Last April, I started my annual series, Sally Solves a Mystery. For the first entry in the series, I wrote about Ana Lucia from Lost, questioning why she wears a ring on her wedding ring finger despite not being engaged or married. When I published my article, the mystery was unsolved. But I now have an update about an aspect of Ana Lucia’s ring! In that aforementioned article, I described the ring itself and questioned if the designs on the ring was a production error or an intentional creative decision. Upon further reflection, I believe the ring boasting different designs was an intentional decision from the show’s creative team.
Lost title card image created by Bad Robot, Touchstone Television, and ABC Signature. ‘Ana Lucia’s Ring: A Lost Mystery’ image created by Sally Silverscreen
In the episode, “Two for the Road”, Ana Lucia’s ring bears the image of a butterfly. The wings of the butterfly appear black. According to the websites, Symbols and Meanings and Color Meanings, black butterflies symbolize death. The butterfly design on Ana Lucia’s ring was shown prior to Ana Lucia dying at the end of “Two of the Road”. Therefore, the ring is foreshadowing what was to come later in that episode.
Screenshot of Ana’s ring taken by Sally Silverscreen. Image from “Two for the Road”
Ana Lucia’s ring showcases what appears to be a cursive V in the episode, “Collision”. However, it would make more sense if this design was a Roman numeral five. In my Sally Solves a Mystery article, I talked about how Ana Lucia is typically associated with the number three. Five times three equals fifteen, one of the “Lost numbers”.
Screenshot of Ana’s ring taken by Sally Silverscreen. Image from “Collision”
As of the publication of this update, there are no explanations why Ana Lucia’s ring would boast different designs in the first place. The mystery of why Ana Lucia wears a ring on her wedding ring finger is still unsolved. But this update emphasizes how that ring is purposefully on Ana Lucia’s wedding ring finger. In the special feature segment, “Mysteries, Theories, and Conspiracies” from the Lost season two DVD, one of the show’s writers, Christina M. Kim said, “Things do happen for a reason. And there is this sort of force that’s in play that connects all our characters together”. Perhaps I was correct in my original speculation about Ana Lucia’s ring or could her ring have been connected to one of the show’s bigger mysteries?
To read the full articles from Symbols and Meanings, Color Meanings, or my original Sally Solves a Mystery article, you can visit these links:
One of the best parts about participating in blogathons is being introduced to movies that may be new to you. This is my experience with the 1989 film, In Country! For Taking Up Room’s Norman Jewison Blogathon, I wanted to choose a movie that was more underrated. While searching through Norman’s IMDB filmography, I came across the aforementioned ‘80s title. The synopsis reminded me of My Girl 2, where Vada is attempting to learn more about her mother. What sets In Country apart from the 1994 sequel is how the 1989 movie explores the aftermath of the Vietnam War by having the protagonist search for answers about her father. In 2024, I have reviewed four other films from the 1980s, so far. Similar to titles like Amadeus and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies, In Country incorporates historical elements into the story. But will the 1989 movie be a pleasant surprise like Amadeus or a disappointment like Pack of Lies? Keep reading my review to find out!
In Country(1989) poster created by Warner Bros. and Yorktown Productions
Things I liked about the film:
The acting: In any story, especially one that features a young protagonist, the main character’s likability can determine if the story is worth investing time in. I can only speak for myself, but I liked Samantha “Sam” Hughes’ personality! Though naïve at times, Sam was like a bright ray of sunshine, caring about the people in her life and trying to make her world a better place. What made Sam a likeable character was how genuine her emotions were. After finding a box of her father’s belongings in her mother’s room, Sam leaves a voice message on the phone explaining to her mother how upset she is by her mother’s silence about her father. When she hangs up the phone, the sad look in her eyes and the slight frown perfectly show how hurt Sam feels about her mother’s choices. This is just one example of Emily Lloyd bringing that genuineness to life, allowing her performance to be memorable!
Prior to watching and reviewing In Country, I had seen some of Bruce Willis’ films. His portrayal of Emmett Smith is different from some of his other roles, as he had to rely on emotion instead of action to carry his character through the story. A thunderstorm is causing chaos outside Emmett’s home one evening. Because of his time serving in the Vietnam War, he flinches whenever thunder strikes due to the flashbacks he is experiencing. At the same time, Emmett carries irritation in his voice because he wants the storm to stop and he wants to avoid Sam’s questions. Similar to what I said about Emily Lloyd’s performance, Bruce’s performance felt genuine. Beneath the tough exterior Emmett consistently displayed, he was a man who was trying to live a civilian life as best as he knew how.
Honesty about war and its impact on veterans: Like I just mentioned in this review, Emmett experiences flashbacks one stormy evening due to his time serving in the Vietnam War. These flashbacks not only cause Emmett to flinch every time thunder strikes, they also cause him to go outside, climb up a tree, and yell for someone to show their face. Throughout this scene, Sam asks Emmett questions about what is happening. Unfortunately for Sam, these questions are left unanswered. When Emmett goes outside, Sam calls for Emmett to come back in the house. As Emmett’s mind and heart are beyond the borders of his Kentucky home, Sam feels powerless, unsure of how to help Emmett. The scene I just wrote about is one example of the film’s honesty when discussing war and its impact on veterans. The candid way these subjects were talked about in the movie shows how the movie’s creative team understood the subjects’ significance.
The mise-en-scène: I’ve explained before that mise-en-scène is how a scene is presented in a movie. Mise-en-scène was utilized in several scenes’ favor in In Country. Toward the beginning of the film, a group of U.S. soldiers are wading through the swamps of Vietnam. This moment is presented as a long shot with the view appearing as if the camera is hiding behind the swamp’s foliage. How this scene is showcased to the audience emphasizes the soldiers’ need to stay unseen. Sam, Emmett, and Mamaw travel to Washington D.C. to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. While walking past the monument, a close-up shot captured Mamaw as the names on the monument were gliding past her face. The visuals symbolized how the Vietnam veterans have touched the lives of not just their loved ones, but those in their communities as well.
Sam’s attraction for Tom: While trying to learn more about her father, Sam turns to a veteran named Tom. At the Vietnam veterans’ dance, Sam invites Tom to share a slow-dance with her, where they get a little too close for comfort. After the dance, Sam spends the night at Tom’s house and has sex with him. Up until the slow-dance at the veterans’ dance, Sam never expressed any romantic interest in Tom. Plus, she just graduated from high school and Tom appears old enough to be her father. Not only was this part of the story random, its inclusion in the film was unnecessary, especially since it has no impact on the plot.
The “slice of life” parts of the story: As I’ve been saying in this review, Sam wants to learn more about her father who served and died in the Vietnam War. This part of the story, as well as the parts exploring the veterans’ perspective, was interesting. But those parts made up half the movie. The other half revolved around subplots that were more “slice of life”. When the story turned to the “slice of life” events, I found myself wishing the movie would go back to Sam learning more about her father or Emmett interacting with the other veterans. In fact, I think the movie should have primarily focused on those aforementioned parts of the story.
On-the-nose songs: The inclusion of songs in a movie can make or break a given scene. Sometimes, a song can be so on-the-nose, it doesn’t leave the intended emotional impact. This happened on more than one occasion in In Country. The opening lines of the Bruce Springsteen song, “I’m On Fire” are “Hey, little girl, is your daddy home? Did he go away and leave you all alone?”. This song can be heard on two occasions after Sam decides to learn more about her father, pointing out what the audience already knows. Earlier in this review, I brought up how Sam invites Tom to share a slow-dance with her, where they get a little too close for comfort. The song they dance to is Hank Williams Jr.’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, which narrates what’s happening on screen and foreshadows what’s about to come. That song paired with the events that unfold created a scene that left me uncomfortable.
When I watch a movie, I sometimes imagine how the story would turn out if it was presented in a different way. One recent example is how Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Brush with Fate would have, in my opinion, benefitted by being presented as a multi-part mini-series. I feel similarly about 1989’s In Country. For the most part, the creative team behind the movie appeared to have their hearts in the right place. The honesty about war and its impact on veterans was included in the story in such a candid way, it showed the movie’s creative team understanding the significance of the subjects woven into the script. But this aforementioned honesty, as well as Sam’s search for answers about her father, should have been the film’s primary focus. Therefore, I wish this story had been a road-trip movie, where Sam, Emmett, and Mamaw go to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., with Sam learning about her father and important life lessons along the way.
Overall score: 6.1 out of 10
Have you seen 1989’s In Country? What’s your favorite film from 1989? Tell me in the comment section!
Recently, I published a list of the top ten “icks” from Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. The list consisted of ten aspects of Hallmark Hall of Fame films I don’t like. One of these “icks” is when a movie from this collection glosses over a serious subject. Shortly after I published my list, I found I wasn’t the only blogger to not like this particular “ick”. A fellow blogger, Ospreyshire, brought up the 2003 Hallmark Hall of Fame production, Brush with Fate, as an example of how Hallmark Hall of Fame can incorporate serious issues into their stories. Since I hadn’t seen the film yet, I chose Brush with Fate for this Blog Follower Dedication Review! This is only the second project from the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection I’ve reviewed this year, so far. A month ago, I wrote about the 1987 movie, Pack of Lies. Unfortunately, I found the film disappointing, as the story was a two-hour build-up to an underwhelming resolution. So, here’s hoping Brush with Fate is a more enjoyable picture!
Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Brush with Fateposter created by CBS and Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
Things I liked about the film:
An immersive experience: A movie’s creative team has the potential to provide an immersive experience for their audience. To achieve this, attention to detail must be emphasized. That piece of advice can work in the favor of a historical period film. Brush with Fate explores several time periods and how a valuable painting exists within a given period. Each time period represented looked and felt historically accurate! Not only does every featured period appear well researched, every detail was tended to. From the architecture to the machinery, even right down to the characters’ shoes, the aforementioned attention to detail was adopted by Brush with Fate’s creative team. The effort the creative team took to make each part of the story appear authentic helped create an immersive experience for the viewer!
Visual transitions: When a story moves from one point to another, scenes will transition using visual cues to let the audience know when the story is moving forward. Because Brush with Fate explores several time periods, there are multiple transitions throughout the movie. These transitions are creative and use visually interesting parallels. Toward the beginning of the story, Cornelia puts her hand on her family’s prized painting. As she begins to share the history of the painting, the next part of the story begins with Laurens putting his hand on the same painting, signaling a change in time periods. The transitions during Brush with Fate were also seamless, allowing the story to maintain a steady flow.
Lessons taught by the painting: More often than not, Hallmark Hall of Fame movies weave important lessons into their stories. While Brush with Fate is no different, the way the story’s lessons were incorporated was unique compared to other Hallmark Hall of Fame titles. In the 2003 film, different characters learn a different lesson based on their experience with the painting. In one part of the story, a woman from 1717 struggles to feed her family. At the same time, she adores a painting she and her husband found. Turning to her mother for advice, the woman is reminded how the painting is not a blessing. This statement expresses that paintings are replaceable luxuries compared to irreplaceable things like family.
Characters touching the painting with their bare hands: Fictional movies typically make their audience suspend their disbelief. Sometimes, though, audiences are asked to suspend more disbelief than they bargained for. Brush with Fate revolves around a Vermeer painting that is known for being valuable in historical and monetary importance. But throughout the movie, multiple characters touch the painting with their bare hands, including Cornelia , who is well aware of the painting’s value. It may seem petty of me to critique the movie for this small detail. However, this happened enough times in the movie that I couldn’t look past it.
An unchronological story: As I mentioned earlier in this review, Brush with Fate explores several time periods and how a valuable painting exists within a given period. However, this story is not told in chronological order. Instead, Cornelia shares the painting’s history by bouncing around between time, going backwards and then forwards. Not telling the story in chronological order raises unanswered questions, such as what happened to the baby from the family in 1717 and who acquired the painting after Laurens’ daughter and her fiancé. Without spoiling the movie, I will say I know why this creative decision was made. But I still wish Brush with Fate was told in chronological order.
An abrupt ending: Most Hallmark Hall of Fame movies are stand-alone stories where the conclusions are definitive. However, there are exceptions to the rule, such as Sweet Nothing in My Ear and A Painted House. Brush with Fate is one of these exceptions. But, in my opinion, I don’t think this movie should have received an open ending. The purpose of showcasing the painting in multiple time periods is to elaborate how the painting’s history is long-lasting. With the rather abrupt ending, this purpose seems defeated, like the painting’s history has stopped short. It also leaves some unresolved loose ends.
Before I share my thoughts on Brush with Fate, I want to thank every follower of 18 Cinema Lane! With each movie review, including these Blog Follower Dedication Reviews, I try to find films I can recommend to my readers. Looking back on this Hallmark Hall of Fame picture, I think I could recommend it. This is a project where attention to detail was emphasized so much, some parts of the movie felt theatrical. The creative team behind Brush with Fate allowed their production to be an immersive experience for their audience. However, I think this story would be benefitted by being presented as a multi-part mini-series. With several time periods being explored, as well as many heavy subjects woven into the script, there’s only so much story to tell in two hours. By giving each time period their own episode, more time could be spent getting to know the characters and receiving answers to certain questions. Like many Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, Brush with Fate is based on a pre-existing book I haven’t read yet. Therefore, I can only review this film as a film and not an adaptation.
Overall score: 7.1-7.2 out of 10
Have you seen Brush with Fate? Which book do you think should have been adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie? Let me know in the comment section!
To address the elephant in the room (or on the blog in this case), the lack of blog posts this past week is due to how much time I’ve spent collecting research for my upcoming Sally Solves a Mystery article. While I have been working to solve a television-related mystery, the subject of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies came to mind. I’ve seen over fifty films from the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. At this point, I, as a viewer, know what I like and don’t like when it comes to storytelling from this particular branch of Hallmark entertainment. These preferences are what inspired me to create this list of the top ten “icks” from Hallmark Hall of Fame movies! For my list, I will share which aspects of Hallmark Hall of Fame films I am not a fan of, providing examples from various titles in this collection. Before I begin the list, I want to address how this list is not meant to be mean-spirited or negative. My article is, simply, a way to express my opinion.
In past movie reviews, I have pointed out when I felt an actor or actress’s talents were underutilized. What I’ve meant by this is an actress or actor’s talents not being incorporated into a film to the fullest extent. This can range from an actor or actress being miscast to an actor or actress having a limited presence in the movie, the latter serving two examples for this list. Marguerite Moreau’s involvement in 2002’s The Locket is one of the reasons why I wanted to check the film out. Because she was cast as the movie’s main supporting actress, I expected Marguerite to have a more consistent presence in the film than she actually did. As I said in my review of The Locket, Marguerite’s character barely appeared in the movie’s second half. Based on her performances I have seen from a variety of movies and television shows, I think Karina Arroyave’s acting talents could have lent themselves to a larger role in 2000’s Missing Pieces. Sadly, Karina’s on-screen appearances were so short, they seemed like “don’t blink or you’ll miss her” moments. While she was given a little more screen-time in the 1993 film, Blind Spot, I still feel Karina’s acting talents were underutilized.
2. Films That Feel like Televised Plays
When I choose to watch a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, I expect to see a cinematic production of an original or pre-existing story. Some of these pre-existing stories happen to be plays. But there are times when a project’s creative team didn’t take advantage of how expansive film-making can be. Instead, they kept their adaptation as limited as the boundaries of the stages these plays came from. Like I pointed out in my review of the 1987 film, Foxfire, the cast is smaller and the story is condensed, forcing the characters to remain near or in Annie’s house. With the story surrounded by the natural beauty of Appalachia, I wish the movie’s emphasis had been placed on showcasing a variety of locations from this region. The 1972 remake of Harvey made similar creative choices, such as showing fewer locations throughout the story. This is different from the 1950 version of Harvey, where Elwood moves to multiple places.
3. Oversimplifying Adoption/Foster Care
Back in 2022, when I published my list of the top ten worst movies I saw that year, 1994’s A Place for Annie ended up as a Dishonorable Mention. One reason why I didn’t like this film is how the subject of adoption/foster care was oversimplified. For those who have never seen or heard of the movie, A Place for Annie is about a woman taking in a baby who is HIV positive. Over the course of the story, the woman, portrayed by Sissy Spacek, is in the process of adopting the baby. But she experiences an unexpected conflict when the baby’s biological mother shows up. The way Sissy’s and Mary-Louise Parker’s characters were portrayed and written presented a “good” mother vs. “bad” mother dynamic, even right down to the way each character dressed. Sissy’s character, Susan, becomes upset at the idea of Mary-Louise’s character, Linda, reuniting with her daughter, even though the intended purpose of foster care is for children to be reunited with their biological families. Because of the oversimplification of adoption/foster care in A Place for Annie, I couldn’t take the movie seriously.
4. Characters Not Receiving Their Full Potential
Speaking of articles from 2022, I’ll now bring up my list of top ten characters who didn’t reach their full potential. When I published this list, I explained when a character doesn’t receive their full potential, they aren’t given the opportunity to reach their goals, make their dreams come true, and allow their stories to be told to a satisfying extent. This list featured two characters from Hallmark Hall of Fame movies; Barry Klemper from The Boys Next Door and Amédée Chevalier from O Pioneers!. In the case of these characters, their stories were adapted from pre-existing source material. While I haven’t seen or read a stage version of The Boys Next Door, I have read O Pioneers!. I can understand why Willa Cather made certain creative decisions related to Amédée, as well as Hallmark Hall of Fame’s desire to keep the adaptation as close to the source material as possible. However, I still wish Amédée had received his full potential.
5. Rehashed Stories
For this part of my list, I am not talking about Hallmark Hall of Fame productions that are adapted from pre-existing plays or books. I am referring to Hallmark Hall of Fame movies that seem to copy stories from other films. Earlier in this list, I referenced the 1972 and 1950 versions of Harvey. After watching both versions, it feels like I watched the same movie twice, due to little variation between the two versions. I also felt this way about the 1996 film, The Summer of Ben Tyler. The movie seemed so similar to To Kill a Mockingbird, I wondered if Hallmark Hall of Fame was trying to remake the aforementioned film. I know story ideas are bound to get repeated over time. But, in my opinion, the Hallmark Hall of Fame productions should strive to create unique, distinct projects.
Harvey(1972) poster created by Foote, Cone and Belding Productions, Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Talent Associates-Norton Simon, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
6. Terrible Grandparents
Grandparents, like any family member in a protagonist’s life, should, in my opinion, be a kind, friendly character that the audience can root for. Unfortunately, some protagonists aren’t so lucky. For the fifth annual Gold Sally Awards, when I created the inaugural Edwin P. Christy Award for most annoying character in film, I gave that award to Grandpa Marcus from 1995’s Journey. I explained how obsessed he became of his photography hobby, to the point where he became negligent of his grandchildren’s safety. In one scene, Grandpa Marcus makes his grandson, who doesn’t appear old enough to obtain a driver’s permit yet, drive a car so Grandpa Marcus can take pictures. The grandchildren make a joking comment about how their grandpa will photograph their car accident if something should happen to them, with the scene itself meant to be played as a wholesome, hilarious moment.
Leonora Nelson is a bitter, mean-spirited woman in the 1997 film, Ellen Foster. At her daughter’s burial, Leonora blames her son-in-law for her daughter dying. She yells and screams at her son-in-law just seconds after her daughter’s casket was buried. As the story progresses, Leonora’s hatred for her son-in-law grows. Her actions range from smashing his Purple Heart medal with a hammer to telling her granddaughter, the titular Ellen Foster, she hates her because she looks like her father. I recognize Leonora is intended to be an awful character, serving as one of the many obstacles Ellen had to overcome. But that doesn’t take away from how, in my opinion, Leonora Nelson is one of the worst characters in Hallmark movie history.
7. Productions That Feel Like Hallmark Channel Films
Hallmark Hall of Fame movies began to premiere on Hallmark Channel in 2014. While there are films from this time period I like, such as Love Takes Flight and The Beach House, I am aware how, more often than not, these projects bear a formula similar to those from Hallmark Channel. One such example is how a romance is usually the center of a given story. The identities of films like The Beach House and Love Takes Flight are not as unique as Hallmark Hall of Fame movies from years past. Take, for instance, Missing Pieces and Caroline? from 1990. Both of these films revolve around mystery stories. However, each title presents its own distinct identity, with these two movies bringing something different to the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection.
8. Unsupportive Parents
Similar to what I said earlier about grandparents, parents of protagonists should, in my opinion, at least be supportive. Sadly, a protagonist’s parents may be unsupportive for a variety of reasons. In my list of top ten characters who didn’t reach their full potential, I mentioned how Barry Klemper’s father destroyed the momentum Barry had in The Boys Next Door. Long before his father showed up, Barry dreaded the meeting because of how unsupportive his father is. On the day of the meeting, Barry’s father intimidated and belittled his son, even making Barry feel incapable of performing a simple golf maneuver. There are times, however, when a protagonist’s unsupportive parents do not intend to be unsupportive. Heidi and Winston’s mother is a perfect example. In the 1990 movie, Caroline?, Winston and Heidi’s mother is overprotective due to Heidi having a disability. Her good intentions not only lead Heidi to be treated younger than her age, but also prevent Heidi’s academic needs from being met.
9. Glossing Over Serious Subjects
The Hallmark Hall of Fame collection has covered its fair share of serious subjects, ranging from the aforementioned adoption/foster care to terminal illnesses. But sometimes, a Hallmark Hall of Fame production will miss a good opportunity to address an important topic by glossing it over. The subject of racism is woven into the text of The Flamingo Rising book, with racism causing the protagonist, Abraham, to have self-image related issues. When the book was adapted into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie in 2001, all mentions of racism were eliminated from the script. This decision was likely made to keep The Flamingo Rising movie “Hallmark appropriate”. At a very random moment in the 1996 film, Calm at Sunset, Russell Pfeiffer admits he has a drug addiction. There was no lead up to this revelation and the revelation itself was never addressed afterward. Calm at Sunset is based on a book I haven’t read. Therefore, I don’t know how the subject of addiction was addressed in the source material compared to the adaptation.
10. A Dysfunctional Family for the Sake of It
Six years ago, when I published my list of the top ten worst Hallmark movies of all time, I put the 2004 film, Back When We Were Grownups, at number one. As I mentioned in that list, the story’s family seems dysfunctional just for the sake of it. From what I remember, there was no clear reason for the family to be dysfunctional. This is very different from another Hallmark Hall of Fame production, 1998’s Saint Maybe. In that movie, a death in the family causes a ripple effect which leads to the family becoming dysfunctional. The dysfunctional nature of the family serves as motivation for various characters to make impactful changes in their lives. Comparing these two Hallmark Hall of Fame films, which are both adaptations of Anne Tyler’s books, I think Saint Maybe did a better job at showcasing how a dysfunctional family live their lives and work through their problems.
The season eleven finale of When Calls the Heart shows Minnie confronting Elizabeth about Angela’s desire to go to teaching college in Hamilton. Though Minnie is concerned about the distance between Hamilton and Hope Valley, Elizabeth reminds Minnie how Angela still has a few years before she has to make a decision about her future. Minnie then states to Elizabeth how their children’s childhood are precious years. The statement Minnie made in this episode was reminiscent of the “precious years” the show has aired on Hallmark Channel. Time, like childhood, is fleeting. So, the memories made over time are important. As a Heartie, there are so many memories that come to mind as I write this re-cap of season eleven’s finale. Just in this season alone, fans have seen Tom Thornton return, Lily find a home, and Nathan singing a song with Allie. They’ve also witnessed Henry transform into Hope Valley’s Voice of Reason and Lee become the town’s mayor. Throughout When Calls the Heart, a quilt of memories has spread over the story, connecting each character by the thread of friendship. With the chapter of season eleven closing and season twelve’s chapter beginning, it will be exciting to see what new memories will be made on When Calls the Heart!
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 Heartseason eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 12
Name: Anything for Love
Major story:
Mei and Mike prepare for their upcoming wedding. One surprise is the return of Fiona, who delivers Mei’s dress from the Mercantile. Her arrival is the result of being chosen as Mike’s Best Woman. Before he and Mei get married, Mike claims he is traveling to Benson Hills to share tea with his family. But he actually has other plans. The next day, hours before the wedding, Mike is nowhere to be found. While the men in the wedding party search for the groom, Fiona and the women from the wedding party help Mei get ready for her big day. Eventually, Mike returns to Hope Valley. However, he didn’t come back empty handed. Before the ceremony, several residents of Hope Vally arrive at the café with traditional Chinese drums and gongs. Mike surprises Mei with an engagement ring and the return of her brother, who shares how he ended his shipping contract early. Both the wedding and the reception are a successful time for everyone involved.
Elizabeth and Nathan want to go on a picnic, hoping to spend some more time together. When Jack Jr. overhears the idea of a picnic, Nathan and Elizabeth decide to invite Jack Jr. and Allie. Over the course of the episode, Elizabeth and Nathan tell their children about their new relationship. While Allie is supportive, Jack Jr. likes the thought of seeing Allie and Nathan more often. One evening, Nathan and Elizabeth share one secret to each other. Elizabeth tells Nathan how she didn’t want to like Nathan at first because she was still missing Jack. Nathan reveals he almost took an inspector job because of Elizabeth. At the end of the episode, a Mountie with a higher ranking approaches Elizabeth and Nathan. Originally, this Mountie wanted to speak with Nathan in private. But after Elizabeth expresses interest in what the Mountie has to say, the Mountie shares how his news relates to Jack Thornton.
After Jeanette’s arrest, Lucas’ approval is declining. Lucas loses confidence in his ability to be a good Governor. Wanting to help Lucas in his time of need, Lee comes up with a solution to replace the cancelled hotel. At the Queen of Hearts Hotel, Rosemary and Lee share the idea of creating a national park. This idea came from wanting to give Goldy and her generation a legacy of their own. Despite the national park providing fewer job opportunities and less revenue than the hotel would have, Lucas is open to the idea. In fact, Lucas invites Lee to come to Capital City to work on this national park project.
During Fiona’s visit to Hope Valley, she reconnects with Faith and Mei. She shares her experience with the Suffragette Movement in Nashville. Because the movement is still looking for more women, especially those that are doctors, Fiona invites Faith to join her in Tennessee. At the wedding reception, Faith tells Fiona she’d love to come to Nashville with her friend. However, Lily has become her purpose for staying in Hope Valley.
Looking back on the eleventh season, this chapter of When Calls the Heart was enjoyable to watch! However, the season’s second half was stronger than the first half, as the writing was tighter and the stories wrapped up sooner. The biggest critique of season eleven is the pacing of the stories, as some of the them lasted longer than necessary. In next year’s season, I hope the writing is more consistent.
As I mentioned in this re-cap, Mei’s brother shared how he ended his shipping contract early. This reveal makes me wonder if Mei’s brother will become a series regular in When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season? If he does make consistent appearances in Hope Valley, perhaps Mei’s brother and Faith could form a romantic relationship? It’s way too early to speculate any answers, especially since the twelfth season hasn’t received a release date yet. My hope is Mei’s brother, as well as Mei herself, receiving opportunities to create new memories on the show!
I know Lee’s idea for a national park will likely serve a plot for the twelfth season. But, in my opinion, this part of the story doesn’t make sense. The hotel project was indefinitely cancelled because of the danger of Casimir Shaw. But now that Casimir and Jeanette were the same person and Jeanette, as well as her henchman, was arrested for the committed crimes, there is nothing preventing people from placing bids for the hotel. Montague could even reconsider placing his bid and working alongside Lucas. One of Lucas’ reasons for creating a hotel was to provide more job opportunities for the Benson Hills residents who recently lost their jobs. As I mentioned in this re-cap, the national park will have fewer job opportunities and generate less revenue. To me, this seems like a step away from Lucas’ “grand vision”. Based on what was presented on screen, the land Lee gave Lucas isn’t big enough to host a national park. Personally, I think finally giving Rosemary her long awaited theatre would have been more beneficial not just for Hope Valley, but for the neighboring towns as well.
One of the biggest surprises of this season finale was the Mountie’s news about Jack Thornton. Because the news itself was not shared, the information could be anything. During the commercials for this episode, Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing’s new Christmas movie, Santa Tell Me, was advertised. I wonder if Jack will return to When Calls the Heart, with the aforementioned Christmas film testing the waters to see if Hearties would welcome Jack’s return? Again, it’s way too early to speculate any answers. But I’m curious if the viewership numbers for Santa Tell Me have any influence over the creative process of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season.
Have you signed up for my Murder, She Wrote themed blogathon, Cabot Cove-thon? If not, there’s still time to join the event! There’s also plenty of topics left to write about! Click on the link below if you want to learn more about Cabot Cove-thon.
To help Lily feel more at home in Hope Valley, Minnie gives Lily Cooper’s lantern from when he was younger. This golden lantern is covered in stars, lighting up the ceiling with bright star-shaped images. When we think about stars, the idea of a collection of stars existing in the night sky usually comes to mind. Within that collection, the stars come together to make the sky brighter. The aforementioned idea could also be applied to the residents of Hope Valley. Each character is a star, shining in their own right. But when they either come together for a special occasion or work together to solve a problem, the town as a whole becomes a brighter place. Characters coming back to the show after an extended period of time are like shooting stars. Their return is so memorable, they captivate the audience’s attention.
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 Heartseason eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 11
Name: Run to You
Major story:
Bill and Nathan recruit Lee, Henry, and even Mike to not only protect Lucas, but Hope Valley as well. They agree to guard the town from outside, waiting for Casimir Shaw to show up. Jeanette returns to Hope Valley to warn Lucas of Casimir’s arrival. However, in one scene, Jeanette is shown shining her compact in the sun, signaling Casimir himself. Frustrated by the lack of information, Rosemary wants to know what’s going on in town. But she’s not the only curious person. Randall, Rosemary’s rival reporter, also wants answers. His quest for answers is fueled by his family being threatened by his source. After Randall shares this information with Rosemary, they discover Randall’s source and Jeanette possess the same handwriting. Rosemary goes to the Queen of Hearts Hotel to share this news with Lucas, only to fall into Jeanette’s trap and become a hostage. Elizabeth also becomes a hostage because she went to the hotel looking for Rosemary. During this situation, Rosemary realizes Jeanette and Casimir are the same person. She confronts Jeanette with this realization. Meanwhile, outside of Hope Valley, Randall shares his and Rosemary’s findings with Bill, Nathan, and Lucas. The men return to Hope Valley in order to rescue Rosemary and Elizabeth. At first, there is a struggle at the hotel that causes Bill to get hurt. But after Lucas talks Jeanette into turning herself over to authorities and Elizabeth gets away by jumping into a pile of hay with Nathan, the situation de-escalates. Multiple Mounties arrive to take Jeanette to jail.
One day, Lily shares with Faith how, when she lived with her grandmother, she and Dora used to look at the stars from her bedroom window. Faith is suddenly reminded how Lily’s room window at The Café doesn’t have a good view of the sky. In order to solve this problem, as well as helping Lily feel more at home, Minnie offers Cooper’s lantern that was referenced in this re-cap’s introduction. Joseph even provides an electric bulb for the lantern. Later in the episode, when Faith is reading a story to Lily, the lantern works as intended. Meanwhile, Mei receives a letter from her brother. The letter reveals Mei’s brother will be in Cape Fullerton. Originally, Mike and Mei plan to meet Mei’s brother in an out-of-town trip. Instead, Mike suggests having Mei’s brother come to Hope Valley. Mike suggests this because he wants to marry Mei. He shares his feelings to Mei in an official wedding proposal. Mei accepts the proposal, despite not receiving a ring.
At the beginning of the episode, Mollie and Florence talk about the recently cancelled hotel. This discussion causes Minnie to ask about the upcoming merger between Benson Hills and Hope Valley. Now that the hotel seems to not be moving forward, there is little to no reason to merge these towns. But if that plan gets cancelled too, what will serve as the overarching plot for season twelve? I’m pretty sure the creative team behind When Calls the Heart will think of something. However, I would be disappointed if Hope Valley and Benson Hills didn’t merge.
This episode of When Calls the Heart was very well written! Having Jeanette and Casimir be the same person is one of the most clever decisions this show’s creative team has made in quite some time. I also like how the tension built up over the course of the episode, leading to a climactic and suspenseful moment. Now that this story has wrapped up, I’m curious to see how season eleven ends, as well as what cliff-hangers will be left in preparation for season twelve!
When I first read the synopsis for When Calls the Heart’s season finale, I discovered a wedding was on the horizon. Out of all the characters that were eligible to get married, I figured the aforementioned wedding would be Mei and Mike’s. This decision makes sense, especially since the hints throughout this season have not been subtle. At the same time, I think Mike and Mei’s relationship is moving a little too fast, considering they just became a couple in season eleven. I understand the show’s creative team needed a big event to close out the season. But when it comes to any of the characters get married, I wish the creative team waited at least one more season to host another wedding in Hope Valley.
For last year’s Broadway Bound Blogathon, I reviewed the Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, A Tale of Two Cities. This is an adaptation from 1980 I liked so much, it was one of the best movies I saw in 2023! While reflecting on that film, I realized it’s been a whole year since I reviewed a Hallmark Hall of Fame production. To make up for lost time, I chose to write about the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame film, Pack of Lies! Two years before this movie aired on television, Pack of Lies premiered on Broadway, making the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie a good choice for the blogathon. Pack of Lies is also a Hallmark Hall of Fame film from the ‘80s I haven’t seen before. One of my aspirations is to see as many Hallmark Hall of Fame movies as realistically possible. Out of the titles I have seen, I’ve noticed the mystery genre is rarely represented throughout the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. That fact is another reason why I chose to review Pack of Lies!
The acting: Ellen Burstyn and Teri Garr portray Barbara Jackson and Helen Schaefer in Pack of Lies. The friendship of these two characters highlights how different they are from one another. Helen has a very outgoing and bubbly personality, a talkative woman who’s willing to solve problems. Meanwhile, Barbara is more reserved, dressing more modestly and avoiding conflict whenever possible. Part of why the differences between these characters were achieved was through the acting abilities of both Ellen and Teri! They presented the uniqueness of their characters through various emotions and expressions. When creating a movie where actors portray friends, the believability of their performances can make or break that illusion. The aforementioned illusion was certainly created and maintained throughout Pack of Lies!
In stories where a character has some degree of authority, their personality is usually serious. This can be a challenge for an actor or actress, as there are few opportunities to utilize a variety of expressions and emotions. That didn’t stop Alan Bates from portraying Stewart and making that performance memorable! When Mr. and Mrs. Jackson first meet Stewart, he leaves a trusting first impression. During this meeting, Alan incorporates eye movements, vocal inflections, and variations of mouth movements to create an interaction that appeared realistic. Because of the realistic nature of Stewart’s meeting, the scene itself contains a sense of realism. This realism is consistently carried in the movie through the acting performances!
A mystery within a mystery: The meeting between Stewart and the Jacksons I previously referenced in this review is about how Stewart is looking for a man named Laurence. The main mystery in Pack of Lies is discovering who Laurence is and why Stewart is interested in finding him. At the same time, the legitimacy of Stewart and his mission serve as a second mystery. Because of the vagueness Stewart provides to the Jackson family, it leaves both the Jackson family and the audience wondering who Stweart really is and why he wants to confront Laurence so much. This second mystery provides an added layer of intrigue to the overall story!
Providing books as gifts: While visiting their friends, Helen and Peter Schaefer, Barbara and Bob Jackson receive books as gifts from Peter. Barbara loves art so much, she and Helen take art classes regularly. Meanwhile, Bob is an employee in the aircraft industry. In the meeting between the Jackson family and Stewart, Stewart points out a model plane Bob built. From Peter, Barbara receives a book of drawings from the Clark Institute in Massachusetts. Peter gives Bob a book about the first flights across the Atlantic. These books were thoughtful presents Peter took the time and effort to find. Looking back on the Hallmark films I’ve seen, including those from Hallmark Hall of Fame, characters receiving books as gifts are rarely shown. Therefore, I appreciate this creative choice from Pack of Lies’s creative team to fill a creative void that is, more often than not, overlooked.
Telling instead of showing: In an ideal movie, it’s important to show and tell what’s happening on screen. But because film is a visual medium, showing should be emphasized. Unfortunately, in Pack of Lies, telling was preferred over showing. Throughout the movie, Stewart tells Mr. and Mrs. Jackson that a man named Laurence Powell is a man of interest. The reason for this interest is his possible connections to Russian communists. Dialogue is the only way the truth about Laurence and Stewart’s reason for recruiting the Jackson family is revealed. The subject of espionage in entertainment media isn’t always action-packed and adrenaline-fueled. If a creative team knows their story will have low energy, they should maintain a sense of suspense and intrigue by showing what’s going on.
Little lapse in time: At the beginning of the movie, Stewart assures the Jackson family he’ll only observe Laurence for a day or two. As the story progresses, Stewart’s mission ends up lasting longer than the proposed one to two days. Like I just said in this review, Pack of Lies emphasized telling instead of showing. The little lapse in time throughout the movie is another example of this flaw. Christmas decorations in the Jackson house are the only indication a significant period of time took place. Prior to that part of the story, the film looks like events happened within a week.
Things that don’t make sense: As I’ve been saying in this review, Stewart’s mission is to observe Laurence over a period of time. The more information revealed by Stewart, the more the Jacksons and the audience learn Stewart knew more about Laurence than he originally let on. I know the subject of espionage can be varied and complicated when included in entertainment media. However, with everything I just said, why didn’t Stewart just arrest Laurence instead of observing him over multiple days? Why did Stewart need to get the Jackson family involved in the first place? This is one example where Pack of Lies doesn’t make sense.
Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, like any creative endeavor, are not created equally. As I shared in this review’s introduction, I liked A Tale of Two Cities so much, it was one of the best movies I saw last year. Sadly, I can’t say the same about Pack of Lies. The 1987 presentation was a two hour slow and tedious build-up to a resolution that was underwhelming and anticlimactic. The cause of these flaws was the emphasis on telling instead of showing. This is not the first time a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie from the ‘80s let me down, as I also found 1985’s The Corsican Brothers disappointing. After watching Pack of Lies, I learned the movie was based on a true story. Now knowing this, I think the story would have benefitted more had it become a documentary instead. As I wrap up my review of Pack of Lies, I reflect on a Hallmark commercial I have seen. In this commercial, a man, whose first language is not English, is looking for the perfect card for his wife, who will soon arrive in the United States. When he goes to a Hallmark store, the man is assisted by an employee named Rose, who helps him find exactly what he is looking for. Another man who occasionally appears throughout the commercial reveals the events in the commercial are based on a true story. Honestly, the story behind that Hallmark commercial is a more fascinating movie idea than what was presented in this Hallmark Hall of Fame film.
Overall score: 5 out of 10
Have you seen Pack of Lies? Which Broadway show do you wish received a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie? Tell me in the comment section!
I recently published an editorial speculating why I believed Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters could be a Christmas movie. This speculation was not only based on the film’s premiere date, but on other factors like only one Christmas movie throughout the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series and how I thought the title could allude to the Nativity story or A Christmas Carol. At the time I published my editorial, Hallmark hadn’t released any promotional material for their upcoming production. During the premiere of Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder, the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters aired on Hallmark Mystery. I wanted to write this Word on the Street article to own up to my error and dispel confusion for my readers, as the trailer proves the new Signed, Sealed, Delivered film is not a Christmas movie. I also wanted to write about this trailer because, after all, it is movie news.
The trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters has been shown on Hallmark Mystery and is available on Hallmark Mystery’s website. However, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, the trailer is not featured on the movie’s official page on Hallmark Mystery’s website. This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is proof the trailer exists.
I have always been honest about my thoughts on the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. In my opinion, the overall quality of this series has been inconsistent. Based on the trailer alone, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters appears underwhelming. One reason is a story that seems recycled and predictable. As a Heartie, I’m over redemption stories because of how long Henry Gowen’s redemption arc was drawn out on When Calls the Heart. With the trailer’s voice-over stating “with a teacher trying to rewrite her wrong” and with the aforementioned teacher admitting sending a letter “in a very weak moment”, it looks like two out of the three titular letters will likely serve a redemption story.
At the beginning of the trailer, Oliver brings up “the great mailbox breach of 2017”. The way this event is addressed in the trailer gives me the impression the POstables (Oliver, Shane, Rita, and Norman) have been working on this case for a long period of time. Signed, Sealed, Delivered is a series where the stories are given a contemporary setting. From 2017 to 2021, five Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies have been released. If the movies take place within the years of their release, how come this “great mailbox breach of 2017” is just now being brought up? I hope a logical explanation is provided in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters.
In my editorial about why Francesca Quinn: PI is the worst Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen, I talked about the importance of fictional detectives having “quirks”, something about that character that sets them apart from other fictional detectives. The POstables serve as a good example of characters possessing “quirks” and being unique from one another, like Rita being obsessed with owls or Norman having a memory that rivals an encyclopedia. Based on the trailer’s voice-over stating “and a delivery that hits closer to home” and Oliver telling Charley “we are here on official business”, I wonder if Charley will become a fifth member of the POstables? Charley was introduced in the last Signed, Sealed, Delivered chapter; Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made. Looking back on that film, the only aspect I remember about Charley was how she was pregnant. The lack of strong characterazation for Charley is one reason why I didn’t like the previous Signed, Sealed, Delivered film. So, if she does become a fifth member of the POstables, I wonder what “quirk” Charley will adopt?
The trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters has been shown on Hallmark Mystery and is available on Hallmark Mystery’s website. However, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, the trailer is not featured on the movie’s official page on Hallmark Mystery’s website. This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is proof the trailer exists.
When I speculated Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters being a Christmas movie, I wondered if the next movie, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” could serve a two-part story. This speculation was based on the belief of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters retelling A Christmas Carol and the rock star in “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” as a Marley-like character. As the title suggests, three letters will be key elements in the film’s plot. But the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters shows only two letters; one from the teacher and one for someone named “Maria”. The synopsis for “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” states how the POstables go “on a road trip” in an effort to “find the recipient of a lost letter”. This indicates only one letter serving as the story’s mystery. Maybe that letter is the titular third letter in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters, making that film and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” a two part story?
What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you excited for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters? Please tell me in the comment section!
While waiting for the arrival of Jeanette, Lucas asks Henry “you ever find yourself asking how you got here”? Henry responds by telling Lucas, “Just about all the time”. Lucas’ question was a very poignant inclusion in this episode. As When Calls the Heart is close to wrapping up their eleventh season and will soon embark on a twelfth season, it can be easy to think about and ask a question similar to Lucas’. Fans of a television show are so invested in what is happening on screen, they may not realize how much time has passed. When that realization dawns on a fan, they might wonder “where has all that time gone”? I guess Lucas’ question is a testament of the longevity of When Calls the Heart. Captivating stories and memorable characters have made each episode feel shorter than an hour.
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 Heartseason eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 10
Name: What Goes Around
Major stories:
Allie still has her heart set on meeting her father, Dylan. Though she has money for a train ticket, Angela gives Allie more money to afford a hotel room if necessary. At the Jack Thornton School, Elizabeth organizes a day to restock school supplies, with some of her students volunteering to help. But when Allie doesn’t show up, Elizabeth and Nathan become concerned with Allie’s whereabouts. Angela confesses Allie’s plan to Nathan and Elizabeth. Nathan finally realizes why he received a phone call about Grandville prison earlier in the episode. When Elizabeth and Nathan arrive at the prison, they find Allie in tears. Allie tells Nathan Dylan didn’t want to see her. This crushing reality hurts Allie for most of the episode. As she wonders why her own father would reject her, Nathan explains to Allie how Dylan made a mistake by refusing to see his daughter. Nathan also stresses how lucky he has been to have received the opportunity to raise Allie. Toward the end of the episode, Nathan thanks Elizabeth for supporting both him and Allie. Elizabeth tells him how she will always to there for them.
As a last resort, Lucas agrees to meet with Jeanette about her hotel bid. Even though Henry claims everything seems legitimate, Lucas still has his doubts. Similar to his meeting with Montague, Lucas wants to keep this meeting a secret. This secrecy concerns Lee and he turns to Maisie to share these concerns. For the first time, Maisie and Lee agree on something. They come together to create a statement pulling their support for the hotel. After Lucas receives this statement, he regains his memory. Lucas not only remembers Jeanette visiting him the night he got shot, he also remembers a man named Casimir Shaw shooting him. When he confronts Jeanette about these memories, she confesses how Casimir forced her to work with him. Jeanette shares Casimir’s involvement in the hotel bid as well. In response to all this news, Lucas cancels the hotel indefinitely. He also encourages Jeanette to leave Hope Valley in the middle of the night.
Faith spends one more day with Lily before Dora comes to retrieve her. One of the things they do is have ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlor. Later in the episode, Dora arrives in Hope Valley. Though Lily is excited about her grandmother’s return, she’s also heartbroken about leaving “Auntie Faith”. Seeing how upset Lily is about saying goodbye to Faith, Dora and Faith come to a mutual agreement: Lily will permanently stay with Faith. Dora also agrees to visit Lily from time to time.
At the Queen of Hearts Hotel, Maisie tells Mei how her and Mike’s mother would love to meet Mei. Brother and sister agree for Mei and their mother to meet over dinner in a few days. Despite being put on the spot, Mei accepts the offer. While Mei comes up with a meal plan for the dinner, Mike confesses to Mei how Maisie invited the whole family to meet Mei. Even though she receives unexpected news, Mei still agrees to the dinner. When the dinner finally arrives, Mei not only meets Mike and Maisie’s mother, she also meets Maisie and Mike’s sisters. After all the curve balls during the planning process, the dinner itself is a success.
In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I stated how the hotel was not worth losing friends over. I still stand by that statement. But from a production perspective, it seems like the creative team behind the show made a promise they likely couldn’t keep. As I said in one of my re-cap posts from this season, creating a television show is like trying to solve a math equation. One aspect of that equation is figuring out how to utilize funds and manage a budget. Building a set piece, whether it’s the Jack Thornton School or a hotel, costs money. The longer a television show stays on the air, the more money required to keep that show running. With all that said, I wonder why the show’s creative team would entertain the idea of a hotel if they probably couldn’t afford to create one?
Back in season five, one of the overarching subjects was the creation of a train depot. Since this depot had been heard but not seen, I honestly didn’t think it would ever appear on the show. However, this is the second episode this season where Hope Valley’s train depot was featured! It actually looks like a nice location. Plus, the train depot proves how Hope Valley has become a desirable travel destination since the show began in 2014. With Hope Valley and Benson Hills merging in the future, I wonder what will happen to the train depot?
Strong acting performances have been showcased throughout the lifespan of When Calls the Heart. But in this episode, I thought the strongest performances were Kevin McGarry’s and Jaeda Lily Miller’s! One of the best scenes this season was when Nathan explains to Allie why Dylan didn’t want to see his daughter. The emotion expressed between these characters appeared genuine. The sincerity of Allie and Nathan’s emotions and expressions were the result of Jaeda and Kevin’s acting talents!
18 Cinema Lane 