Tag: adoption

Sally Solves a Mystery: Who Is Bianca Marquez Walsh from ‘As The World Turns’?

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

Imagine: You’ve been introduced to an actor while watching a popular television show. Impressed by their performance, you go to IMDB and look through their filmography. There, you discover this actor starred on a now defunct soap opera. You know soap operas aren’t as accessible as traditional tv shows due to the frequent release of episodes. So, you do the next best thing: go to the internet to learn more about the character the actor portrayed on the soap opera. But this proves to be trickier than you expected. Whichever website you go to, there is barely any information available. In fact, there’s so little information, it seems like this character doesn’t exist. You know this character does exist, as the character’s name and list of their episodes is featured on the actor’s IMDB filmography. So, why is it near impossible to learn more about the character in question?

Between 1956 and 2010, As the World Turns followed several families. One of those families was the Walsh family, a collection of some of the wealthier characters on the show. As the title of this article suggests, a character named Bianca eventually joined the Walsh family. But as this article’s introduction suggests, finding information about Bianca was near impossible. On websites like Soap Central and As The World Turns Wiki, Bianca’s name is listed, but she doesn’t have her own page. In an article about Lucinda Walsh from the website, Soap Hub, the only time Bianca is mentioned is when the article states Lucinda took Bianca in. Unfortunately, the article doesn’t explain why Bianca was taken in by Lucinda. Through extensive, thorough research, I was able to learn more about Bianca by discovering many archived episodes of As the World Turns on Youtube! From these episodes, I will try to solve these four interconnected mysteries:

  1. Who is Bianca Marquez Walsh?
  2. What is Bianca’s story?
  3. How is Bianca connected to the Walsh family?
  4. Why did Bianca leave Oakdale?
As the World Turns title card created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS. ‘Who is Bianca Marquez Walsh?: An As the World Turns Mystery’ image created by Sally Silverscreen

B.O. – Before Oakdale

As the World Turns is primarily set in the Illinois town of Oakdale. But there were times when the story took place in locations beyond the borders of the show’s fictional town. One of these locations was a Central American country called Montega. Some of the show’s characters were from Montega, including Bianca. Her story begins in Montega, with her parents working as servants for a man named Antonio Reyes. Growing up, Bianca grew close to Antonio’s wife, Sierra. She was allowed to play with Sierra’s dolls and even turned to Sierra when her kitten was hurt. As years went on, a war broke out. Since Antonio and Sierra fought in the early days of the war, they were seen by fellow Montegans, including Bianca, as heroes. With the war raging on, Bianca lost her family, even her brother, Pedro, who fought in the war alongside Sierra. Antonio’s reputation and Bianca’s loss of family created the perfect storm for Bianca to become sponsored by Antonio and join him in the United States in the spring of 1988.

Bianca and Sierra reminiscing over their shared past in Montega. Screenshot from the Youtube channel, Oakdalian. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

1989 – Oakdale Welcomes Bianca

In the previous paragraph, I stated that Bianca came to the United States in the spring of 1988. Wikipedia claims Karina Arroyave, the actress who originally portrayed Bianca, made her debut on As the World Turns in late 1988. However, on Karina’s IMDB filmography, Bianca made her first appearance in 1989. According to As the World Turns’ archived episodes from 1988, Bianca is not featured. In fact, one of the show’s major stories focuses on Lien Hughes’ introduction, as she debuted on As the World Turns on February 2nd, 1988. Based on the available episodes, Bianca’s earliest known appearance took place on July 17th, 1989, the day after Karina’s 20th birthday. However, the first known reference of Bianca happened on May 26th, 1989. In this episode, Lucinda, the matriarch of the Walsh family, learns from Antonio her daughter, Lily, has traveled to Montega to look for her missing sister, Sierra. Antonio starts saying “Bianca had no right to–”, then followed that up with “According to Bianca, Lily said she didn’t have much more to live for. She would sacrifice her own life to find Sierra”. Before making her first known appearance on July 17th, Bianca was referenced again on the July 13th, 1989 episode. In this episode, two employees of a business firm named Emily and Paul talk about a charity ball that will take place that night. Emily asks Paul “Is Bianca looking forward to it?”, with Paul responding “I guess so”. Because Antonio is out of town, Paul wasn’t able to ask his permission to take Bianca to the event, which makes Paul concerned. With the way Bianca is referenced in these aforementioned episodes and even how characters interact with Bianca at the charity ball in the July 17th episode, Bianca’s introduction, as well as her existence, has already been acknowledged. This leads me to believe Bianca’s earliest days in Oakdale either took place off-screen or happened in an unarchived episode.

 As I previously stated in this article, Antonio sponsored Bianca, which led her to come to the United States. At the start of her story in the show’s 1989 season, Bianca resided in Antonio’s penthouse apartment. While there, she receives her education from a tutor. Antonio also gives her clothes and a roof over her head. But the longer Bianca stays at Antonio’s apartment, the more she discovers things aren’t as they seem. Antonio repeatedly reminds Bianca not to share the origins of a wedding ring he claims is Sierra’s. When Bianca questions the legitimacy of the ring, Antonio tells her “I know you have doubts about that ring, about whether Sierra is alive. But you have to keep those doubts to yourself. If you were to share them with Craig and Lucinda now, it would be very bad. It would destroy their faith in me and worse yet, their belief that Sierra is alive.” Eventually, Antonio hires multiple security guards and even forbids Bianca from seeing Paul, who became one of her first friends. Antonio justifies these measures by telling Bianca that it’s “for your own protection”. Confused by these protective measures, Bianca asks “I thought we were safe in America”, to which Antonio replies, “It’s not only in Montega that people live in fear”. After a bodyguard named Walters was found dead at Antonio’s apartment building and believing a criminal named James was contacting Antonio, Bianca ran away to the Earl Mitchell Center, where Bianca then resided.

While staying at the Earl Mitchell Center, Bianca appears to be thriving. She’s making friends, such as a young man who is referred to as “Hey You”, and enjoying herself at the Center’s Halloween party. However, a dark storm cloud looms just around the corner. After learning Paul killed James in self- defense, Bianca is questioned by police about Antonio’s connection to James. Even though James never entered Antonio’s apartment, Bianca recalls seeing James’ picture in the pocket of one of Antonio’s security guards. Meanwhile, Antonio claims Bianca’s brother, Pedro, may still be alive. Even though she’s now residing at the Earl Mitchell Center, Bianca still relies on Antonio for any information from Montega, with her claiming, “You’re my only source, Senor Tonio”. Despite Antonio continuously reassuring Bianca Pedro may be living, Lucinda and Craig come to the Center to tell Bianca Pedro actually passed away. This news is later reconfirmed by Sierra when Bianca and Antonio go to Montega to learn of Pedro’s fate.

After sharing the sad news of Pedro’s death with Bianca, Lucinda is troubled by Bianca’s situation. Desperate to help Bianca out, Lucinda decides to adopt her. When Lucinda and her lawyer, Ambrose, propose the idea to Bianca, Bianca at first believes Lucinda wants to adopt her to work in the kitchen at the Walsh house. Lucinda clarifies how she wants to adopt Bianca as her daughter. Initially, Bianca tells Lucinda, “Senora, thank you, I’m so grateful. But I-I’m not worthy to be your daughter. My-My mother was a servant to-to people like you”. But after thinking the decision over, enough convincing from Lucinda, and discovering Antonio was giving her false hope about Pedro, Bianca eventually accepts Lucinda’s adoption offer. By the end of the 1989 season, Bianca is caught in a whirlwind. She not only testifies in Paul’s trial, she also moves into the Walsh house. Bianca then experiences her first Christmas and New Year’s in Oakdale.

Bianca being questioned by Duncan in her first known appearance in the July 17th, 1989 episode. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

1990 – Bianca Joins the Family

Even though Bianca is now a member of the Walsh family and living in the Walsh house, she is still friends with the residents of the Earl Mitchell Center. In fact, Bianca is dating “Hey You” by the end of the 1989 season. At a New Year’s party, “Hey You” suddenly runs away. This decision was caused by “Hey You” spotting a man named Brock, who “Hey You” believes murdered his family in September of 1988. Toward the beginning of the 1990 season, a major story revolves around “Hey You” (who ends up being identified as Bruce Dreyfuss) and Brock’s murder case. Because of her relationship with “Hey You”/Bruce, Bianca testifies in court. While volunteering at the Earl Mitchell Center, Bianca learns from a counselor named Frannie “Hey You”/Bruce is going back to his hometown in South Bend, Indiana. When Bianca wonders how difficult it would be for “Hey You”/Bruce to return home after everyone there knows about his past, Frannie reminds Bianca, “sometimes the only way that you can go on with your life is to face up to the things that are hardest for you”. In one of their final on-screen moments together, Bianca reminds “Hey You”/Bruce how he’s been kind to her and how she believes in him.

Despite her heartbreak toward the beginning of the 1990 season, things are looking up for Bianca. She hosted her first party at the Walsh house and found a friend in Lien Hughes. Bianca has also started applying for classes at Oakdale High School. Before taking the school’s placement exam, Bianca reconnects with a fellow new student named Courtney. The two met the night before at a restaurant called “The Cellar”. For the remainder of Bianca’s time on the show, she and Courtney are friends. However, their differences slowly but surely cause them to grow apart over time. In the May 1st, 1990 episode, Bianca and Courtney go to “The Cellar” on a school night. Bianca doesn’t think they should stay long not only because it’s a school night, but also because Lucinda doesn’t know where Bianca is. Courtney tells Bianca she worries too much and reminds her she aced her placement exam. In this same episode, Courtney and Bianca talk about Paul, who happens to be at “The Cellar”. When Courtney comments how Paul doesn’t act like he has money, Bianca asks her, “Oh yeah, well what is someone with money supposed to act like”? Courtney responds by telling her friend, “if you got it, flaunt it”.

Among the archived episodes of As the World Turns, Bianca’s age is never explicitly stated. But based on Bianca and Courtney going prom dress shopping in the May 17th, 1990 episode and based on a tutor named Mrs. McClausky commenting how Courtney and Bianca will be freshman at Oakdale University next fall, it is assumed Bianca is either 17 or 18 years old. Between her high school graduation and her acceptance into Oakdale University, Bianca works as a waitress alongside Courtney at Oakdale’s Yacht Club. During her time working at the Yacht Club, Bianca learns of Courtney’s other priority besides money: Andy, a student at Oakdale University. Courtney becomes so obsessed with Andy, she even plans on taking a photography class at college, with photography conveniently being Andy’s special interest. But Courtney isn’t the only young lady with a special man in her life. Starting in the August 31st, 1990 episode, Bianca goes on dates with a young man named Zach. The only known information about Zach is that, according the Bianca, Zach is a gentleman. Beyond school, falling in love with Zach, and developing a newfound social life, Bianca finds a new passion: singing. By the end of the 1990 season, Bianca is performing in her choir’s Christmas concert, as revealed in the December 18th, 1990 episode.

Consistent threads in Bianca’s story in the 1990 season are Bianca adjusting to her new life in America and Bianca reminiscing about her past life in Montega. While at the Yacht Club in the June 20th, 1990 episode, Paul reflects on how, in the previous season, Antonio wouldn’t let Bianca out of his sight. Paul’s statement also references how Bianca used to appear nervous and even afraid of Antonio whenever near him, as noted by multiple characters. At Lily’s surprise birthday party in the August 21st, 1990 episode, Courtney expresses her envy for Andy and his supportive family, as Courtney’s parents passed away when she and her brother, Sean, were younger. This envy prompts Bianca to tell Courtney, “I think you’re very lucky to have Sean, Courtney. I-I really miss my brother”. Sadly, Courtney’s priority for money overshadows her self-awareness as Courtney tells Bianca, “Well sorry, but, um, you’re lucky. Here, look at this place you live”. After Bianca’s date with Zach in the aforementioned August 31st, 1990 episode, Lucinda confesses she wishes she knew Bianca sooner, as she feels she missed out on watching Bianca grow up and spending time with her. Bianca reassures Lucinda by telling her, “I mean, you know, this time that-that I’ve been here, that I’ve spent with you has been very special to me and I feel as if I’ve lived with you, like, for an eternity”. Lucinda says to Bianca “but I want the heartache to be behind you” and vows to help make Bianca’s dreams come true. Bianca then replies “My-My dreams have already come true”.

A magazine clipping adversing As the World Turns. Based on Karina’s long hair and Heather Rattray portraying Lily Walsh, this image appears to promote the 1990 season. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

1991 – Changing Faces

It seems like the longer Bianca stayed on As the World Turns, the less involved she became in the show’s stories. The first time Bianca is referenced in the 1991 season is when, in the March 25th, 1991 episode, Lucinda says she’s on her way home to see Bianca. Because the March 25th, 1991 episode is partially archived, it’s unknown what Bianca’s role in the story was. This is also the case for the March 27th, 1991 episode, an episode IMDB claims Karina starred on. This claim is supported by Karina’s name appearing in the episode’s credits. According to the available episodes from this season, Bianca’s first appearance in 1991 was in the April 3rd, 1991 episode, when Bianca shares with Lucinda how she found out Antonio died. During a heart-to-heart conversation, Lucinda and Bianca talk about how Antonio was a complicated man. One moment, he was supporting Montega during their tumultuous years and the next, he was guilty of several crimes. But Bianca and Lucinda can agree on one thing. While consoling her daughter, Lucinda says to Bianca, “Best thing about Tonio, the greatest thing he ever did was to be good to you when you first came to this country.”

 During her job at the Yacht Club, Bianca learns from Lily and Holden that three of Lucinda’s employees, Kirk, Evan, and Connor, staged a takeover of Walsh Enterprises, kicking Lucinda out of her own company. Disgusted by these employees’ behavior, especially from Kirk (who helped Bianca get her waitress job), Bianca quits working at the Yacht Club and goes to work at the clothing store, Fashions, instead. After the June 28th, 1991 episode, Bianca and Courtney grow further apart. This is also the last time Bianca is present on the show until November 1991, when she attends Lily and Holden’s wedding as a bridesmaid. But this time, Bianca is portrayed by a different actress named Christine Langer. The events surrounding Holden and Lily’s wedding reveal Bianca became friends with a woman named Tess. Because of the huge gap in time between late June to early November of 1991, it’s unknown how Bianca became friends with Tess or even when Christine made her debut on As the World Turns. With these November episodes being the only available evidence Bianca was re-cast, it is likely Christine’s debut took place sometime during the second half of 1991. It’s also known that Bianca did not appear in 1991’s Christmas episode. Not only was her name not listed in the credits, no explanation was provided for her lack of appearance.

Bianca telling Lucinda she loves her in the April 3rd, 1991 episode. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS
Christine Langer portraying Bianca in the November 1991 episodes. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

1992 – Dreaming of Montega

IMDB claims Bianca appeared in four episodes from 1992: on January 21st, February 21st, October 2nd, and December 24th. But based on the available archived episodes from Youtube, Bianca only appears in two of these episodes. It should also be noted that Karina reprised her role as Bianca in the 1992 season. In the February 21st, 1992 episode, Bianca shares with Lucinda an incident that took place at an event the night before, where Andy punched Courtney’s date, Evan, in the face. Later, at Oakdale University, Bianca crosses paths with Courtney. While Courtney and Bianca are still friendly to each other, this scene reveals Bianca is now friends with two women named Simone and Meredith. Another important note is how Bianca is now being acknowledged in As the World Turns’ credits as Bianca Marquez Walsh, when her name was listed as Bianca Marquez until this point.

The October 2nd, 1992 episode is the first and only time Bianca expressed any interest in leaving Oakdale since becoming a member of the Walsh family. During the 1992 season, Bianca became friends with Inez, a pregnant Montegan woman who’d like to have her baby in Montega. Bianca wants to return to Montega to help Inez with the arrival of her child. But this return doesn’t happen due to Lucinda disapproving of the idea. Not only does Lucinda remind Bianca of the upcoming school term, Lucinda tells her daughter “I need you, you got to be my stalwart with Lily when she gets back from Zurich”. Though Lucinda’s reasoning seems selfish, it was actually a blessing in disguise for Bianca. This is because Bob and Dr. Stewart, the doctors who traveled to Montega with Inez, were kidnapped by Antonio, who had been alive until that point. The reason Antonio kidnapped Dr. Stweart and Bob is because he needed appendicitis surgery, which he received. Antonio later tried to kidnap Sabrina, a woman he developed a past romantic relationship with. This plan is thwarted by a resident of Oakdale named Duncan who tripped Antonio, causing him to hit his head. Antonio ended up dying due to his head injury.

Bianca telling Dr. Stewart she can’t go to Montega in the October 2nd, 1992 episode. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

1993 and 1994 – The Departure of Bianca Marquez Walsh

1993 was the final year As the World Turns’ head writer, Douglas Marland, wrote for the show. This is due to Douglas passing away earlier that year. At the end of the May 5th, 1993 episode, a commemorative montage highlighted some of the most memorable moments during Douglas’ time writing for As the World Turns. But throughout this montage, Bianca is nowhere to be found. In fact, she only appeared in four episodes in 1993. When it comes to Bianca’s story, the only new development is that she is now a junior at Oakdale University. But for the most part, Bianca is simply responding to other character’s stories. Whether sharing her thoughts on Lucinda and John possibly getting back together (despite John and Lucinda recently getting divorced) or being happy for Lily in her new relationship with a man named Damien, Bianca is not as involved in the show’s stories like toward the beginning of her time on the show. Even when a new character named Royce joins the Walsh family, Bianca still has little to do in Oakdale. Sure, she receives a Christmas ornament from Royce in the 1993 Christmas episode. Bianca also attends a New Year’s party with Lucinda, where she asks Lucinda about Royce’s search for his twin brother. For Karina Arroyave’s last year portraying Bianca, however, this departure was pretty underwhelming.

Though Karina’s last year portraying Bianca was 1993, 1994 was the final year Bianca appeared on As the World Turns. Like in 1991, Bianca was portrayed by Christine Langer. But similar to the 1993 season, Bianca was given little to do within the show’s stories. Once again, the only update about Bianca is how she’s still in school. She does learn from Craig that the phone system in Montega is “temporarily permanently out of order”. However, there is no explanation provided for Bianca leaving Oakdale. As the curtain closed on Bianca Marquez Walsh’s story, this tale ended on a whimper.

One of Karina’s last scenes portraying Bianca in the December 30th, 1993 episodes. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS
One of the few known scenes of Christine Langer portraying Bianca in the 1994 season. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

When trying to solve the mystery of why Bianca left Oakdale, there are two ways of looking at this mystery: from a story-telling perspective and from a production perspective. Based on the story-telling perspective, Bianca has made her wishes known all along. Before learning of Pedro’s fate at the Earl Mitchell Center, Bianca tells Lucinda and Craig she wants to go back to Montega after the war. She says “Thank you, but I-I want to go back. And I want to be a part of the rebuilding, just like Sierra was”. As I mentioned earlier in this article, Bianca wanted to return to Montega to help her friend, Inez. However, from a production perspective, Bianca Marquez Walsh was too wholesome for As the World Turns. Soap operas are not known for being “family oriented” content. These types of programs are also designed to keep their audience invested in the stories for as long as realistically possible. When there’s a character on the show that doesn’t feed into a story’s intrigue, it is difficult for that character to get or remain involved in any of the featured stories. This not only does a disservice to the character in question, it also does a disservice to the actor or actress portraying that character.

From the archived episodes of As the World Turns, Bianca Marquez Walsh appeared in an estimated total of sixty-eight episodes over the course of five years. Without these episodes, this mystery would not be partially solved. This article would not exist at all. But the more episodes I watched and the more I learned about Bianca, my article took on a different purpose besides solving the mystery of who Bianca Marquez Walsh is. Through this article, a purpose to preserve Bianca’s story and prevent it from becoming lost to time was born. The story of Bianca Marquez Walsh is an important one. A reason is for its recognition of international adoption as well as the adoption of teenagers during a time when those subjects weren’t widely discussed as they are today. Another reason is for the lessons to be learned from Bianca’s story. At the very beginning of Bianca’s journey, she had been through so much in a short amount of time. Once she got to Oakdale, there were people who let her down, such as Antonio Reyes. But the way she responded to all of this was out of peace and hope. Instead of living in fear of Antonio, Bianca chose family, as she stood up for Lucinda when she needed her daughter the most. Instead of remaining sad over what she had lost, Bianca focused on what she had gained, as she grew to become a student at Oakdale University. And instead of being angry at what Montega had gone through, Bianca chose peace, as she desired to make her country a better place than how it was given to her. In the book, Wonder, the protagonist, Auggie, stated “Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world”. From the way I see it, Bianca Marquez Walsh did, indeed, overcometh the world, even as it turned.

Bianca telling Lucinda her dreams have already come true in the August 31st, 1990 episode. As the World Turns was created by Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP) and CBS

Sources:

https://www.soapcentral.com/as-the-world-turns/ftrees/walsh.php

https://cbsastheworldturns.fandom.com/wiki/Lucinda_Walsh

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karina_Arroyave

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/As_the_World_Turns

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0037410/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t193

Youtube channels archiving As the World Turns episodes:

Oakdalian

AsTheWorldStillTurns

dodger2829

SchfiftyThreeRetroTV 3

Chuck Snitchler

RetroMike VHS



Sunset Over Hope Valley: For the Longest Time

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

There have been some storylines on When Calls the Heart that have lasted a long time. Some of these stretches of time were justified, such as the conflict with the train depot. Other storylines could have taken place in a short amount of time, like Elizabeth’s love triangle. But the one thing these storylines share is how they have been allowed to travel at their own pace. They all contain a beginning, middle, and end, each one dealing with their own unique issues and conflicts. Characters may vary and situations change from season to season. But an answer, more often than not, is found. Sometimes, it’s exactly what a character wanted, like Elizabeth getting a library in season six. But there are times when characters receive something completely different, but in a good way. Speaking of good ways, let’s begin this re-cap of When Calls the Heart!

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

When Calls the Heart poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. 

Season: 8

Episode: 7

Name: Before My Very Eyes

Major stories:

Ned is still unconscious after falling in front of the Mercantile. Carson feels they should have taken Ned to the hospital, but Faith tells him Ned wouldn’t have made the trip. Despite not having a diagnosis, Carson decides to operate on Ned. Before Ned enters surgery, he asks Florence to marry him. Florence says yes, even though she is still concerned about his final outcome. The next day, as Elizabeth is passing by the Infirmary, Carson reveals how he tried the best he could, but still doesn’t know if Ned will make it. After noticing Ned’s jaundice and his shallow breathing, Carson decides to operate on Ned again. This situation has taken its toll on Florence. She volunteers to run the Mercantile and operate the phone board. When Elizabeth visits the Mercantile and discovers Florence struggling to hold down the fort, Elizabeth suggests Florence should take some time off in order to rest. But after two days of worrying, Ned begins to recover. He asks Florence if he asked her to marry him before he had his surgeries. When Florence tells him yes, Ned appears satisfied with his decision.

At the saloon, Bill gives Nathan the final adoption papers for him to sign. Bill also reveals he will pay for the adoption fees. To commemorate this milestone, Nathan plans to host an adoption party. Later in the episode, he asks Elizabeth if she would like to attend. Even though Elizabeth agrees to go, Ally doesn’t want Elizabeth to show up. She not only thinks Elizabeth will bring Lucas, but she’d also rather see Elizabeth with Nathan. Nathan tells Ally the most important thing is to see the people you care about happy. On the day of the adoption party, Lucas gives Elizabeth a gift to give Nathan and Ally. When Lucas points out Elizabeth’s unwillingness to express displays of affection, Elizabeth agrees to hold hands with Lucas as they walk to her house. At the adoption party, Elizabeth discovers the only attendants are Bill, Nathan, Ally, and herself.

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

Minor stories:

Christopher wants to follow in Henry’s footsteps and work in the oil industry. But Henry doesn’t want his son to grow up to be like him. When Christopher is late for breakfast, Henry says that no matter what his mother and Jerry, Christopher’s stepfather, has told him, he has to be on time while he is living in Hope Valley and working with his father. At the petroleum plant, Christopher is surprised by how little time Henry spends in the office. He thinks he will gain wealth by working in the oil industry. But Lucas reveals to Christopher how Hope Valley’s petroleum plant isn’t doing as well as expected. After Christopher meets Mike in Henry’s office, Mike wants to talk with Henry in private. However, Henry says he’ll talk with Mike at another time. Lucas hears of Lee’s missing pocket-watch. When he asks Christopher about the pocket-watch’s whereabouts, Christopher lies and says he doesn’t know where it is. The next day, a car is towed into Hope Valley. Nathan shares with Elizabeth how the car was reported stolen. This car is the same one Christopher parked in the forest in the previous episode.

Clara and Jesse are still spending time apart. On the night of Ned’s first surgery, Jesse attends the prayer vigil Joseph organized. When Elizabeth tells Clara about Jesse’s whereabouts the next day, Clara finds this odd, as she reveals how Jesse is not a religious man. Jesse visits the café later in the episode. Even though Clara is cordial toward him, she thought the interaction with her husband would be different. Clara then visits Joseph at his house. As she is desperate for advice, Joseph tells her to invite Jesse back home. He says that it’s important for her and Jesse to spend time together, advising her to address their issues later. However, this advice is easier said than done. When Jesse visits Clara at the dress shop, they get into an argument about the length of Clara’s skirt. Meanwhile, Minnie finds Joseph praying in the church. She asks him if he is considering becoming the town’s pastor. Joseph considers passing on the opportunity because of how he was treated differently in Fall River. He also points out how the church doesn’t have a pulpit or a bell. Minnie tells him that his decision will not only be important for him, but also for their family.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Toward the beginning of the episode, Henry and Christopher enter the saloon in order to escape the rain. Henry could be seen laughing and smiling with his son. This is the first time I have seen Henry smile in a long time. I hope When Calls the Heart features more moments where Henry gets to smile.
  • I’m glad Ned was able to overcome his medical challenges. It’s also nice to see Ned and Florence get engaged. All I ask is for the show’s creative team to keep their promises to their fans. What I mean is if Florence and Ned say they want an outdoor wedding, give them an outdoor wedding and feature it on the show.
  • In one of my re-cap posts, I brought up a theory of Jack possibly returning to Hope Valley after his identity was mistaken and he experienced amnesia. After seeing the preview for the next episode, I speculate that this might be the case. In season eight alone, Jack has been brought up more than the previous two seasons combined. If everything is a coincidence, then nothing is a coincidence.
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? What do you predict will happen? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Praying for a Solution

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

When Lee goes to the Infirmary after he injured his back, Joseph Canfield, a new character on When Calls the Heart, tells Rosemary he’ll pray for Lee. Not only was the gesture thoughtful, but it also highlights an important component of the show. Since the show’s beginning, faith has been interwoven throughout the overall story. Whether it was Elizabeth’s students putting on a Nativity play during Christmastime or the characters adding Biblical values to their lives, faith is one of the cornerstones of Hope Valley. It has been a while since services were shown in the church or since a pastor has stayed in the town for more than a few episodes. Adding a new pastor to When Calls the Heart’s growing cast of characters would continue to emphasize the importance of faith. It would provide the town with someone to turn to whenever someone is struggling. The pastor’s journey of faith could also be explored. In the meantime, let’s start this week’s re-cap of When Calls the Heart!

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

When Calls the Heart poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. 

Season: 8

Episode: 2

Name: Honestly, Elizabeth

Major Stories:

Helen Bouchard spends her morning reading Elizabeth’s manuscript. When Lucas visits her at the Queens of Hearts Saloon, Helen expresses no interest in leaving her room. Later that day, as Elizabeth is on her way to the Infirmary to visit Lee, Lucas asks Elizabeth if she’ll visit Helen. After Lucas explains how Elizabeth is easier to talk to, Elizabeth agrees. At the Saloon, Elizabeth arrives at Helen’s room, bringing a basket of homemade muffins. Helen refuses the muffins and also frowns upon Elizabeth’s lateness when it came to handing in her manuscript. When Helen asks if Elizabeth can meet with her the next morning to look over Elizabeth’s manuscript, Elizabeth agrees. The following day, Elizabeth and Helen work on editing the manuscript. They have difficulty seeing eye-to-eye, as they only finish the first page. To resolve this issue, Elizabeth suggests they take a break by going for a walk. On this walk, Helen reveals that she likes Elizabeth’s honest writing. She also confides in Elizabeth how her husband left her. Helen says her husband was in London the last time he was located. She tells Elizabeth not to tell Lucas about this news. When Lucas arrives to invite Elizabeth to dinner, she turns down the invitation. Instead, she recruits Lucas to help plan a special night in for Lee and Rosemary. Throughout the episode, Helen takes notice of Lucas’ feelings for Elizabeth.

A box for the Coulters arrives at their house. Joseph Canfield comes to help Lee bring the package into the home. During this procedure, Lee hurts his break. He is taken to the Infirmary by Rosemary, Joseph, and Jesse. At the Infirmary, Carson discovers Lee has sprained his back. He tells Lee and Rosemary how Lee will have to rest at the Infirmary until the afternoon, when Lee will be able to go home. Back at home, Lee is still in pain. He plans to take it easy by sitting on the sofa. Later that evening, Elizabeth surprises Lee and Rosemary by planning a special night in. She gives them wine and a record that have something to do with Hawaii. As they dance to the music, Lee confesses to Rosemary how he has always wanted to visit Hawaii. The next day, they discover what the box contained. While the majority of the contents consist of coffee, they also give a sombrero and poncho to Elizabeth’s son, Jack.

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Minor stories:

Nathan visits Bill with the intention of starting the process of Ally’s adoption. Even though Bill thinks it is a bad idea with Ally’s father in prison, Nathan explains how this is the perfect time to start the process. As Bill fills out the necessary paperwork, Nathan finds a map of Bill’s property. Bill explains how the land is for sale, as he doesn’t spend much time using it. Later in the episode, Nathan tells Elizabeth how he plans to visit Bill’s land. He also shares his desire to settle down. Before the episode ends, Nathan expresses his feelings about Bill’s property to Elizabeth, saying how it would the perfect place to build a house. Elizabeth tells him how she cares about him and is concerned about the future of their relationship. She doesn’t want to lose him like she lost her husband. Even when Nathan explains how he’d quit being a Mountie, that doesn’t dispel any of Elizabeth’s concerns. After Nathan tells her he loves her, Elizabeth rides away on her horse, Sergeant.

Toward the beginning of the episode, Fiona opens her barber shop, which is called Nichols and Dimes. She explains how she incorporated her former boss’ name into her business, as a symbolic gesture to show how she is more than just “a small spoke in a big wheel”. When she is seeking customers, Henry, Jesse, and Mike turn down the offer. As the episode progresses, Mike comes to the barber shop after he lost a bet with Jesse. As Fiona is giving Mike a haircut, she explains why she re-opened the barber shop. During this process, she accidently cuts Mike’s ear with the trimming scissors. Horrified by the ordeal, Mike rushes to the Infirmary. Later in the episode, Mike returns to the barber shop. He apologizes for abruptly leaving. Fiona tells him both of them are equally to blame. She then becomes surprised when Clara and Faith bring Jesse and Carson to get a trim.

While driving through the country roads, Joseph Canfield experiences car trouble as the car’s engine stops working. He goes to Hope Valley in search of help. When he enters town, Joseph finds Jesse and asks him for help, an offer Jesse accepts. When Jesse finishes fixing Joseph’s car, they witness Robert’s horse-riding adventure. As Robert loses control of the horse, Elizabeth chases after him while riding her own horse. When revisiting Hope Valley, Joseph expresses interest to Bill about purchasing the gas station. Joseph also shares how he’d like to call Hope Valley his home. Bill and Henry take Joseph to Henry’s house, which is currently for sale. Even though the house needs some repairs, Joseph purchases the house, claiming it will be the perfect place for his family to live. After this exchange, Henry visits the mercantile. When he discovers his letter has been returned and partially opened, Henry demands to know who is responsible. Carson, who just so happened to come to the Mercantile at that very moment, suggests Henry leave in order to prevent the conflict from escalating further. As Henry is leaving, he collapses on the stairs. While Carson reminds Henry of his troubling blood pressure, Henry tells Carson how nothing he does will ever be good enough. Carson takes Henry to the Infirmary in an attempt to resolve this issue.

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Some thoughts to consider:

  • This episode was much stronger than the season premiere! I liked how the overall story placed more emphasis on the plots and conflicts of the characters instead of the love triangle and relationships. Within the episode, interesting storylines were either revisited or introduced. Nathan’s plan to adopt Ally is one example. After Nathan explained why he wants to adopt Ally now, I have gained an understanding for the creative team’s decision to not use Ally’s father to serve a multi-episode storyline.
  • Why is Mollie suddenly interested in Bill romantically? For seven seasons, Mollie has never expressed any desire to be in a relationship with anyone. In this episode, she seemed jealous of Helen when Mollie spotted Helen and Bill at the Saloon. To me, this part of the story feels random.
  • Similar to the previous season, there is a lot of mystery surrounding Henry’s character. Not only do we not yet know the significance of the letter, but also why Henry is suddenly interested in getting back into the petroleum business with Lucas. I hope we start receiving answers as this season continues.
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What are your thoughts on this episode? Which storyline interests you the most? Tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Christmas Under the Stars Review

On By 18cinemalane13 Comments

So far, I’ve seen nine of Hallmark’s Christmas films from this year. To me, most of them have ranged from ok to decent, with a few standouts. Since I haven’t reviewed a Christmas movie from Hallmark Channel yet, I decided to talk about one of the network’s more recent pictures, Christmas Under the Stars! This film was one of my most anticipated of the season. Jesse Metcalfe and Autumn Reeser reuniting as co-leads was one of my reasons why. I really enjoyed their first movie together, A Country Wedding, especially since they had good on-screen chemistry. Jesse and Autumn have never starred in a Christmas movie together, so I thought this would help make Christmas Under the Stars an interesting project.

Christmas Under the Stars poster
Christmas Under the Stars poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.hallmarkchannelpress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=Christmas+Under+the+Stars.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Christmas Under the Stars had a solid cast! I enjoyed seeing each actor’s performance immensely, as they brought the best of what they had to offer, talent wise, to their roles. One example is how Jesse Metcalfe brings more emotionality to his portrayal of Nick than I expected. At some dramatic moments, it looked like Jesse was about to cry. Because he stars on a television show that features a variety of situations, it helps prepare Jesse for roles that require a certain amount of versatility. Clarke Peters is another example of how talented this cast is. His portrayal of Clem was very endearing, making this character easy to root for. Clarke also appeared to have good camaraderie with his co-stars. Speaking of camaraderie, what worked in this cast’s favor was the on-screen chemistry and interactions between the characters. These encounters felt believable, like they had come directly from real life.

 

The business side of Christmas tree lots: When Christmas tree lots are featured in Hallmark movies, they are either on screen for a short amount of time or the business aspect of them gets glossed over. In this movie, however, the story allows the business side of Christmas tree lots to be explored. It provides a unique perspective that is educational and intriguing for the audience. This also adds something that most Hallmark movies don’t incorporate. More often than not, I say that Hallmark needs to take more creative risks and think outside the box. The interesting way that a Christmas tree lot was showcased in this film is a good example of this.

 

The discussion of foster parenting: If a single parent is included in a Hallmark movie, that character’s relationship status is usually caused by divorce or becoming a widow/widower. Autumn Reeser’s character, Julie, is a single parent because she chose to be a foster parent. Even though this discussion of foster parenting was very brief, it represented a family dynamic that is rarely seen in Hallmark productions. It also provided an interesting component to Julie’s backstory. Because Julie adopted her foster child, Matt, it makes Christmas Under the Stars the second 2019 Hallmark Christmas film to include adoption in their respective film’s narrative.

 

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What I didn’t like the film:

A semi-misleading synopsis: While I liked this film’s story, I felt the synopsis bent the truth to a certain extent. One example is the basic premise, where Nick loses his job. This idea reminded me of a movie I reviewed last year called Waffle Street. In that film, the protagonist not only loses his job, but the event was catastrophic on his life. The protagonist in Christmas Under the Stars didn’t have the same experience. Yes, Nick did lose his job. But he was still able to keep his high-rise penthouse apartment and his vintage Porsche. Another example is Julie’s occupation. When I was led to believe that she was an astronomer, I was so excited to see this profession incorporated into a Hallmark story. However, Julie’s job ended up being a science teacher. While this is an important career, the astronomy aspect was overshadowed.

 

The protagonists spending so little time together: Jesse and Autumn had good on-screen chemistry. What helped was them starring in 2015’s A Country Wedding together. But the difference between this movie and Christmas Under the Stars is how little time the protagonists spend with each other in the latter. Nick and Julie do become a couple, because that’s how Hallmark movies work. But when they eventually end up together, their union doesn’t feel earned. That’s because there was no build-up leading up to that part of their relationship. What also doesn’t help was how they barely identify the other person as a potential love interest. I understand that the screenwriter wanted to try something different. But, in this case, it didn’t work in the film’s favor.

 

An under-utilized subplot: In the film, Autumn’s character is trying to help a student who is always late to class. When this subplot was first introduced, I thought it would play an interesting role in the overall story. Since this is a Christmas film, the subplot had potential to be impactful and uplifting. But as the movie went on, it became too simplistic and was resolved way too easily. Because this subplot was competing with other story-lines, it felt more forgettable than it should have. This resulted in the subplot being under-utilized.

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My overall impression:

Before watching this film, I was highly anticipating Christmas Under the Stars. This was a film that I thought I was going to fall in love with. While I liked the movie, it probably won’t become one of my favorite Christmas films from this year. Sure, it was good. The film had its strengths, such as the cast and some of the topics that were incorporated in the project. But the movie had flaws that prevented it from being great. Christmas Under the Stars is certainly one of the stronger picks from Hallmark’s Christmas line-up, as it is one of the network’s more memorable presentations. The creative team behind the film did a good job with the material they were given. It’ll be interesting to see what the quality of the rest of Hallmark’s Christmas films looks like.

 

Overall score: 7.7 out of 10

 

What do you think of Hallmark’s Christmas line-ups so far? Are there any movies that you are fond of? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen