A Season of Promises, the new Hallmark Channel Christmas movie starring Ali Liebert, Brooke D’Orsay and James Denton, premieres tonight, Sunday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET to close out week four of Countdown to Christmas 2026, and it streams tomorrow on Hallmark+. This is not the typical Countdown to Christmas romcom. It is a deep and moving family story, so have tissues handy. It wraps up week four, which started with the Mistletoe Murders Season 3 premiere, Merry Memories and Holiday Unplugged.
What Happens in A Season of Promises?
D’Orsay and Liebert play Heidi and Sophie, sisters who could not be more different. Heidi is buttoned-up and focused on landing the play-by-play job for the local pro hockey team, while Sophie waits tables as she chases her dream of making it in stand-up comedy. A rift that opened after their mother died years ago has pulled them apart, but they share a deep love for their dad, Ed, played by Denton. When Ed faints and lands in the hospital, both sisters rush to his side. They hate seeing him like that, and they hate that he is still alone four years after losing their mom, so they set aside their differences and team up to play Cupid for Christmas. As they get Ed ready for the dating world in hopes he finds someone special before the holiday, each of the sisters finds some unexpected joy, love and peace of her own.
My husband and I differ on how we would move forward in life if one of us passed, and this story brought that conversation right to the front. If one thing comes out of this movie, it is a thoughtful conversation with the people you love. Michael Grimm wrote A Season of Promises beautifully, and this is family storytelling that tugs at every possible heartstring. It is not the first time he has written a story about grief. He also wrote the beautiful The Gift of Peace, along with An Easter Bloom and The Blessing Bracelet. Stacey N. Harding directed, and she takes us through the laughs and the tears. There is a climactic scene at the end where the performances of all three leads took my breath away, and I was better for it. After drying my eyes, I wanted to nominate all three of them for any award possible.
Hallmark fans know D’Orsay from A Fabled Holiday and A Not So Royal Christmas and Liebert from Three Wisest Men and The Christmas Baby, and Denton will always be Dr. Sam Radford to Good Witch fans. Denton also met fans last month at the Jingle Stop Tour’s Chicago stop. A Season of Promises might not be for everyone, especially if you do not like deep and very emotional stories. For me, it is a resounding yes.
How to Watch A Season of Promises
A Season of Promises premieres Sunday, November 8, at 8 p.m. ET and 7 p.m. CT on Hallmark Channel, and it streams Monday, November 9, on Hallmark+. Hallmark Channel also has encores on Monday, November 9, at 6 p.m. ET, Saturday, November 14, at 10 p.m. ET and Friday, November 20, at 6 p.m. ET. Find every review in our Countdown to Christmas 2026 hub
