I Hate Christmas season 2 review: A far better season has its flaws

In I Hate Christmas season 2, after ruining a perfect relationship before Christmas, Gianna goes on a quest to find love again. The second season is now streaming on Netflix.

Story

Gianna has been in a relationship with Umberto for a year now since a Santa showed up at her door and cheered her on using cue cards that had messages for her.

Gianna assumed that Umberto sent that Santa, as he later made a Love Actually reference in front of her. Anyhow, Gianna is now looking forward to this year’s Christmas dinner, but things don’t go as she was expecting them to.

Last year, everyone wanted her to find someone and settle down. Now that she has found that person, everyone is making her realize how terrible relationships and marriages are.

A nervous Gianna makes a grave mistake, which sees Umberto turn his back on her. As Gianna attempts to win Umberto back, she learns a thing or two about what love really is.

Performances

Pilar Fogliati, as Gianna, is charming and more impressive than in the first season. Though her character can be hard to like, considering the decisions she makes, Fogliati’s performance does strike a chord with viewers. It’s certainly memorable and fits the role.

Pierpaolo Spollon, who plays Filippo, is a surprise package this year. Filippo is a wholesome and genuine character that wins hearts in a matter of moments. Spollon plays the character with ease and embraces who Filippo is.

Beatrice Arnera, who plays Didi, and Fiorenza Pieri, who plays Margherita, retain their performances from last year. There was nothing new about them.

Lastly, it feels like Glen Blackhall has been robbed of showcasing his talents, as the script doesn’t explore his character, Umberto, in depth.

Positives

I Hate Christmas season 2 kicks off to a chaotic start. Even though Gianna and Umberto’s relationship is rushed, the problems that brim around it and concern Gianna make for hilarious and relatable moments.

For the majority of the first half, the second season excels at situational comedy. Characters pop up at the most unexpected moments and blurt out good comical lines.

The show makes up for pushing Umberto out by bringing in a very likable character in the form of Filippo. Even before Filippo can be considered one of the candidates to end up with Gianna, one starts rooting for Filippo.

In the end, though there is a lot crammed, the idea of love in the series is so satisfying that a viewer will start to understand Gianna and forgive her for her past mistakes.

Negatives

For the first three episodes, I Hate Christmas season 2 runs with a definite goal involving Umberto. Once Umberto is out of frame, it feels like the show spirals out of control and struggles to find a goal for its characters.

Towards the finale, it hops from one topic to the next in an instant. First, it’s about winning Umberto back; then, it’s about moving on; and lastly, it’s about what true love is. Though the conclusion is satisfying, all of this can get frustrating.

The last three episodes are also crammed with subplots involving the supporting characters. The subplots are not placed at the right time either, which is more of a buzzkill.

Verdict

I Hate Christmas season 2 is far better than the first season. It’s more memorable, funny, and even hits the right chords. Even though the second season has its flaws, it is still a wholesome comfort watch.

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Also Read: I Hate Christmas season 2 summary and ending explained