Two weeks ago, I published a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary returning to Hallmark as the company’s head of programming. But this is not the only recent change happening at Hallmark. Lynette Rice, of Deadline, reports how the company “eliminated 30 jobs on Wednesday”. The desire “to “transition our workforce to meet the needs of the business today”” was the provided reason for the cut jobs. Jimmy Holcomb, who was Hallmark’s Vice President of Production, is one of the laid off employees. His role at the company was overseeing “the physical production of MOWs, series, and specials for Hallmark Media’s broadcast channels”. He is “credited for creating new ventures for Hallmark Media throughout the world” as well. Meanwhile, Peter White, also from Deadline, reports how Lifetime “cut the majority of its non-scripted team”. The article states the reason for the cut jobs is “Lifetime is focusing more on its television movie business”. Affected by this decision is Nicole Vogel, who was the network’s VP for Programming and Development. At the time of the article’s publication, “The only remaining member of the unscripted team is now Brie Miranda Bryant, SVP, Original Programming”.
When I wrote about Michelle Vicary coming back to Hallmark in my last Word on the Street story, I addressed the network’s declining viewership. At that time, two Hallmark Channel films, A Machu Picchu Proposal and Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime, attracted less than a million viewers. Five movies in a row have received under a million viewers at the publication of this Word on the Street story. These newer titles are Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise (592,000 viewers), Providence Falls: Thief Of Fate (592,000 viewers), and Mystery Island: Play for Keeps (350,000 viewers). Similar to what I said in my last Word on the Street story, I’m not surprised Hallmark is making decisions like cutting jobs, especially when no movie in 2025, so far, has seen two million viewers or more.
Though I haven’t seen many Lifetime movies this year, most of the ones I have seen have been decent. However, I am aware of Lifetime’s reputation for distributing a large quantity of films with poor quality. Almost every year, at least one Lifetime movie ends up on my end of the year worst movies list. In 2024, three movies were placed on that list; Revenge Best Served Chilled, My Life Is on the Line, and Boy in the Walls. With this recent prioritization of made-for-tv movies, I’m hoping emphasis is not only placed on quality over quantity, I’m also hoping production value is raised as well.
What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? What other changes do you think are in store for Lifetime and Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!
Way back in 2021, I wrote a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary’s departure from Hallmark. At the time, she was the company’s executive for programming and production. Now, four years later, Michelle has returned with a new title. In a recent article from Variety, Emily Longeretta reports how Michelle will now become Hallmark’s “head of programming”, allowing her to “oversee all production and original programming across Hallmark’s content platforms”. Her new role comes at a time when Hallmark has been attempting to bring their assets under one umbrella as “One Hallmark”. Their goal is to “deliver incredible content, incredible products and incredible experiences that leverage the full breadth of the brand” by “tying all of those things together in really unique ways”. When reflecting on Michelle’s importance in the company, Darren Abbott, Hallmark’s Chief Brand Officer, stated, “She was really the missing piece of the puzzle, I think, around the way I’m thinking about the brand.”
In the 2020s, so far, Hallmark’s viewership has been gradually declining. As of the publication of this Word on the Street story, 2025 hasn’t seen any movie premiere achieve two million viewers or more. In fact, the latest film release, Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime only attracted 695,000 viewers. This is now the second movie in a row to garner less than a million viewers, as the previous premiere, A Machu Picchu Proposal, received 964,000 viewers. Based on everything I just said; I’m not surprised Michelle Vicary came back to Hallmark. She worked at Hallmark when the network was in its prime, so I’d like to think she knows how to bring the company back to success. Though only time will tell how Michelle’s leadership will impact Hallmark as well as its consumers.
What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you happy to see Michelle Vicary return to Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!
Toward the end of her first radio show, Rosemary says “putting the “hope” in Hope Valley” as the show’s tagline. After hearing this statement, I thought about how Hope Valley has, indeed, provided hope to multiple characters. Because of Hope Valley, Henry Gowen turned his life around and has now become the town’s “Voice of Reason”. This little town has witnessed several miracles, such as the fires at the church/school and the saloon not causing any injuries. By working together, the residents of Hope Valley have accomplished great things, like overcoming the chickenpox outbreak back in season seven. I remember, in season two, when the town changed its name from Coal Valley to Hope Valley. That decision was made to help the town’s residents move forward from the tragedy at the mines. Since then, Hope Valley has transformed beyond the name change. Not only does “hope” have a presence in this town, “hope” has found many reasons to thrive!
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason twelve poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 12
Episode: 2
Name: You Get What You Give
Major stories:
Before school one day, Allie shares her concerns with Elizabeth about not having a special interest and what life will look like after graduation. Elizabeth reminds Allie how “journeys don’t always start with a destination”. At school, during a lesson about civics, Elizabeth realizes how popular comic books have become among her students. To keep her students focused, Elizabeth takes them on a field trip to a nearby forest. The purpose of this field trip is to not only emphasize the importance of Lucas and Lee’s national park project, but to also teach Elizabeth’s students about the significance of nature. During this field trip, the students find an animal print in the dirt. Elizabeth suggests using clay to make a mold of the print, in order to determine which animal the print belongs to. Later in the episode, at Elizabeth’s house for dinner, Allie reveals to Nathan, Bill, and the rest of the guests the print came from the Great Timber Wolf, which was native to the area. She also comments on how good these wolves’ hearing is. This fact leads Elizabeth to speculate if the wolves left the area because of the mines.
With the first episode of Rosemary’s radio show just around the corner, Rosemary struggles to find a story that will last an hour-long episode. While Ned and Florence provide some ideas, Rosemary keeps looking for a more “exciting” story. Meanwhile, Captain Billie comics have become a popular product at the Mercantile. When some children can’t afford to purchase the new issue of the comic, Henry suggests the children help Ned so they can earn money to purchase the comic. When Florence and Elizabeth discover this piece of information, they believe comic books have become an obsession. Elizabeth and Florence’s conversation inspires Rosemary to create her first episode about comic books’ popularity. When the premiere of the first radio show episode arrives, things don’t go according to plan. Rosemary hoped the discussion on comic books would be a debate. But most of the guests on the show agree that comic books have their benefits. To add a contrasting perspective at the last minute, Florence joins the show, only to prove she read some of the Captain Billie comics. At the conclusion of the radio show, Rosemary receives applause. This encourages Rosemary to make more episodes in the foreseeable future.
In Capital City, Lucas and Lee hear Edwin’s idea to save Lucas’ reputation. Edwin explains how Lucas needs to appeal to the corporate, urban, and rural vote. To win over the corporate vote, Edwin suggests naming the national park after the Irwin family, one of the wealthiest, most influential families in Canada. Lee quickly reminds Edwin that Lucas promised to name the national park after Goldy. Later in the episode, Edwin introduces Lucas to Edie Martell, a member of the Cattlemen’s Association. During this meeting, Edie explains how most of the allotted national park land was originally cattle pasture. To create a compromise, Edie recommends using the land as a summer pasture and reserving a sliver of the remaining land for the national park. When Lee learns of Edie’s proposed compromise, he is frustrated by Lucas’ willingness to be a “people pleaser”. He then comes home early and returns to Rosemary and Goldy.
Even though Oliver is getting settled in Hope Valley, Nathan wonders how he can help Oliver become a Mountie. Elizabeth suggests giving Oliver some encouragement and a win. At Hope Valley’s Mountie office, Oliver plans on organizing some case files. Nathan encourages Oliver to do a case file comparison. Oliver goes above and beyond by organizing the case files in great detail. When Nathan reviews Oliver’s work, he is impressed with Oliver’s efforts. So, Nathan gives Oliver more case files to organize. The next day, Nathan marvels at Oliver’s job well done. To acknowledge Oliver’s hard work, Nathan invites Oliver to Elizabeth’s potluck dinner.
Mei and Mike come home from their honeymoon. Sadly, everything that could go wrong on their honeymoon did; from lost luggage to food poisoning. Things don’t get better when they go to Mike’s apartment. Water takes over the living space due to an open window. Throughout the episode, Mike and Mei argue over who left the window open. But eventually, they realize their relationship is more important. Toward the end of the episode, the couple makes up over dinner.
Due to the bountiful hazelnut harvest, Henry needs help collecting the hazelnuts. He recruits some of Elizabeth’s students, with the promise of comic book and magazine money. Joseph also volunteers to help Henry. Elizabeth’s students enjoy crushing hazelnuts to the beat of music. Playing music while working was Emily’s idea, as she read it increases productivity. She also warns Henry to not oversaturate the market with hazelnuts. This advice came after Joseph suggested Henry start his own hazelnut business. After the hazelnuts have been collected, Henry decides to create a hazelnut business under one condition; Joseph run the business alongside Henry. Joseph and Henry agree to this idea and shake hands. They also agree to hire Emily.
In the previous episode, Nathan is told Oliver is at the bottom of his class. But after he and Bill talk to Oliver, they think something isn’t adding up. Looking back on how detail-oriented Oliver was in this episode, it makes me wonder if he either learns differently than what Mountie training is offering or he is better suited for a specific area of the Mountie profession? One reason why I wonder this is Oliver did admit he was a “slow reader”.
Am I the only Heartie who is concerned about Henry getting involved in another business? My concern comes from his unreliable track record. When the show began, Henry was the town’s villain working with the coal mines. This business endeavor was a tragic disaster. Then, Henry joined Hope Valley’s oil business for several seasons. The foundry ended up going under at the beginning of season ten. I like Henry as a character, so seeing him succeed would be awesome. For now, though, I’m cautiously optimistic.
It seems like ant hills turned into mountains in this episode of When Calls the Heart. First, Mike and Mei spend most of the story arguing over who left the window open. I know married couples experience conflict, especially in Hallmark productions. However, I was more interested in seeing Mei and Mike navigate living together for the first time, as well as blending their interior design styles. I’m aware comic books are the overarching theme this season. But the reaction from some of the characters seems, in my opinion, overblown. It does make me wonder if comic books will lead to an overarching story?
In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I brought up the subplot of Toby and Cooper studying for an upcoming math test, where Toby believed he didn’t have to study for the test because the test questions were the same as the math homework. At the time, I thought this subplot was random, as it wasn’t resolved in the episode. However, it was resolved in this episode, providing an explanation for Toby’s attitude toward the math test. As I watched When Calls the Heart, I thought about how creating a television show is like trying to solve a math equation. Every season, new characters are added to the story. A show’s creative team figures out how to utilize their funds, subtracting money from the show’s budget. Over time, a show attracts more fans, multiplying its viewership. But there are instances when a show’s creative team makes a controversial decision, which divides the fans. In order for a television show to be successful, and even stand the test of time, a creative team needs to work through the equation to find an answer!
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 3
Name: Steps Forward
Major stories:
Lucas has returned to Hope Valley to finalize the sale of the saloon. The sale is a success, with Lee signing the official papers. While most people are excited about the new hotel, some Hope Valley residents are not pleased with the changes coming Hope Valley’s way. One of these residents is Jay Campbell. He shares with Lee his frustrations about how busy Lucas has become, believing he hasn’t been heard. Jay turns toward Rosemary in an attempt to catch Lucas’ attention through The Valley Voice. While Rosemary agrees to publish Jay’s thoughts, she also contacts Montague, hoping to not only get an official statement about the new hotel, but to also question him about Lucas’ case. Days later, Rosemary and Lee visit the site for the new hotel, along with Edwin, Lucas, Elizabeth, and her students. The purpose of this visit is to capture photos for an upcoming article. Randall, Rosemary’s rival reporter, attends as well to take pictures for his article. During this visit, Randall reveals how the site actually belongs to Benson Hills, a detail that slipped through the cracks. In this episode, Lucas receives a hotel bid from Montague, but turns it down.
Bill takes a trip to Capitol City in order to prove a theory. Through an experiment, Bill discovers how Pike wouldn’t have enough time to reach the gun’s hiding place, shoot Lucas, and get away in a short amount of time. This leads Bill to speculate a second person was involved. When Bill returns to Hope Valley, he shares his findings with Rosemary. She confesses how she’s planning on questioning Montague under the assumption the phone call is meant to capture Montague’s official statement about the new hotel. During the phone call, Rosemary and Bill learn Montague was at a party at the time Lucas was shot. He claims over a hundred people saw him at the event. Later in the episode, Bill acquires the train schedule from the night Lucas was shot. Rosemary found a newspaper article featuring a picture of Montague from the aforementioned party, with the photo taken after Lucas was injured. Despite the evidence claiming Montague was not involved in the case, Rosemary and Bill agree to not rule him out.
After school, Elizabeth confronts Toby about his math test. She shares how he didn’t get a good score. This encourages Toby to confess why he didn’t study for the test, stating how he can’t grasp the concept of math, specifically division. Elizabeth promises to help him with his academic issue. Later in the episode, Elizabeth finds Toby crying in the library. He tells Elizabeth how he fears he’ll never understand math. Until she and Toby figure out how to tackle the math issue, Elizabeth suggests not giving Toby any more math tests. Toby is not the only student of Elizabeth’s struggling with a problem. In the Canfield family, Cooper and Angela have a feud. This feud started because Cooper’s baseball was destroyed and Angela’s hair ribbon was used as a slingshot. The sibling’s feud leads Joseph to tell his children about his brother, Jacob. He shares how a feud caused them not to speak to each other. Joseph’s story encourages Angela and Cooper to apologize and replace the damaged items.
Mike and Mei celebrate their five-month anniversary. They want the day to be special, so they brainstorm ideas. A few days later, Mei comes up with the perfect date. She surprises Mike with a picnic, taking place on the spot where the new hotel will be built. Their date is interrupted by the photo shoot hosted by Rosemary and Randall. In Hope Valley, Faith feels it’s unsafe to look after Lilly at the infirmary, as she can’t divide her time between taking care of Lilly and treating her patients. Some of Hope Valley’s women suggest starting a day dare center, with the idea quickly agreed upon. Henry even gives the women his former office for free. After the day care’s establishment, Lilly confesses how she doesn’t have an aunt. Faith allows Lilly to call her “Auntie Faith”.
· The longer a television show has been on the air, the more inconsistencies will appear on the program. When Calls the Heart is no exception to this statement. After Jack Jr. was born, Elizabeth relied on babysitters to look after her son. These babysitters have either been the Coulters or one of her students. But when the day care is established, Elizabeth takes advantage of the day care’s services by placing Jack Jr. in the day care. She also makes it seem like finding a babysitter has been a struggle. During Jack Jr.’s time on the show, Elizabeth has never expressed a problem with recruiting a babysitter for Jack Jr. With Elizabeth’s attitude toward the day care, it makes her story seem kind of inconsistent.
· In season six, an orphan named Spencer stayed with the Coulters. Because he was traveling with Grace, the co-owner of an orphanage, his time with the Coulters was limited, lasting only two episodes. This reflection made me realize how long Lilly’s story has, so far, lasted. Not only is she staying at The Café under Faith’s care, a day care was established because of her and she now calls Faith “Auntie Faith”. These observations have made me wonder what is the creative team’s ultimate goal for this story? Perhaps something will happen that will cause Lilly to be adopted by someone in Hope Valley?
· When reading the title names of When Calls the Heart’s episodes, I’m sometimes left confused by how a title relates to an episode’s story. The next episode serves as the perfect example. This season’s fourth episode is titled “Along Came a Spider”. In this episode’s synopsis, the first line reads “It’s Easter in Hope Valley”. Maybe the connection between the title and the story will reveal itself when the episode airs. But as of the publication of this re-cap, I question what spiders have to do with Easter?
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 Heartseason 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.
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.
· 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!
While visiting Elizabeth in Hope Valley, Julie tells Aunt Agatha how the town is “a magical place”. Meanwhile, as she’s talking to Bill about the medical benefits of the newly found hot springs, Faith cautions claiming the springs contain “magical powers”. Until seeing this episode of When Calls the Heart, I didn’t realize just how magical Hope Valley was. Yes, I’ve been watching the show since the very beginning. However, this particular chapter of this season showcased how the idea of “magic” can come in different forms. In the case of When Calls the Heart, “magic” means finding a solution to complicated, drawn-out problems, receiving second chances, and carving out new paths. It can be found in the little things that might be taken for granted. Every smile and every greeting includes a hint of “magic”. This “magic” is what keeps Hope Valley surviving and thriving. Now, 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 Heartseason ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 10
Episode: 2
Name: Hope Springs
Major stories:
Aunt Agatha and Julie pay Elizabeth, Jack Jr., and Lucas a visit in Hope Valley. During this visit, Julie and Aunt Agatha provide their input on Elizabeth and Luca’s upcoming wedding, promoting wedding dress sketches fit for a princess. As Elizabeth looks flustered over these ideas, Rosemary saves the day by sharing Elizabeth’s vision of a rustic, other worldly ceremony. The wedding plans are not the only way Elizabeth’s family tries to intervene. Julie confesses to Elizabeth how their father hopes Lucas will take a job in Hamilton, in order for Lucas, Jack Jr., and Elizabeth to move to the city. Aunt Agatha even brings up this idea while she and Lucas play poker at the saloon. Elizabeth is upset over this discovery, as she’s concerned Lucas might be persuaded by her family’s offer. But when she tries talking to Lucas about this idea, they are interrupted by a saloon related matter. While discussing the farewell luncheon for Aunt Agatha and Julie with Rosemary, Elizabeth comes up with the idea of hosting a community wide picnic near the hot springs. At the picnic, Aunt Agatha and Julie learn about the community dinners the town frequently hosts. This is one way Aunt Agatha realizes the Thatcher family’s efforts are fruitless. Lucas also reveals to both Elizabeth and Aunt Agatha how he’d love to visit Hamilton in the near future, but has no plans to move there.
Despite placing a “no swimming” sign near the hot springs, Bill makes frequent swimming trips there. Yet, he’s keeping his trips a secret. Mei, Faith, and Fiona discover Bill’s secret during their picnic to the springs. Faith is quick to note how the springs seem to be helping Bill’s medical ailments. After their picnic, Faith and Mei do some research about the medical benefits hot springs have to offer. Fiona suggests turning the hot springs into a tourist destination, recognizing how the hot springs could help other people. But when he overhears this suggestion, Bill is hesitant about the idea. At the farewell luncheon picnic for Aunt Agatha and Julie, Rosemary and Lee discover Fiona’s idea for the hot springs. They feel it’s a great idea, as the tourists could bring in more income. Plus, Cooper comes up with an official name for the springs; Hope Springs.
Lee has an upcoming meeting with a potential client; Laurence Barnaby. He is a big project in mind, so Lee is hoping Laurence accepts his lumbermill for the job. On the day of the meeting, Lee confesses to Rosemary how he’s unsure how the meeting will go, as he discovered how much the competition was offering Laurence. Unknown to Lee, Rosemary decides to eavesdrop on this meeting, taking Elizabeth with her. During the meeting, Laurence shares with Lee how he’s paying for his project with his own money. After turning down Lee’s lumbermill, Rosemary crashes the meeting, remembering Laurence from a convention several years ago. Her friendly encounter seems to have done the trick, as Laurence ends up giving Lee and his lumbermill a two-year contract. Toward the end of the episode, Rosemary tells Elizabeth about her concerns relating to motherhood. Rosemary’s mother left the family when she was a little girl. However, Rosemary claims her father was an excellent parent. Despite these aforementioned concerns, Elizabeth reassures Rosemary she’ll make a great mother.
Nathan visits the pharmacy for a refill on his painkiller prescription. He explains to Mei how he received the prescription from a doctor in Benson Hills. Mei thinks it is odd how Nathan didn’t get a prescription from Faith in Hope Valley, also thinking he is intentionally avoiding Faith. Meanwhile, Faith is making medical rounds to Jamison and Rock City, as those towns don’t have a doctor. Mike is concerned for Faith’s safety, as there has been bandits on the loose. During her trip, Faith is stopped by one of these bandits. However, she doesn’t seem afraid, as she tries to persuade the bandit to turn himself in. Nathan confronts both Faith and the bandit, as he’s making safety rounds in Hope Valley’s surrounding area. But just as everything seems to be under control, Faith starts her wagon, causing the bandit to fall off and run away. Nathan catches Faith as she’s about to fall out of her wagon. After returning to Hope Valley, things seem awkward between Faith and Nathan. Nathan wants to talk about everything that’s happened between them so far. Faith, however, thinks there’s not much to talk about. At the farewell luncheon picnic, Mike mentions the aforementioned bandits, emphasizing how Faith shouldn’t travel alone. Ned and Florence agree with Mike’s sentiment, but they believe Faith should travel with Nathan.
Bill informs Henry how his pre-trial hearing is the next day. The purpose of the hearing is to determine if Henry’s charges are legitimate. Henry feels the whole situation is out of his hands, accepting whatever fate he receives. At a meeting for the pre-trial hearing, Bill is frustrated because Henry is late. He later finds Henry mucking out the stalls at Hope Valley’s stables. When confronted about his tardiness, Henry confesses he isn’t enthusiastic about reliving some of the worst moments of his life. The next day, at the pre-trial hearing, Jerome shows up with his lawyer. When the judge asks Henry how he’ll plead, Henry declares “guilty”. Shocked by his answer, Bill explains to the judge how Henry isn’t in the right headspace. So, the judge gives Henry a week to make up his mind. At the saloon, Lucas begs Jerome to have mercy on Henry. But Jerome digs his heels into Hope Valley’s dirt, believing Henry deserves to be behind bars.
Toward the end of this episode, Bill is seen reading a newspaper at the saloon. One of the headlines on the front page read “Bandits Busted in Jamison”. I was disappointed this conflict was not only resolved, but also resolved in such an unceremonious way. That conflict could have served as an over-arching story for this season. But since season ten just started, I’m guessing the show’s creative team has a different idea for an over-arching story.
In this episode, it was revealed that Julie is currently attending art school in London. But her father wants her to become a lawyer, as he claims she has “a mind for strategy”. With that said, why didn’t Julie consider becoming a lawyer for the art world? If the movie, Woman in Gold, has taught me anything, it’s that artists, museum directors, and collectors need lawyers to help them navigate art related legalities. Were Julie to choose this career path, she would be making herself and her father happy.
I know it’s only the beginning of season ten. However, I really hope Henry’s “redemption arc” is coming to an end. He has been on a quest for redemption since either season three or four. At this point, Henry should be moving forward with his life and finding peace with himself. In season eight, when he reconnected with his son, Christopher, I thought Henry had taken a step in a better direction. But in season nine, his story was, primarily, a repeat of past seasons. Henry has come such a long way since When Calls the Heart began. I just wish his story was a better reflection of that.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
At the Soda Fountain, Mike gives Faith a compliment on her hair, which was styled by Fiona in the previous episode. Faith then asks Mei what she should do about it, with Mei telling her to “enjoy the compliment”. While the advice itself is vague, both Faith and Mei bring up a good point. When someone gives us a compliment, we, more often than not, accept it. But once we’ve accepted it, what do we do with that compliment? Sure, we could use that to boost our confidence. Or we could “pay it forward” and give a compliment to someone else. But I feel there must be something more that could be done with any compliment. Sadly, I don’t currently have the answers to solve this dilemma. Until then, let’s begin this re-cap of When Calls the Heart!
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there 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: 6
Name: Past, Present, Future
Major stories:
Henry, Lucas, and Fiona are still dealing with the woes of the petroleum plant deal. At the plant, Lucas asks Henry why he is against the new investors and Jerome. Henry reveals that, in the court hearing from the earlier seasons, the Pacific Northwest Mining Company was forbidden from re-opening the mines. With Jerome now on board, Henry fears Jerome will try to re-open the mines under a new company name. Lucas and Henry, along with Fiona, visit Bill at his office, in an attempt to remedy the situation. Because money has already exchanged hands, Bill says there isn’t much that can be done. However, he still thinks they should find a way to dissuade the investors without showing their hand. Bill tells Fiona, Lucas, and Henry to keep quiet about their conversation for the time being, especially since several Hope Valley residents lost a family member or friend in the mining accident. When Elizabeth visits Lucas at the saloon, he tells her how much her concern means to him. She then addresses Wyman’s interaction with her in an earlier ninth season episode, asking Lucas if he’ll sell the saloon. Lucas reveals that not only has Wyman left with no forewarning, but how he won’t ever be selling the saloon. Later in the episode, Fiona leaves for San Francisco again, attempting to fix the mess she made. But before she leaves, Henry apologizes to Fiona for how he treated her. This is because he realizes Mike placed Fiona in a situation she was ill-prepared for. Accepting his apology, Fiona agrees with Henry to start their business relationship over.
There have been several changes taking place in Hope Valley. One of them has been increased traffic. Even though some of the town’s residents have not been pleased about some of these changes, Lee has become the most vocal about them. He approaches Bill to see if anything can be done. After Bill reminds him how Mike is now Hope Valley’s mayor, Lee comes up with an idea. This idea is to write an editorial in the Valley Voice about the changes that have taken place. While Lee hopes some issues can be addressed in his editorial, there are some issues that have suddenly popped up. One day, at the Valley Voice office, Lee notices a group of men building something just outside of town. When Lee approaches the men in order to ask questions, one of the men is standoffish with him. As Lee tries to help him carry a plank of wood, the man pushes Lee, which starts a fist fight. Not only is Joseph able to stop the fight, but Lee was able to walk away with minor injuries. Before his article is published, Lee discovers the group of men were building a billboard to advertise jobs at the incoming foundry. But when Lee’s editorial is printed, it causes a buzz in the town. Rosemary warns Lee that even though his words are important, they might not be everyone’s “cup of tea”. Her words of wisdom encourage Lee to cancel additional prints of the new edition of the Valley Voice.
One morning, Nathan decides to reacquaint Newton to their Mountie duties. But just as Nathan is about to put the saddle on his horse, Newton becomes skittish. The situation gets worse when Nathan and Newton arrive in town. Nathan is attempting to direct traffic. But the noise and commotion frighten Newton. So, Bill agrees to look after Newton during Nathan’s traffic directing. After the morning’s events, Bill informs Nathan that, for the time being, he has to get permission to ride Newton. This is because Newton’s current demeanor could put both horse and man in danger. Later in the episode, Nathan addresses what Bill told him to Mei. He says she shouldn’t have told Bill about Newton’s issues, as they were none of Bill’s business. But before this conversation, Nathan shared with Mei a past memory that has contributed to his current apprehension toward riding. When he was first learning to ride horses at thirteen, Nathan was thrown off a horse, which caused him to acquire a concussion. This recent apprehension led Nathan to take up Elizabeth’s offer, so he can learn how to drive a vehicle.
Mei is still secretive about her past and reasons for coming to Hope Valley. When Nathan asks Mei why she came to town, she tells him she wanted to see the world. She also tells Nathan Faith sold her on how great Hope Valley is. At the Soda Fountain, Faith asks Mei what happened between her and Jeffery. Mei simply says that her marriage with Jeffery was never going to work. Later in the episode, Bill arrives at the Soda Fountain to get some strawberry ice cream. While there, he wonders if Mei has anything to hide. Mei claims that she has been telling the truth the whole time. But Bill tells her that anyone who fears the truth is hiding more than they’re letting on. Meanwhile, Joseph and Minnie have been considering new steps in their careers. Joseph is still thinking about becoming a partner in Lee’s lumber yard. Minnie also wants to purchase the café from Bill. For now, though, they will continue to pray about it.
While showing Ally how the seltzer squirt bottle works, Robert unintentionally causes a food fight with some of Elizabeth’s students. Not only do these students have to clean up their mess, but Robert is also required to take care of Newton with little to no pay. Ally is proud of her throwing arm, as she claims she threw some ice cream right at Robert’s face. But she also claims the food fight was all meant in good, friendly fun. Later in the episode, Ally visits Elizabeth seeking advice. Even though she had a good time at her grandparents’ house, Ally now feels left out. She says her friends are either too busy interested in “childish” things or are moving on to graduation or taking jobs. Ally is also jealous of Angela’s new friendship with Robert, especially after hearing about their bike ride that happened earlier this season. Elizabeth tells Ally the same thing Nathan told her: to simply remain friends with Robert. She also tells Ally to find people who she feels comfortable with. That way, Ally will have a place to belong, no matter where she is.
Toward the end of this episode, Elizabeth asked Joseph to build a book wagon. After seeing a notice on the Valley Voice’s bulletin board, Elizabeth became inspired to deliver books to neighboring towns in the summer. Not only do I like her idea, but I honestly wish this was the basis for When Calls the Heart’s spinoff show. The overarching story could have been similar to shows such as Highway to Heaven and Touched by An Angel: where a new person is helped each episode. Maybe if the spinoff show had a more unique identity, I would have a stronger interest in watching it.
As I mentioned in the introduction, Mike gives Faith a compliment. He then invites Faith to dinner at the saloon, with Faith accepting the invitation. Even though Mike is not romantically involved with Faith or Fiona, it makes me wonder if we’ll witness a second love triangle in the future? At this point, it’s way too early to speculate. But after the love triangle that took place from seasons six to eight, I really don’t like the idea of another one.
While looking back on Henry’s overarching story, I realize it has, more often than not, been unhappy. Yes, he’s come a long way since the beginning of When Calls the Heart. And we did see a happier side to him in season eight. But giving Henry basically one happy story in nine seasons is, honestly, disappointing. If When Calls the Heart receives a tenth season, I hope Henry catches a break. If he’s not ready to fall in love, that’s ok. As long as Henry is happier than he usually has been.
18 Cinema Lane 