lost a fan!
I enjoy watching Hallmark but if the guys aren’t good looking and soft tempered and the ladies being pretty its like where is the chemistry, spark between them. A good looking couple means everything to deliver a great, romantic movie!! If you chop all the best candidates say good bye to your audience..plain and simple!!
I’m just now catching up on the season and am devastated that my favorite contestant is gone in week 2! What were they thinking?!!