Art fraud, dirty cops, and solving the holiday heist?
It’s all part of the fun for Emily Lane and Sam Wilner on Mistletoe Murders Season 2 Episodes 3 and 4.
When Sam’s former partner, Reid Donnolly, was murdered, and the nearby detective blew him off, Sam decided to solve the crime as a private citizen, asking Emily for assistance.
It was endearing to watch Sam loosen up and recognize Emily’s sleuthing skills when he wasn’t rigidly following the law.
This undercover investigation brought some hard truths to light and a new understanding when they found themselves in some awkward situations.
Sam’s Friend’s Murder Made Him Go Rogue
Losing his partner after having just reunited with him at the diner made Sam feel extra guilty, since he couldn’t do that extra security shift with him.
He asked himself what many of us do when we lose someone: if he had been there, could he have changed the outcome?
Reid had been a true friend and mentor to many of his cop friends, and Sam was convinced that it was more than a random robbery and murder.
Since Det. Meadows forbade him from helping on the case, so Sam decided to go rogue, take a leave of absence, and solve the case himself.
It was a risky move, but we loved his passion, determination, and the fact that he wanted Emily to assist him.
Seeing Emily’s Investigative Skills Made Him Appreciate Her More
Emily was more involved in this case than any other Mistletoe Murders investigation. In some ways, Emily appreciated seeing Sam’s rebellious streak, as it helped her understand him better.
There were many awkward and romantic scenes as they went undercover and snooped for information.
My favorite was them hiding behind a Christmas tree, falling into each other’s arms.
That much physical contact must have felt awkward after so long, but it had to look natural if anyone spotted them, and not as if they were spying on Moira.
I love holiday scenes when partners dress up for a fancy event, such as a ball or an art exhibit, to learn who the players are.
There was so much angst, and they learned a great deal about Angela and Moira Wells that fateful night.
However, even doing illegal things for the right reasons often had consequences. Sam had a target on his back now.
Emily and Noah Were The Friendship I Didn’t Know I Needed
I was excited to see Noah (Jake Epstein) back for another installment of Mistletoe Murders on the Hallmark Channel.
The writers had developed his character significantly more, and his and Emily’s friendship was one of the episode’s highlights.
Emily loved books and had always been a private person, so she was eager to learn how Angela Wells managed to stay under the radar from her granddaughter, Moira.
However, as Moira read pieces from her new book, Noah noticed some of the facts were incorrect and seemed to have been pulled from a previous biography.
He knew Emily loved mysteries, and the two eagerly bounced ideas off each other as they attempted to prove that Moira Wells was a fraud.
Noah looked like he fit right in with their ” private investigative” team as he got Moira’s DNA, but forgot they needed Angela’s. He was somewhat of an amateur.
We don’t usually see a group working together to collect evidence.
However, it was hilarious watching Noah, Emily, Ray, and Sam outwit the Art Exhibit security guard to gather evidence.
Art Fraud and a Dirty Detective Added to the Holiday Heist
Emily and Noah’s gut instincts were correct. Moira Wells was revealed to be a fraud at the opening, and the painting she presented of her grandmother was also a fake.
Neither she nor Det. Meadows seemed phased, raising further questions.
While Harrison Crane appeared to be an annoying art influencer solely concerned with growing his followers, he actually provided vital information.
That blurry photo he took of the original painting and bribed Reid for broke the case. It proved how valuable that information was, and that another upcoming artist was Angela’s rightful heir.
I loved seeing Katherine Barrell (Good Witch) on the Hallmark Channel again. She portrayed Piper perfectly, an earnest artist who wanted to get to know Moira because she, too, was adopted.
It turned out that was her story, and that was why Moira destroyed Piper’s artwork and attacked Harrison.
Moira’s art was awful without the Wells name, whereas Piper had a raw, natural talent inherited from her grandmother.
Det. Meadows witnessed Moira switching the paintings and was greedy enough to want in on the action.
When Reid didn’t give him any money, he killed him, and he threatened “Moira” when he saw her with the painting, not realizing it was Emily in disguise.
I suspected he was dirty from the beginning since he kept blowing Sam off, and typically, cops agree to work together.
I never thought he committed the crime, but I thought he was covering for someone.
Sam and Emily Had An Honest Heart-to-Heart
While Sam and Emily’s relationship had thawed, she worried that he might look into her past, especially since Ray had hinted that both she and Sam wanted more details about Chimera.
Emily felt betrayed that Sam couldn’t let go of her past. It was one of those angsty and emotional fights that needed to happen, and they each had valid points.
Sam wanted to learn about her past and protect her from any impending danger because he cared about her.
However, Emily knew she had done things previously that could change the way Sam looked or felt about her, and she didn’t want to lose that.
In that moment, they bared their souls and finally admitted that they had feelings for each other.
Sam trusted her enough to help him complete his investigation, and he expressed his gratitude, telling her that he had stopped looking into her past and appreciated the woman she had become.
They may have gotten their holiday miracle of a fresh start, but will they make it to the New Year and beyond this time?
Chimera Came Calling
“The Ides of December” also highlighted how important Aaron was to teenage Emily, aka Grace, after she lost her family and was alone for Christmas.
He was her only connection at school, and they sought revenge against the jerks by changing their jerks.
Their relationship was young but deeply entwined, as they were heavily dependent on each other.
We still don’t know how their story ended, but Chimera has been keeping tabs on Emily while she quietly looked into them.
Naturally, Emily and Sam couldn’t be happy, since Emily suspected Aaron had arrived in Fletcher’s Grove.
As much as I adore Sam and Emily, I’m curious to see how an adult Emily and Aaron will interact and if they’ll have chemistry.
Emily promised Sam that there would be no more new secrets. How will she get out of this mess?
Over to you, Hallmarkies. Did you suspect Moira Wells was a fraud and that Det. Meadows was dirty? Will Sam and Emily survive Aaron’s arrival?
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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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