Hello everyone! This post is to remind anyone who is interested in participating in the Familyathon Blogathon that there is still time to sign up for the event! Information about the blogathon can be found at the link below:
Awaiting My Upcoming Blogathon; Familyathon!
Have fun at the blogathon!
Sally Silverscreen
Rosemary wants the Governor to visit Hope Valley. She writes a letter to the Governor himself, making her town look impressive and worthwhile. When Rosemary gets her wish, she is both excited and overwhelmed, due to the Governor’s arrival happening sooner than anyone expected. In order to get the Governor to come to Hope Valley, Rosemary makes several promises. Throughout this episode, she is a woman of her word, trying to keep as many promises as realistically possible. Rosemary is not the only character to keep a promise on When Calls the Heart. Hope Valley’s residents try to make their words have meaning, giving other characters and viewers a reason to trust them. When this happens, problems get solved and goals are achieved!
Season: 10
Episode: 9
Name: Deep Water
Major stories:
Rosemary receives the exciting news of the Governor’s visit to Hope Valley! However, she is concerned about how she will deliver on all the promises she made to the Governor. This is because the Governor plans to arrive the following day. Keeping her word, Rosemary recruits as many residents to help her deliver her plan. Because Rosemary promised a radio broadcast, Fiona is in charge of locating a microphone. Meanwhile, Mike and Mei are responsible for creating an original song. Joseph and Lee volunteer to build a grandstand. Even Lucas helps organize a black-tie gala during the Governor’s first night in Hope Valley. But after Mr. Mitchell, one of the town’s guests, informs Lucas of the missing water in Hope Springs, he also informs Lucas of the Governor’s change of plans. Now, the Governor will arrive in Hope Valley in three hours. When Lucas asks Mr. Mitchell how he knows this information, Mr. Mitchell reveals he works closely with the Governor. Determined to make things as perfect as possible, Rosemary strives to bring her promises to life, especially upon hearing the Governor’s new plans. As the Governor arrives, everything runs smoothly. Hope Valley’s choir performs an original song, created by Angela and Ally. The Governor seems impressed with this introduction. But during his visit, he’s interested in meeting with Lucas.
Nathan receives a mission to settle a dispute between a farmer and a group of Pinkertons. When he arrives at the farmer’s house, Nathan agrees to trade places with the farmer’s hostage. After the hostage and Nathan switch places, the farmer accuses Nathan of working with Montague. While convincing the farmer how this accusation is false, Nathan learns how Montague is attempting to buy the farmer’s land. Because the Pinkertons are trying to hurt Nathan and the farmer, they escape from the farmer’s property, with Bill’s help. The three return to Hope Valley unharmed. Both Nathan and Bill learn more about Montague’s plans from some of the other characters. Lee reveals how he received a huge lumber order from Montague, with plans to build large wooden structures. Elizabeth comes to the conclusion Montague is building aqueducts, used for stealing water from other sources. They also become suspicious of Madeleine and Jaime’s whereabouts. Elizabeth finds it strange how Jaime mailed the library’s book about geology, even though he claimed he and his mom were returning to Hope Valley in a few weeks. Mike confesses how Montague told him he isn’t sure where Madeleine is, making Mike believe Montage and Madeleine aren’t engaged.
Minor stories:
Because this episode’s stories revolved around the Governor’s arrival and the conflict involving the Union City Holdings company, there were no minor stories.
Some thoughts to consider:
What are your thoughts on this episode? Where do you think Madeleine and Jaime are? Please tell me in the comment section!
Have fun in Hope Valley!
Sally Silverscreen
Recently, I wrote about a movie that was recommended by one of my readers. That film was the 1998 romantic comedy, You’ve Got Mail, a title I chose to review for a recent blogathon! But that’s not the only film recommendation I’m talking about for a blogging event this month. Because September’s Genre Grandeur theme is ‘Movies That Take Place in Mexico’, I had to research titles that would be eligible for the event. When I discovered one of these movies was No Country for Old Men, I remembered how Annlyel, from Annlyel Online, had once recommended the film to me. Finding another good opportunity to review a recommended title, I selected the 2007 film for this edition of Genre Grandeur! No Country for Old Men is a movie I had heard of, as it was nominated for several awards during “awards season”. But since I hadn’t seen the film until this blogathon, I couldn’t form an opinion on it. Now that I have checked out No Country for Old Men, I can finally share my thoughts on the 2007 picture!
Things I liked about the film:
The scenery: In some scenes, the story takes place in a desert. Through screen-writing and cinematography, the desert looked photogenic on film! One of my favorite shots is when Llewelyn is returning to his truck. While he does this, a huge gray storm-cloud is slowly overtaking the sand-colored desert in the background. Thunder can also be heard. This shot looked striking on screen, as well as serving a visual representation of what was to come in the story.
Showing instead of telling: The script of No Country for Old Men doesn’t rely on dialogue. This is to emphasize the visual presentation of the story. Choosing to show instead of tell also allows the audience to figure things out for themselves. Throughout the story, Llewelyn is being chased by Anton. During this chase, it is unknown how Anton knows where Llewelyn is. Until Llewelyn makes a discovery that explains Anton’s knowledge of his whereabouts. This discovery and its connection to Anton are visually presented, with no dialogue included. The audience is given the opportunity to piece the story together because of this creative decision.
Hiding causes of suspense: As I already explained, No Country for Old Men emphasizes showing instead of telling. Another way this is accomplished is by hiding characters that cause suspense. When Llewelyn discovers a crime scene, he sees another truck is parked next to his truck, with characters entering and exiting their vehicle. Because this takes place at dawn, only the silhouette of the characters and their truck is shown. Later in the movie, Llewelyn is being chased through a small town. During the chase, the film’s antagonist can be seen in the reflection of a nearby store window. But only their silhouette is shown in this window, causing suspense to take place in the story. Both suspense and intrigue were incorporated into the film because of the use of showing instead of telling!
What I didn’t like about the film:
The run-time: No Country for Old Men is a movie that boasts a run-time of a little over two hours. While a competently written, directed, and acted story can be captured in a two-hour time-frame, I don’t think it was necessary for the 2007 film to be this long. Scenes were either drawn-out or added for the sake of satisfying this run-time. This creative decision caused the story to take longer to get to its intended point. In my opinion, No Country for Old Men could have benefitted from having a shorter run-time, say an hour and twenty or thirty minutes. The story would have reached its point sooner and the script would have been a bit tighter.
Almost no sense of urgency: Like I just mentioned in this review, No Country for Old Men has a run-time that, in my opinion, is longer than necessary. The film’s run-time caused the story to contain almost no sense of urgency, making suspense and intrigue far and few between. No Country for Old Men has a “cat and mouse” type narrative, with the protagonist constantly trying to get away from the antagonist. The chase between these characters felt like it was taking place in slow motion because of the drawn-out story. This resulted in the picture, sometimes, feeling boring.
Some things left unexplained: While I appreciate the script respecting the audience’s intelligence by allowing them to figure things out for themselves, there are some parts of the story I wish had been explained. One example is when Anton stops at a gas station. He explains to the gas station’s owner how he has a special coin that he’s carried for 22 years, stressing how his coin was meant to be at that specific place in time. Throughout the movie, however, there are no explanations provided for the coin’s significance. In fact, Anton never brings up that coin again after his stop at the gas station.
My overall impression:
Throughout cinema, there have been movies that have received an abundance of praise. Some of these films have left me confused, questioning why it has achieved its positive recognition. For me, No Country for Old Men is one of these movies. While it’s not a bad title, it does leave me wondering why it won Best Picture, let alone get nominated at all? The film has a run-time of a little over two hours. Instead of benefitting the story, the run-time caused the movie to feel too drawn-out and, sometimes, boring. There are strengths within No Country for Old Men, such as utilizing the storytelling technique of showing instead of telling. However, these strengths do not outweigh the flaws. Looking back on the movies from the western genre I’ve reviewed, I haven’t found a film from this genre I actually liked. Similar to made-for-tv movies from the 1970s and my choice for a “so bad it’s good” title, I guess it’s time to go back to square one and continue the quest.
Overall score: 6 out of 10
Have you seen No Country for Old Men? Are there any movies from the western genre you’d like to see me review? Please tell me in the comment below!
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Every so often, I try to review a movie that has been recommended by one of my readers or a fellow blogger. It’s a wonderful opportunity when I can write about a recommended film for a blogging event. This is what happened when I joined the Everything Is Copy Blogathon! When I learned Rebecca’s, from Taking Up Room’s, event centered around the Ephron family, I realized no one had chosen You’ve Got Mail as their blogathon entry. Since the movie was recommended by Janis from Momshie Diaries, I found the perfect excuse to finally see the film in its entirety! You’ve Got Mail is far from the first romantic comedy (rom-com) I’ve talked about on 18 Cinema Lane. Several Hallmark Channel films have received their own review, ranging from terrible to the best I’ve ever seen. So, where does You’ve Got Mail rank among those Hallmark titles? Log in to this review to find out!
Things I liked about the film:
Tom and Meg’s on-screen chemistry: An ingredient to a successful rom-com is casting an actor and actress who share strong on-screen chemistry. This ingredient creates an on-screen relationship that feels believable. In You’ve Got Mail, Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan portray Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly; two literary business owners who have different perspectives on the world of bookselling. Yet, whenever they’re together, Kathleen and Joe share a spark between them, learning over time how they have more in common than they initially believed. The on-screen chemistry between Meg and Tom makes it feel like their characters have known each other for many years. It also helps how Tom and Meg brought a strong sense of likability to their characters. Even though Joe was a businessman who felt there was a time and a place for “big box stores”, his personality was more jovial than some of the businessmen who appear in a typical Hallmark Channel rom-com. Meanwhile, Kathleen’s personality was fun and fancy-free, trying to find a silver lining during autumn in New York City.
The set design: One of the conflicts in You’ve Got Mail was a bigger, chain bookstore affecting the business of a smaller, locally owned book shop. The interior design of the bigger bookstore was meant to imply how impersonal that store’s shopping experience was. But I actually liked the interior design of both stores! At the smaller book shop, the pale yellow walls paired nicely with warm wood shelves. With string lights circling near the store’s ceiling, the space itself felt cozy and quaint. At the bigger bookstore, white supporting columns, dark gray granite countertops, and shiny silver railings boasted a modern space that looked and felt heavenly. Quirky décor, such as a large, spinning silver globe and a replica of the Statue of Liberty reading a book prevented the store from being dull. Even the bookstore’s bakery section was promoted as a hip gathering space, a curved countertop with tall stools providing an area for readers to come together and enjoy each other’s company. Both spaces looked inviting and appeared photogenic!
The dialogue: The strength of dialogue can create or break a script. While the dialogue can be elevated through delivery, its believability and memorability lie in the writing talent. Within You’ve Got Mail, there was dialogue that I thought was cleverly written! One example was when Kathleen and Joe met each other at a restaurant. Using advice from her anonymous pen pal, Kathleen shared what was on her mind with Joe. Frustrated by Joe’s inability to see how his bookstore prevented other bookstores from thriving, Kathleen told Joe his brain was replaced by a cash register and his heart was taken over by the bottom line. While her statement was meant to be insulting, Kathleen’s quote was an eloquent way of illustrating how she saw Joe. Her quote also stressed how her love of literature helped her choose words that made her opinion sound mature and intelligent.
What I didn’t like about the film:
Forgettable secondary characters: In a rom-com, the main male and female character are not the only characters who can make a story work. A collection of secondary characters who interact with the protagonists can add humor, wit, and even thoughtful insight to the film. The story of You’ve Got Mail revolved so heavily around Kathleen and Joe, all of the movie’s secondary characters seemed like an afterthought. This group of actors and actresses did a good job with the material they were given. But the characters they portrayed weren’t as 3-dimensional as Joe and Kathleen. Some rom-coms will give at least one secondary character a subplot. However, no subplots were given to the secondary characters in You’ve Got Mail. Even when there was the possibility for a secondary character to receive their own piece of the story, this opportunity didn’t lead anywhere. It felt like You’ve Got Mail was the world according to Joe and Kathleen, where every other character was simply given permission to exist in it.
The protagonists’ love interests: I have seen some Hallmark rom-coms where the main male and female characters are already in a romantic relationship, only for these characters to end their previously established relationships in order to fall in love with each other. This trope is not limited to Hallmark’s films, as it appeared in You’ve Got Mail. At the beginning of the movie, the story established Kathleen is living with her boyfriend, Frank. Meanwhile, Joe is considering proposing to his girlfriend, Patricia. Because You’ve Got Mail is a rom-com, there is a greater likelihood Kathleen and Joe will fall in love. I’ve also mentioned in this review how, in my opinion, Tom and Meg had strong on-screen chemistry. Therefore, Joe and Kathleen’s previously established relationships feel pointless.
The run-time: You’ve Got Mail has a run-time of one hundred and twenty minutes. This is almost the same run-time as a typical Hallmark movie. Like I mentioned in this review, none of the story’s secondary characters were given a subplot, as the film revolved heavily around Joe and Kathleen. You’ve Got Mail’s plot includes anonymous pen pals desiring to connect in the real world. With the story being so simple and easier to follow, the movie’s run-time feels excessive. Some scenes are drawn out to likely satisfy the film’s run-time. In my opinion, You’ve Got Mail should have shown the anonymous pen pals meeting sooner. That way, they could not only help each other with their professional dilemmas, but the story itself could have become a contemporary retelling of Pride and Prejudice.
My overall impression:
Before and after the release of You’ve Got Mail, rom-coms have found their place in the world of film. Like any genre, there’s a variety of titles, some good and some bad. For me, You’ve Got Mail falls somewhere in the middle. The main romance was well written, directed, and acted. This combination allowed the protagonists to form a relationship that felt believable and charming. While the dialogue and set design certainly helped this picture, it wasn’t enough to outweigh the film’s flaws. From none of the secondary characters receiving their own subplot to the run-time, these things held the movie back from being a stronger story. With the film titled, You’ve Got Mail, and with the anonymous pen pals exchanging emails and instant messages, I’m surprised none of the story’s bookstores brought up the possibility of selling their merchandise online. In fact, I’m shocked the internet wasn’t a bigger topic/theme in this movie! I would say that was a missed opportunity. But with the film itself being just fine, I guess I don’t have much to complain about.
Overall score: 7.2 out of 10
Have you seen You’ve Got Mail? What’s your favorite rom-com? Tell me in the comment section below!
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
MVP, an abbreviation of “most valuable player” or “most valuable person”, is typically used in the world of sports. When a team member goes above and beyond for their respective team, they usually earn this title. Last year, when I was introduced to The Hobbit trilogy, the Company reminded me of a football team. With Gandalf in the role of coach and Thorin in the quarterback position, Kili is the one who, in my opinion, would be the Company’s MVP. In my “Flaming Hot…5 Reasons Why” tag post I published earlier this year, I stated Kili is my favorite character from The Hobbit trilogy. I even mentioned in that post how I felt Kili was the MVP of Middle-Earth. But claiming Kili is the MVP of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth is not purely based on personal bias. In fact, I will use examples from the trilogy to prove that Kili has, in my eyes, earned the title of MVP!
When I watched The Hobbit trilogy for the first time, I did not know Kili was a prince. I didn’t even know he and Thorin were related. So, imagine my shock when Thorin told Kili and Fili they were his “sister’s sons” in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies! Kili’s humbleness is the reason for my shock. Up until that aforementioned moment between Thorin and his nephews, Kili never brought up his royal lineage. Even in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, when he was interacting with Tauriel in Rivendell’s dungeon, Kili didn’t use his royal connections to impress her. Yes, he did bring up his mom in his and Tauriel’s conversation. But Kili never stated how he and his mom were related to Thorin.
Kili’s humbleness goes beyond his royal heritage. In The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, after his leg became injured, Kili didn’t want any help from the Company. Anytime his health was questioned, Kili would say “I’m fine”. When Thorin instructed Kili to stay in Lake Town because of his injury, Kili was frustrated he couldn’t continue on the journey. Even when he was forced to flee from Lake Town in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Kili wanted to walk by himself, not wanting to rely on anyone for support. This sequence of events shows how Kili didn’t want to be treated differently from the other members of the Company. He also didn’t want his injury to hold the Company back. Kili, simply, wanted to do his part and help his uncle and the Company in any way he could.
Throughout The Hobbit trilogy, each member of the Company had a skill to share, which allowed the Company to get closer to their ultimate goal. For Kili, he ended up having more than one skill to offer. Not only was he a swordsman, he was also an archer. In order to master just one of these skills, it requires many hours of training and a large amount of dedication. To master both sets of skills, Kili had to double his training hours and work twice as hard. The Hobbit trilogy consistently presents Kili’s talents, giving him opportunities to prove his worth as a competent swordsman and archer. One example is when Kili faced Orcs, as using his archery skills allowed him to showcase his mastery of hand eye coordination.
Kili was not known as “the voice of reason” in The Hobbit trilogy. He did not often make statements that would make others think “he has a point”. But in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Kili found the courage to become “the voice of reason”, being one of the few people to stand up to Thorin during his “dragon sickness” period. While in Erebor, Thorin ordered the Company to build a fortress, in order to prevent Erebor from being taken again. Kili points out how Thorin is not the only one who has lost his home, stating “The people of Lake Town have nothing. They came to us in need, they have lost everything”. Despite Thorin failing to acknowledge Kili’s point by reminding his nephew how he lost Erebor, Kili wasn’t dissuaded by his uncle’s stubbornness. After Thorin snapped out of his “dragon sickness”, Kili stands up to his uncle again, saying “I will not hide behind a wall of stone while others fight OUR BATTLES FOR US! It is not in my blood, Thorin”. This time, Thorin agreed with his nephew, leading the Company into battle. When he became “the voice of reason”, Kili was honest and told Thorin what he needed to hear. Even though he was “the voice of reason” for a short period of time, Kili’s statements provided a glimpse into the kind of leader he could have been.
When attempting to escape the Rivendell dungeon in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, the Company needed to open an underwater gate. Kili volunteered to open the gate, climbing out of the water and onto the top of the gate, where the gate’s lever was located. During this process, an Orc shot Kili in the leg, causing Kili to be the only member of the Company to become seriously injured. After the Company’s escape, Tauriel and the audience learn the arrow that shot Kili contained fatal poisons. As the story of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continued, Kili’s health deteriorated, bringing him on the verge of death. Yet, when a group of Orcs invaded Lake Town, Kili and Tauriel worked together to defeat an Orc. These two scenarios show how Kili took one for the team, risking his health and safety by putting the well-being of others before himself.
In the 1971 biopic, Evel Knievel, Evel Knievel states “heroes know who they are”. He made this statement to make a point how true heroes don’t need to show off their hero status. The more I think about Evel’s quote, the more the quote fits who Kili is. Kili never flaunted his royal title because he didn’t think doing so would be necessary. What Kili did instead was let his actions and choices speak for themselves. As I said in the introduction, the Company in The Hobbit trilogy reminded me of a football team. With Kili as the MVP, that means he’d be the one to not only receive a brand-new truck at the end of the game, but also proclaim his team was going to a theme park at the end of the season. But anyone who knows Kili’s story would know Kili didn’t get to do any of these things. As I conclude this editorial, I would like to say that whenever I think of the abbreviation, MVP, I will think of Kili carrying the title of “most valuable prince”.
Have fun in Middle-Earth!
Sally Silverscreen
When the term, Hope Valley, is spoken, Hearties will typically think of the town itself and the people within it. They’ll also think about how, over these nine and a half seasons, Hope Valley has earned the reputation of being a safe and trustworthy place, filled with residents that can be trusted by others. But every so often, there is a character who seems suspicious. These types of characters fall into one of two categories. The first category is suspicious characters who learn the fault in their ways, seeking redemption and becoming trustworthy over time. The second category is characters who don’t have good intentions, eventually facing accountability for their actions. This season has, so far, only shown characters from the first category, with Harry becoming one of the newest faces in Hope Valley. Since season ten hasn’t aired every episode yet, it’s unknown which category characters like Madeleine and Montague are placed in.
Season: 10
Episode: 8
Name: What Is and What Should Never Be
Major stories:
Montague has big plans for his and Madeleine’s property. But, so far, he’s been secretive about these plans. When Nathan visits the property, after receiving a noise complaint, he learns Montague and his employees are planning to drill a new well, despite the property already having a functional well. Later in the episode, while Elizabeth rides past the property, she learns Montague’s employees are using a horse and plow. Meanwhile, Bill is having regrets over selling his land to Madeleine. He also becomes suspicious of Montague. Lucas has doubts about Montague as well. But because he is a guest of the saloon, there’s not much Lucas can do about the situation. Even Rosemary becomes suspicious, as Lee receives a large lumber order that will used to build a bridge.
Rosaleen learns she’s been accepted into a nursing program! At the beginning of the episode, she shares her good news with Elizabeth. But this joy is short-lived when Rosaleen learns Henry created the Hope Valley Scholarship. When coming face-to-face with Henry in town, Rosaleen turns down the scholarship because she feels Henry is just trying to pay people off, an action Henry did in the past. She also strongly considers leaving Hope Valley again. In a heart-to-heart conversation with her daughter, Mollie encourages Rosaleen to forgive Henry, once again pointing out how Henry has come a long way since the mining tragedy. Later in the episode, at the stables, Rosaleen confronts Henry. She admits how she isn’t afraid of Henry anymore, as he is no longer the man she used to fear. Henry uses this conversation as a chance to apologize to Rosaleen. As a peace offering, Rosaleen invites Henry to church to listen to the choir. Henry accepts this invitation by sitting next to Rosaleen at church.
Minor stories:
Rosemary learns the Governor is currently on a campaign tour. Unfortunately, one of the campaign stops isn’t Hope Valley. To try and get the attention of the Governor, Rosemary brings up the idea of a grand town-wide celebration. One of her suggestions that comes to fruition is a choir. Rosemary not only joins the choir, she also recruits Minnie as the choir leader, as she led her choir in Missouri. One day, after choir practice, Mei expresses her doubts about her singing abilities. Mike disagrees, as he thinks Mei’s singing sounds nice. Minnie and Rosemary agree with Mike, giving him and Mei a duet. As they practice together, Mei begins to gain confidence in her singing abilities. The choir as a whole gain confidence as well, as their talents improve. The choir’s first performance takes place during a church service.
After learning Robert can only babysit Jack Jr. in the evenings, due to his postal service job, Ally asks Nathan if she can babysit Jack Jr. Nathan agrees, as long as Elizabeth is ok with the idea. With approval from Elizabeth, Ally officially becomes Jack Jr.’s babysitter! On her first day on the job, she and Jack Jr. agree to play Hide and Seek. Shortly after the game starts, Ally panics because she can’t find Jack Jr. She asks Nathan for help, afraid she might never be able to babysit again. Fortunately, Jack Jr. is found, hiding under the sofa. When Elizabeth returns home, Nathan is still at her house, as Jack Jr. and Ally have fallen asleep. Elizabeth suggests Ally spend the night at her house, with Nathan agreeing with her idea. Nathan and Elizabeth also have a friendly conversation, discussing topics ranging from bringing up Jack with Jack Jr. to Nathan confessing how he and Faith are just friends.
Some thoughts to consider:
What are your thoughts on this episode? What do you think Montague’s building plans are? Please tell me in the comment section below!
Have fun in Hope Valley!
Sally Silverscreen
When I published my review for the adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, that post became my 750th published article! Since then, I’ve been trying to find the right topic to write about to commemorate the milestone. My most recent re-cap of When Calls the Heart has, within a 24-hour period, become the most popular article I’ve ever written on 18 Cinema Lane, garnering over 8,000 views and counting! Since my readers have an interest in When Calls the Heart related content, I decided to create a list of the top ten characters I’d love to see return to the show! With the arrival of Rosaleen Sullivan, I wondered which other characters could come back. As the show is now is in tenth season, it wasn’t difficult to think of characters to include on this list. From characters debuting in one of When Calls the Heart’s seasonal films to beloved faces who have spent years in Hope Valley, here is my list of the top ten characters I’d love to see return to the show!
I have mentioned in the past how Tom Thornton is my favorite character from When Calls the Heart. He was even included in my “Flaming Hot…5 Reasons Why” Tag post! Tom returned to the show in season five, attending Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding. But so much has changed since then, with Tom losing his brother and becoming an uncle. Since the end of season five, I have wondered how Tom has dealt with life after receiving both good and bad news. I also speculated how his life might have changed since his story was last included on the show. It would be nice to see Tom find true love again and maybe even get married on When Calls the Heart! With season ten still on television and season eleven on the horizon, only time will tell.
Ever since Carson left Hope Valley, I feel like Faith’s story has been put on hold. While her career seems to be thriving, she hasn’t moved forward in the relationship department. There’s still so much left unsaid between Faith and Carson. I don’t feel like their conflict ever truly got resolved. Even though Hope Valley already has a doctor in town, it would be nice to see Carson and Faith work together again. Maybe they could rekindle their relationship as well.
Phillip was one of Elizabeth’s students. He left Hope Valley in order to receive eyesight saving surgery. Since then, Phillip or his father have never returned to town. I always wondered if the surgery was a success. I also wondered what became of Phillip and his family. Did Phillip’s father remarry? Did Phillip remain an only child? Erin Krakow and Niall Matter, the actor who portrayed Phillip’s father, Shane, have worked together on several Hallmark projects. If Phillip couldn’t appear on the show, Niall could reprise his role as Shane. This way, Shane could give viewers an update on his son through dialogue.
Walter made his Hope Valley debut in the movie, When Calls the Heart: Home for Christmas. In that film, he was a traveling salesman, struggling to make money. Since the movie’s release in 2019, Walter hasn’t returned to Hope Valley. He hasn’t been brought up by any of the characters either. I do wonder if he is still a traveling salesman or if he found a new calling, similar to Joseph Canfield’s story. If Walter were to come back to town, the audience would receive some closure to his story.
In season eight, it was revealed Henry had a son named Christopher. That season showed father and son reconnecting. But Henry was not the only character Christopher connected with. Fans saw Christopher and Lee’s niece, Rachel, falling in love. The younger couple stayed on When Calls the Heart for one season. Early in season nine, Henry learns Rachel and Christopher plan to get married in the near future. However, these wedding plans haven’t been brought up since last season. Though Lucas and Elizabeth’s wedding will, hopefully, take place in season eleven, I hope Rachel and Christopher consider getting married in Hope Valley. Maybe they could be the first couple to host either an outdoor wedding or a Christmas wedding!
Dottie was one of the original residents of Coal Valley, losing her husband in the coal mining tragedy that took place prior to the show’s events. Over the course of the series, Dottie started her own business; a dress shop where Rosemary worked before creating the town’s newspaper. As the dress shop expanded outside of Hope Valley, Dottie left town to manage those stores. Because of her departure, the dress shop closed and became the ice cream parlor and pharmacy. Since Rosaleen Sullivan came back to the show, it would be nice to see Dottie return. I remember Dottie, Mollie, and Florence were good friends in When Calls the Heart’s earlier seasons, so it would be wonderful to see them reunite!
Hattie is another student of Elizabeth’s that disappeared. When she and her mother moved to Hope Valley, Hattie was grieving the loss of her friend. During her time as a student of the Jack Thornton School, Hattie was one of the children who first brought up Hope Valley’s ice cream parlor. But she mentioned the ice cream parlor back in season five and since then, the story seems to have forgotten Hattie exists. I haven’t seen Hattie on the show in a long time. Plus, none of Elizabeth’s students bring Hattie up either. If Rosaleen can receive closure on her story, I think it’s only fair for Hattie to receive closure for her story too.
Cody and Becky were introduced to Hearties in the film, When Calls the Heart: New Year’s Wish. Since their introduction, Abigail adopted the siblings and the family lived in Abigail’s Café. Because of Lori Loughlin’s involvement in the infamous college admissions scandal, not only was Abigail written off the show, Becky and Cody were written off the show as well. Before this happened, Becky was attending college and Cody was still enrolled at the Jack Thornton School. Even if it was just for one episode, I would like to see Cody and Becky revisit Hope Valley. From what I remember, Cody and Robert were close friends. So, seeing them go on an adventure together would serve as a potential story for a future episode!
Besides Rosaleen Sullivan, Laura was one of Elizabeth’s first students back in season one. In recent seasons, Laura was not only attending college, but she was also babysitting Jack Jr. While watching this current season, I realized Laura hasn’t appeared in any scenes. Elizabeth didn’t mention her either. I’m curious about Laura’s whereabouts and how her story turns out. If both Laura and Rosaleen appeared on the show together, maybe the show’s fans could witness a school reunion in the future, especially since the Jack Thornton School never hosted a reunion before!
As I was creating this list, I thought about all the characters who could create drama in the town. The first character that came to mind was Charles Kensington. A childhood friend of Elizabeth, Charles came onto the show in season two. He only appeared in that season, never brought up or shown on screen again. I would love to see how his life turned out after Elizabeth refused his offers. An interaction between Charles and Lucas would be very interesting as well.
Have fun in Hope Valley!
Sally Silverscreen
Once upon a time, Hearties were introduced to Rosaleen Sullivan, Mollie’s daughter who attended Coal Valley’s school. In season one, the town didn’t have a school building, Elizabeth was just starting her teaching career, and Rosaleen was beginning to cope with the loss of her father. Since then, so much has changed. Coal Valley is now Hope Valley. Elizabeth is a mother and planning on getting re-married. And this episode shows Rosaleen returning to town! From a story-telling perspective, having Rosaleen come back makes sense. Since When Calls the Heart is currently in the middle of a milestone season, it provides an opportunity for reflection. Rosaleen’s arrival does make me wonder if other former Hope Valley residents will return to the show? But until that question can be answered, let’s start this re-cap of When Calls the Heart!
Season: 10
Episode: 7
Name: Best Laid Plans
Major stories:
Rosaleen Sullivan has returned to Hope Valley. Because she is a nanny for a family moving to South Carolina, Rosaleen can only stay in town for a week. During her interactions with Elizabeth, Rosaleen shares how she’d like to become a nurse. But she feels she doesn’t have enough money to attend nursing school. While in town, Rosaleen spots Henry. She still feels resentment toward him, due to the mining tragedy that killed her father. Mollie reminds her daughter how Henry has changed since the tragedy took place. Elizabeth wants Rosaleen to reach her full potential. So, she approaches Lucas and proposes a job offer for Rosaleen at the saloon. But Elizabeth isn’t the only character looking out for Rosaleen. Henry comes to Lucas with an idea; creating the Hope Valley Scholarship. This scholarship would allow current and former students of the Jack Thornton School to achieve their academic dreams. When Rosaleen, Florence, and Mollie hear about the scholarship, they are thrilled by the news. Little do they know Henry created the scholarship, as he wished to remain anonymous.
Madeleine and Bill signed the official papers on Bill’s property, making Madeleine the owner of the cabin and its surrounding land. But Madeleine and Jaime must return to Philadelphia to take care of Sebastian’s remaining legal matters. While waiting for their return, Bill gathers house-warming presents to give to Madeleine and Jaime. This is done in an effort to make the cabin feel like their home. When he is questioned over a butter churn, Bill states how it can be used as a flowerpot. Other Hope Valley residents consider donating their items to Jaime and Madeleine. Elizabeth even thinks about donating two baking pans to the family. When Bill and Nathan go to the cabin to drop off the presents, they discover others are residing in the cabin. While there, they meet a man named Montague who claims to now own the land. He also claims to be Madeleine’s fiancé.
Lucas has recently purchased a surprise for Hope Valley. But the only people who are in on Lucas’ secret are Ned, Mike, and Fiona. The surprise is Hope Valley’s first radio. Though excited by this new piece of technology, none of the four characters can make the radio work. Mike and Ned believe the inner workings of the radio are the problem. Fiona, on the other hand, thinks the radio needs an antenna. She goes to Joseph to gather scrap copper and steel. Fiona not only wants the antenna to be functional, but also durable. After several failed attempts to make the radio work, Fiona’s antenna is put to the test. When the antenna is attached to the saloon’s balcony and the radio is turned on, music can be heard! Everyone in Hope Valley celebrates this new gift be hosting an impromptu dance at the saloon.
Minor stories:
Joseph wants to become Hope Valley’s full-time pastor. This will allow him more preaching opportunities, as well as to perform pastor related duties in Eagle Creek. When he visits Lee to tell him about his professional plans, Lee offers him a partner position at the lumber mill. Before Joseph can turn the offer down, Lee assumes Joseph has accepted the offer. Joseph is now in an awkward position because of the misunderstanding. Later in the episode, the Canfield family attends a dinner at the Coulters’ house. Joseph and Minnie see this as a chance to clear up the misunderstanding. After dinner, Joseph is honest with Lee about his full-time pastor plans. Though disappointed about losing a good employee, Lee is supportive of Joseph’s calling. Toward the end of the episode, Lee offers the partner position to Richard, who accepts.
While making his rounds near Hope Valley, Nathan comes across a man named Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter appears lethargic, seeming not to understand what Nathan is saying. They go immediately to Hope Valley’s infirmary, where Faith discovers Mr. Hunter is dangerously close to suffering from heatstroke. During his initial treatment, Mr. Hunter asks where the “real” doctor is. In order to get Mr. Hunter to follow medical directions, Mike pretends to be the “real” doctor of Hope Valley. Toward the end of Mr. Hunter’s treatment, Mei arrives at the infirmary to give Mr. Hunter his medication. After Mr. Hunter asks if Mei is the “real” pharmacist, Faith tells Mr. Hunter the truth. She not only confesses that she is, indeed, Hope Valley’s doctor, but she also shares how she knew what was wrong with Mr. Hunter. Both Faith and Mike stand up for Mei as well. Mr. Hunter apologizes for his statements.
Some thoughts to consider:
What are your thoughts on this episode? Which character would you like to see earn the Hope Valley scholarship? Please tell me in the comment section!
Have fun in Hope Valley!
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In the five years I’ve been movie blogging, I discovered some of my most popular content has been Hallmark-related. One example is how, in a six-month time-frame, my editorial about why Francesca Quinn, PI is the worst Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen has received over two thousand views! Yet, it’s been a while since I reviewed a Hallmark production, with my last review for the Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities. To remedy that, I decided to write about the latest Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film, Guiding Emily! When I first heard about this movie, I liked the idea of a story that didn’t seem to utilize a lot of the tropes and cliches typically found in Hallmark’s projects. However, I was skeptical of the inclusion of a talking dog in the film. Guiding Emily is based on a book of the same name by Barbara Hinske, where the novel is told from the protagonist and her guide dog’s perspective. But I was unsure how the guide dog’s perspective would translate to the screen. Despite this uncertainty, I wanted to check out the movie and see if that uncertainty was justified!
Things I liked about the film:
Sarah Drew’s performance: Whenever I’ve talked about an actor or actress’s performance, I have brought up the expressive nature of their performance. One way an actor or actress can achieve an expressive performance is through the use of their eyes. Because Emily, the film’s protagonist, has lost her eyesight, Sarah Drew, the actress who portrayed Emily, used other acting techniques to her advantage. These included body language, vocal inflections, and movements of the mouth. A good example of this can be seen when Emily receives news from her boyfriend, Conner. When she first hears Conner’s news, Emily is excited for him. A smile is shown on her face, even a giggle is heard in her voice. But as Conner shares more news, Emily’s smile fades and her voice sounds defeated. This defeat quickly turned into sadness. The slight quiver of Emily’s lower lip and the sobs heard in her voice provide proof of her feelings. Throughout this scene, Emily has bandages over her eyes because she recently had surgery.
Honesty about guide dog training: Guiding Emily follows Garth, the dog that will become Emily’s guide dog. Before he can take on that role, Garth needs to learn how to be a guide dog. His training is shown through a series of scenes. These scenes address the reality of guide dog training. For approximately two years, Katie trains Garth. During this training period, Katie’s son, Alex, is frustrated that he can’t take Garth into the pet store. He feels frustrated because he sees taking Garth to the pet store as a form of socialization. Katie explains to her son how Garth hasn’t had his vaccinations yet. She also tells Alex how Garth isn’t trained to handle so much stimulation. When Garth is ready to graduate out of his training years, the scene itself is presented as an emotional moment. Katie is sad about Garth’s graduation, even looking like she wants to cry. Mark, the man who placed Garth with Katie, displays a bittersweet look on his face as well. Scenes like this one don’t shy away from addressing how sad it can be to let go of a dog that one bonded with through training.
The scenery: Though not one of the main focal points of the story, I really liked the scenery in Guiding Emily, as it was marvelous to look at! One place that boasted wonderful scenery was the backyard of Emily’s mother’s house! A sprawling green lawn provided the stage for the star of the show. This star was a large body of blue water. A border of shrubbery and a colorful array of flowers served as the star’s “curtain”. At the water’s edge, a sitting area was situated around a gray stone fire pit. The backyard of Emily’s mother’s house would definitely be the perfect cover story for any home and garden magazine!
What I didn’t like about the film:
A disjointed story: Like I said in my introduction, Guiding Emily is based on a book where the novel is told from the protagonist and her guide dog’s perspective. This element of the novel was translated to the screen, with the story bouncing between Emily and Garth’s point of view. However, the script emphasized Emily’s side of the story, as Garth’s side of the story was sometimes told through brief scenes. I found this disappointing because I expected both Garth and Emily’s perspective to be told for an equal amount of time. Honestly, I wish this story was about Emily and Garth learning to work together as a team.
Forgotten young characters: When Emily stays at her mother’s house, she meets her mother’s next-door neighbor, Zoe. This encounter sparks an acquaintanceship between the two characters. But after Zoe talks to Matthew, one of Emily’s friends, at his rock-climbing facility, she disappears from the story. This means that Zoe is gone for half the movie. When Katie is introduced in the story, it is revealed she has a son named Alex. In this two-hour film, Alex only appeared in two scenes total. He didn’t even show up at Garth’s graduation day. With all that said, it makes me wonder why younger characters were included in the story when they just ended up getting forgotten about?
Parts of the story that didn’t make sense: After being discharged from the hospital, Emily returns to her apartment. While there one day, she attempts to navigate through her home without the use of her vision. This attempt ends in disaster, with Emily tripping over a couch and spilling pasta noodles which she thought were chips. Following the aforementioned disaster, Emily’s mother criticizes Conner for leaving Emily alone for six hours, as Conner explains to Emily’s mother how he was “taking a meeting” during that time. But where was Emily’s mother during those six hours? Wasn’t she staying with her daughter? Because the script never addresses the whereabouts of Emily’s mother, this scene is one of a few moments in the movie that didn’t make sense.
My overall impression:
On the blog, It’s a Wonderful Movie, a commenter mentioned how Guiding Emily should have been a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. While reflecting on this film, I will say Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ latest presentation does feel reminiscent of Hallmark Hall of Fame projects of yesteryear! Sure, the movie does have its flaws, such as a disjointed story and a few parts of the story that don’t make sense. But Guiding Emily is a fine, pleasant film. It does tell a more unique story from those that Hallmark typically creates, avoiding a lot of Hallmark’s tropes and cliches. The talking dog element of the movie is similar to Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, where it sounds like the audience is hearing the animal’s thoughts. I wish Hallmark created more movies like Guiding Emily, where the creative teams are given more opportunities to think outside of the box!
Overall scores: 7 out of 10
Have you seen Guiding Emily? Would you like to see Hallmark tell more creative stories through film? Let me know in the comment section!
Have fun at the movies!
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In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Lucas told Elizabeth “a good solution is a deal that everyone wants to take”. After he said this, I took note of how several characters in this episode were searching for the right solution to their dilemmas. From the Coulters looking for the perfect name for their daughter to some of Hope Valley’s children trying to come up with a compromise for the hot springs, there are always conflicts that need to be resolved. Conflicts make a story interesting. But the solutions that are discovered can also add intrigue to the story. In the end, the resolutions made in Hope Valley have, more often than not, benefitted all parties involved. This allows Hope Valley’s residents to keep the peace. Now, let’s re-cap this episode of When Calls the Heart!
Season: 10
Episode: 6
Name: The Heart of the Problem
Major stories:
Rosemary and Lee are still trying to find the perfect name for their daughter. They try giving her several nicknames, but none of them are a good match. While shopping with her daughter at the Mercantile, Rosemary discovers a music box. When she hears the box’s tune, Rosemary recollects on a memory from her past. Later that day, at a check-up appointment, Rosemary confides in Faith how the birth of her daughter has caused her to reminisce about her mother, who not only left her family when she was five, but also passed away when she was eighteen. Faith states to Rosemary how she is grieving her mother’s loss. After the appointment, Rosemary talks about her mother with Elizabeth. Lee even tries to cheer his wife up. In his attempt, Lee learns that Joseph has kept Rosemary’s chest, the same chest Rosemary wanted to get rid of in this season’s third episode. When Rosemary and Lee look through the chest, they discover the contents belonged to Rosemary’s mother. Through a conversation with Elizabeth, Rosemary shares her parents separated when she was younger, which explains why her mother left the family. She also states how she now feels closer to her mother. At the end of the episode, Rosemary and Lee decide to name their daughter Marigold Elizabeth Coulter, calling her “Goldy” for short, in honor of Rosemary’s mother.
Toby, Cooper, Ally, and Angela look forward to visiting the hot springs before and after school. Due to the tourists arriving in Hope Valley for the hot springs, the children are frustrated by the tourists’ inability to share. Elizabeth and Lucas encourage the students to come up with a compromise, with Elizabeth using this experience to create a lesson for her class. While brainstorming a solution, Lucas offers Angela, Ally, Cooper, and Toby some useful advice; figuring out what the tourists want before sharing what they want. Taking this advice, the children try to create a schedule for the hot springs. This plan doesn’t work, as the tourists don’t want to give up their time at the springs. However, the children discover the reason why the tourists go to the springs; they feel visiting the springs is the only way to spend their time in Hope Valley. At the community barbeque, Lucas organizes some games for all the attendants, such as corn-hole and tug-of-war. The success of these games opens the door for other activities for the tourists, like an exercise class. A new schedule has been set up for the hot springs as well, which makes everyone happy.
Minor stories:
While working at the Mercantile, the young bandit, who Nathan refers to as “Harry”, shares with Nathan the troubles at his hometown, Eagle Creek. Due to a drought that took place a year ago, a company called Union City Holdings has attempted to purchase farm land. Someone from the company even tried to purchase Harry’s family’s land, which they refused to sell. Because of the poor land, families have left Eagle Creek. Even the town’s pastor left. During one of Harry and Nathan’s conversations, Madeleine seems to be eavesdropping on what they are saying. She looks worried when Union City Holdings is brought up.
Bill gives Madeleine the official papers for his land. During this exchange, Bill invites Madeleine to Hope Valley’s community barbeque, with Madeleine accepting Bill’s invitation. However, she is reconsidering her decision to stay in Hope Valley. Madeleine shares her thoughts with her son, Jamie. Jamie doesn’t want to leave Hope Valley, as he doesn’t feel lonely in the town. At the barbeque, Madeleine sees how much fun her son is having while playing a game of football, a clear sign of what decision Madeleine should make. Meanwhile, Bill still has his suspicions about Madeleine. He shares these thoughts with Nathan one evening.
Because of how successful business has been at the café, Minnie suggests hosting another community dinner. This time, Joseph and Minnie agree to prepare barbeque, St. Louis and Kansas City style. Leading up to the barbeque, some of Hope Valley’s residents try each style of barbeque. It seems like more people like the Kansas City barbeque the best. But the Canfields put each barbeque to the test, allowing residents to vote for their favorite barbeque. At the community barbeque, Minnie and Joseph discover the vote is tied. Upon hearing this news, Bill confessed how he mixed the barbeque sauces, claiming to like this new sauce.
Some thoughts to consider:
What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you like the name of Rosemary and Lee’s daughter? Let me know in the comment section!
Have fun in Hope Valley!
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18 Cinema Lane 