Tag: Birthday

Take 3: Fist of Fury Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a 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

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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

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Tea for More Than Two

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Something I noticed about this episode of When Calls the Heart is how often beverages were referenced. Not only that, but there were scenes showing these characters consuming these beverages. From the way I saw it, those scenes served as a symbol for what the show itself is about. When Calls the Heart has a pace that is on the slower side. Consuming a beverage typically involves slowing down and taking the time to enjoy what you are drinking. Another thing I noticed is how these characters were consuming these beverages in company. This means they shared their beverage with someone else. Sometimes, watching a show is better with others. It’s also nice to have someone else to talk to when it comes to all things Hope Valley! Speaking of Hope Valley, let’s start this re-cap of When Calls the Heart!

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: 10

Name: Never Say Never

Major stories:

Because of Lucas’ plan to foil Wyman, his innocence is uncertain to the residents of Hope Valley. Until hard evidence is brought forth, Bill places Lucas in jail. While in jail, Elizabeth gives Lucas a new pocket watch with the inscription “Our Time Has Come”. He says he has a birthday present for Elizabeth, which a small box is later revealed. At his office, Bill receives a call from a lawyer in Grandville. This lawyer is representing the man who hit Nathan and Newton with his vehicle. This man claims he not only planted the ledger books in Lucas’ office, he was driving away in order to not get caught. After this information is given, Bill gives Nathan a choice. The aforementioned lawyer presents an offer: let the man who hit Nathan and Newton go free in exchange for the ledger books. Nathan knows this offer will be difficult to accept. On the one hand, harming a Mountie is a serious offense. But those ledger books would be more than enough evidence to prove Lucas’ innocence. Nathan contemplates this decision throughout the episode, as he wonders if it’s right to forgive one wrong with another wrong. Eventually, Nathan accepts the offer from the Grandville lawyer. He even pays Elizabeth a visit with this news.

Jerome Smith returns to Hope Valley, in order to settle the petroleum plant deal. But this time, he has brought Arthur Gilchrist with him. While in Hope Valley, Arthur seems interested in both Fiona and the coal mines. He even carries these interests into the petroleum plant meeting. Lucas, now out of jail, attends this meeting as well. Even Henry dramatically shows up, after being out of town for a few episodes. The reason why Henry was out to town was so he could obtain evidence, from a man named Collin, that the coal mines are in no condition to reopen. In a private meeting with Jerome, Henry finds out it was Arthur’s idea to re-open the mines, as Jerome claims his only focus was the oil. Both Henry and Jerome agree to open the mines, unless there is something preventing them from doing so. Meanwhile, Rosemary plans to report on the mines re-opening. She feels the residents of Hope Valley have a right to know what is happening. But Elizabeth thinks the release of Rosemary’s article would smear Lucas’ reputation. Rosemary does publish her article about the mines, which, predictably, causes tension in Hope Valley. Florence is, understandably, so upset by this news, she slaps Henry in the face when she crosses paths with him in town. Fortunately, this news doesn’t destroy Rosemary and Elizabeth’s friendship, as Elizabeth apologizes for her hesitance over the article publication.

Illustrated tea and table set image created by Macrovector at freepik.com. Mint tea vector created by macrovector – www.freepik.com

Minor story:

At the start of the episode, Rosemary feels nauseous. Faith thinks Rosemary has caught a “stomach bug” that has apparently been going around Hope Valley. Instead of attending a meeting with Arthur Gilchrist about the Valley Voice, Rosemary takes it easy by drinking tea and resting. Later in the episode, Rosemary visits Faith again, unable to understand what is going on with her body. Faith then comes to the conclusion Rosemary might be pregnant. Not wanting the news to be “too good to be true”, Rosemary decides not to tell Lee just yet. Speaking of Lee, he visits Joseph at the café, apologizing for his interference with the Canfield’s loan. Joseph forgives Lee, stating how he wanted to get the loan himself.

Pocket watch with confetti image created by Freepik at freepik.com. Christmas clock photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Some thoughts to consider:

  • Toward the beginning of this episode, Nathan has a conversation with Fiona about the petroleum plant deal. Kevin McGarry and Kayla Wallace (the actor and actress who portray Nathan and Fiona) not only had really nice on-screen chemistry, they also had strong banter! I’ve heard Kevin and Kayla don’t want their characters to end up in a relationship together, as they don’t want their real-life relationship to be affected by what their characters experience on the show. But, honestly, I wouldn’t oppose the idea of Fiona and Nathan forming a romantic relationship!
  • With how much beverages are referenced in this episode, I’m surprised Hallmark or a shop on Etsy hasn’t created teas inspired by When Calls the Heart. Some examples of possible teas are Gooey Butter Cake flavored tea representing the Canfield family, strawberry tea representing the ice cream parlor, and blueberry scone flavored tea representing the café. I can only speak for myself, but I would certainly consider purchasing When Calls the Heart inspired tea, especially if they were created with natural ingredients.
  • While I’m glad we finally received some answers over whether Rosemary and Lee will start their own family, it’s kind of frustrating how Rosemary’s news is not a confirmation. It’s also frustrating how we’re receiving this news toward the end of the season. I really hope Rosemary and Lee aren’t given a miscarriage story, as that would be cruel for both the Coulters and the fans.
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 you think Lucas will be Elizabeth for her birthday? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: The Masks We Wear

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

On this episode of When Calls the Heart, there is one character who wears a mask for the majority of the story. While the audience learns the motive behind the mask, it was interesting to see how the other characters responded to this decision. Some characters knew what was going on, so they helped this character in any way they could. Others had no idea what was happening, turned off by the sudden changes in this character. But this episode serves as a reminder how, sometimes, we truly don’t know someone. That is why, throughout the show, the residents of Hope Valley attempt to get to know each other. Whether it’s a simple, friendly conversation or an elaborate celebration, the show’s creative team has, more often than not, given both the characters and the audience an opportunity to become emotionally invested in a characters’ story. There are even times when these characters have become fan favorites. So, have you figured out which character was wearing a mask in this episode? Find out if you’re right in my re-cap of When Calls the Heart!

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: 9

Name: Recent Memory

Major story:

Wyman Walden has returned to Hope Valley. But this time, he wants to purchase the Queen of Hearts Saloon. Fiona also returns from San Francisco with some not so good news. According to Fiona, Henry was straight forward when asking about the investors’ intentions for the mines. Due to Henry’s angry approach, three of the investors had to remove Henry from the conference room. The investors also propose to remove Henry from the petroleum plant, but on one condition. This condition is Lucas has to stay with the petroleum plant for one more fiscal year. Meanwhile, with the saloon, Lucas attempts to bluff Wyman into purchasing the saloon. But Bill has beat him to it.

In a private meeting with Wyman, Bill confesses he’d like to become mayor again. Using specific laws, Bill comes up with an agreement with Wyman; he’ll give Wyman the saloon and drive Lucas out of town if Wyman will help Bill in his mayoral quest. After putting on that figurative mask, Bill only tells a handful of people what he’s doing. For those who aren’t aware of Bill’s plan, they are put off by his sudden change in character. Nathan is one of those characters put off by Bill’s changes. Bill eventually informs Nathan what is going on. But Bill tells Nathan in enough time to concoct a plan. Later in the episode, Bill meets Wyman to collect the payment for the saloon. Before any transactions occur, Bill arrests Wyman on multiple charges, including an attempted murder charge from another town. Meanwhile, Julius Spurlock tries to drive out of Hope Valley, in an effort to run away from accountability. Nathan catches up to Julius, even shooting Julius in the arm to stop him. After everything is said and done, Bill finds a way to return the money Wyman took from unsuspecting business owners. When Lucas finds out about Bill’s plan, however, he is upset. Lucas explains his own plans for conning Wyman. Unfortunately, this plan brings suspicion toward Lucas’ character.

Money image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/bills-and-coins-in-isometric-design_1065328.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

With Minnie and Angela on an out of trip to St. Louis, the café is short staffed. Joseph is able to find a few of his friends to help for the time being. During Lee’s time working in the kitchen, Joseph discovers what Lee did with his and Minnie’s new loan. He confronts Lee about this at the café. Lee apologizes for getting involved, claiming his good intentions. Joseph is upset he wasn’t asked first. At dinner one evening, Cooper confesses he’d like to be his own boss. This confession comes after Joseph askes about Cooper’s decision on attending church. Even though Joseph is supportive of his son, he reminds Cooper how he shouldn’t become too big for his britches, especially when it comes to God. The next morning, Cooper askes his father if they could go fishing. Joseph tells his son how they have work to do, despite being the boss of the café. This gets Cooper to consider his previous decision.

One morning, Faith discovers Mei is leaving for Chicago. While Mei is on her way out of town, Nathan comes to the saloon, asking why she is leaving. Mei explains Geoffrey is pursuing the fake charges against her, meaning she has to appear in court. Nathan arranges for an officer to look out for Mei. Later that evening, Faith crosses paths with Nathan. This leads them to discuss marriage. Nathan claims marriage isn’t on his “to-do list”. Meanwhile, Faith says she and Carson drifted apart because she wasn’t ready to get married. They both agree to get ice cream, especially since Faith has a key to the ice cream parlor.

While helping Lee fix his hair at the salon, Rosemary confesses an editor from Hearst Publishing has expressed interest in including the Valley Voice in their collection of publications. After Fiona finds out this editor is Arthur Gilchrist, she calls him from the Mercantile. Later in the episode, Fiona discovers, through a phone call, that Arthur plans to visit Hope Valley in the near future. She also remembers Arthur is one of the petroleum plant investors. Fiona visits Rosemary and Lee at the saloon and explains all of this to them. They agree to keep their distance from Arthur. Meanwhile, Lucas confesses to Elizabeth what has been happening with Wyman. In an effort to keep Lucas safe and because Elizabeth’s birthday has arrived, they agree to let Lucas spend the evening on Elizabeth’s couch. The actual celebration was a small, intimate affair. But it did give Elizabeth and Lucas a chance to bond and spend time together. With everything happening in Lucas’ business life, Elizabeth has been stressed about his well-being. After Wyman and Julius have been arrested, she thinks Lucas is in the clear. But when she learns more of Lucas’ plan, her stress over Lucas returns.

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.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • I’m going to be honest: Mei’s story has become, so far, the most disappointing one this season. This is because it is the most frustrating. In my previous episode re-cap, I pointed out how Mei’s story was strung out for more than half the season. This made me wish her secret had been revealed sooner, so the audience could spend more time getting to know Mei. Now, she has left Hope Valley, with only three episodes left in season nine. Because Mei has been so guarded and secretive for so long, I don’t feel like I truly know her as a character. That creative decision has led me to not feel emotionally invested in her or her story. If Mei returns for a possible tenth season, that would be nice. But if she doesn’t, I wouldn’t mind her departure too much.
  • When I look back on When Calls the Heart as a whole, I can’t think of many bonding, heart-to-heart moments between parent and child. These moments between fathers and sons are also extremely rare. Therefore, it was nice to see Joseph and Cooper talking and spending time with one another in this episode! Through these interactions, the audience learned more about where Cooper was in his journey of faith. We also received some wisdom from Joseph. These moments were my favorite in this episode and I hope we receive more of them if When Calls the Heart is granted season ten!
  • While visiting the saloon one evening, Nathan wore a long, black, tailored coat. Despite never seeing him wear this coat before, Nathan (as well as Kevin McGarry) looked great wearing it! I hope to see him wear this coat in future episodes!
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 did you think of this episode? Would you miss Mei if she left When Calls the Heart? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sally Watches…Touched by an Angel (Again)!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

As I mentioned in my recent Word On The Street story, the newest Signed, Sealed, Delivered movie is on its way. Premiering on October 17th, this movie will bring their audience a new chapter to a story that started all the way back in 2013. The series is executive produced by Martha Williamson, who also executive produced Touched by an Angel. Similar to Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Touched by an Angel has seen many guest stars appear over the course of the show’s nine season life-span. One of them was Bai Ling, who guest starred on Touched by an Angel in 1998.

Even though I have seen many episodes of Touched by an Angel before, I don’t recall ever seeing the two-part episode, “The Spirit of Liberty Moon”, the episode I’ll be reviewing for this post. Prior to writing this article, I had heard it was “one of the most moving episodes from the television drama”. With curiosity getting the better of me and because Bai’s birthday is on October 10th, I decided to revisit this show and review this particular episode. Two years ago, I wrote about another Touched by an Angel episode, “The Sky Is Falling”. Like that post, what will be discussed is what I liked about this episode, what I didn’t like about this episode, the story itself, the other factors from this episode, and my overall thoughts.

This is a screenshot of one of the Touched by an Angel DVDs I own. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

What I liked about this episode:

Last November, I reviewed an episode of Homicide: Life on the Street titled “And The Rockets Dead Glare”. In that post, I talked about how, while portraying Teri Chow, Bai was forced to rely on emotion instead of actions. This was compared to her characters in The Crow and Lost; Myca and Achara. Because of how effectively she used emotion, Bai was the stand-out actor in “And The Rockets Dead Glare”! I’ve seen only a handful of projects from Bai’s filmography. Despite this, I have noticed that she has a strong sense of emotionality. She not only knows how to control that emotionality, but also how to use that control to her advantage. Portraying a character named Jean Chang, the emotions Bai brought to her role in “The Spirit of Liberty Moon” felt realistic and genuine. Earlier in the episode, Jean crosses paths with Monica and Edward, a toy company CEO, at a local Chinese restaurant. In an attempt to recruit her for an upcoming business trip, they ask Jean why she doesn’t want to go to China. This is where Jean explains her very heart-breaking life story. Throughout this explanation, Bai’s emotions flawlessly adapted with each part of Jean’s story, ranging from blissful reminiscing to tear-inducing sadness. This strength in Bai’s acting abilities allows her performance to contain depth. It also gave the audience a reason to feel empathy/sympathy for Jean.

What I didn’t like about this episode:

One of Edward’s co-workers is his friend, Alex Stella. Throughout “The Spirit of Liberty Moon”, Alex was rude and self-centered, especially toward Jean. It got to the point where his attitude became so annoying, it was tiresome to watch him in a static state. I understand Alex was meant to show the viewer that, sometimes, people won’t change, no matter how hard you try. I’ll also admit this is not a bad lesson to teach. But because of this episode’s story and because of the nature of Touched by an Angel, I wish the angels had paid Alex a visit and opened his eyes to selflessness.

The story itself:

Touched by an Angel is a show that was not afraid to take creative risks. “The Spirit of Liberty Moon” is a perfect example of that statement. I haven’t seen the movie, Red Corner, but I am familiar with its basic premise. The story of “The Spirit of Liberty Moon” is very reminiscent of the film due to topics discussed within the script. Criticism of China’s government and the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests are the two major subjects revolving around this episode. Because of the serious nature of these subjects, “The Spirit of Liberty Moon” was heart-breaking and gut-wrenching. Similar to the Touched by an Angel episode, “The Sky Is Falling”, the story of “The Spirit of Liberty Moon” is a fictional narrative wrapped up in a real-life historical event. During Jean’s recollection of her past, black-and-white flashbacks and video footage of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests were shown on screen. The use of these visual techniques presented an interesting and creative way to discuss a piece of world history.

The other factors from this episode:

  • As I mentioned earlier, Alex is rude and self-centered, especially toward Jean. To further explain my point, I will bring up two examples from this episode. When Monica suggests a translator should join their business trip to China, Alex suggests speaking to Jean about the idea. While Edward assumes Jean’s ethnicity based on her appearance, Alex carries that assumption into his and Monica’s meeting with Jean. Even though Jean calls Alex out on his assumptions during this meeting about the aforementioned idea, Alex’s promotion of the idea itself should have been more professional. When Alex, Edward, and Monica have lunch at a local Chinese restaurant, Jean soon arrives. The three then discover Jean had lied about her ethnicity. Upset by this discovery, Alex approaches Jean and yells at her in public, accusing her of lying about other things. I understand Alex was disappointed by Jean’s decision. Even Jean admitted that her decision was wrong. But, like I said about the previous example, Alex could have handled this situation more professionally and in private.
  • Throughout the episode, Edward and Jean develop “romantic” feelings for one another. I’m using the word “romantic” loosely, as the only romantic gestures they perform are holding hands and Edward kissing Jean’s head. When a romantic relationship is introduced in a movie or television show, it is usually done with an endgame in mind. Without giving anything away, there wasn’t an endgame for Jean and Edward’s relationship. Their relationship also felt “insta-love”, as it progressed at a quick pace. With all that said, I don’t think a romantic relationship was necessary for this particular story.
  • Touched by an Angel shows the angels going undercover in different professions based on an episode’s mission. In “The Spirit of Liberty Moon”, Monica goes undercover as the Chinese consultant of Edward’s toy company. As Monica interacts with Edward and Alex, I was confused why Monica was the Chinese consultant instead of Jean. When Alex was explaining what Monica would do on their business trip, it made me wonder why Jean wasn’t originally recruited for the consultant position, especially since she knows more about China than Monica. But, without giving anything away, it makes sense why this choice was not made.

My overall thoughts:

“The Spirit of Liberty Moon” is a tough episode to write about. On the one hand, I wouldn’t dissuade anyone from watching it. It contains one of the strongest stories in the show’s history and features strong acting performances, especially from Bai Ling. On the other hand, “The Spirit of Liberty Moon” is not for the faint of heart. This episode is so emotionally intense, I was left mentally drained after watching it. Because of that, the episode doesn’t have a high re-watchability rate. What I will say is this story is an important one. In fact, I would say this episode’s story is one of the most important Touched by an Angel has ever told. So, if you’re interested in watching “The Spirit of Liberty Moon”, my advice would be to watch it in the right headspace. Speaking of Bai Ling, I realized something while watching this episode. As I said earlier, I’ve seen only a handful of projects from Bai’s filmography. Based on her roles I have seen, I noticed how her characters are, more often than not, surrounded by unfortunate circumstances. Myca is one of the villains of The Crow, so her unfortunate circumstances don’t cause the audience to feel any empathy/sympathy for her. But for Teri, Achara, and now Jean, their unfortunate circumstances can, to varying degrees, cause feelings of empathy/sympathy from the audience. During my movie blogging journey, I hope to see Bai portraying a character whose circumstances are more fortunate and happier.

Rating: A solid 4 out of 5

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Have you watched Touched by an Angel? If so, which episode is your favorite? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun on television!

Sally Silverscreen