'It’s like, Hallmark or Prozac?'
'We would typically be the first person to mock the idea of the Hallmark Channel, but there is something specific about this December: It’s crap. The news stinks, current events stink — turning on the television, in general, stinks. Another beloved icon revealed to be a sexual predator? Nope — let’s watch Hallmark. Another North Korean missile, now deemed capable of hitting the United States? Nope — Hallmark. The president is retweeting fake video clips of — NOPE, LA LA LA LA. HALLMARK. HALLMARK. HALLMARK.'
Writer Monica Hesse, and her theory on Hallmark, rings true for me this year. I was someone who would mock a Hallmark movie watcher, feigned annoyance that they seem to play on a loop when I visit my parents. I would have them on occasionally at home, to check out the eye candy, or play in the background as I did other things. This year however, I have found myself actually watching a couple, actually enjoying a hiatus from from the shit show that makes up the current state of politics and the world.
I still keep my focus on the eye candy, especially when they're as adorable as actor Steve Lund. The Nova Scotia born actor may be familiar to some of you from his work on television roles on Reign, Haven and Bitten. Lund has appeared in a few Hallmark movies, but the one I recently caught was 2015's Christmas Incorporated. Lund playes a rich spoiled corporate executive who has to decide whether to shut down a toy factory, just as Christmas approaches. Can you guess the ending?
Steve in Schitt's Creek
With sexual assault and harassment to prevalent in headlines, the popularity of Hallmark movies isn't merely a coincidence. In almost every Hallmark movie, woman are the focus, women are the interesting characters, women are in charge. Yes, most are driven by a desire for romance and love, but most have careers and full lives and although looking for love, looking on their terms. The men are secondary in Hallmark movies, interchangeable and alike. They're all well dressed, handsome and successful, and although intelligent, don't always see that love is right in front of them. They are written with minor complexities and just enough past pain to draw them to healing power of the female lead. All of which occur of course, just in time for Christmas.
Bitten
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