Deck The Hallmark

We're back with some more Gilmore Girls! Join us in this journey on social media - @gilmorethemerrierpod.

ABOUT: GILMORE GIRLS (SEASON 1 EPISODE 16)

Episode 16 - It's Rory and Dean's 3-months anniversary, and he plans a special surprise, but it doesn't quite go as he planned. Luke's old girlfriend, Rachel, turns up.

AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR: GILMORE GIRLS (SEASON 1 EPISODE 16)

Episode 16 - March 8, 2001 | The WB

CAST & CREW OF: GILMORE GIRLS (SEASON 1 EPISODE 16)

Lauren Graham as Lorelai Gilmore

Alexis Bledel as Rory Gilmore

BRAN’S GILMORE GIRLS (SEASON 1 EPISODE 16) SYNOPSIS

The episode starts with Miss Patty telling a group of kids about how Stars Hollow came to be and why they celebrate the Founders Firelight Festival.

Dean and Rory are hanging out and he asks if they could hang out on Friday. She's like you know I can't on Friday. But he's like it's our 3 month anniversary and I have something big planned. She tells him she'll see what she can do. She tells her mom and she's like that's fine, but you better also be there.

Lorelai is feeling a bit grumpy. She hasn't heard from Max in a while and everyone around her seems to be all in love because of the Firelight Festival. So she goes to get some coffee at Luke's, that'll be what she needs. Except suddenly, Rachel shows up. Luke's ex-girlfriend Rachel. They make awkward small talk, and it's clear Luke is very nervous.

Unfortunately for Lorelai, it's time for her to head to Friday night dinner. And wouldn't you know it, Emily sees this as a moment to try to set her up with a fancy boy named Chase.

Meanwhile, Rory and Dean are out at a fancy dinner. They're having the absolute best time. Dean has gone HARD on their 3 month anniversary.

Lorelai is so unbelievably bored by Chase that she tries to sneak out. Luckily for her, Richard also finds him absolutely boring and helps her sneak out.

Dean surprises Rory with a big gift - he's building her a car. She is blown away. She tells him this is as good as it gets. Life will never be this good again. He takes this opportunity to tell her that he loves her. She does not respond. Which leads him to absolutely freaking out.

Lorelai ends back up in Stars Hollow and sits next to Luke. They talk about Rachel and then she heads home to call Max but before she can leave a message, Rory shows up and tells her that she and Dean broke up.

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It's Tuesday which means there's a new Hallmark movie to review!

ABOUT SUGAR & VICE: A HANNAH SWENSEN MYSTERY

Hannah finds a body at the grand re-opening of the Lake Eden Inn. When a storm traps everyone inside, Hannah must find the culprit before the road clears and the killer escapes.

AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR SUGAR & VICE: A HANNAH SWENSEN MYSTERY

March 7. 2026 | Hallmark

CAST & CREW OF SUGAR & VICE: A HANNAH SWENSEN MYSTERY

Director: Peter Benson

Cast:

Alison Sweeney as Hannah Swensen

Victor Webster as Chad Norton

Barbara Niven as Delores Swensen

Tess Atkins as Michelle Swensen

BRAN'S MOVIE SYNOPSIS

The cookie jar is going to be providing desserts for a masquerade party at the grand re-opening of the Lake Eden Inn. The new manager, Derryl, comes in to talk through ideas. He's very frazzled cuz there's just so much to do!

She shows up at the inn and gives a cookie to the check-in attendee, Bobby. She meets with Brandi (who seems generally unhappy to be there) to talk through set up and tour the kitchen and stuff. She meets the owner, Mr. How & his wife, and goes on her way.

It's party time. Hannah goes down to finish some cookies and Brandi is there. She talks about how she's been passed over for a promotion and wants to come up with some ideas that will help her get one.

Next thing you know, Hannah and her sister are walking down a hallway and hear a thud. They go into the room, and sure enough, dead body. It's Brandi. UH OH!

She goes to get Chad and they get to work on investigating!

After a full night of poking around, they got nothing aside from some messed up time cards.

Hannah figures out that Brandi and Mr. How were having an affair! So she goes to question him and he's like yeah we were which is why I never gave her a promotion cuz I didn't want my wife to find out. But I'd never kill her.

So it's probably his wife right? No. She corners Hannah in an alley to tell her just that.

Turns out, it's Derryl. He did it.

To celebrate, Hannah and Chad kiss big ones. The end hopefully forever.

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It's Marvel Monday and we're diving into the realm of Asgard!

ABOUT THOR: THE DARK WORLD

When the Dark Elves attempt to plunge the universe into darkness, Thor must embark on a perilous and personal journey that will reunite him with doctor Jane Foster.

AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR THOR: THE DARK WORLD

October 9, 2013 | Theatrical Release

CAST & CREW OF THOR: THE DARK WORLD

Chris Hemsworth as Thor

Natalie Portman as Jane Foster

Tom Hiddleston as Loki

Anthony Hopkins as Odin

BRAN'S MOVIE SYNOPSIS

Loki is in troubleeeee. Daddy Odin is mad at him. Loki is like I just wanted to rule Earth as a benevolent god. What's the big deal? Odin tells him he should have him killed but instead, he'll just be imprisoned.

Thor is doing Thor stuff, fighting off rock monsters and stuff with his buddies. When he gets back to Asgard, Odin tells him the time has come for him to get over Jane Foster and become king.

Speaking of Jane Foster, she's in London, trying to eat with a dude but she can't stop thinking about Thor. Darcy shows up to tell her that the numbers and graphs and stuff are going nuts! They head to where the readings are happening and it takes them to an abandoned warehouse where there seems to be some sort of weird teleportation portal that is opening and closing at random. She gets sucked into the portal.

While this is happening, Thor is talking to Idris Elba who is supposed to be keeping an eye on her and he's like oh weird, I actually can't see her right now. So he goes to Earth to check on her. By the time he gets there, she's now returned back to Earth. She's shocked to find out that it's been 5 hours. She sees Thor and smacks him a couple times for taking so long.

The cops show up and try to arrest her for trespassing. When he touches her, this like red light radiates from her and sends them flying. Realizing that something is going on with her, Thor grabs her and transports them to Asgard to do some tests. Odin sees what's going on with her and is like oh yea I know what's up. That's dark elf-ish. It's called the Aether. And it's bad.

Thor explains, every 5000 years, the 9 realms align and it causes the portals between these realms to get a bit wonky. So that's how she fell through that portal. But when she interacted with the Aether, she awakened Malekith - a dark elf who is up to no good. They attack Asgard and kill Thor's mom, Frigga, in the process of protecting Jane from them.

Thor immediately wants revenge but Odin tells him to wait - they'll be back because we still have the Aether.

Thor doesn't want to wait. So he asks Loki to help. Luckily, he knows about a secret portal to Svartalfheim, where they will use Jane to lure and confront Malekith, away from Asgard. In return, Thor promises Loki vengeance on Malekith for killing their mother.

While in transport, Thor and Loki have a heart to heart. They yell at each other. They love each other. Classic brother stuff.

There, Loki tricks Malekith into drawing the Aether out of Jane, but Thor's attempt to destroy the exposed substance fails. Malekith merges with the Aether and leaves in his ship.

Loki is real hurt, on the verge of death. Thor is like I'll tell Dad you didn't suck after all. Afterwards, Thor and Jane discover another portal in a nearby cave and reunite in London with Darcy and Jane's mentor Dr. Erik Selvig who was kinda going crazy but he's fine.

Jane knows about Malekith's plan to destroy the universe. Thor starts going through all these portals when Malekith ends up on Earth. Thor returns just in time to help transport Malekith away from Earth where he is crushed by his own ship that was also being transported at the same time.

Thor returns to Asgard, where he declines Odin's offer to take the throne and tells Odin of Loki's sacrifice. As he leaves, Odin's form transforms to that of a grinning Loki. UH OHHHHHHH.

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March is here! It's time to preview the Hallmark movies that we'll be reviewing this month. 

Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery

Premieres: Saturday, March 7 at 8/7c
Network: Hallmark Mystery
Starring: Alison Sweeney, Victor Webster, Barbara Niven

Hannah finds a body at the grand re-opening of the Lake Eden Inn. When a storm traps everyone inside, she must uncover the culprit before the roads clear—and the killer escapes.

Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder

Premieres: Saturday, March 14 at 8/7c
Network: Hallmark Mystery
Starring: Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith

While attending a lavish dinner, Nelly and Detective Michael must solve the murder of a guest before the evening’s refined festivities turn even more deadly.

Two for Tee

Premieres: Saturday, March 21 at 8/7c
Network: Hallmark Channel
Starring: Janel Parrish, Chris McNally

Tee, a Chinese American pottery artist, meets community center handyman Will. As she reconnects with her family’s traditions through art, the two team up to save the beloved center from closure—and may find love along the way.

A Royal Setting

Premieres: Saturday, March 28 at 8/7c
Network: Hallmark Channel
Starring: Jen Lilley, Dan Jeannotte

Ruby, a world-renowned gemologist, is hired by Prince Luca to restore the crown jewels and design his coronation crown. As she challenges tradition, she also complicates his already delicate relationship with his mother, the queen.

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It's Festive Friday and we've got a wild holiday rom-com to discuss today!

ABOUT THE CHRISTMAS DECOY

A socially awkward man is bribed by his narcissistic best friend to run interference with a woman who won't leave him alone during the holidays. The Christmas Decoy is a rom-com full of mischief, mismatched intentions, and holiday heart.

AIR DATE & NETWORK FOR THE CHRISTMAS DECOY

August 24, 2025 | Streaming/Rental

CAST & CREW OF THE CHRISTMAS DECOY

Stephen Fisher as Jeff Wilkins

Marguerite Haines as Sophia Wilkins

Hope Harvard as Mia Barrett

John Allen as Allen Bontrager

BRAN'S MOVIE SYNOPSIS

We meet Jeff as he jumps out of bed and starts singing Joy to the World. I guess he like owns a hotel and also lives there. He gets a call from someone named Jordan who tells him that she's not coming to help at the hotel this holiday season. Instead, she's sending a girl named Mia...someone who has a massive crush on Jeff since they were kids. The problem is Jeff can't stand Mia. So he's really mad about it so he drives to his buddy Allen's house. He has a request for him - will you work at my hotel for 2 weeks and work alongside her - run interference so I don't have to be around her? He pushes back because he doesn't want to take 2 weeks off of work but ultimately gives in. He starts to like her and they end up going on a date. One date leads to another date which leads to a kiss. Jeff starts getting jealous - he wants her to keep liking him even though he's not interested because he's a psycho. So he texts her to go to a movie and she says sure and then asks if Allen is coming. So he says yes.

But at the movie, he tries to hold her hand. She's not interested. She holds Allen's hand instead.

The next day, Allen tells Mia the truth about how he was only hired to run interference which makes her mad. He goes after her and tells her he loves her and they kiss.

Jeff is forced to move on and says hi to the next girl who walks into the hotel. Who knows what'll happen next.

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