In one of my recent Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts, I
brought up two upcoming Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies. Originally
reported by Net from It’s a Wonderful Movie, these films were given release
years of 2024 and 2025. The first of these movies, Signed, Sealed, Delivered:
A Tale of Three Letters, has just received a premiere date, airing much earlier
than I expected. But the more I thought about this piece of movie news, the
more I wondered why Hallmark would air this chapter of Signed, Sealed,
Delivered in the middle of July? Then I came to the realization how Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters could be a Christmas film. Besides
the movie’s premiere date, there are other observations that support my claim.
These observations will be discussed in this editorial. Before I begin
explaining my claim in further detail, I want to remind my readers how Hallmark
has provided very little information about these Signed, Sealed, Delivered
movies, as of the publication of this editorial. As you read my article, take
what I say with a reindeer sized grain of salt.
The Film’s
Premiere Date
As I stated in this
editorial’s introduction, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters
has received a premiere date, with July 12th being the specific
day. As I also stated, this news led me to question why Hallmark would choose
to air this movie so soon. A possible answer can be given in three words:
Christmas in July. In recent years, Christmas in July marathons have become
exclusive with Hallmark Channel. However, there was a time when Hallmark would devote
the entire month of July with Christmas in July marathons among Hallmark Channel
and Hallmark Mystery. In fact, the movie, Christmas Camp, premiered
during 2019’s Christmas in July marathon on what was then known as Hallmark
Movies & Mysteries.
Hallmark Channel’s
Viewership Numbers
During the 2020s, Hallmark
Channel’s viewership numbers have, so far, been declining. The network’s
numbers are so bad that as of early June 2024, none of Hallmark Channel’s
movies this year have garnered two million viewers or more. Hallmark Channel
will host a Christmas in July marathon, premiering two new Christmas films
during that event. These titles are Falling Like Snowflakes (premiering
on June 29th) and A Very Vermont Christmas (premiering on
July 20th). With a two-week gap between the aforementioned Christmas
films and Hallmark desperate to raise their viewership numbers, the decision to
air Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters during the
Christmas in July marathon could be made. The film could premiere on Hallmark
Channel after it premieres on Hallmark Mystery or the film could air on both
networks on the same day. In the past, Hallmark would simultaneously air movies
on both of their networks. One notable example is A Bone to Pick: An Aurora
Teagarden Mystery back in 2015.
The Title
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters is
the title the series’ newest chapter is boasting. It should be noted how the
number three is important within the Christmas season for two reasons. The
number three references the Three Wise Men that play a significant role in the
Nativity story. This would be on brand for Signed, Sealed, Delivered, as
the series is known for incorporating elements of religion/faith into their films.
One example is the inclusion of a Nativity play in Signed, Sealed, Delivered
for Christmas. A Christmas Carol shows Ebenezer Scrooge being
visited by three ghosts throughout the story. Perhaps Signed, Sealed,
Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters is a retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic,
where a Scrooge-like character is intended to receive letters from the past, present,
and future?
The Series Itself
Since 2013, the Signed,
Sealed, Delivered series has become a staple on Hallmark Mystery. But during
the series’ eleven-year timeframe, Signed, Sealed, Delivered has
received only one Christmas movie; 2014’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered for
Christmas. By Hallmark choosing to create new films for this series, they
are bringing Signed, Sealed, Delivered out of a three year hiatus, as
the last title, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made, was
released in 2021. In a Word on the Street story from two years ago, I pointed
out how Hallmark’s recent sequel efforts were continuations of movies that
first aired in 2014. Like I just said, Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas
premiered ten years ago. If Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three
Letters is indeed a Christmas film, these decisions would not only fit
Hallmark’s aforementioned trend, but would also fill a creative void left barren
for so long.
Like I told my
readers in this editorial’s introduction, take what I say with a reindeer sized
grain of salt, as my claim is based on speculation and observation. However, if
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters will become a
Christmas movie, this calls into question the other new chapter in the series; “Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back”. Based on the title alone, it could be
a reference to It’s a Wonderful Life. In the 1946 movie, George promises
to give Mary the moon by saying “You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll
throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll
give you the moon, Mary”. But if Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three
Letters is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, the new character from “Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” could provide a clue. According to the
movie’s synopsis, Oliver, Shane, Norman, and Rita are trying “to track down a
rock star who holds the keys”. I remember how Marley’s ghost is shown holding
keys in some adaptations of A Christmas Carol. Perhaps the rock star in “Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” is intended to be a Marley-like
character meant to give the Scrooge-like character a lesson or moral?
What do you think of
my claim? Do you think Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters
could be a Christmas film? Let me know in the comment section below!
Have fun at the
movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Sources for this editorial:
https://www.hallmarkmystery.com/signed-sealed-delivered-a-tale-of-three-letters
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hallmark_Channel_Original_Movies
https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2015/01/candace-cameron-bure-stars-in-Aurora-Teagarden.html
Word on the Street: Is Hallmark Already Planning a Christmas Movie for 2023?
18 Cinema Lane 