Blue Skies vs. Mistletoe Murders: Two Mystery Shows to Add to Your Watchlist

Lately, I’ve been getting into more and more murder mysteries and cop shows, which is something I never thought I’d say! I’m hooked on Hudson & Rex and Tracker, and when my regular shows aren’t on, I find myself searching for something new to watch. That’s how I discovered Blue Skies when I went down the #RabbitHole of new shows to watch Buttercup.

I was surprised to find a female lead who works as an investigator for the National Park Police, along with a beautiful four-legged partner named Blue. I believe Blue is a Labrador retriever, and I would absolutely love to have him as one of my dogs because he is so smart and could teach Sandy a thing or two. As for Pheobie and Bear not so much because they know it all. LOL

When Jodi first met the dog she and her team named Blue he was quite a handful just like Sandy in so many ways. He wasn’t exactly the perfectly behaved partner you might expect. Watching them learn to work together has become one of my favorite parts of the series.

Now Jodi and Blue investigate crimes, track down clues, and get themselves into all kinds of situations. I love the combination of mystery, action, beautiful scenery, and the bond between a woman and her dog. And apparently, I’m not the only one who enjoys the show!

One day, David came upstairs and announced, “Oh, there’s a show that we need to watch together.” Now, those words don’t come out of David’s mouth every day, so naturally, I was interested. “Okay,” I said. I stopped working and handed him my remote and he said hold on I need to find the show.

He pulled out his phone and showed me the name of the show. Blue Skies. I laughed and told him, “Well, done that, been there, but we’ll watch it.” He looked at me and asked, “Have you already seen it?” I decided I was going to plead the Fifth Amendment because I didn’t want to upset him.

Of course, that didn’t work. “You’ve already seen it?” “Yeah,” I admitted. “I’m already on the newest season.” Well, that took some of the excitement out of his discovery! But I promised I would sit down and watch it with him. I had been watching episodes here and there while I was working, so I knew there were things I had probably missed.

Watching together gave me a chance to catch those details and enjoy the story all over again. There’s just one little problem. When David is at work and a new episode becomes available, I sometimes watch it without telling him. I know. I know. I’m supposed to wait.

But when a new episode is available and I want to know what happens next, waiting isn’t always easy. The hardest part is keeping my mouth shut afterward. It’s so tempting to say, “I saw that!” or “Did you see what happened?” or, even worse, “Oh, I know what’s going to happen!” Sometimes a girl has to do what a girl has to do when it comes to her television shows. If that puts me on the naughty list, I suppose I’ll have to live with it!

Blue Skies is a mystery and procedural drama set in the fictional Crystal Ridge National Park. The series follows Jodi Larsen, played by Scarlet Hunter, a former military police officer who returns home and starts a new chapter as a criminal investigator for the National Park Police. I love her dad and the team she works with but man on man the men she knows makes me go faint at heart. LOL

Jodi is dealing with the loss of her mother, rebuilding her relationship with her father, and learning to work with a new team. Her job brings her face-to-face with missing-person cases, suspicious deaths, environmental crimes, and dangerous situations throughout the park.

Then there’s Blue, a stray Labrador whose instincts are often sharper than anyone expects. He becomes Jodi’s unexpected partner, and together they learn to trust each other while solving cases. Which wasn’t easy for Jodi. The supporting cast includes Markian Tarasiuk as Ryan Miller, Veronica Long as Detective Nora Esposito, David Lennon as Detective Alex Meeks, Darius Willis as Tyson Bernard, and Shaughnessy Redden as Bill Larsen.

What I like about this series is that it isn’t just about catching a criminal. We get to know the characters, watch their relationships develop, and see how Jodi and Blue become a team. While watching the scenes between her and her dad while learning about her mom keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Blue Skies: Where and when to watch

• Streaming service: UP Faith & Family
• Current season: Season 2
• New episode day: Thursdays
• Season 2 premiere: October 1, 2026
• Episode length: Approximately 45–55 minutes
• Genre: Mystery, crime drama, action, and family-oriented storytelling
• Where to start: Season 1 is available on UP Faith & Family, so new viewers can watch from the beginning.

UP Faith & Family announced that Season 2 would release new episodes weekly beginning October 1. The service is available through its own app and website, as well as participating streaming platforms. For me, Blue Skies has earned its place on my must-watch list. I want to know what happens to Jodi and Blue, and I don’t want to wait too long to find out! Official series page:

Just when I thought I had enough shows to keep up with, I came across Mistletoe Murders which I thought was a movie but it is a series I had watched in the past. I wasn’t expecting more shows to come out but they’ve been advertising there will be new show soon and I can’t wait.

Now, here’s the thing about me and Christmas television: I love Christmas movies, but I have rules. I don’t want to start watching Christmas movies before the day after Thanksgiving, and I don’t want to keep watching them after Christmas. When the holiday is over, I’m ready to move on to the next season.

But Mistletoe Murders threw a little wrench into that plan. It’s a mystery series with a Christmas setting, so naturally, I had to make an exception. I’ve watched it here and there, and I do enjoy it. However, I haven’t kept up with it the way I have with Blue Skies. Sometimes I forget it’s even on my watchlist! Then I saw that it was coming back for another season, and I realized I needed to sit down and catch up.

Mistletoe Murders stars Sarah Drew as Emily Lane, the friendly owner of a Christmas shop in the small town of Fletcher’s Grove. Emily seems to be living a quiet life, but she has a secret past and unusual skills that make her remarkably good at investigating crimes.

When murders begin happening in town, Emily finds herself involved in solving them. She crosses paths with Detective Sam Wilner, played by Peter Mooney, and trust me he is cute and the two begin working together. As their relationship grows, Sam starts to realize that Emily isn’t quite who she appears to be.

There’s a larger mystery surrounding Emily’s past, too, so the show isn’t simply a collection of unrelated murder cases. The characters’ personal stories develop alongside the investigations. The series combines cozy mystery, crime drama, romance, and Christmas atmosphere. If you enjoy a small-town setting, holiday decorations, a clever heroine, and a detective who wants to know more about her, this may be a show you’ll enjoy.

And yes, there’s Christmas everywhere!

Mistletoe Murders: Where and when to watch

• Television channel: Hallmark Channel
• Streaming service: Hallmark+
• Current season: Season 3
• Season 3 premiere: Thursday, November 5, 2026
• Premiere time: 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central
• New episode day: Thursdays
• Streaming availability: New episodes are available on Hallmark+ the following day.
• Previous seasons: Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Hallmark+.

Season 3 consists of six episodes, with the story continuing through December. The new season begins with a mystery involving a wreathmaker accused of killing her husband. That gives me a little homework to do before the new episodes begin. I need to catch up on the earlier seasons, remember where Emily and Sam left things, and decide whether this series deserves a permanent spot on my watchlist. Official series page:

Blue Skies vs. Mistletoe Murders: Which one should you watch?

Both shows feature mysteries, crimes to solve, and characters whose lives continue to develop as the series progresses. But they offer different experiences.

Choose Blue Skies if you enjoy:

• A crime-solving team with a strong female lead.
• A four-legged partner who helps uncover clues.
• Outdoor adventures and a national park setting.
• Missing-person cases, murders, and other criminal investigations.
• An ongoing drama that balances cases with family and personal relationships.

Choose Mistletoe Murders if you enjoy:

• Cozy mysteries set in a small town.
• A Christmas shop and a holiday atmosphere.
• A clever heroine with a mysterious past.
• A developing relationship between the main characters.
• Seasonal mysteries that mix crime, romance, and Christmas traditions.

Personally, I’m keeping Blue Skies on my must-watch list. I’ve already invested in Jodi and Blue, and I’m not giving them up now! As for Mistletoe Murders, I’m going to have to catch up and see whether it earns a permanent place on my watchlist. I like it, but I have a hundred other shows competing for my attention. But knowing me one more show will not hurt so I bet it stays on my must-watch list.

And that brings me to my question for you. Have you watched either of these shows? If you’ve watched Mistletoe Murders, what did you think? Is it worth making time for all the episodes, or should I take it off my already-crowded watchlist? Do you prefer the crime-solving adventures of Blue Skies, or do you enjoy the Christmas mystery atmosphere of Mistletoe Murders?

Have you watched either of these shows or is there a show you think I should check out and why? Come share your thoughts with me. I’m always looking for something good to watch, although David might appreciate it if I occasionally waited for him before watching the next episode! Which I can’t say will happen #Buttercup because I love my movies.

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Grateful. Thankful. Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates