Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine Review (Golden Double Double Feature Part 1)

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Thanks for joining me for the first part of my Golden Double Double Feature! The majority of my review of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is spoiler-free. If you’d like to learn more about why I chose this year’s double feature theme, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Ridini Entertainment, and CBS

1. Out of the movies from Betty White’s filmography, why did you select Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

When I created my Hallmark Hall of Fame tier rank list in 2020, I not only placed The Lost Valentine in the “Get It On Sale for Half Off” (a.k.a. Good) tier, I also recommended the film because of the use of flashbacks and recognition of Valentine’s Day. But it’s been over eight years since I’ve seen The Lost Valentine. While selecting the 2011 Hallmark Hall of Fame picture for this review, I didn’t know if my opinion on the film would remain the same as it was years ago. On my Year-Long Bingo Card, three of the bingo squares are “Review at least 2 Hallmark Hall of Fame films”, “Revisit a movie you haven’t seen in over 5 years”, and “Review a holiday themed movie that isn’t Christmas”. So, when I saw The Lost Valentine on Betty’s filmography, I remembered liking the movie, as well as how the movie would complete those aforementioned bingo squares.

2. In Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, Betty portrays Caroline Thomas. How is Caroline Thomas similar or different from Rose?

On The Golden Girls, Rose Nylund is known for her innocence and naivete. These qualities add charm to Rose’s character, as well as provide some of the show’s comedic moments. Betty’s character in The Lost Valentine, Caroline Thomas, lacks Rose’s naivete for two reasons. Caroline’s experiences during World War II and even afterwards give her an awareness of how unpredictable life can truly be. Her lack of naivete also makes sense with the story itself, as The Lost Valentine is a serious drama grounded in reality.

3. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine is based on a book by James Michael Pratt. What book adaptation would you have liked to see Betty star in?

    For 2024’s Eurovisionathon readathon, I read The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald. From what I remember of the book, I could picture Betty portraying a character from that story. Katarina crafted characters that sounded and felt distinct from one another. Plus, the small-town setting seemed Hallmark-esque, creating a sense of community through dramatic and comedic character interactions. The “golden girls” have distinct personalities on The Golden Girls, allowing each character to be unique. Even though the show is classified as a sit-com, there were emotional, serious moments woven into episodes. With all that said, I think a story like The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend would have complimented Betty’s acting talents, as The Lost Valentine perfectly showcased her comedic and dramatic timing.

    4. Was there anything about Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine you liked or didn’t like?

    As I mentioned in answer number one, I recommended The Lost Valentine because of the use of flashbacks. These flashbacks added context to the events presented on screen, especially when it came to Caroline’s part of the story. Meghann Fahy portrayed Caroline’s younger self while Billy Magnussen portrayed Caroline’s husband, Neil. Both Meghann’s and Billy’s acting performance was strong. But together, their on-screen chemistry effectively sold the believability of Neil and Caroline’s relationship! What works in the favor on this relationship is the emotional depth Billy and Meghann bring. A great example is how Caroline’s and Neil’s eyes possessed the pain of being apart from each other. Watching Meghann’s and Billy’s performance felt like witnessing a couple upholding their promise of love instead of two actors simply portraying characters. I wish Billy and Meghann had been cast in more Hallmark projects together.

    Jennifer Love Hewitt stars in The Lost Valentine as a television reporter named Susan Allison. Susan received a subplot where she contemplates her future with her boyfriend, Andrew. This is one of those subplots where you know the relationship isn’t going to last because the film’s female protagonist will eventually fall in love with the male protagonist, which, in The Lost Valentine, is Caroline’s grandson, Lucas. That creative decision led to Susan’s subplot being predictable. Instead, her subplot should have prioritized her reconciliation with her family, especially since Susan mentioned toward the beginning of The Lost Valentine how she doesn’t have a strong relationship with them.

    5. The Golden Girls didn’t receive any television films (like other shows such as Little House on the Prairie, Murder, She Wrote, etc.) In your opinion, why do you think this creative decision was made?

    A typical episode of The Golden Girls is about thirty minutes long. Meanwhile, most television movies receive a run-time between an hour and thirty minutes to two hours. If a tv show’s creative team chooses to make a made-for-TV movie, they need to create a story that justifies a longer length of time. So, I’m guessing the creative team behind The Golden Girls never figured out a story that couldn’t be told in half an hour.

    Rose illustration image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

    6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

    Like I said in my number one answer, it’s been over eight years since I’ve seen The Lost Valentine. Because of this, I had completely forgotten the humor woven into the story. Comedic moments sprinkled throughout the film was such a pleasant surprise for me. One of my favorite scenes was when Caroline reads a sports magazine to a group of veterans at a local hospital. While she’s talking about the New York Yankees, Caroline says she doesn’t hate the team, she just doesn’t like it when they beat a team she likes more. How that piece of dialogue was written, as well as Betty’s sweetly honest delivery, created a scene that was genuinely hilarious. Moments like the one I described alleviated some of The Lost Valentine’s heavier scenes yet never overshadowed the story’s serious subject matter.

    For this part of my review, I will spoil The Lost Valentine. If you have not seen this movie and are planning on watching it, skip ahead to question number seven.

    Toward the end of The Lost Valentine, after Caroline welcomes Neil home, she discovers rose buds growing on a rose bush in her garden. That specific rose bush was not only the first plant Caroline and Neil planted when they moved into their home, the rose bush was believed to be dead for the majority of the movie. When Caroline discovers the rose buds, she reminisces about Neil as she dances to music from the past. All of a sudden, a man who I assumed was Neil’s ghost appeared behind Caroline. After that, the hose Caroline was holding falls to the ground. But the scenes that follow are flashbacks of Caroline and Neil and scenes featuring Lucas and Susan. Is the fallen hose implying Caroline passed away, joining Neil in the afterlife? Or was Caroline so caught up in remembering the past, she dropped the hose by accident? That part of the story was, in my opinion, too open-ended for a stand-alone film. But because The Lost Valentine is based on a book, maybe the source material would provide a clearer explanation than the adaptation did.

    7. Throughout The Golden Girls, cheesecake became an iconic staple of the show. What would you say is the iconic staple of Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine?

    You’d think I’d pick the titular valentine, as it plays a significant role in The Lost Valentine. But, instead, I’m choosing the red rose. When it comes to growing roses, it takes time, patience, commitment, and care. Even as Lucas wants to uproot a rose bush he believes is dead, Caroline reminds her grandson how she doesn’t give up on things that easily. These aspects perfectly represent some of the major themes of The Lost Valentine; like serving others and putting your love toward something you believe matters. Caroline’s rose bush also provides the story with a nice full-circle moment.

    8. The Hallmark Hall of Fame collection overlapped with The Golden Girls (in terms of existence). Why do you think Hallmark Hall of Fame didn’t try to capitalize on the popularity of the “golden girls”?

    From 1979 to 2011, Hallmark Hall of Fame movies aired on CBS. The Golden Girls existed on NBC. While Hallmark Hall of Fame and The Golden Girls overlapped (between 1985 to 1992), there were two to four Hallmark Hall of Fame films released per year, implying tighter production schedules. Though a typical season of The Golden Girls ran from September to May, a certain amount of time needed to be set aside to film episodes, especially since The Golden Girls was filmed in front of a live studio audience. These factors may have made casting any of the “golden girls” in a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation difficult, but not impossible. However, trying to accommodate any of the “golden girls” schedules could have affected the schedules of the other cast and crew members of a Hallmark Hall of Fame project.

    9. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine was released in 2011 (19 years after The Golden Girls ended). Is there any element from the movie you wish was incorporated on the show?

      One of the overarching themes of The Lost Valentine is serving others. A great example is when Caroline visits veterans at a local hospital. On The Golden Girls, there were two episodes involving veterans; ‘From Here to the Pharmacy’ and ‘Charlie’s Buddy’. However, these episodes prioritized Rose’s and Blanche’s attempt to finding romance. As far as I know, there wasn’t an episode of The Golden Girls where the “golden girls” took the time to honor veterans. Therefore, I wish this type of story had been incorporated on the show. One example is the “golden girls” volunteering at an Honor Flight ceremony.

      10. After watching Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, is there anything you can take away from your movie-viewing experience?

      For years, Hallmark’s motto has been “When you care enough to send the very best”. Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine perfectly represents that motto! The amount of care that Caroline put into waiting for Neil is a beautiful display of putting the needs of others before oneself, one of the major themes of The Lost Valentine. Other parts of the story represent this theme as well, such as Susan’s quest to find the truth about Neil’s whereabouts. By revisiting the 2011 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I was reminded why I like it. Strong elements, such as the acting performances and the screenwriting, made my movie-viewing experience enjoyable. I was also reminded of things I had completely forgotten, like the humor woven into the story. As I said in this review, the comedic moments alleviated some of The Lost Valentine’s heavier scenes yet never overshadowed the story’s serious subject matter. This is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie that still holds up, even fifteen years later. Therefore, it will stay in the “Get It On Sale for Half Off” (a.k.a. Good) tier of my Hallmark Hall of Fame tier rank list!

      The Golden Double Double Feature banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by Touchstone Television, Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, 20th Television, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

      Thank you for being a friend!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Announcing The Golden Double Double Feature!

      On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

      When I publish one hundred posts, I create a double feature as one of 18 Cinema Lane’s traditions. My review of Autumn Sonata achieved the aforementioned milestone by becoming my one thousandth published post! But this was not the only milestone my Autumn Sonata review reached. That would also be becoming my four hundred and fiftieth published movie review! Because one post accomplished both milestones, I decided to do something different for this double feature. Instead of reviewing two movies, I’ll be reviewing four of them. As I thought about possible double feature themes, I came to a realization. Each of the “golden girls” (Bea Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty) has a filmography. So, for this double feature, I will cover movies featuring the stars of The Golden Girls! These films will be Mame, Hallmark Hall of Fame’s The Lost Valentine, The Little Match Girl, and Mask.

      The Golden Double Double Feature banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. Original image created by Touchstone Television, Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions, 20th Television, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

      Thank you for being a friend!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Take 3: Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder Review

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      Compared to the previous decade, Hallmark hasn’t prioritized the mystery genre. While the network has released new titles, the overall quality has greatly fluctuated. Some pictures, like Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Murder in G Major and Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans, were solid projects that brought uniqueness to Hallmark’s table. But other pictures, like Mystery Island and Francesca Quinn, PI, left audiences desiring more. Hallmark also seems to be more selective about which titles receive a sequel. One of those titles is Nelly Knows Mysteries. I reviewed Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement in 2024. Though I thought the movie was just ok, there were aspects that I believed could have provided multiple chapters to the story. So, when I discovered Nelly Knows Mysteries would receive a sequel, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, I wanted to check the film out (and review it) with an open mind. Is the second Nelly Knows Mysteries chapter better or worse than the first one? In order to solve this mystery, you’ll have to read this review!

      Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder poster created by Muse Entertainment, Hallmark Channel, and Hallmark Mystery

      Things I liked about the film:

      The set design: The majority of Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder takes place at Palmer Arlott’s house. Because the Arlott family is one of the more affluent families in Nelly’s neighborhood, the set design throughout Palmer’s home perfectly reflects this aspect of her life. One notable example is Palmer’s dining room. In the dining room, black walls surround the space, including a black wood wall over the fireplace. Gold frames around paintings nicely contrast with the dark hue of the walls. A detailed maroon rug is placed over the cherry wood floor. The cherry wood dining room set and the antique gold and crystal chandelier help balance the darker and lighter colors of the room. Even the fireplace boasted stone carvings. All of these details created a dining room that exuded elegance!

      How the mystery affects the protagonist: Murder mystery stories will often place so much emphasis on the protagonist solving the case, the case’s effect on the protagonist is rarely brought up. In Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Nelly shares her feelings about the murder to Michael. After the murder victim is discovered, Nelly feels guilty about the crime that took place. She believes if the dinner party the murder victim attended (and was hosted based on advice her advice column provided) hadn’t happened, no one would have been murdered. Not only does Nelly honestly express these feelings with Michael, Michael reassures Nelly what happened was beyond her control. Similar to Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement adding realism by addressing one of Nelly’s flaws, acknowledging Nelly’s feelings about the murder mystery brought realism to Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, as well as added a different story element to the realm of Hallmark mysteries.

      The costume design: When I reviewed Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement, I praised Nelly’s wardrobe because it not only complimented Pascale herself, it was also stylishly presented on screen. This strength continues in Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder! Once again, Nelly incorporates pink into her attire, wearing a pink tweed jacket in one outfit. But the rest of the outfit was built around the jacket, with simple gold jewelry, black shoes, and black pants coordinating nicely with the jacket’s black and gold buttons. Green provides a bridge between the darker and lighter hues of the outfit, with Nelly wearing a green shirt and a green crossbody purse. While watching Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, I noticed how the wardrobe of the other characters stood out! One great example is what Palmer wore when she was first introduced in the film. Similar to Nelly’s aforementioned outfit, Palmer wore a grayish blue tweed jacket, with the rest of the outfit built around the jacket. A white blouse, faded powder blue pants, and black shoes give a nice blend to the outfit’s varying colors. Palmer’s simple silver belt adds elegance to the outfit!

      Magnifying glass and fingerprint image created by Alvaro_Cabrera at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/loupe-over-a-fingerprint_853908.htm’>Designed by alvaro_cabrera</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/glass”>Glass vector created by Alvaro_cabrera – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      What I didn’t like about the film:

      Lack of urgency: In my review of Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, I criticized the film’s lack of urgency. That flaw caused the movie’s pace to slow down and it drew the story out a bit. Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder also lacked urgency. More often than not, Nelly and Michael are shown sharing conversations between each other and other characters than actively solving the case. This made it seem like the protagonists took their time catching the culprit. Like Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, the pace of Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder was slowed down and the story felt drawn out due to the amount of urgency in the movie.

      Prioritizing the family drama: Prior to the murder taking place, Palmer invited her family over to her house to discuss who would receive her inheritance. Her decision causes drama among the Arlott family, every member having their reason for disagreeing with Palmer’s choice. But the script placed so much emphasis on the family drama, it ended up overshadowing the mystery. In fact, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder felt less like a mystery story and more like an extended episode of a soap opera. If the script had found a balance between the family drama and the mystery, more intrigue would have been added to the film.

      Underutilizing Eli Flint: When Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder was announced back in January, it was revealed Eli Flint (from True Justice: Family Ties) would appear in the movie. I was looking forward to his inclusion in the story, especially since I believe this is the first cross-over between two Hallmark mystery titles. But when I saw Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder, Eli only appeared in two scenes. Not only that, his role in the mystery was minimal. Because Eli now has experience solving a mystery, it would make sense for him to play a larger role in the story. Underutilizing Eli’s skills and perspective was, in my opinion, a missed opportunity. For Hallmark’s first mystery cross-over, it was disappointing.

      Pancakes and Syrup image created by vextok at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/banner”>Banner vector created by vextok – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      My overall impression:

      I recently said Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery was an ok film not only because of the movie’s lack of urgency, but also because Hannah’s sister, Michelle, was underutilized in the story. I feel similarly about Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder. Like the latest Hannah Swensen Mystery chapter, the newest Nelly Knows Mysteries film lacked urgency, making it seem like the protagonists took their time catching the culprit. Eli Flint, from True Justice: Family Ties, was underutilized, despite his inclusion providing the first cross-over in Hallmark mystery movie history. But, like Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder possessed elements I liked. The story, once again, welcomed realism by acknowledging Nelly’s feelings about the murder mystery. Another consistent strength was the costume design, perfectly suiting Nelly as well as the rest of the characters. The set design in the Nelly Knows Mysteries sequel was visually appealing and perfectly represented the affluence in Palmer’s life. But with me finding both Nelly Knows Mysteries titles just ok, I wonder what the future of this series is?

      Overall score: 6 out of 10

      Have you seen Nelly Knows Mysteries: All Manners of Murder? Would you like to see Hallmark cross over more of their mystery films? Tell me in the comment section!

      Have fun at the movies!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Sunset Over Hope Valley: A Community That Doesn’t Dissolve

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      The residents of Benson Hills will move back home after the Harvest Festival. But in this season’s finale of When Calls the Heart, some of Elizabeth’s students from Benson Hills are hesitant to return home. This is because they’ll miss the friends they’ve made in Hope Valley. Elizabeth reassures these students they are always welcome to return to Hope Valley, saying, “A community doesn’t dissolve just because we don’t see each other every day”. Her quote is the perfect way to describe When Calls the Heart. Hope Valley and its residents haven’t dissolved because the show airs for a certain period of time. The creative team thinks of new ways to continue to story. Filming and editing are completed in between seasons. In the context of the story itself, Hope Valley’s residents are living their lives to their fullest. With a fourteenth season on the way, the world of When Calls the Heart will continue to stay.

      Just a reminder: If you did not see the season finale of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

      When Calls the Heart season thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

      Season: 13

      Episode: 12

      Name: Harvest Moon

      LJ is still disappointed he isn’t allowed to travel to Parson’s Peak. Nathan creates an alternative by giving LJ an opportunity to climb to the top of Hope Valley’s water tower. Not only does Nathan’s plan work, other children want to climb the water tower too. Meanwhile, Nathan tries to find the perfect time to propose to Elizabeth. But Bill advises Nathan to propose when the moment feels right. Nathan lets Allie know this is how his proposal will go. While the Harvest Festival is going on, Nathan takes Elizabeth to the top of Hope Valley’s water tower and finally proposes to her. Elizabeth accepts this proposal, meaning a wedding is in her future.

      On her last day of school before going home to Benson Hills, Gwen wears the dress Rosemary made for her toward the beginning of the season. But the dress becomes dirty and ripped during a baseball game. Gwen is upset by the destruction of the dress, believing she ruins everything. But Rosemary insists Gwen has brought so much joy to the lives of the Coulter family. Before going back to Benson Hills, Gwen gives each member of the Coulter family a gift. Lee receives a fishing hook, Rosemary gets a hand-carved picture frame, and Goldie is given a pair of dolls.

      Fancy jewelry image created by Freepic.diller at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding photo created by freepic.diller – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      Edie returns to Hope Valley to help collect insurance claims for the rest of Benson Hills’ residents. Lucas sees this as a second chance to share his feelings for Edie. At the Harvest Festival, Lucas announces he’ll be stepping down as Governor. However, he will give his support to Maisie’s campaign. Maisie is unsure whether she should run for Governor in the upcoming election. But Mike gives her encouragement, which helps Maisie accept Lucas’ nomination. Meanwhile, at the Queen of Hearts, Lucas and Edie have a heart-to-heart conversation about their relationship. Not only do Edie and Lucas share a kiss, Lucas also agrees to go to New York with Edie, where she’ll be going to help the Franklin And Sons Foundation.

      Angela surprises her family by coming back home to Hope Valley. The Canfield family surprises Angela not only with the café’s new name, Minnie’s Café, but also an official café sign in Braille. During her visit to Hope Valley, Angela reconnects with Allie. At the Harvest Festival, Angela senses Allie and Oliver like each other. Allie claims she and Oliver are just friends. But Angela respectfully disagrees, believing there’s something more to Oliver and Allie’s relationship.

      Image by hannazasimova on Freepik

      Some thoughts to consider:

      • Last December, Hallmark confirmed Lori Loughlin would return to When Calls the Heart in six of season fourteen’s episodes. These creative decisions were divisive due to Hallmark’s response to Lori’s involvement in 2019’s college admissions scandal. What’s even more divisive is making Lori’s return to the show the “cliffhanger”/major selling point for season fourteen. While some Hearties are supportive of Lori’s return, other Hearties will not agree with this decision. Therefore, I think the aforementioned creative choices could divide When Calls the Heart’s fanbase more than the love triangle between Elizabeth, Lucas, and Nathan did. I also believe Lori’s return could cause When Calls the Heart to lose instead of gain viewership.
      • When I’ve talked about When Calls the Heart, I sometimes brought up the creative team’s habit of making promises to their audience they knew they couldn’t keep. Rosemary’s Playhouse is the most recent example. As I said in the introduction of season thirteen’s premiere re-cap post, I have been waiting for Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater to come true for over ten years. It was bad enough taking the Playhouse away from Rosemary before it was shown on screen. But what’s even worse was the script spending more time reminding the audience of the Playhouse’s destruction than trying to restore Rosemary’s dream. As a long-time fan of When Calls the Heart, I find these creative decisions cruel and unnecessary.
      • The best aspect of season thirteen, in my opinion, was the introduction of Fernando. In my re-cap post for this season’s sixth episode, I said I really hope Fernando becomes a series regular on When Calls the Heart. But throughout season thirteen, he only appeared in three episodes. Plus, within the context of the show’s story, Fernando wasn’t given much to do. With all this said, I wonder what the intended purpose was for his incorporation in season thirteen? Plus, if When Calls the Heart’s creative team always planned on having Edie and Lucas develop a romantic relationship, why would Fernando be included in that dynamic between himself, Edie, and Lucas?
      • Now that season thirteen has concluded, I can express my honest opinion on the season as a whole. Personally, I think it’s a mixed bag. Episodes one through six were strong because they prioritized the mystery surrounding the fire. When I watched those episodes, I honestly thought season thirteen would be one of the best seasons of When Calls the Heart. But from episode seven to the season finale, the priority shifted toward stories with lower stakes. The suspenseful and intriguing momentum built up within the first six episodes stalled in favor of stories like Rosemary’s silent movie and LJ’s memory scavenger hunt. Because of this, season thirteen felt like it ended on a whimper.
      Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      What are thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s season thirteen finale? Do you think Lori Loughlin should return to the show? Let me know in the comment section.

      Have fun in Hope Valley.

      Sally Silverscreen

      Sally Watches…Murder, She Wrote (Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder)!

      On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

      For this year’s Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon, I decided to talk about a show I haven’t discussed in a while. Reflecting on the programs covered on 18 Cinema Lane, I made a surprising discovery. The last time I reviewed any episodes of Murder, She Wrote was all the way back in 2020, when I wrote about Van Johnson’s episodes of the show. To make up for lost time, I selected three episodes of Murder, She Wrote for the 12th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon! But, for this year’s event, the episodes I chose correlate with the dates of the blogathon. In fact, each Murder, She Wrote episode is reviewed in order of the blogathon’s dates. Also, each episode review will cover what I liked about the episode, what I didn’t like about the episode, the mystery itself, the other factors from the episode, and my overall thoughts. So, now let’s begin this review of these episodes of Murder, She Wrote!

      Name: The Dream Team

      Season 11, Episode 18

      Premiere Date: March 19th, 1995

      Screenshot of ‘The Dream Team’ title card taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

      What I liked about this episode:

      Any time I’ve reviewed television show episodes, I have rarely addressed the dialogue as a strength of the episode. But in the case of this Murder, She Wrote episode, ‘The Dream Team’, the dialogue was cleverly written! Before attending a presentation about a development project from a company called Marina Americana, Jessica gives Seth some books about lighthouses. These books are intended to help Seth craft a strong argument for saving Cabot Cove’s lighthouse, which is an important landmark in the town. When Jessica brings up how the books could provide information for the hook of Seth’s argument, Seth says, “The hook I showed you last night will do just fine, thank you”. Sheriff Mort Metzger replies to Seth, “Maybe for the worm hanging from it”. At the presentation, Jessica’s nephew, Grady, reveals his colleague, J. Peter Carmody, plans to restore the lighthouse. Caught off-guard by this revelation, Metzger says, “Yeah, I think he [J. Peter Carmody] was rendered speechless by the Doc’s party trick; putting both feet in his mouth at the same time”. Along with being cleverly written, these quotes I brought up were hilarious!

      What I didn’t like about this episode:

      The beginning of a typical Murder, She Wrote episode will take the time to establish the characters and their potential motives. This creative decision gives the audience options in figuring out whodunit, as well as provide the story with red herrings. The establishment of characters and their motives in ‘The Dream Team’ took about half the episode. With the titular murder taking place at the episode’s halfway point, the audience is only given half the episode to help Jessica solve the case. Personally, I prefer stories that give viewers more time to figure the mystery out.

      The mystery itself:

      There are two interconnected stories in ‘The Dream Team’; the murder of a developer’s wife and the Marina Americana development project. But in this almost hour-long episode, more emphasis was placed on whether the development project would come to fruition. It also doesn’t help how, as I mentioned earlier, the audience was only given half the episode to figure the mystery out. In some Murder, She Wrote episodes, the guilty party will be revealed based on at least one small detail most viewers may miss. Though this was the case for ‘The Dream Team’, several smaller clues led up to the culprit’s reveal. Overall, I wish there was a balance between both stories and the audience was given more time to help Jessica solve the case.

      The other factors from this episode:

      • As Seth explains his thoughts on the Marina Americana development project, Jessica expresses her impatience over how long Seth takes to get to his point. Seth then tells Jessica, “Now that you’re living in New York, you’re becoming as impatient as the rest of those people down there”. In several episodes of Murder, She Wrote, Jessica lived in New York, though this new living arrangement was only meant to be temporary. By having Seth address this part of Murder, She Wrote’s story, it was a good way to incorporate the show’s continuity.
      • While we’re on the subject of Seth, I want to address his desire to save Cabot Cove’s lighthouse. At the beginning of ‘The Dream Team’, Seth is against the Marina Americana development project because he fears the lighthouse will be destroyed. He goes so far as to create flyers in an attempt to make the developers feel guilty about risking the lighthouse’s future. However, the amount of time, money, and resources Seth puts toward those flyers could have gone toward actually restoring the lighthouse he claims to care about. If anything, Seth prioritizes talking about the problem instead of trying to solve it.
      • Grady is one of the developers of the Marina Americana development project. But when the fruition of the project is in jeopardy, so is Grady’s job. When he shares this information with Jessica, he says, “It’s so damn frustrating. I really believed in this project and, well obviously, so did a lot of other people”. What Grady said brings up an excellent point about how a neighborhood’s residents are not the only people impacted by any change within a neighborhood. In fact, I hadn’t come to this realization until I heard Grady’s quote.

      My overall thoughts:

      The way I feel about ‘The Dream Team’ is similar to how I feel about ‘The Legacy of Borbey House’; disappointment that Cabot Cove’s maintenance received precedence over the mystery itself. Also, like ‘The Legacy of Borbey House’, the entire first half of ‘The Dream Team’ was devoted to establishing characters and their potential motives. This left only half the episode for the audience to help Jessica solve the mystery. However, I did find the dialogue cleverly written. The examples I provided in this review were hilarious as well. I not only liked the inclusion of Murder, She Wrote’s continuity, I also found Grady’s quote thought-provoking. What I also found thought-provoking was the idea of Cabot Cove changing. As I watched ‘The Dream Team’, I thought about what would happen if Cabot Cove were a real town. Would it adapt with the times or would it stay frozen in time?

      Rating: A 3 out of 5

      The 12th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon banner created by Terence from A Shroud of Thoughts

      Name: Dead to Rights

      Season 9, Episode 18

      Premiere Date: March 21st, 1993

      Screenshot of ‘Dead to Rights’ title card taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

      What I liked about this episode:

      In this episode of Murder, She Wrote, ‘Dead to Rights’, Jessica’s former researcher, Dana Ballard, is accused of murdering her new boss. A major reason for this accusation is how she constantly lies. Dana goes so far as to impersonate Jessica, as well as change Jessica’s answering machine message, in order to be selected for a new job. But one person who sees past Dana’s lying is Missy, the wife of Dana’s new boss, Ethan. During a conversation between the two women, Dana shows off a sweet, even a bit naïve, personality, acting as if she’s oblivious of Missy’s suspicions. When Missy confronts Dana about her suspicions, Dana effortlessly transforms into an irritated, manipulative woman. Because of the screenwriting and Molly Hagan’s (the actress who portrayed Dana) performance, the creative team behind ‘Dead to Rights’ did a good job at establishing Dana as a potential suspect. However, I would like to point out the script provides a reason for Dana’s lying; “borderline psychosis” (as Jessica put it).

      What I didn’t like about this episode:

      As I just mentioned in this review, Dana is accused of murdering her new boss, Ethan. While this gave Jessica a personal reason for solving the case, the majority of the story focused on proving Dana’s innocence. ‘Dead to Rights’ did a good job at establishing characters and their potential motives. However, this build-up became an afterthought as the episode progressed due to the aforementioned focus on the truth about Dana. Similar to ‘The Dream Team’, the guilty party in ‘Dead to Rights’ was revealed based on a small detail. Had the script provided a balance between proving Dana’s innocence and figuring out who was guilty, the story might have been stronger.

      The mystery itself:

      Like I’ve already stated in my review, most of the story focused on proving Dana’s innocence. I also stated how the mystery’s guilty party was revealed based on a small detail. Another aspect of the mystery I’d like to bring up is how Jessica works with a lawyer named Vincent to solve the case. Typically, Murder, She Wrote shows Jessica collaborating with police officers, detectives, or investigators when it comes to catching whodunit. So, seeing Jessica engage with the more legal side of the mystery genre was a good change of pace for her!

      The other factors from this episode:

      • Some scenes in ‘Dead to Rights’ show a large train display the length of the entire wall in Ethan’s office. This train display not only surrounds a miniature town, a large painted backdrop of a desert landscape covered the wall behind the train display. Even though the train display and everything surrounding it was impressive, its inclusion in ‘Dead to Rights’ was random. None of the characters acknowledged the display itself. Plus, Ethan’s reason for the display being in his office was never provided.
      • Toward the beginning of the episode, on-screen text reveals how most of the story takes place in Portland, Maine. But in an establishing shot of a hotel’s exterior (implying that’s the hotel Jessica is staying at), Maine’s state flag is not displayed on the hotel. Instead, the state flags for Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. are prominently featured on the hotel’s exterior. In past reviews of Murder, She Wrote, I have complimented the show’s creative team for its location scouting because of how visually appealing the locations themselves have been. So, I’m surprised this film-making mistake went overlooked.
      • During Jessica’s and Vincent’s investigation, Vincent turns to a woman named Wanda for assistance. A few scenes show Vincent and Jessica visiting Wanda at her home. Her office/living room is filled with a collection of décor; from a cylindrical fish tank to a colorful pinball game. Because Wanda had such a quirky personality, the creative team behind ‘Dead to Rights’ did a good job utilizing these pieces of décor to paint a picture of who Wanda is. The décor itself also made Wanda’s home look like a cool space!

      My overall thoughts:

      At best, ‘Dead to Rights’ is an ok episode. But, at worst, the story was weaker than I had hoped. So much emphasis was placed on proving Dana’s innocence, the build-up of the characters and their potential motives became an afterthought as the episode went on. What I also found frustrating was how the guilty party was revealed based on a small detail I think most viewers might overlook. However, there are aspects of ‘Dead to Rights’ I liked. The combination of Molly Hagan’s performance and the screenwriting effectively established Dana Ballard as a potential suspect. The episode’s creative team did a good job showcasing Wanda’s personality through the set design. However, there were some questionable creative choices, like Ethan’s train display and the lack of Maine state flags on the hotel. Now I wonder what other production errors from Murder, She Wrote actually appeared on the show?

      Rating: A 3 out of 5

      As I point out in this screenshot, the on-screen text clearly states most of the story takes place in Portland, Maine. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
      In this establishing shot, these flags would indicate the hotel is not located near Maine. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

      Name: No Accounting for Murder

      Season 3, Episode 19

      Premiere Date: March 22nd, 1987

      Screenshot of ‘No Accounting for Murder’ title card taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

      What I liked about this episode:

      One of the strengths of Murder, She Wrote has been the set design. This episode, ‘No Accounting for Murder’ is a perfect example of this statement! The accounting firm Grady works for is one of the most opulent looking businesses I’ve ever seen in entertainment media. The office of a colleague named Paul Carlisle boasts stunning design choices, including gold wallpaper that sparkled in the light, a white upholstered office chair, and gold décor. Even the accounting firm’s lobby fit the opulent style found in Paul’s office! Deep wood pillars and window frames provide a nice contrast to the light-colored carpet and wallpaper. Similar to Paul’s office, the sofa in the lobby was also upholstered. A gold table lamp adds a touch of elegance to the space. Once again, the creative team behind Murder, She Wrote knew what they were doing when it came to designing this particular set!

      What I didn’t like about this episode:

      When I reviewed ‘The Dream Team’ and ‘Dead to Rights’, I talked about how the characters and their potential motives were established within the story. But in ‘No Accounting for Murder’, some of the characters aren’t given a potential motive. The characters that do have a potential motive receive it as the story went along instead of toward the beginning of the episode. What also didn’t help was how the culprit was revealed because of a small detail mentioned by one of the characters. The fact only some characters were given a potential motive caused the script to lack red herrings.

      The mystery itself:

      There are two mysteries within ‘No Accounting for Murder’; the murder of one of Grady’s colleagues, Ralph Whitman, and the “ghost” inhabiting the accounting firm. Unlike the stories in ‘The Dream Team’, the stories in ‘No Accounting for Murder’ didn’t feel connected. In fact, each story felt like it belonged in their own separate episode. Personally, I thought the “ghost” story was more intriguing, as there were more mysterious elements to it. By the episode’s conclusion, however, I was disappointed by the unsatisfactory resolution of that story.

      The other factors from this episode:

      • In ‘No Accounting for Murder’, Jessica works alongside Lieutenant Timothy Hanratty while trying to solve the case. In a car ride through New York City, Timothy brings up some of Jessica’s past cases and even wonders why she hasn’t received a gold badge from her own police department yet. Jessica replies by saying, “It’s just a quirk of mine, really. The way I see things, you know?” When Jessica said this, I thought about other detectives, both amateur and professional, from entertainment media. They seem to possess a gift for observation, picking up on little details buried among facts, clues, and speculation. What these characters bring to their respective tables is just extraordinary. Any time I’ve watched Murder, She Wrote, I believed Jessica just happened to be that good at being a detective. But after watching ‘No Accounting for Murder’, I now see Jessica possessing a brilliance, similar to other detectives from television and film.
      • Last year, when I reviewed the Touched by An Angel episode, ‘Sympathy for the Devil’, I brought up one of the most unintentionally funny moments of the show; when Ty Duncan called his son “Chicken Boy” as an insult. In the Murder, She Wrote, episode, ‘No Accounting for Murder’, an unintentionally funny moment took place during a confrontation between Paul and the murder victim’s wife, Lana Whitman. As an insult, Lana calls Paul an “arrogant horse’s batootie”. Because of how goofy this insult sounded, I ended up bursting out laughing.
      • While watching ‘No Accounting for Murder’, I spotted a familiar face among the cast of characters. Ron Masak portrayed a salesman named Marty Giles, who happened to be a potential suspect. Fans of Murder, She Wrote would recognize Ron as Sheriff Mort Metzger, one of the most beloved residents of Cabot Cove. This discovery was such a surprise for me, as I didn’t know Ron had portrayed other characters on Murder, She Wrote besides Metzger. This makes me wonder how often actors and actresses portrayed more than one character on Murder, She Wrote?

      My overall thoughts:

      Like ‘The Dream Team’ and ‘Dead to Rights’, ‘No Accounting for Murder’ was just ok. Even though I liked the accounting firm’s set design, I didn’t like how some of the characters didn’t receive a potential motive. I also didn’t like how the mystery stories felt disconnected. However, the “ghost” story was intriguing enough to keep me invested in the episode, despite its resolution being unsatisfactory. ‘No Accounting for Murder’ has made me see Jessica in a slightly different way, leaving me appreciative of what she has to offer to the mystery genre’s table. It was nice to see Ron Masak appear in this episode as well. But as I look back on the episodes of Murder, She Wrote I’ve written about, ‘No Accounting for Murder’ will not be reflected on as fondly as other episodes.

      Rating: A 3 out of 5

      Design details like the sparkling gold wallpaper and the velvety green curtains add opulence to the set. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
      The opulence I mentioned while discussing Paul’s office is also reflected in the lobby of the accounting firm. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

      What are your thoughts on these episodes of Murder, She Wrote? Are there any episodes you’d like to see me review? Tell me in the comment section!

      Have fun in Cabot Cove!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Sunset Over Hope Valley: Heroes in Disguise

      On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

      The trial over the fire investigation has finally taken place. But as the trial goes on, hope seems to be slipping away from Hearties’ favorite characters. Until a hero in disguise swoops in to save the day. Throughout the lifespan of When Calls the Heart, heroes have come and went in Hope Valley. Sometimes, their actions have been grand, attracting the attention of everyone affected. But other times, these heroic actions have been quieter, causing a ripple effect that is felt by the other characters. What the heroes of Hope Valley have in common is how they are disguised as neighbors, friends, and family. They are ordinary residents who go the extra mile for the people around them. When the heroism of Hope Valley’s heroes is recognized, they don’t allow the attention to get to their head. Instead, they remain humble and continue to be their genuine selves.

      Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

      When Calls the Heart season thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

      Season: 13

      Episode: 11

      Name: Trials and Trails and Tribulations

      Major story:

      Because Benson Hills’ courthouse is still under construction, the fire investigation’s trial is taking place in Hope Valley. The judge overseeing the trial is Judge Wakefield. When both sides are questioned, they recall information that was discovered in this season’s previous episodes. However, Judge Wakefield won’t allow the information discovered from the “drip test” to be used in court, as he feels it is entrapment. As a final effort to find Christopher, Elizabeth suggests having Henry contact his son through Rosemary’s radio show. This plan ends up working, as Christopher shows up to court with the buried transformer. His confession helps Judge Wakefield declare National Insurance and Pioneer Electric guilty of starting the fire.

      Courtroom image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/isometric”>Isometric vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      Minor stories:

      Nathan prepares to propose to Elizabeth. But, as he tells Allie, he wants the proposal to take place after the trial. When the trial eventually concludes, Nathan decides to propose to Elizabeth during dinner. As he’s about to ask Elizabeth the long-awaited question, the dinner is interrupted by Allie. According to Allie, LJ climbed up a tree but had difficulty climbing down. When Elizabeth and Nathan rescue LJ, LJ expresses his frustrations over not being allowed to travel to Parson’s Peak. Elizabeth worries about LJ missing out on adventures. However, Nathan reassures Elizabeth how she’ll know when it’s the right time to let LJ spread his wings and fly.

      Lucas works on preparations for his re-election campaign. One of those preparations is practicing for an upcoming debate. As Lucas makes his case for why he deserves to be re-elected, Maisie acts as his debate opponent. When Lucas expresses his frustrations over how little he believes he accomplished, Maisie encourages him to love the game or find a new one. Meanwhile, Joseph is hesitant to forgive Christopher for not coming forward with the truth about the fire sooner. Cooper, on the other hand, is willing to forgive Christopher, even pointing out how Joseph’s recent sermon was about forgiveness. Joseph explains to his son how he isn’t ready to forgive yet.

      Small, western town image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      Some thoughts to consider:

      • While I’m glad the fire investigation and its trial was resolved, the resolution was, in my opinion, a bit predictable. In season thirteen, episodes one through six prioritized the mystery surrounding the fire. But since episode seven, the priority shifted toward stories with lower stakes, such as Rosemary’s silent movie. Even in this episode, it almost feels like When Calls the Heart’s creative team wanted to complete this story just so they could move on to something else. I wish the resolution to the fire investigation and its trial had included a plot twist to add some excitement to that story.
      • According to the commercial for the season finale (as well as fan responses on social media), a lot of people expect Elizabeth and Nathan to become engaged at the end of season thirteen. But I think Nathan’s proposal will become interrupted (again), with the cause of the interruption dealt with toward the beginning of season fourteen. One possible interruption could be Toby, Cooper, and Rupert experiencing an emergency on Parson’s Peak. I did notice how these three students were not featured in the season finale commercial.
      • After Christopher shows up at the trial and comes forward with his confession, Henry lets his son know how he’ll support him any way he can. Reflecting on how Henry’s and Christopher’s story turned out, I noticed how they have paralleled one another. Both Christopher’s and Henry’s redemption arc started with a trial, with their actions and choices impacting multiple lives. Though Christopher’s redemption arc just begun, he is seeking forgiveness, similar to how Henry has sought forgiveness in seasons’ past. Henry’s redemption arc led him to become Hope Valley’s “Voice of Reason”. So, it’ll be interesting to see who Christopher becomes as his redemption arc continues.
      Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think Nathan’s proposal will become interrupted again? Please tell me in the comment section below!

      Have fun in Hope Valley!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Comparing with the Critics – Best of 1978 – Autumn Sonata

      On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

      This review is from my series, Comparing with the Critics. If you’d like to learn more about the series, click on the link below.

      Introducing my new series, Comparing with the Critics!

      March’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Oscar Losing Movies (Oscar nominees that failed to garner even one win)”. Upon learning this theme, I was going to select a movie nominated for the 76th Academy Awards, when The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won a history-making eleven awards. But after researching which films were nominated the evening of February 29th, 2004, I discovered other pictures besides The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King walked away with a trophy. This discovery meant there weren’t as many Oscar “losers” as I initially believed. So, as I continued my research for March’s Genre Grandeur, I learned Autumn Sonata was nominated for two awards at the 51st Academy Awards. These categories were Best Writing and Best Leading Actress. Sadly, Autumn Sonata lost both categories to a movie titled Coming Home. I have heard of Autumn Sonata prior to choosing it for this particular review. Not only was the film recommended to me by Virginie (from The Wonderful World of Cinema), it was also featured in ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode of Gene Siskel’s and Roger Ebert’s show, Sneak Previews. In that episode, both Roger and Gene admitted to placing Autumn Sonata on their lists of the ten best films of 1978. Now that I’ve seen the movie for myself, I can understand why it would find a place on their lists. I can also understand why Autumn Sonata was nominated for its respective categories at the 51st Academy Awards in 1979.

      Autumn Sonata poster created by Persona Film, Suede Film, Incorporated Television Company (ITC), Svensk Filmindustri, Constantin Film, ITC Film Distributors, and New World Pictures

      As I just mentioned in this review’s introduction, Autumn Sonata was nominated for two awards at the 51st Academy Awards. One of these categories was Best Leading Actress, with Ingrid Bergman as one of five actresses to receive a nomination. While discussing Autumn Sonata in Sneak Previews’ ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode, Gene called Ingrid’s portrayal of Charlotte Andergast “riveting”. Even after a scene featuring Ingrid and Liv Ullmann (who portrayed Charlotte’s daughter, Eva) is presented in the episode, Gene says “Again, some real pain there”, referring to the emotions on display through Liv’s and Ingrid’s performance. Though I agree with Gene’s assessment of Ingrid’s portrayal of Charlotte, the word I’d use to describe it (as well as Liv’s portrayal of Eva) is captivating. In one of the best scenes from Autumn Sonata, Charlotte shares with Eva how her close friend, Leonardo, passed away. Throughout her recount of Leonardo’s last days in the hospital, Charlotte has a pained, disgusted look on her face. With a glossy, teary-eyed stare and a drawn-out frown, Charlotte is heartbroken over the loss of her friend. When I saw that scene, I wasn’t watching an actress portraying a character. I was witnessing a woman experiencing grief, with Ingrid’s performance possessing a strong sense of realism.

      String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

      Like I also said in my review, Liv Ullmann’s portrayal of Charlotte’s daughter, Eva, was captivating. This is because Liv was able to go toe-to-toe with Ingrid, acting-wise, understanding how to utilize emotion to her character’s advantage, as well as when to increase or decrease the intensity of those emotions. As I previously mentioned, there was a scene from Autumn Sonata featuring Ingrid and Liv in Sneak Previews’ ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode. In that scene, Charlotte and Eva share an emotionally explosive conversation over the reasons why their relationship is strained. Eva states how she didn’t like Charlotte’s desire to turn her daughter into someone she wasn’t. During her reflections of her past, Eva is visibly distraught. With gritted teeth and eyes overflowing with tears, even shaking at one point, Eva confesses how Charlotte’s decisions have deeply impacted her and her life choices. Because of her performance in Autumn Sonata, I wish Liv Ullmann had been nominated for an Oscar as well.

      Image by macrovector on Freepik

      During their discussion of Autumn Sonata in ‘The Best Films of 1978’ episode of Sneak Previews, neither Roger nor Gene brought up the film’s screenwriting. This is a shame, as the screenwriting was one of the movie’s strengths. Autumn Sonata is a character-driven, “slice of life” story. However, the quality of the dialogue made conversations between characters sound emotionally deep and thought provoking. In one scene, Eva asks her husband, Viktor, if he thinks she’s an adult. Viktor responds by telling her, “I guess being an adult is being able to handle your dreams and hopes, not longing for things”. He could have simply given his wife a “yes” or “no” answer. But Viktor’s response gives Eva, as well as the audience, meaningful insight about growing up, managing expectations, and even gratitude. Later in Autumn Sonata, Charlotte confesses one of her realizations to Eva. She says, “I have never grown up. My face and my body have aged. I acquire memories and experiences but inside all that I haven’t even been born.” Similar to Viktor’s aforementioned quote, Charlotte’s quote addresses growing up. In Charlotte’s case, however, her reflections sound more regretful. Disappointment can even be heard in her voice, with those pent-up feelings finally being addressed through words. As I stated in this review’s introduction, Autumn Sonata was nominated for the Best Writing category. Through a thoughtfully crafted script, that nomination was, in my opinion, earned.

      Envelope with hearts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/hearts-and-pink-envelope-for-mothers-day_1950691.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/love”>Love image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      While continuing their discussion of Autumn Sonata, Roger tells Gene about a call he received from a reader who was interested in seeing Autumn Sonata. Roger then says the reader told him, “I couldn’t make head or tail of it. What is it about?” Meanwhile, Gene claims “the conflict is how do you reconcile your public career with your personal responsibilities to your family”. Based on my experience watching Autumn Sonata, I think it’s not just about balancing a public and personal life. I think it’s also about the brutal honesty of strained familial relationships. When Eva and Charlotte talk about the past, no figurative punches are held back. They tell each other exactly what’s on their minds and hearts, no matter who’s feelings get hurt. It would have been easy for Autumn Sonata’s creative team to paint either Charlotte or Eva as the “villain” of the story. Instead, both women are not only flawed, they have valid points to their sides of the narrative. How the story plays out kind of reminds me of The Royal Tenenbaums, where the strained relationship between Eva and Charlotte is the result of little things culminating over time. The acting performances and the screenwriting successfully bring a sense of realism to Autumn Sonata.

      Norway’s past and present image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/poster”>Poster vector created by macrovector – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      According to IMDB, Autumn Sonata was filmed in Norway. Based on the scene where Charlotte drives to Eva and Viktor’s house, the Norwegian scenery looked like a beautiful painting. But the majestic hills, mountains, and large body of water from Norway wasn’t incorporated into Autumn Sonata beyond that one scene. I wish the “autumn” in Autumn Sonata played a larger role in the story, perhaps visually representing some of the movie’s themes. Another aspect of the story I wish had been utilized more was Eva’s sister, Helena. When Charlotte first arrives at Eva and Viktor’s house, Eva reveals how Helena is now living at their house instead of at a hospital. Throughout Autumn Sonata, Helena deals with an illness that greatly affects her mobility. I thought she was intended to be a bridge between Eva and Charlotte, helping them find a more peaceful middle ground. One reason for this belief came from Helena falling out of her bed during an emotionally explosive conversation between Charlotte and Eva. Sadly, it seems like Helena was in Autumn Sonata just for the sake of it.

      Comparing with the Critics banner created by me, Sally Silverscreen. TV show title cards created by WTTW National Productions, WTTW, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), Lifetime Television, Tribune Entertainment, Buena Vista Television, and Disney-ABC Domestic Television

      Prior to reviewing Autumn Sonata, the only movie I agreed with Gene and Roger on was 1984’s Amadeus. I could also see why the film was, at least, nominated for an Oscar. Now I can confidently say that Autumn Sonata is the second film I agree with Roger and Gene on! While I typically don’t gravitate toward “slice of life” stories, the 1978 movie works because of the strength of the screenwriting and acting performances. Similar to The Royal Tenenbaums, the brutal honesty woven into the script brought a sense of realism when to came to addressing strained familial relationships. The story itself was emotionally deep and thought provoking because of the effort put into it by Autumn Sonata’s creative team. I understand why the movie is titled Autumn Sonata, as music plays an integral role in Charlotte’s life. However, I wish the “autumn” in Autumn Sonata was utilized more in the story, especially considering how beautiful the Norwegian landscape was in the film. The movie also doesn’t have a high rewatchability rate due the some of the heavier subject matter incorporated into the story. But I can honestly say that Autumn Sonata is one of the best films I’ve seen in 2026, so far!

      This review was brought to you by

      Sally Silverscreen

      Sunset Over Hope Valley: The Ring Makes It Real

      On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

      Nathan plans on proposing to Elizabeth. In this episode of When Calls the Heart, he tries to figure out Elizabeth’s ring size so he can purchase an engagement ring. As Ned shows Nathan and Allie the engagement rings available to purchase, Ned tells them, “the ring makes it real”. When Ned said this, it made me think about how rings are more than just a statement piece or an item from a jewelry collection. It can be an extension of a person’s life story. Class rings or engagement rings symbolize the achievement of a major milestone. Mood rings make a wearer’s mood more visual. Even decorative rings or costume jewelry can hold a personal meaning to the person who owns that ring. It fascinates me how such a small piece of jewelry can represent so much. Now, when I see a character wearing a ring, I will wonder what the story behind it is.

      Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

      When Calls the Heart season thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

      Season: 13

      Episode: 10

      Name: Blessings

      Major stories:

      Nathan shares with Ned how he’s planning on proposing to Elizabeth. But in order to propose to Elizabeth, Nathan needs to get an engagement ring that fits her. For most of the episode, Nathan, as well as Allie, try to find a way to measure Elizabeth’s ring. When Allie and Oliver visit the pharmacy/ice cream parlor and walk in on Mei and Mike making clay bowls together, Allie develops an idea. She invites Elizabeth to a pottery class Mei is hosting at the ice cream parlor/pharmacy. During the pottery class, Allie suggests everyone close their eyes as they knead the clay. While Elizabeth has her eyes closed, Allie uses a small piece of clay to create an impression of Elizabeth’s ring (which she removed at the beginning of the pottery class). Allie and Nathan are able to use the clay to choose the perfect engagement ring. Later in the episode, Nathan asks for Charlotte’s blessing, as Charlotte has extended her stay in Hope Valley. He also asks Jack Thornton for his blessing, even taking Charlotte to the graveyard with him to visit Jack.

      While figuring out where to take the fire investigation next, Nathan comes up with an idea to prove the alliance between Pioneer Electric and National Insurance. He believes if one company receives information about the fire, that information will be passed to the other company. For this idea to work, someone needs to give the information to one of these companies. Nathan, Georgie, and Bill select Rosemary to go undercover for them. They create a script for Rosemary about how she’s trying to obtain an insurance claim for her playhouse. Using her script during her meeting with Mr. Throckmorton, from National Insurance, Rosemary tells him how she heard a local farm called LeVeaux Farms was conducting a controlled burn around the time the forest fire at Goldie National Park started. Later in the episode, Mr. Whitaker, from Pioneer Electric, comes to Nathan with the information Rosemary gave to Mr. Throckmorton. This proves Nathan’s plan worked, giving him, Bill, and Georgie evidence of National Trust’s and Pioneer Electric’s alliance.

      Fancy jewelry image created by Freepic.diller at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding photo created by freepic.diller – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      Minor stories:

      The minor stories in this episode of When Calls the Heart are focused on relationships. First, Mike becomes interested in pottery after Mei shows him a bowl she and her grandmother made. This interest not only leads to Mei and Mike making clay bowls together, it also leads to Mei hosting a pottery class. Later in the episode, Mei expresses her gratitude to Mike for caring about her past. Meanwhile, at the Queen of Hearts, Lucas has a heart-to-heart conversation with Lee about his feelings for Edie. Lee tells Lucas how he shouldn’t let his past experiences get in the way of what makes him happy now. He even shares with Lucas how he didn’t let his past mistakes prevent him from falling in love with Rosemary. Toward the end of the episode, Bill expresses his interest in pursuing a romantic relationship with Georgie. At first, Georgie is hesitant because she thinks the relationship won’t work out. But she becomes more open-minded to the idea of being in a romantic relationship with Bill when they agree to be honest with each other.

      Heart image created by Dashu83 at freepik.com <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Dashu83 – Freepik.com</a> <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/happy-valentines-day-and-heart-card-with-happy-valentines-day-and-heart_1747001.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> Image found at freepik.com

      Some thoughts to consider:

      • As I said in this re-cap of When Calls the Heart, Charlotte has extended her stay in Hope Valley. During this stay, Charlotte admits to Elizabeth how she hasn’t been to Jack’s gravesite, let alone gone to the funeral. This piece of dialogue was a good way to address the continuity of Brooke Shields reprising her role as Charlotte for the first time since season three.
      • If a character is getting married in a Hallmark program, their wedding dress will sometimes not be revealed until the wedding takes place. This creative decision delivers a sense of surprise for the groom as well as the audience. One of the main stories in this When Calls the Heart episode revolves around Nathan’s plan to propose to Elizabeth. When he and Allie select an engagement ring for Elizabeth, their choice isn’t shown on screen. That creative decision is similar to the aforementioned wedding dress; giving a moment of shared surprise for Elizabeth and the audience.
      • In the commercial for the next episode of When Calls the Heart, Henry, through Rosemary’s radio show, encourages Christopher to come home. Within the context of the thirteenth season, Christopher has been missing for several weeks. With that said, why didn’t anyone think of using Rosemary’s radio show to contact Christopher sooner? I hope this potential plot hole is addressed in this season’s eleventh episode.
      Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? How do you think Nathan will propose to Elizabeth? Let me know in the comment section below!

      Have fun in Hope Valley!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Take 3: Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery Review

      On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

      As I’ve said before on 18 Cinema Lane, the overall quality of Hallmark’s Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series regressed when the series changed its name from Murder She Baked to Hannah Swensen. Most of the movies released since the name change have been either disappointing or ok, in my opinion. However, I keep watching the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series in the hopes the quality will get better. When I discovered another chapter in the series, Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, was on the way, I was actually intrigued. The idea of Hannah and company forced to solve a mystery while stuck at a costume party sounded reminiscent of Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans. Because of how much I liked that film, I was interested in seeing how the creative team behind the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series would approach the concept of a locked room mystery revolving around a costume party. How does Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery compare to Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans? Keep reading my review to find out!

      Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery poster created by Hallmark Media and Hallmark Channel

      Things I liked about the film:

      The costume design: Like I said in this review’s introduction, Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery shows Hannah and company forced to solve a mystery while stuck at a costume party. If a movie’s creative team is planning on incorporating a costume party into their story, giving the cast costumes that are not only visually appealing, but also compliments the cast members should be a top priority. This was achieved in Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. However, the creative team’s attention to detail is one of the ways the visual appeal and complimentary appearance of the costumes was achieved! Hannah dresses up as a mermaid at Lake Eden Inn’s masquerade party. Her sky-blue dress was covered in sparkles and pearls. Netting material with attached starfish presents the illusion the “mermaid” is wearing a skirt. A blue and pink tiara, as well as a teal necklace, not only compliments Alison Sweeney’s blue eyes, they also correlate nicely with Hannah’s teal phone case. Other examples of wardrobe details that work in the costumes’ favor are red sneakers for a costume of Dorothy (from The Wizard of Oz) and a sparkly red heart purse for Delores’ Red Queen (from Alice in Wonderland) costume.

      The costume party’s set design: The majority of Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery takes place at the aforementioned Lake Eden Inn’s masquerade party. To make a movie’s party space inviting, the creative team needs to utilize their budget, resources, and location provided to plan an event that feels fun and festive. Similar to what I said about the costume design in Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, the fun and festive appearance of the masquerade party was achieved through attention to detail! The walls were covered with a black curtain-like material. Black mesh-like material was draped across the ceiling with string lights, creating a cozy tent around the dance floor. String lights were tied together on gold curtains and black support pillars glowed with yellow light around the party area. On one wall, masquerade masks were placed inside picture frames, showcasing themed “masterpieces” as official party décor. Even miniature masquerade masks helped create colorfully adorable centerpieces. I really liked how Lake Eden Inn’s masquerade party looked because of how much detail was given to this space!

      Delores’ toned down antics: Ever since Delores was given the private investigator subplot in One Bad Apple: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, her antics have been silly and over-the-topic in the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series. In fact, her antics have been so over-the-topic and silly, I couldn’t take her seriously as a character. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case in Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. While Delores was the sassy, head-strong woman she’s always been known as, her antics were toned down. This allowed her interactions with other characters to feel believable, such as when she’s interrogating a suspect. Delores’ toned-down antics also made her a more likable character compared to some of the series’ more recent previous films.

      Young chef image created by Iconicbestiary at freepik.com <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Iconicbestiary – Freepik.com</a> <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/young-cook-background_1311107.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> Image found at freepik.com

      What I didn’t like about the film:

      Lack of urgency: Murder mystery stories taking place in the present typically include a sense of urgency. This gives the characters motivation to solve the mystery before the guilty culprit hurts other people. But in Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, that sense of urgency was lacking. It’s understandable for Hannah and company to keep the news about the murder mystery from the party guests, in order to prevent panic and fear. However, the characters seemed to be taking their time solving the case, even though the guilty culprit was right under their noses. The creative decision to not prioritize a sense of urgency within Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery slowed down the movie’s pace and drew the story out a bit.

      Hannah and Chad’s inconsistent screen-time together: Since Victor Webster joined the cast of the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series, his on-screen chemistry with Alison Sweeney was the strongest in Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. This helped make Chad and Hannah’s relationship finally feel believable to me. But in this newest Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen chapter, Hannah and Chad’s screen-time together was inconsistent. One reason why is how Chad and Hannah worked separately when attempting to solve the murder mystery. Another reason is how there was no subplot revolving around their relationship. I was disappointed by these creative choices because I actually looked forward to seeing Hannah and Chad together.

      Underutilization of Michelle: Hannah’s sister, Michelle, is featured in Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery. When it comes to her involvement in the story, however, she only appears in about three scenes total. Plus, Michelle has little to no participation in solving the case. In my opinion, it was such a missed opportunity not to utilize Michelle more in this newest Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen movie. Since she is a photographer, perhaps she could have been recruited as the masquerade party’s official photographer.

      Blue masquerade party Image by freepik

      My overall impression:

      In the introduction of this review, I asked how Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery compares to Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans. Now that I’ve seen the latest installment in the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series, I have an answer to that question. At best, Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery is an ok film. But, at worst, it’s a weaker version of Curious Caterer: Foiled Plans. The lack of urgency made Hannah and company seem to be taking their time solving the case, slowing down the movie’s pace and drawing the story out a bit. I also didn’t like how Hannah and Chad shared an inconsistent amount of screen-time together. Michelle, Hannah’s sister, could have been utilized more throughout the story, such as being the official photographer of Lake Eden Inn’s masquerade party. Despite these flaws, Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery does contain elements I did like. The costume design, as well as the costume party’s set design, featured a lot of attention to detail, making those parts of the movie visually appealing and memorable. I even could take Delores seriously as a character because her antics were toned down. If anything, though, Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery prioritized style over substance.

      Overall score: 6 out of 10

      Have you seen Sugar & Vice: A Hannah Swensen Mystery? If the Murder She Baked/Hannah Swensen series continues, what would you like the next story to be about? Please tell me in the comment section!

      Have fun at the bakery!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Word on the Street: DreamWorks’ Animated Film, ‘The Wild Robot’, Has Been Granted a Sequel

      On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

      I first brought up The Wild Robot last March in my list of the Top Ten Best Stand-Alone Films. Then, in another list, I brought up the 2024 movie again. This time it was The Best and Worst Movies I Saw in 2025. As I was talking about the second best film I saw last year, I said while it was too early to say how The Wild Robot will stand in the test of time, I think it has potential. With the announcement of a sequel, this second chapter could help strengthen The Wild Robot’s legacy. Jeff Dodge, from ScreenRant, reported the creative talent involved in the upcoming project. The sequel, which is currently titled The Wild Robot Escapes, will be directed by Troy Quane. Directing alongside Troy is Heidi Jo Gilbert, who was promoted from The Wild Robot’s story team. Jeff Hermann will return as one of the sequel’s producers and Chris Sanders will also return to write the film’s screenplay. At the time of this Word on the Street article’s publication, the cast list and release date for The Wild Robot Escapes are still unknown.

      Movie time image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food photo created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

      As I said in this Word on the Street article, The Wild Robot was the second best film I saw last year. Not only was the animation itself impressive, I was pleasantly surprised by the movie’s emotional depth as well as an abundance of good messages and themes. With all that said, the news about The Wild Robot Escapes is, for me, an intriguing piece of movie news! What’s also intriguing is how The Wild Robot and The Wild Robot Escapes are adaptations of a pre-existing book trilogy. I honestly didn’t know about the book trilogy until I learned about The Wild Robot’s upcoming sequel. It looks like I may have some reading to do while waiting for the release of The Wild Robot Escapes!

      What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Have you seen The Wild Robot? Tell me in the comment section!

      Have fun at the movies!

      Sally Silverscreen

      Reference: https://screenrant.com/the-wild-robot-2-confirmed-story-director-details/