A Merry Little Ex-Mas Ending Explained: The Last-Minute Twist That Saves Kate and Everett’s Marriage
A Merry Little Ex-Mas pairs Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson as college sweethearts whose picture-perfect family cracks after two decades, as his career grind and her fight to hold it all together collide—pushing Kate and Everett to finally decide to split.
Netflix has a holiday rom-com that is basically: exes, new partners, and one very loaded gift exchange. 'A Merry Little Ex-Mas' throws Alicia Silverstone and Oliver Hudson into a messy, very specific kind of Christmas drama where the history is deep, the toothpaste is homemade, and yes, feelings resurface at exactly the wrong (right?) time.
The setup
Kate (Alicia Silverstone) and Everett (Oliver Hudson) are college sweethearts who did the whole life thing together: two decades of marriage, two kids, and a move to his small, postcard-ready town of Winterlight so he could open a modest medical practice. Kate always wanted to be an architect and is a hardcore environmentalist; those dreams got parked so Everett could build his career. She became a mom-slash-handywoman who does everything the sustainable way — including making their own cinnamon toothpaste, which is a choice.
As Everett dove deeper into work, he started skipping birthdays, anniversaries, holidays — basically all the things that tell your family you’re still around. Kate stewed in resentment, and Everett got increasingly annoyed with the ever-greener lifestyle at home. Neither one owned their part of the problem, so they drifted apart. Once the kids were older (their son is about to head to college), they separated.
After nine months living apart, they decided to end it and called their plan:
'consciously uncoupling'
Christmas Eve chaos
Cut to Christmas Eve. They’re swapping gifts and playing nice, when Everett hands Kate a hand-made version of the perfume she always wears. Sweet, right? Also a terrible idea in front of his new girlfriend, Tess (Jameela Jamil), who is brilliant, successful, and perceptive enough to notice Everett lights up whenever Kate is in the room. Tess walks out.
Meanwhile, Kate’s not exactly chill about Tess either — and Everett really is not thrilled to see Kate show up with Chet (Pierson Fodé), her younger, oddball new guy. Chet bounces between tons of little jobs and has a knack for causing accidental chaos, but he’s surprisingly thoughtful and kind beneath the eccentric vibe.
Seeing each other with new people knocks both Kate and Everett sideways. It also forces them to admit there’s still something there.
Wake-up call, then the reset
Kate decides she’s done putting herself last and makes plans to leave for Boston to finally chase the career she never got to start. That is the jolt Everett needed. After a few more days of actual family time over the holidays, they see their own mistakes clearly and choose to try again. Yes, they reconcile.
So… Tess and Chet?
Kate breaks up with Chet and says goodbye. Later, during a heavy blizzard, Kate and Everett run into him out volunteering to clear snow. He offers Tess a ride. Not long after, Chet texts Kate to say he and Tess are going to watch 'The Lion King' together. You read that right: while Kate and Everett circle back to each other, it looks like Tess and Chet might be starting something of their own.
Cast and characters
- Alicia Silverstone as Kate: former aspiring architect, eco-minded handywoman, mom
- Oliver Hudson as Everett: small-town doctor in Winterlight, husband who lost the plot to work
- Jameela Jamil as Tess: Everett’s new girlfriend, headstrong, independent, wildly successful, helps women build careers, globe-spanning friend group
- Pierson Fodé as Chet: Kate’s younger boyfriend, quirky drifter with many small jobs, kind-hearted, often accidentally chaotic
Where to watch
'A Merry Little Ex-Mas' is streaming on Netflix.