Netflix’s ‘The Noel Diary’ Snuck In a TikTok Trend: The Sidewalk Rule

Chivalry is not dead in the latest Netflix Christmas movie, The Noel Diary, which began streaming last week. That said, unless you’re up to date on your TikTok trends, you might miss the moment that lead actor Justin Hartley smoothly utilizes what the kids are calling “the sidewalk rule” on his love interest.

The Noel Diary follows the age-old tradition of Christmas romantic comedies. Hartley stars as a big-shot novelist named Jake, who returns to his small hometown after he learns of the death of his estranged mother. While Jake is cleaning out his mother’s house, he meets a beautiful young woman named Rachel (played by Barrett Doss), who was adopted as a child and is searching for her birth mother. Rachel’s mother once worked for Jake’s family, so the two work together to uncover their pasts—and potentially build a new future together. Oh, and also, it’s Christmastime.

Although Jake and Rachel’s first dinner date is not inherently romantic—she is engaged to another man, a minor setback that will later be remedied, don’t worry—their chemistry is palpable. Right away, you see why Jake is beloved by his adoring female fans. The man oozes charm, even when he’s not trying. He asks Rachel questions about her life, listens to her responses, and encourages her to pursue her dream job. But he saves the ultimate gentlemanly move for after dinner, when he and Rachel are walking around the town. This is where the sidewalk rule comes into play.

The sidewalk rule, for the uninitiated, is an unspoken rule that states the chivalrous person in a romantic relationship (or, the man, if you want to be all heteronormative and 1950s about it) will place themselves between the road and their partner while walking down the sidewalk. The idea here is that this move places said chivalrous person in a position to protect their partner from oncoming traffic, should the worst happen. In The Noel Diary, Jake deliberately rearranges his position to make sure Rachel is walking along the inside of the sidewalk.

Such a gentleman!

This blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment was spotted by Twitter user @breezeblocks01, who posted a video of the scene online on the day the film was released. The replies are full of viewers who also caught the sweet moment, including: “Nature is healing,” “This is always a plus to me,” and “I was weak.” The people love a man who will put himself in harm’s way for his lady!

If you didn’t know about the sidewalk rule, no need to beat yourself up. The phenomenon has only recently picked up in popularity thanks to TikTok. Romance influencers on the app insist that if your man doesn’t know the sidewalk rule, that’s a surefire reason to dump him.

Personally, I think that if your significant other doesn’t watch TikTok, that’s all the more reason to hang onto them. But hey, that’s just me! Rachel certainly looks happy. Good for her.