Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Home for Christmas, which completely charmed me with its delightfully awkward approach to modern dating pressures and the universal struggle of being single during the holiday season.
Released on Netflix on December 5, 2019, Home for Christmas (originally titled “Hjem til jul” in Norwegian) is a romantic comedy-drama series that ran for two seasons with six 30-minute episodes per season. Created by Kristian Andersen, Amir Shaheen, and Per-Olav Sørensen, this series marked Netflix’s first Norwegian original production. The show follows 30-year-old Johanne, who faces constant pressure about her single status and embarks on a frantic 24-day mission to find a boyfriend to bring home for Christmas dinner.
The series perfectly captures the awkwardness and pressure of modern dating culture, especially during holiday seasons when family expectations run high. Home for Christmas explores themes of self-acceptance, family dynamics, societal pressure around relationships, and the question of whether it’s better to be alone than to settle for the wrong person just to meet expectations.
The 24-Day Christmas Dating Challenge
The central premise kicks off when Johanne lies to her family about having a boyfriend, setting herself up for the ultimate holiday pressure cooker. With Christmas Eve rapidly approaching, she gives herself exactly 24 days to find someone suitable to bring home and maintain her fabricated story. What begins as a simple plan to avoid family judgment quickly spirals into a series of increasingly awkward and hilarious dating disasters. The series brilliantly uses this countdown format to create both comedy and genuine tension, showing how desperation can lead to poor decisions while highlighting the absurdity of dating solely to please others.
Ida Elise Broch as Johanne: The Relatable Single Woman
Ida Elise Broch delivers a wonderfully authentic performance as Johanne, capturing the internal conflict of a woman torn between wanting genuine love and needing to satisfy external expectations. Johanne’s journey from panic-driven dating to self-discovery is both funny and deeply relatable. Broch masterfully balances Johanne’s desperation with her intelligence, showing how even smart, successful women can make questionable choices when under pressure. Her portrayal makes Johanne’s struggles feel universal while maintaining the character’s dignity even in her most embarrassing moments.
The Dating Pool: A Parade of Norwegian Bachelors
Throughout her 24-day quest, Johanne encounters a diverse array of potential partners, each representing different aspects of modern dating culture. From online matches to workplace crushes, blind dates to chance encounters, the series showcases the full spectrum of contemporary romance challenges. These various suitors aren’t just comedic devices; they represent different relationship possibilities and help Johanne (and viewers) understand what she actually wants versus what she thinks she should want.
Family Dynamics: The Christmas Pressure Cooker
The series reaches its most compelling moments when exploring Johanne’s family relationships and the well-meaning but problematic ways they contribute to her dating anxiety. Her family’s constant questions about her love life, combined with their assumptions about what constitutes happiness and success, create the pressure that drives the entire plot. The show expertly examines how family expectations can both motivate and paralyze us, showing how love and concern can sometimes manifest as judgment and interference.
Supporting Cast: The Christmas Community
Dennis Storhøi, Oddgeir Thune, and Hege Schøyen round out the cast as family members and friends who represent different perspectives on love and relationships. These characters provide both comic relief and emotional depth, creating a rich ensemble that reflects the various ways people approach romance and family obligations. The supporting cast helps establish the cozy Norwegian setting while providing contrast to Johanne’s frantic energy.
Charming Success on Netflix
Home for Christmas received mostly positive reviews and became Netflix’s successful entry into Norwegian original programming. The series earned praise for its authentic portrayal of dating culture, excellent English dubbing, and Ida Elise Broch’s compelling lead performance. Home for Christmas resonated particularly well with viewers who appreciated its blend of holiday warmth and realistic relationship struggles. The show’s success led to a second season and helped establish Netflix’s commitment to diverse international content that could appeal to global audiences.
A Holiday Rom-Com with Heart
If you love cozy holiday romance with authentic characters and Norwegian charm, Home for Christmas is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. The show manages to be both culturally specific and universally relatable, offering viewers a warm, funny look at dating pressure during the most romantic time of year. With its perfect blend of humor, heart, and beautiful Norwegian winter scenery, this series proves that the best holiday stories are those that celebrate self-acceptance alongside romantic love.
Why This Norwegian Gem Warms the Heart
Home for Christmas delivers a delightfully honest exploration of modern dating wrapped in the cozy atmosphere of a Norwegian Christmas. With its authentic characters, genuine emotional stakes, and perfect balance of comedy and heart, this holiday series proves that the most meaningful Christmas gifts are often the ones we give ourselves: self-acceptance, authentic connections, and the courage to prioritize our own happiness over others’ expectations.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 12 (2 seasons, 6 episodes each)
Platform: Netflix
Release/End Year: 2019-2020
Current IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Holiday Drama
Status: Completed series
Protagonists: Ida Elise Broch (Johanne)
Antagonist: No traditional antagonist (societal pressure and self-doubt serve as obstacles)