Tag: Birthday

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Controlling What You Can Control

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Minnie is concerned over news related to Cooper. She also has other concerns on her mind like funding Angela’s college education. But as Minnie tells Joseph, she can only control what she can control. Minnie’s quote reminded me of how another character has responded to situations; Oliver. Throughout his young life, Oliver has been forced to deal with situations beyond his control, from entering foster care to his mother going to prison. Despite how turbulent his life was prior to coming to Hope Valley, Oliver always seemed aware of the things he could control. He chose to follow the rules because he didn’t want to prove his doubters right. When he lied about his education, Oliver considered resigning from the Mounties because he wanted to prevent Nathan from getting in trouble. He doesn’t even dwell on how he’s never had a birthday party before. As I reflect on Oliver’s time on When Calls the Heart, I remember how Oliver has responded to situations with a level head, a generous heart, and with the intention of doing the right thing.

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

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

Season: 13

Episode: 4

Name: Until Proven Guilty

Major stories:

McGinty is being questioned by Bill and Nathan over his whereabouts during the fire at Goldie National Park. While he admits to entering the park prior to the fire, McGinty confesses he was burying his deceased cat, Mr. Mittens. It was also confirmed McGinty was in Benson Hills when the fire was taking place. With McGinty officially ruled out as a suspect, it appears the fire was accidentally started, as Toby and Cooper confess to Nathan and Bill. However, they stress they put out their cooking fire as instructed. When those from Benson Hills are looking for something or someone to blame, Bill and Nathan host a town meeting to discuss what is known about the fire. The residents of Benson Hills are frustrated by the lack of definitive answers and even question Allie’s involvement in how the fire started. Elizabeth, who also attended the meeting, speaks up to remind Benson Hills’ residents how blaming others isn’t going to solve problems. Meanwhile, Lee decides to convert his lumber business into a construction business. Encouraged by Joseph to forgive McGinty and after learning McGinty doesn’t have insurance or a loan, Lee decides to build McGinty a new cabin as his construction company’s first project. He and Rosemary also give McGinty a kitten.

Minnie has started selling homemade jam. As the episode progresses, it’s revealed Minnie’s business venture is to not only found Angela’s college education, but to fund a lawyer for Cooper as well. When Cooper overhears his parents’ conversation about the family’s financial situation, he tries to run away from home. But Minnie stops Cooper by reminding him how he isn’t a burden. Meanwhile, Lucas attempts to apologize to Edie for missing the insurance claim meeting from the previous episode. Edie is now convinced Lucas is like the other politicians she’s met before. But during Lucas’ interview on Rosemary’s radio show, Edie’s mind starts to change. As he reveals his plans to run for re-election, Lucas states how he wants to raise taxes in order to collect funds to help re-build Benson Hills. This idea helps Edie see Lucas does care about the people he serves.

Orange cat image created by Freestockcenter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/ginger-cat_883376.htm’>Designed by Freestockcenter</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/gold”>Gold image created by Freestockcenter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Allie not only remembers Oliver’s 18th birthday is on the horizon, she also remembers how Oliver has never had a birthday party before. These facts inspire Allie to plan a surprise party for Oliver. Allie wants to invite the students from Benson Hills to join Oliver’s celebration. But throughout the episode, the Benson Hills students seem unwilling to branch out beyond their friend groups. Allie also wants to invite Cooper and Toby. However, their guilt over the fire discourages them from attending Oliver’s party. When his birthday finally arrives, Oliver is pleasantly surprised by how the party turned out, as well as how many people showed up. Even the students from Benson Hills came to the event. But when Oliver discovers Toby and Cooper’s absence, Oliver convinces them to attend the party. But one of the reasons why they go to the party is to apologize for the fire. After the celebration, Allie gives Oliver a book of poems. Oliver then gives Allie the present he was supposed to give at Allie’s birthday party; a silver wolf brooch.

Maisie is currently staying at Mike and Mei’s apartment. This adjustment period has had some bumps in the road. One day, Mei and Mike discover some of their clothes have been donated by Maisie. They learn Maisie doesn’t like their wardrobe, even expressing her dislike over Mike wearing the color blue. Mike believes leaving Maisie alone is better than confronting his sister. But Mei encourages Mike to stand up to Maisie. He eventually confronts Maisie by proclaiming he’ll wear blue whenever he wants, as well as inviting Maisie to Oliver’s birthday party. Mike believes the community spirit will be good for Maisie as well as the rest of Benson Hills’ residents. Taking Mike’s words to heart, Maisie attends Oliver’s birthday party and gives Oliver one of Mike’s ties as a gift.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Is it just me or is everyone’s acceptance over Cooper and Toby accidentally starting the fire a bit concerning? With the episode titled, “Until Proven Guilty”, I would assume at least one of the characters would encourage others to wait until all the facts had been collected before making conclusions. But the characters seem so convinced Toby and Cooper started the fire by accident, even Cooper and Toby themselves have accepted responsibility for a problem they may not have caused. Based on synopses I read for upcoming episodes, it seems like the investigation surrounding the fire will be an overarching story this season. This leads me to believe the real culprit is going to be revealed later in season thirteen.
  • At Oliver’s birthday party, Allie reveals how each decorated table represents a birthday where Oliver didn’t receive a party. This display of toys, mementos, and personal belongings became a visual way of making up for lost time. I liked this design detail because it incorporates the show’s continuity. It also highlights how important Oliver’s story is for not just him as a character, but for When Calls the Heart as well.
  • As I said in this re-cap, Minnie is selling homemade jam to fund Angela’s college education. This fact makes me wonder why Angela didn’t receive the Hope Valley Scholarship when she graduated last season? Did Timothy or Emily accept the scholarship instead or did it go to one of the school’s alumni? I’d like to hear this detail get addressed sometime this season.
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think Lee’s new construction business will re-build Rosemary’s Playhouse? Tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Royal Tenenbaums Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I’ve mentioned in the past how my favorite character from Freaks and Geeks is Harris Trinsky. To show my gratitude to one of the people responsible for bringing this character to life, Stephen Lea Sheppard (the actor who portrayed Harris), I decided to review one of the projects from Stephen’s filmography on his birthday. When I looked at his official page on IMDB, I discovered Stephen has only one movie on his filmography. That film is 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums. While I have heard of this movie, I had never seen it before. Stephen’s birthday was the perfect opportunity to, once again, expand my cinematic horizons! Two years ago, I published a list of the Top 10 “Icks” from Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies. In that list, I discuss how Saint Maybe did a better job than Back When We Were Grownups at showcasing a dysfunctional family. When I learned The Royal Tenenbaums revolved around a dysfunctional family, I wondered if the film would remind me more of Back When We Were Grownups or Saint Maybe. Now that I’ve seen the 2001 movie, I can find the answer to that question in this review!

The Royal Tenebaums poster created by Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, and Vantage Media, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Things I liked about the film:

Dudley’s bluntness as comic relief: In The Royal Tenenbaums, Stephen portrays Dudley Heisenbergen. Throughout the story, Dudley resides with Bill Murray’s character, Raleigh St. Clair, because he is researching Dudley’s medical condition. Though he receives a very limited amount of screen-time, as well as lines within the script, Dudley left a memorable impression on me. That’s because his bluntness was effectively utilized as comic relief. One example is when Raleigh discusses Dudley’s medical condition through a tape recorder. Raleigh addresses how Dudley has Color Blindness, yet marvels at Dudley’s exceptional hearing. In the very next scene, while Dudley is in another room, Dudley asks Raleigh if he is Color Blind, with Raleigh confirming this fact. Why I found this exchange hilarious is how Dudley’s bluntness felt reminiscent of Stephen’s portrayal of Harris on Freaks and Geeks, as Harris’ brutal honesty sometimes led to humorous moments. I wish Dudley’s bluntness was incorporated more in The Royal Tenenbaums.

Use of mixed media: Before watching The Royal Tenenbaums, I knew the movie had an offbeat and quirky presentation. But because I hadn’t seen the movie before, I didn’t give much thought to why it was presented this way. Now that I’ve seen The Royal Tenenbaums, I know what gave the 2001 film its unique identity was the creative team’s use of mixed media. The entire story is told as if the audience is reading a book, complete with parts of the film being separated by “chapters”. If a character wrote a book, a cover of their book was presented on screen to emphasize that character’s progress and/or success. When Richie and his father, Royal, talk about a disastrous tennis match, the tennis match is shown in the movie as a television broadcast, which provided additional context to what Royal and Richie were saying. Details like the ones I described show how The Royal Tenenbaums’ creative team creatively and cleverly told their story!

Brutal honesty about family dysfunction: I brought up in the introduction of this review how Saint Maybe did a better job than Back When We Were Grownups at showcasing a dysfunctional family. This is because there was a very clear reason for the family in Saint Maybe to be dysfunctional, as a death in the family caused a ripple effect which led to the family’s dysfunctionality. The Tenenbaum family’s dysfunctional nature felt reminiscent of the 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. But in the case of The Royal Tenenbaums, the Tenenbaum’s dysfunction was caused by a series of little things that culminated over time. A great example is when Margot debuted a play she created on her 11th birthday. When Margot asks her dad, Royal, what he thought of her play, Royal honestly tells his daughter the play didn’t feel believable because it seemed like a child wrote it. Prior to that moment, Margot had been praised as a playwright protégé, so her father’s criticism affected her in the long run. Scenes like the one I described showcase the brutal honesty of what can lead families to become dysfunctional. The acting performances and screenwriting made this dysfunctionality feel realistic.

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

Margot and Richie’s romantic attraction for each other: As the story of The Royal Tenenbaums carries on, the script reveals Margot and Richie have developed romantic feelings for each other. These feelings come years after Richie and Margot grew up together as brother and sister. However, Margot was adopted into the Tenenbaum family, so she and Richie are only related by familial connection. But despite this fact, Margot and Richie’s romantic attraction creates an awkwardness that can’t be overlooked. Plus, this attraction has little bearing over the plot. It would have made more sense if Richie and Margot’s subplot had instead revolved around helping their friend, Eli, overcome his addiction, especially since Eli grew up infatuated with the Tenenbaum family.

Endings wrapping up too neatly: Earlier in this review, I talked about the brutal honesty about family dysfunction in The Royal Tenenbaums. The script’s brutal honesty brought a sense of realism to the family dysfunction, even addressing issues family dysfunction can cause, like addiction and self-harm. But by the end of the movie, all of the stories are wrapped up in neat little packages, giving the characters a semblance of a “happily ever after”. It seems like The Royal Tenenbaums’ creative team wanted to have their cake and eat it too. What I mean by this is they didn’t want to sugarcoat family dysfunction, yet, at the same time, they wanted to make sure all the characters were ok. One solution to this flaw is showing the characters gradually working through their dysfunction as the story goes on. This way, the “happily ever afters” would have felt more earned and complimentary to the story’s realism.

Dudley’s unclear connection: When I discussed Dudley’s bluntness as comic relief in The Royal Tenenbaums, I brought up how Dudley resides with Bill Murray’s character, Raleigh St. Clair, because he is researching Dudley’s medical condition. But other than this fact, the script never provides a clear explanation how Dudley connects to the other characters. Did Raleigh and Margot adopt Dudley? Does Dudley’s parents allow him to spend time with Raleigh whenever he feels like it? Are Raleigh or Margot Dudley’s legal guardian? This lack of explanation left me confused, especially since the connections between the other characters in The Royal Tenenbaums were made clearer.

Since I’m reviewing The Royal Tenenbaums in honor of Stephen Lea Sheppard’s birthday, I decided to include this photo of Shephen’s character, Dudley, and Bill’s character, Raleigh. Photo created by Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Vantage Media, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

My overall impression:

The 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Saint Maybe, proves stories about family dysfunction can work. What helped Saint Maybe was not only providing a clear reason for the family’s dysfunction, but also showing the family using their dysfunction as motivation to make impactful changes in their lives. Like the 1998 film, The Royal Tenenbaums gives the audience reasons to explain why the titular family is dysfunctional. However, the impactful changes in the Tenenbaum family’s lives don’t happen until toward the end of the film. In my opinion, these changes should have been more gradual throughout the story. What I can appreciate about The Royal Tenenbaums is the brutally honest approach to the subject of family dysfunctionality. A sense of realism was brought to the story because of this creative decision. But as I stated in the introduction of this review, Stephen Lea Sheppard is the reason I sought out The Royal Tenenbaums. His character’s bluntness left a memorable impression on me and even reminded me a bit of Harris Trinsky. So, if you’re reading this, Stephen, I just want to say Happy Birthday and thank you for making Harris Trinsky a sparkling, shooting star in our landscape known as entertainment.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen The Royal Tenenbaums? What stories about family dysfunction do you think work in film? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sally Watches…Miami Vice

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

I was first introduced to Michael Wincott as an actor when I saw The Crow for the first time. Because his portrayal of Top Dollar left such a memorable impression, I wanted to seek out other projects from his filmography. I also wanted to review one of his projects on his birthday. But, until this year, I hadn’t gotten around to doing that. When I discovered Michael had guest-starred on an episode of Miami Vice, I became interested in checking out his performance. Seeking out this episode also gave me an introduction to Miami Vice, as I have never watched the show before. So, in honor of Michael’s birthday, I am publishing this special tv show episode review! Like my other television related reviews, I will discuss what I liked about the episode, what I didn’t like about the episode, the story itself, the other factors from this episode, and my overall thoughts. So, before we can start singing the “Happy Birthday” song, let’s begin this review!

Miami Vice logo created by Michael Mann Productions, Universal Television, and National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Episode Name: Blood & Roses

Season 4, Episode 19

Premiere Date: April 1st, 1988

The title card for “Blood & Roses“. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

What I liked about this episode:

In this episode of Miami Vice, a detective named Gina goes undercover as the love interest of a criminal named Frank Mosca. But the longer she stays undercover, the more the mission takes its toll on her. It gets to the point where Frank makes unwanted romantic advances on Gina. One day at the station, Gina tearfully confesses to another detective named Trudy how what she’s doing makes her feel guilty. She is still shaken up by what Frank did to her. If a character goes undercover or is given a top-secret mission on a police/detective procedural show like Miami Vice, the allure and thrill of the mission itself is given so much emphasis, its effect on the characters is rarely addressed, especially if the character is a woman. Gina’s confession to Trudy honestly highlights how, at the end of the day, the characters on police/detective procedural shows are human, complete with emotional limits and breaking points. It also helps how that scene was well-acted and well-written.

What I didn’t like about this episode:

As I said in the introduction of this review, Michael Wincott is the reason why I sought out this episode of Miami Vice. His performance was one of the best parts of this episode because he displayed chameleon-like control over his character’s emotions, which was reminiscent of his portrayal of Top Dollar. But within this forty-seven-minute episode, Michael only appeared in a total of four scenes. Plus, his portrayal of Wilson Cook became overshadowed by Stanley Tucci’s portrayal of Frank Mosca. It was disappointing to watch another project from Michael’s filmography where his talents were underutilized.

Birthday cake image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/chocolate-birthday-cakes-collection_765437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/birthday”>Birthday vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

The story itself:

Frank Mosca is laundering money through the various banks he owns. Based on the dialogue in this episode of Miami Vice, Frank has crossed paths with the protagonists of the show before. So, the story in “Blood & Roses” is similar to a storyline from the show, Columbo; waiting for the other shoe to drop by determining how the guilty party will get caught. For the majority of Miami Vice’s forty-seven-minute episode, however, the story contained a lack of urgency. A stronger sense of urgency didn’t arrive until the last six minutes of the episode. But this creative decision caused the conflict’s resolution to feel rushed. Plus, the way Frank’s defeat was achieved by the protagonists was a little too easily reached. That creative choice seemed like it was chosen just to satisfy the episode’s run-time.

The other factors from this episode:

  • Like I said earlier in this review, Gina goes undercover as Frank’s love interest. One of her reasons for spending so much time with Frank is how she is posing as an interior designer. During one of their conversations, Gina brings up potential design themes like “Santa Fe” and “Nashville” Frank could adopt for his house. With Miami Vice taking place in Miami, Florida in the 1980s, I’m surprised Gina didn’t suggest Frank select an aesthetic the city, let alone the state, is known for. Miami is famous for its bright color schemes and vibrant energy. Based on the rooms from Frank’s house that were shown on screen, I’m pretty sure at least one of the aesthetics of Miami could have been effortlessly woven into Frank’s house.
  • Speaking of Frank’s house, some of the design choices featured in this episode were, in my opinion, strange. Frank’s office prominently features a wall length mirror behind where Frank is sitting. If he’s not even utilizing the mirror as a reflective tool, like in a dance studio, why does his office need a mirror in the first place? Right next to the house’s main staircase is a koi pond. To me, having a koi pond so close to the staircase seems like a tripping hazard, especially considering there isn’t a buffer between the floor and the edge of the pond. Had Frank’s house contained a connected greenhouse where the koi pond was located, it would have made more sense.
  • I said in the introduction of this review how I have never watched Miami Vice before. Despite this, I thought Don Johnson and Saundra Santiago’s on-screen chemistry was one of the best parts of this episode! Even though their characters, James and Gina, shared very little screen-time together, I could sense a radiant spark between them. Because Don’s and Saundra’s acting talents were so strong together, I wish Gina and James’ relationship had been featured more in “Blood & Roses”. However, I recognize there’s only so much story you can tell in forty-seven-minutes.
Since I’m reviewing this episode of Miami Vice on Michael Wincott’s birthday, I thought including a picture of his character, Wilson Cook, in this review made sense. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

My overall thoughts:

Even though this is my first time watching Miami Vice, I was familiar with the general concept of the show. Therefore, I had an idea of what to expect. Based on these expectations, I thought “Blood & Roses” was going to contain a strong sense of suspense, intrigue, and action. What I ended up getting was a forty-seven-minute episode that mostly lacked a sense of urgency. Because a stronger sense of urgency didn’t appear until the last six minutes of the episode, the conflict’s resolution felt rushed and the defeat of Frank (the episode’s villain) was too easily achievable for the protagonists. But out of the television episodes I’ve reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane, “Blood & Roses” isn’t one of the worst episodes I’ve covered. There were elements of the episode I liked, such as how the show honestly addressed how undercover missions can affect the characters. I even liked some of the acting performances, especially between Don Johnson and Saundra Santiago. However, I wish I had more to say about Michael Wincott’s involvement in this episode, since I’m reviewing it on his birthday.

Ratings: A 3 out of 5

Have fun in Miami!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Fist of Fury Review

On By 18cinemalane1 Comment

Years ago, on 18 Cinema Lane, I admitted I had never seen any of Bruce Lee’s films. Since admitting that, I wanted to find the perfect opportunity to review a movie from his filmography. Now, I finally received that opportunity because of one man. In one of his interviews, Stefan “Princ” Zdravković said he watched Bruce Lee’s films when he was a kid. Ever since I saw that interview, I made a promise to review one of Bruce’s movies on Princ’s birthday. When I discovered Princ’s birthday was on September 29th, I knew I found a chance to fulfill that promise. Therefore, for this review, I have selected 1972’s Fist of Fury! Martial arts films are rarely covered on 18 Cinema Lane. Despite this, the ones I’ve seen (and reviewed) have been enjoyable. So, will I find Fist of Fury enjoyable as well? Read my review to find out!

Fist of Fury poster created by Golden Harvest Company, Nova Media, and Legend Films

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Bruce Lee has earned a good reputation for his mastery of marital arts skills. However, based on my experience watching Fist of Fury, I believe Bruce is a stronger actor than most people give him credit for. A scene taking place after Huo Yuanjia’s funeral is the perfect example. Bruce’s character, Chen, is devastated by the loss of his martial arts teacher. He sits in silence and bears a serene yet sad look on his face as he tries to shut out the world around him. But as soon as his peers bring up how Huo Yuanjia died of pneumonia, Chen snaps into anger, shouting in denial with a fierce look in his eyes. This quick transition of emotions was flawless, making Bruce’s performance memorable! Another strong acting performance in Fist of Fury came from Ping-Ou Wei. Portraying an interpreter for a Japanese martial arts school named Wu, Ping-Ou effectively showcased a character that was smarmy and dislikable. This was achieved through vocal inflections, expressive eyes, and even tilts of the head. I actually looked forward to seeing Ping-Ou’s performance because it was that good!

Martial arts choreography: When I choose to watch a martial arts film, especially one starring Bruce Lee, I expect to see scenes featuring really good martial arts choreography. I can honestly say the choreography in Fist of Fury is excellent! All the execution of the movements are sharp and precise. Each duel looked like an intricate and calculated dance, with every opponent delivering strength and agility. Even the incorporation of swords and nunchucks showed how opponents use strategy to gain the upper hand. It also helps how each duel Chen battled in increased in intensity, building up to the movie’s climax. With everything I said, all the martial arts scenes maintained the excitement within the story!

Clever writing: Toward the beginning of Fist of Fury, Wu and two students from a Japanese martial arts school deliver a hand-written threat to Chen and his peers at the Chinese martial arts school. One of the students who accompanied Wu says if Chen defeats the Japanese martial arts school students, he’ll eat his words. Later in the film, when Chen goes to the Japanese martial arts school, he does defeat every student there. He then rips up the hand-written threat his school received earlier and forces two of the Japanese martial arts school students to, literally, eat their words. This is just one example of how some of the writing in Fist of Fury was clever!

Higher stakes: As I mentioned earlier in this review, Chen’s martial arts teacher, Huo Yuanjia, passed away. But Chen believes foul play was involved. Throughout the story, he vows to find the truth about what happened to his teacher. Meanwhile, a Japanese martial arts school wants to assert their dominance over the Chinese martial arts school. They go so far as to destroy property and threaten to close the Chinese martial arts school down. These parts of the story created higher stakes, giving the audience a reason to care about Chen and his wellbeing, as well as that of his peers. The higher stakes in Fist of Fury also brought suspense and intrigue to the overall presentation!

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

What I didn’t like about the film:

The sporadic incorporation of the mystery: Like I brought up in my point about Fist of Fury’s higher stakes, Chen vows to find the truth about what happened to his teacher, as he believes foul play was involved. This mystery was one of the most intriguing parts of the story. But, unfortunately, it was sporadically incorporated into the movie. That creative decision led the mystery’s reveal to be somewhat underwhelming. It also made the mystery itself seem, at times, forgotten about. I wish the mystery had a more consistent presence in Fist of Fury.

The audio: I recognize technology in the 1970s was very different from the technology of today. However, a major flaw of Fist of Fury I couldn’t ignore was the audio. I had to turn up my television’s volume because it was difficult to understand what the characters were saying. They, sometimes, sounded muffled, almost like lines were recorded in a library and added in during the film’s post-production phase. Since this is my first time watching any of Bruce Lee’s films, I don’t know if the audio has been an issue in his other movies?

Introducing a character toward the end of the film: Petrov is a Russian martial artist who is friends with the administration at the Japanese martial arts school. Portrayed by Robert Baker, Petrov also performed impressive feats, like bending metal. Even though Petrov was an interesting character, I didn’t like how he was introduced toward the end of the film. This creative decision prevented him from making a bigger impact on the story. In my opinion, if Petrov had been written out of Fist of Fury, it wouldn’t have made much difference.

Martial arts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/red”>Red vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

My overall impression:

Like I said in this review’s introduction, I admitted I had never seen any of Bruce Lee’s films. So, for an introduction, I’d say Fist of Fury is a good one! Yes, the martial arts choreography was impressive. But what I also liked about the 1972 movie was how engaging the story itself was. While I wish the mystery had a more consistent presence in the script, it did provide the film with intrigue and suspense. The mystery also provided the characters with higher stakes to deal with. I not only thought some of the writing was clever, I also liked the acting performances, especially Bruce’s portrayal of Chen. In fact, Bruce’s performance made watching Fist of Fury a memorable and enjoyable experience! For me, 2025 has become a year where I’ve gone out of my way to check out movies I’ve been meaning to see. So, with that said, I’m glad I finally got to see at least one of Bruce Lee’s films!

Overall score: 7.7 out of 10

Have you seen Fist of Fury? Would you like to see more of Bruce Lee’s films reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Fearlessly Trying Something New

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In this episode of When Calls the Heart, multiple characters are trying new things. Two notable examples are Elizabeth and Lucas. In preparation for Allie’s birthday party, Elizabeth agrees to teach Allie and her friends some new dance moves. Meanwhile, Lucas tries being a ranch hand, in order to rescue a runaway calf. Even though trying these new things prove challenging for both Lucas and Elizabeth, they share something else in common; they take on their respective challenge fearlessly. Instead of staying overwhelmed by the complicated dance steps, Elizabeth turns to friends to help her put her best foot forward. For Lucas, confidence and patience allowed him to save the day. Reflecting on this episode and When Calls the Heart as a whole, I remembered how fearlessly trying new things has always been a part of Hope Valley’s identity. This component is one way the show has remained consistent.

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

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

Season: 12

Episode: 4

Name: Dancing Teens

Major stories:

Allie is excited for her upcoming birthday party. While she knows what type of party to host and what she’ll wear, Allie is missing one major piece; the dance steps. Allie and her friends ask Elizabeth to teach them some dance moves, preferably those from newer dance styles. Even though Elizabeth agrees to this request, she feels overwhelmed by how complicated some of the dance steps are. Eventually, Elizabeth turns to Rosemary and Mei to become the best dance teacher she can be. Meanwhile, Nathan is caught off guard when he finds out about Allie’s dance party from Lee, not Allie. When Nathan confronts Allie about the party, Elizabeth intervenes and helps father and daughter agree to have chaperones at the event. As the party draws closer, Mollie believes the party should be cancelled, as the event will lead to hurt feelings and bad behavior. The party is still on the schedule, however, after Allie, Elizabeth, and Nathan successfully argue in the party’s favor. When Allie’s party arrives, it proves to be a wonderful event! But before Oliver can present a gift to Allie, Earl shows up to give Allie a bouquet of flowers.

Bill confirms the coin from the previous episode is, indeed, one of the missing twenty thousand from the Rocky Mountain train robbery of 1907. He also believes the Garrison Gang may have been responsible for the robbery. The mystery of how the coin ended up in Hope Valley still remains. So, Rosemary and Bill agree to ask Ned and Florence if they remember any customers making a purchase with that coin. At the Mercantile, Bill and Rosemary learn the coin amounts to one dollar. They also learn three customers spent a dollar on hazelnuts. When they find out Mollie was one of those three customers, Bill and Rosemary confront her at the Queen of Hearts saloon. Unfortunately for the duo, Mollie denies everything. Toward the end of the episode, at Allie’s birthday party, Jed, the owner of a local fruit stand, confesses to Mollie how he used the coin to purchase hazelnuts. Mollie encourages him to tell Rosemary and Bill the next day.

Birthday cake image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/chocolate-birthday-cakes-collection_765437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/birthday”>Birthday vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Lucas and Lee are still at odds over the national park project. Both gentlemen want to give each other space and will wait for the other to talk to them. While Lucas visits the allotted land, he crosses paths with Edie. She’s on her way to her uncle’s ranch, inviting Lucas to join her. When they arrive on the ranch land, Edie explains to Lucas how important the land and her uncle is to her. Edie shares how her uncle became her guardian after her parents passed away. He cared for her so much, he even paid for Edie’s law school expenses. As for the land, Edie talks to Lucas about how it is vital for the economy. Later in the episode, Edie needs help finding a runaway calf. Despite having no ranching skills, Lucas volunteers to find the calf with Edie. After locating the calf, Lucas and Edie have difficulty catching the baby cow. But Lucas eventually rescues the calf by lassoing it on his first try. It’s around this moment Lucas discovers the wedding ring Edie always wears is missing. Edie then confesses how she used to be engaged, but the engagement didn’t last. So, now she wears a wedding ring to turn away potential suitors.

Despite the excitement of Allie’s birthday party, Angela feels insecure. This is not only due to Angela never attending a dance party before, but also her belief that she’s different. At the library, Angela confesses to Elizabeth how her belief that she’s different makes her feel like no one understands what she’s going through. To lift Angela’s spirits, Elizabeth gives Angela a braille copy of one of Helen Keller’s books. Angela also shares her feelings and insecurities with Joseph. He tells his daughter dancing is more about how you feel than how you look, teaching Angela how to waltz. Before she attends Allie’s birthday party, Angela confesses to Joseph that even though she’s now looking forward to the party, she wants to meet people who are also blind. This is the reason why Angela wants to attend a college for blind students.

Image by hannazasimova on Freepik

Some thoughts to consider:

  • I know that on When Calls the Heart, accomplishing any goal takes time. But the more the national park project is included in the overall story, the more it feels reminiscent of the hotel project from season eleven. What I mean by this is the characters spend more time talking about completing the project than actually completing the project. This makes me wonder if the drawn-out nature of these projects could be the result of the show’s creative team having limited funds?
  • As I mentioned in this re-cap, Oliver is about to give Allie a gift at her birthday party. He doesn’t give her this gift because Earl shows up to give Allie a bouquet of flowers. That moment made me wonder if When Calls the Heart’s creative team want to create another love triangle, but among Allie, Earl, and Oliver this time? I really hope this isn’t the case. Since Allie made her debut in When Calls the Heart’s sixth season, she has experienced two major heartbreaks; when her mother passed away and when her biological father rejected her. Personally, I don’t want to watch Allie potentially get her heart broken a third time.
  • Toward the end of this episode, Allie’s birthday party is shown on screen. The color palette was purple and gold, reflected in the balloons and streamers. A collection of streamers created a canopy near the ceiling, presenting the illusion the party took place within a tent. String lights were also found near the ceiling and on the railing of the saloon’s stairs. These lights caused the space to appear dim, but bright enough to navigate the dance floor. Whoever on When Calls the Heart’s creative team designed that set should be acknowledged!
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? Do you want to see another love triangle on When Calls the Heart? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Lend a Helping Hand

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

This episode of When Calls the Heart shows Elizabeth planning a surprise party for Nathan. Because planning a party can be overwhelming, other residents of Hope Valley volunteer to help Elizabeth. Lending a helping hand is a common theme on the show. Hearties have witnessed individual characters act selflessly, from Rosemary donating bridesmaid dress material for bandages to Lucas sharing the magic of movies with Hope Valley’s residents. But when Hope Valley’s residents join together, Hearties see how anything is possible. Complications have reached solutions because the characters have worked together, putting their differences aside to reach a common goal. The help Hope Valley’s residents provide is genuine, coming from a place of goodness and charm. For me, this is what has made When Calls the Heart enjoyable to watch!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 2

Name: Tomorrow Never Knows

Major stories:

Elizabeth is reminded by Rosemary how Nathan’s birthday is just around the corner. When Elizabeth mentions this to Nathan, Nathan is convinced he’ll receive a surprise party due to Allie’s random decision to go fishing. After school one day, Elizabeth questions Allie about her plans for Nathan’s birthday. Allie confirms her plans only consist of going fishing. These plans change to both a fishing trip and a party because Nathan is still suspecting a party. Rosemary volunteers Elizabeth to plan the party, believing Elizabeth is capable of making this party a reality. As more residents find out about the party, they agree to help with party preparations. On Nathan’s birthday, he and Allie go fishing, where they don’t catch any fish. This works in Allie’s favor as she suggests having dinner at the saloon. At the saloon, Nathan is pleasantly surprised at how many people attended the party. He’s also surprised when Lucas later shows up.

Due to Lucas’ plans for the resort, he decides to sell the saloon. He feels hanging on the saloon would be a conflict of interest. This news makes Mike concerned for his job as saloon manager. When Lee looks at the saloon’s books, he discovers how profitable the establishment is due to Mike’s management. Lee plans on buying the saloon, but allowing Mike to continue managing it. Explaining this plan to Rosemary for the first time causes Rosemary to feel she and Lee don’t spend enough time together due to putting work first. He later explains to Rosemary how purchasing the saloon but allowing Mike to manage it would actually give them more time to spend together. Rosemary agrees to co-own the saloon after hearing Lee’s plan. She even suggests adding a stage to the saloon. When Mike learns of Lee and Rosemary’s plans, he is excited to keep his job.

Birthday cake image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/chocolate-birthday-cakes-collection_765437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/birthday”>Birthday vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Rosemary is frustrated at being “scooped” by another newspaper reporter. While some of Hope Valley’s residents are impressed with the competition, Rosemary reads between the lines, discovering how Lucas’ case’s official statement was copied word for word. She figures her problem is how she lacks a source. So, Rosemary turns to Bill for help. Bill questions Rosemary’s interest in Lucas’ case, wondering if all she cares about is creating an exciting headline. Rosemary reassures Bill how she just wants to protect Lucas because he’s her friend. Later in the episode, Rosemary receives a mystery board from Lee.

Bill calls Mei and Mike “newlyweds” as he passes by the pharmacy. Mike and Mei appear a bit uncomfortable by this comment due to how their relationship hasn’t become serious yet. After this comment, Mei has been distant with Mike. Mike thinks he did something wrong, but Mei is afraid to engage in a serious romantic relationship because to a past relationship, as she confesses to Faith. At Nathan’s birthday party, Mei shares her fears with Mike. But all Mike wanted to do was ask Mei to dance.

Faith has her hands full not only running the infirmary, but
also looking after Lily. She is sometimes frustrated by how frequently Lily
changes her mind about things. However, Faith recognizes how much joy Lily has
brought to Hope Valley. While Faith reads a story to Lily, Lily questions where
the parents of the story’s protagonist are. Faith explains how the story’s
protagonist went to live with her aunts. This encourages Lily to ask about her
grandmother. Faith tells Lily how her grandmother is being taken care of at the
hospital. When Lily asks how long her grandmother will stay in the hospital,
Faith suggests Lily close her eyes and picture her grandmother, trying to help
Lily overcome her homesickness. While Lily takes Faith’s advice, Faith closes
her eyes and pictures Fiona.

Happy reading place 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:

·       
I’ve always been confused on how to spell Allie’s
name. In When Calls the Heart’s promotional material, I have seen Allie’s
name spelled ‘Allie’ and ‘Ally’. To maintain consistency and prevent confusion
for my readers, I will be spelling Allie’s name ‘Allie’ for the remainder of
these re-caps.

At the café, Cooper and Toby study for a math test. Toby shares with Cooper how the test questions are the same as their math homework, so he feels he doesn’t have to study. Later in the episode, Minnie addresses what she overheard with Elizabeth as she’s grading the aforementioned math test. But this part of the story was not resolved. Toby is not confronted by Elizabeth and no lessons are learned. Because of everything I said, this subplot felt random.

·       
Henry comes back to Hope Valley! While talking
with Elizabeth, he shares how he visited Abigial and how Abigail wanted him to
be happy. Henry also volunteers to help the Canfields tend the trees in the café’s
backyard. During this episode, I noticed how much happier and calmer Henry
appeared. He seems to have adopted a genuine interest in Hope Valley’s agriculture
and foliage. Therefore, I’m curious to see how Henry’s story turns out this
season!

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? How many changes do you
think the saloon will endure? Please tell me in the comment section!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen







Take 3: Curious Caterer: Grilling Season Review + 455 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

It’s been a little while since I last reviewed a Hallmark film. In fact, this is my first Hallmark movie review of 2023. Since 18 Cinema Lane recently received 455 followers, I thought this would the perfect opportunity to write about a Hallmark production. Besides, “absence makes the heart grow fonder”. Last year, I reviewed Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate (as a Blog Follower Dedication Review). Even though I thought it was just fine, the movie had potential to start a new series. Out of the newer mystery films to premiere on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries this decade, so far, Curious Caterer is one of only two to receive a sequel. I will admit when I first read the synopsis for Curious Caterer: Grilling Season, it sounded like a repeat of the first film. It also didn’t help how the trailer revealed very little information about the movie. However, as a thank you to every one of 18 Cinema Lane’s followers, I’m serving up this review of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ latest mystery title!

Curious Caterer: Grilling Season poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: When I reviewed Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate last year, I complimented Nikki Deloach, Andrew W. Walker, and even Kendall Cross on their solid performances. Nikki and Andrew returned to this second chapter with equally strong portrayals of their respective characters! Throughout the film, I was impressed by the strength of the cast as a whole. Every interaction appeared so natural, I was immersed in the story! A great example is when Goldy and her friend, Marla, are unknowingly delivering evidence to Detective Tom’s office. In this scene, Goldy and Marla explain how they conveniently crossed paths with Mason, Tom’s detective partner, in the parking lot. Displaying genuine confusion on their faces, Marla and Goldy bring some of the murder victim’s paperwork, in an attempt to simply help in any way they can. Not wanting Goldy to be involved in official detective work, Tom tells both women how they are interfering with an investigation. During this interaction, Tom carries a stern tone in his voice and a frustrated look in his eyes, displeased with civilians interrupting his work. Meanwhile, Mason displays an easy-going, yet professional persona, trying his best to do his job right. This blend of personalities, emotions, and expressions created a scene that was not only well acted, but was hilarious as well!

The humor: Limited amount of humor was one of the flaws of Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate. This prevented the audience from receiving a break from the story’s heavy murder mystery plot. In Curious Caterer: Grilling Season, however, more humor was incorporated in the script. Like other mystery series on Hallmark’s second network, the humor felt like it belonged in the world of Curious Caterer. While Goldy and Marla are creating a mystery board, Detective Tom arrives at Goldy’s back door. Because this back door contains a see-through window, Tom can see exactly what Marla and Goldy are doing. When they see that Tom has arrived, Goldy and Marla try their best to cover the board up, as they know Tom would disapprove. With a irritated look on his face, he points to the door knob, demanding Goldy open the door. To me, this was one of the funniest scenes in the movie, as the intended ideas were expressed with very little dialogue!

Marla’s involvement in the mystery: In most mystery series from Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, the protagonist’s best friend either has a small role in the mystery or isn’t involved at all. Curious Caterer: Grilling Season gave Marla, Goldy’s friend and co-worker, a greater opportunity to participate in the mystery. During the creation of the mystery board, Marla was thinking up suspects and speculating on their motives. Meanwhile, Goldy was providing insight into other possible theories. Marla also shares information with Goldy about two possible suspects. Creative decisions like this one allow the Curious Caterer series to try new things and stand out from the network’s other mystery titles!

Detective work image created by Photoroyalty at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/investigation-background-design_1041877.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Photoroyalty – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Providing far-reaching or no explanations: At the beginning of the movie, Goldy is catering the birthday party of her friend, Susie. Tom is one of the party’s guests, who appears to personally know the hostess. Within the dialogue, though, Tom’s relationship with Susie was never explained. In some mystery stories, explanations for clue discoveries and motive reveals can be so far-reaching, most audience members would have never figured it out on their own. Without spoiling the story, far-reaching explanations were found on a few occasions in Curious Caterer: Grilling Season. For me, this made the mystery less interactive. I also think this could frustrate some viewers.

The under-utilization of Olive: Last year, when I reviewed Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate, I talked about how the audience didn’t receive the opportunity to get to know Goldy’s daughter, Olive. This is because she was featured in a handful of “don’t blink or you’ll miss her” moments. In Curious Caterer: Grilling Season, the audience learned a little more about Olive, such as her participation on a softball team. But similar to the first film, her appearances in the story were limited. This was disappointing, as I was hoping Olive would receive a greater role in the story. Perhaps she could have helped Goldy solve a mystery, with both mother and daughter looking for information related to a case.

No close-up shots of the food: As I talked about the cinematography in Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate, I shared my thoughts on the close-up shots of some appetizers Goldy served. Those shots gave the audience an idea of the kind of catering service Goldy provides. At Susie’s birthday party in Curious Caterer: Grilling Season, however, there were no close-up shots of the food. Even Susie’s birthday cake was not featured on screen. Catering plays such a vital role in Goldy’s story, as that is her business. So not featuring a few close-up shots of the food not only feels like a missed opportunity, it takes away some of this series’ identity.

Birthday cake image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/chocolate-birthday-cakes-collection_765437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/birthday”>Birthday vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

As I stated in the introduction, Curious Caterer is one of only two newer mystery titles to receive a sequel on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Like I also stated, I had my concerns about the sequel feeling like a repeat of its predecessor. Even though both films share some similarities, I found Curious Caterer: Grilling Season to be a stronger movie than the first chapter! There were times when the sequel improved upon the flaws made in last year’s title, such as incorporating more humor. A sense of consistency was found in the second movie, as the acting was just as strong as it was in the first film. But Curious Caterer: Grilling Season proves this series still has room to grow. The series has so many ideas for future stories! Since Nikki and Andrew have starred in their fair share of Christmas movies, maybe a Christmas mystery is possible? Or a mystery relating to Olive’s softball team is on the horizon, either focusing on the theft of a trophy or a coach is framed for poor sportsmanship? As of the publication of this review, there have been no announcements for upcoming Curious Caterer films. But as the saying goes, “the sky’s the limit”.

Overall score: 7.4-7.5 out of 10

Have you seen Curious Caterer: Grilling Season? Would you like to see this series continue? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

What Readers Can Look Forward To on 18 Cinema Lane in 2023!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With the sun rising on 2023, it’s time to prepare my readers for what’s to come on 18 Cinema Lane! For those who are unaware, I publish these start of the year posts out of courtesy for those who have taken the time to read and hear what I have to say. In 2023, I have four major announcements I’d like to share! But before that happens, I’ll list my blog’s stats from 2022.

Image by Freepik

2022

Total Blog Posts: 113

Total followers: 61

Total Comments: 351

Total Likes: 535

Awards: 0

Participated Blogathons: 39

Total Movie Reviews: 326

Total Word on the Street stories: 3

Gold Sally Awards’ New Format

When I announced the winners of the 4th Annual Gold Sally Awards last August, I stated the awards would return the following year with a new format. This format will be separate, individual awards that are more unique/creative/fun. The new version of the Gold Sally Awards will be fully implemented in February. Due to this change, the awards will now take place one day a year instead of over a multi-month time period.

Sally Solves a Mystery

In 2022, Chesapeake Shores came to an end. This means I will now be re-capping only one show; When Calls the Heart. You’re probably wondering what I’m going to do with all this free time on my hands. That leads me to introduce my new series; Sally Solves a Mystery! As I’ve said before on 18 Cinema Lane, the mystery genre is the most popular one on my blog. I also talk about television shows from time to time. So, I decided to combine the best of both worlds with this series, where I will write about tv related mysteries I find interesting. Sally Solves a Mystery is going to replace the ‘Evenings At The Shore’ folder. However, the re-cap articles for Chesapeake Shores will still remain on 18 Cinema Lane.

Buzzwordathon and Eurovisionathon

For the first time last year, I participated in the Buzzwordathon readathon. Out of twelve months, I had four fails and I didn’t finish reading December’s book before the end of the year. While this result is not too bad, I would like to participate in Buzzwordathon again this year. Hopefully, my readathon results will be better. In 2023, I will also be taking part in the Eurovisionathon readathon! Hosted by the Youtube channel, Helen’s Book Haven, this month-long event places emphasis on reading books related to the countries participating in the song contest.

5th Birthday Celebration

18 Cinema Lane is turning five in 2023. To commemorate the celebration, I will revisit one of my past articles. But this article won’t be revealed until the publication of the new post. That decision was made to maintain the element of surprise for my readers.

Image by starline on Freepik

Have fun in 2023!

Sally Silverscreen

Evenings At The Shore: Happy Un-Birthday to You

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Bree reveals to Luke how she doesn’t like birthdays. As her birthday is approaching, all she wants is treat it like any other day. While I feel birthdays should be a day of celebration, Bree might have an interesting point. Over the years, I’ve heard quotes about how bigger moments are made up of smaller moments. I also remember a quote from the 1997 film, Titanic, about making every moment count. Based on this episode, my guess is Bree just wants every day to be equally celebrated. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as that’s why the present is called “the present”: every day can be a gift.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of Chesapeake Shores, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

Chesapeake Shores season six poster created by Hallmark Media and Hallmark Channel

Season: 6

Episode: 7

Name: It’s Not For Me to Say

Abby and Evan’s story: During a visit to the O’Brien family home, Evan says he feels like he’s known Abby forever. Abby asks if he’s saying he loves her. Before Evan can answer, Mick walks into the kitchen. Because Evan didn’t answer Abby’s question, Abby wonders throughout the episode if Evan loves her. She asks Kevin for advice, but he, once again, is no help. Later, in the episode, Abby confronts Evan about the unanswered question. This makes Evan wonder if she loves him back. They agree to say their responses at the same time. While Evan says, “I love you”, Abby says “You love me”. However, she does tell Evan she loves him. Toward the end of the episode, at an O’Brien family dinner, Evan shares with Abby how he wants to take a DNA test. This is because he wants to learn more about his family.

Kevin and Sarah’s story: Six months after the events of the previous episode, Kevin and Sarah are at their ultrasound appointment. Despite not wanting to know the gender of their baby, Kevin catches a glimpse on the ultrasound screen. Unsure what to do about the situation, he turns to Bree for advice, with Bree telling her brother he needs to comes clean with Sarah. He also tells Mick about his dilemma, learning more about his father during their conversation. Kevin does eventually tell Sarah what he saw, his wife delighted by this latest discovery. At the O’Brien family dinner, Sarah and Kevin reveal there are having a baby boy.

Mick and Megan’s story: When Megan returns from Los Angeles, Mick decides to take her on a date to a local, fancy restaurant. On this date, Mick tells Megan he’d like her to move back into the O’Brien family home. She refuses this offer, as she doesn’t want to disrupt Mick’s recovery. Later in the episode, Mick reveals to Megan he built a pergola in the O’Brien’s backyard. Megan is impressed when she sees this structure in person, especially since she claims to have waited over twenty years for it. This is where Megan tells Mick she needs some more time to decide what to do next. Toward the end of the episode, at the O’Brien family dinner, Megan asks Mick to retrieve an item from his room. When he goes to his room, Mick finds Megan’s suitcases, indicating she decided to move into the O’Brien family home.

Heart shaped balloons image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by katemangostar – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

David and Jess’ story: Jess is finding it difficult to secure a business loan from the bank. Even when she tweaks her business plans, it isn’t enough to receive a loan. Meanwhile, David gets a call from his dad’s lawyer. Mr. Peck wants his son to visit him at the Washington D.C. prison he’s currently in. David reluctantly visits his dad, but only as a cathartic experience. When David goes to the prison, Mr. Peck still claims his innocence. He also tells David about a secret apartment he owns in D.C., along with a flash drive containing valuable information about his company. Mr. Peck even encourages his son to contact the only business associate who didn’t abandon him. When he arrives at The Inn at Eagle Point, David looks through the files on the flash drive. This makes him start to think his dad was really framed.

Bree and Luke’s story: While talking about their relationship, Bree and Luke discover their birthday is on the same day. They also discover they don’t like birthdays. Bree and Luke tell each other not to give presents. But throughout the episode, they second guess themselves. They even turn to Kevin for advice on this issue. On their birthday, Bree gives Luke a glass plant holder for his cactus. Meanwhile, Luke didn’t give Bree a present, as that was their original agreement. He also gets a cake that says “Happy Birthday Luke and not Bree”. At the O’Brien family dinner, the O’Brien family sings “Happy Ordinary Day” to Luke and Bree.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Before this season premiered, I assumed there would be a time jump in the series finale, as a way to tie up the last remaining loose ends. But since this time jump happened at about the season’s half-way point, it only makes sense for Kevin and Sarah’s story. After that six-month time jump, it seems like not much has changed for the other characters. It also makes me wonder if Caitlyn will share what her “whatever” was she brought up in the previous episode? I’m starting to think this time jump was an unnecessary creative decision.
  • This episode was a mixed bag. On the one hand, I have been impressed with David and Jess’ story! It has been intriguing, keeping me on the edge of my seat. Jess has even come a long way since she was introduced back in 2016. On the other hand, though, Bree and Luke’s story was not only the weakest one in this episode, it’s, so far, the weakest one this season. Did we need an hour-long story about Bree and Luke struggling to not get a gift for one another? I’m hoping their next story is much stronger than this one was.
  • As I said in this re-cap, Mick built a pergola for Megan. Between his job and recovery process, how did he find the time to build it? With this six-month time jump, I’m guessing Mick built the pergola a little bit at a time. However, I wish the dialogue had provided a clearer explanation.
Evening view from the shore image created by 0melapics at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-in-a-swamp-at-night_1042860.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by 0melapics – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you like the six-month time jump? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Chesapeake Shores!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: The Revolving Door

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Characters coming and going on a television show is nothing new. It has happened on When Calls the Heart on multiple occasions. But in this season, it seems like the arrival and departure of characters has become more common than in past seasons. Most of these characters have returned to Hope Valley, such as Henry Gowan. But some characters have permanently left the show, like Jesse and Clara. I’m not sure if this was intentional or just a coincidence. However, this constant change in When Calls the Heart’s landscape feels like a revolving door. And, honestly, I think it’s kind of exhausting. As of May 2022, no announcements about season ten have been made yet. But if When Calls the Heart does receive another season, I hope this issue gets, somehow, resolved.

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

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

Season: 9

Episode: 11

Name: Smoke on the Water

Major stories:

Plans to re-open the coal mines are still underway. Because of these plans, Arthur and Jerome are continuing their stay in Hope Valley. They have recruited Collin (the man who gave evidence to Henry in the previous episode) to inspect the coal mines. But after the inspection, Collin tells them that the mines could be re-opened, even though it would be difficult. This contradicts what Collin told Henry in the episode prior, that there was no way the mines could safely re-open. Henry suspects Collin had been paid off by Jerome, even asking Collin if that is the case. When Henry doesn’t receive an answer, he angrily leaves the mines. Later in the episode, Collin admits to Henry he was indeed paid off by Jerome. However, Collin claims he took the money to improve his quality of life, as his health has been declining. Upset by how easily persuaded Collin was, Henry decides to take matters into his own hands. During a rainy day, Henry takes every piece of dynamite he can find and blows up the coal mines. He confesses what he did in a private meeting between Bill, Fiona, and Lucas. Though no one was hurt by Henry’s actions, the damaged coal mines seem to be more trouble than the investors are willing to put up with. But, for now, Henry must go to Benson Hills, as Bill tells him to lay low for a while.

With everything going on in Lucas’ life, Lucas feels he needs a break. He takes a short out-of-town trip, with the trip being so short, I didn’t even realize he had left Hope Valley. Despite the short length of this trip, Elizabeth suspects Lucas has changed. During dinner at the Saloon, Lucas tells Elizabeth that, while on his trip, he missed the remoteness of the big city. Not only does this comment bother Elizabeth, but the fact Lucas still hasn’t given Elizabeth her birthday gift is also bothering her. This causes Elizabeth to think Lucas doesn’t want to date her anymore. During her and Rosemary’s “salon day”, Elizabeth tells Rosemary how she feels about Lucas. Rosemary reminds her friend of her assumption about Lee from this season’s fifth episode. She also reminds Elizabeth to be honest with Lucas. One rainy day, Elizabeth visits Lucas at his office, telling him how she feels about everything since his return to Hope Valley. Lucas clarifies on his statement from the Saloon, claiming his priority has always been to be with Elizabeth and her son. As for Elizabeth’s birthday gift, Lucas reveals this gift is a pair of earrings. While Elizabeth is grateful for her gift, she is disappointed he didn’t propose to her. At the end of the episode, Elizabeth discovers Lucas took another out-of-town trip.  

Heart image created by Dashu83 at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundimage 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:

Florence is still upset over the potential re-opening of the coal mines. After seeing several posters advertising new mining jobs, she not only takes them down, she also yells at Lucas for being partially responsible of the recent events. Throughout all of this, Florence notices how calm Ned has been. When she questions him about it at the Mercantile, Ned says he has always had a calm disposition. He also says having a hobby has taken his mind off of stressing situations. During this conversation, Florence decides to take up dancing again. At the salon, Florence is practicing ballet en pointe. Things seem to going smoothly at first. But when she goes en pointe, Florence ends up developing a cramp in her arches. A few moments later, Mollie, Fiona, and Faith attend the salon for a small get-together. The point of this get-together is to support Florence through these changing times.

Rosemary still hasn’t told Lee about her recent news. She is hesitant to tell him because she continues to believe it’s “too good to be true”. Meanwhile, Lee receives his own news. On more than one occasion, Arthur has visited the Valley Voice’s office with a business opportunity. Later in the episode, Arthur reveals what this business opportunity is. Arthur not only wants to include the Valley Voice in his network of newspaper publications, he also wants Lee to come work for him. Lee doesn’t accept the offer, as he feels his place is working alongside Rosemary. Arthur encourages him to reconsider the offer.

Minnie and Angela have returned to Hope Valley. With this return comes a letter to Joseph from his father-in-law. Even though the contents of this letter are never revealed, Joseph appears to be bothered by them. The next day, Joseph and Minnie discuss what was in the letter. Though this conversation is vague, it seems like Joseph’s familial support is called into question.

Image of ballerina preparing to dance created by Pressfoto at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/people”>People photo created by pressfoto – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • In this season of When Calls the Heart, it seems like the show’s creative team is indecisive over whether they want to start another love triangle. Nathan has been seen interacting with both Mei and Faith. But, in my opinion, Kevin McGarry doesn’t have strong on-screen chemistry with either Amanda Wong or Andrea Brooks. If I had to be brutally honest, it feels like When Calls the Heart’s creative team banked a little too hard on receiving another season. I understand moving on from any relationship takes time. But the fact the screenwriters haven’t committed to a possible love interest for Nathan this season kind of proves my point.
  • Even though Florence has danced only a few times this season, I’m glad this new side of her is being shown! This has become good character growth for Florence and has given the fans a sweet surprise. With Florence’s renewed love of dance, it does make me wonder if we are one step closer to, one day, seeing that theater Rosemary’s been dreaming of?
  • On Twitter, I’ve seen some speculation that Lee could end up dying in the season finale’s saloon fire. Personally, I don’t think that’s the case. Both Lee and Rosemary have been the glue that have kept When Calls the Heart together. They also happen to be two of the show’s most popular characters. I could be wrong about Lee’s fate. But, in my opinion, if Lee and/or Rosemary were to get written off When Calls the Heart, the show would lose more viewership than they already have.
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 think will happen in the season finale? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen