Toward the beginning of this episode of When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth shares her excitement with Rosemary over her upcoming lesson about bees. She says she loves what bees can teach us about community. Elizabeth’s quote stood out to me because it presented an interesting way to correlate with a familiar concept from the show. Ever since When Calls the Heart premiered back in 2014, one of the overarching themes has always been teamwork. Through this theme, Hearties have witnessed their favorite characters working together to accomplish goals and even achieve miracles. Bees are known to work together, gathering within a hive to make honey. So, Elizabeth’s quote gives the theme of teamwork a good visual representation! Her quote also represents a major story in this When Calls the Heart episode, as everyone lends a helping hand to help Minnie with a large order of jam.
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 thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 7
Name: In a Jam
Major stories:
Minnie has been sending jam to Angela so she can share the jam with her friends. The parents of one of Angela’s friends own the Aceland hotel in Hamilton and have ordered 500 jars of Minnie’s jam to serve on their hotel’s breakfast tables. The order is due the following morning, which means the jars of jam have to get on a train that afternoon. Everyone in Hope Valley volunteers to help Minnie, with each character being assigned a specific role in the jamming process. But as the jam order is about to be shipped off to the train station, Elizabeth and Rosemary discover sugar was left out of one whole batch of jam. The problem does get resolved with some teamwork. Ned and Joseph successfully deliver the jam order because the train was delayed by ten minutes. Elizabeth reveals to Nathan she asked Jed to load his sheep onto the train, which caused the train to delay. With the money from the jam order, Minnie and Joseph decide to buy Bill’s half of the café and rename the eatery, Minnie’s Café.
Christopher is taking some time off work in order to help Nathan with the fire investigation. He becomes paranoid over someone finding out he blew the whistle on Pioneer Electric. But Henry, as well as Nathan, remind Christopher he did the right thing by speaking up. As Christopher and Nathan make their way to where Christopher buried the transformer, a car tries to run them over. They jump out of the way, but become injured. While Nathan’s injury is minor, Christopher develops a mild concussion and a few broken ribs. Because Nathan remembered the car’s license plate, he and Bill research who the car could have belonged to. Not only was the car stolen, it was also burned. Plus, Christopher leaves town, regretting his involvement in the fire investigation.
While taking a walk in Hope Valley, Lucas and Edie spot Bucky, a horse belonging to a Benson Hills resident named Mrs. McCormick. Edie and Lucas recruit Fernando to help them bring the horse back to its rightful owner. When they catch up to Bucky, Lucas tries to lasso the horse. But this plan doesn’t work. Fernando then sings to Bucky in Spanish, which calms the horse down. This allows Fernando to guide Bucky back to Mrs. McCormick in Hope Valley. Later in the episode, Edie confesses to Lucas how she doesn’t have romantic feelings for Fernando anymore.
Because Benson Hills’ residents have been staying in Hope Valley, Faith’s patient count has doubled. This means she has less time to spend with Lilly. When Elizabeth and LJ bring up the “jamboree” to help Minnie, Lilly wants to go to the event with Faith. But Faith tells Lilly she’ll join her as soon as she’s attended to all her patients. By the time Faith has taken care of her patients, the “jamboree” is over. Later in the episode, Faith learns Lilly took LJ’s stuffed dog toy named Dog because she was jealous over how much time LJ (and Dog) gets to spend with Faith. When Faith returns Dog to Elizabeth, she confesses how bad she feels about the time she’s missed with Lilly. Elizabeth suggests taking a day off once a week so Faith and Lilly could spend more time together. The next day, Lilly receives a hair pin from Faith so that she’ll always be reminded Faith is thinking of her.
During Minnie’s “jamboree”, Mike shares with Mei his desire to start a family. He even expresses this desire after having a bad reaction to a bee sting. But every time Mike brings up wanting a start a family, Mei seems to hesitate and want to change the subject. This makes me wonder if Mei and Mike have ever discussed the idea of having their own family before they got married? Sometimes, couples in Hallmark’s programming will avoid talking about serious topics for the benefit of the plot. Perhaps Mike and Mei’s part of the story is adopting a familiar aspect of Hallmark’s storytelling?
While volunteering at Minnie’s “jamboree”, Ned donates a glass jar for the jam order. Florence is upset because she recognizes the jar from her collection of memorabilia from their honeymoon. Ned makes up for his mistake by giving Florence a new glass jar. But this time, the jar is filled with slips of paper of things he remembers about their relationship. This was not only a thoughtful gesture from Ned, it was also a nice romantic moment between Florence and Ned.
I’ve heard some chatter on social media how some Hearties don’t want another love triangle between Lucas, Edie, and Fernando. Personally, I don’t think that will happen. As I mentioned in this re-cap, Edie confessed to Lucas how she doesn’t have romantic feelings for Fernando anymore. Compared to the amount of screen-time Lucas and Nathan received from seasons six to eight (when the love triangle between Elizabeth, Lucas, and Nathan took place), Fernando has been given such a limited amount of time on screen. As I said in my previous re-cap, I really hope Fernando becomes a series regular on When Calls the Heart. But since a “second chance romance” between Fernando and Edie won’t be happening, I’d like to see Fernando fall in love with Hope Valley’s first female Mountie, if she ever makes her debut on the show.
Toward the end of this episode of When Calls the Heart, Mollie reveals to Faith how she’s been taking courses to become a practicing nurse. She says becoming a nurse would provide Faith with additional help. Mollie’s story feels reminiscent of Rosaleen’s story from season ten, when she expressed interest in becoming a nurse. I now wonder if this is a shared dream between mother and daughter?
Lee has a recurring dream in this episode of When Calls the Heart. While Lee doesn’t think much of the dream itself, Rosemary believes the dream holds an important meaning. Eventually, Lee’s dream comes true in a very literal way. When this happened, it made me think about the idea of dreams coming true. The term “a dream come true” usually brings to mind people who accomplish or receive what they desire the most. A person’s dream coming true is typically seen as a positive occurrence, making others feel good when it happens. But in Lee’s case, his dream wasn’t about getting something in return. It was more about trying to discover the unknown. Season thirteen has presented several unknowns in Lee’s life. How is he going to balance all his responsibilities without experiencing stress? Will he rebuild Benson Hills within a year? Is he going to reclaim his and Rosemary’s lost dreams? Every season of When Calls the Heart has presented its series of unknowns. But over time, the characters learn the truth behind these unknowns and adapt according to what is discovered.
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 thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 6
Name: Moment of Truth
Major stories:
Georgie McGill comes back to Hope Valley with a Mountie named Elmore Briggs. This time, she not only brings a polygraph machine, she also reveals how she’s using her investigative skills to help Edie acquire insurance claims for those affected by the fire. After Oliver is the first Mountie to test the polygraph machine, Georgie and Bill go to Elizabeth’s house for dinner. Bill and Georgie raise concerns over how Nathan isn’t being honest with Elizabeth, especially about the lemon curd dessert Elizabeth made. They suggest Nathan use the polygraph. At the Mountie office, Nathan truthfully confesses how he loves Elizabeth. But shortly after Jack Jr. (a.k.a. LJ) asks Nathan if he’ll marry Elizabeth, Christopher arrives at the Mountie office. Earlier in the episode, Henry confronted his son about the concrete pieces found in the previous episode. This conversation between Christopher and his father encouraged him to tell the truth about the fire. A transformer from the electric company Christopher works for is how the fire was caused. Despite being instructed to throw the destroyed transformer in the river, Christopher buried it instead. His confession helps Toby and Cooper prove their innocence.
Faith tells Gwen her father is no longer at risk of infection. She also tells Gwen she is now allowed to visit her father at the hospital in Buxton. Excited to finally see her father, Gwen wants to give him a walking stick she carved herself. But when she and Lee are on their way to the hospital, Gwen immediately wants to go back to Hope Valley. Lee takes Gwen fishing instead. During this fishing excursion, Gwen reveals the real reason she didn’t want to go to the hospital. Before her mother passed away, Gwen remembers people saying her mother was going to get better. Gwen is afraid she might lose her father too. Lee reassures Gwen her father isn’t in the hospital for the same reasons her mother went to the hospital. After she successfully catches a fish, Gwen tells Lee she wants to go the hospital in Buxton to visit her father. When Lee and Gwen come back to Hope Valley, they bring home the fish Gwen caught for dinner. Rosemary reminds Lee of his recurring dream I referenced in this re-cap’s introduction, where Lee is fishing but doesn’t know what he caught. By bringing home the fish Gwen caught, Rosemary claims Lee’s dream came true.
A contractor named Fernando arrives in Hope Valley to discuss building plans with Lee. But because Lee is taking a short break from work, Fernando ends up meeting Lucas instead. Throughout the episode, Lucas and Fernando get along quite well. Lucas even learns Fernando became a contractor after being a cowboy for years. Fernando is invited by Lucas to attend Edie’s charity poker game, which hopes to raise funds to rebuild a recreation center in Benson Hills. At the poker game, Fernando invites Lucas and Edie to a car race. When Lucas introduces Fernando to Edie, Lucas learns they already know each other. That’s because Fernando is Edie’s ex-fiancé.
When Georgie arrives at Elizabeth’s house for dinner, she gives LJ and Allie a present; a box of Crayola crayons for LJ and a fountain pen for Allie. What I love about these presents is how they can spark creativity. Pens can be used to write stories, craft poetry, and construct plays. Meanwhile, LJ can draw pictures with those crayons. Maybe he can also use his crayons to create cards or dream up scenery for stage productions.
On social media, Fernando has received positive reception from the Hearties. I can only speak for myself, but I’ve already come to like Fernando as a character! His charisma radiates off the screen and he possesses so much potential. I really hope Fernando becomes a series regular on When Calls the Heart. I also hope Fernando either develops a “second chance romance” with Edie or falls in love with Hope Valley’s first female Mountie, if she ever makes her debut on the show.
In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth’s lemon curd isn’t as popular as she believes. But the fact she made lemon curd at all shows how far Elizabeth has come when it comes to culinary matters. I remember when Elizabeth would burn meals and didn’t really know how the kitchen worked. Seeing her cook and bake highlights what Elizabeth has learned since she first came to Hope Valley.
What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Would you like to see Fernando join the show’s main cast? Tell me in the comment section below!
During a community project in this episode of When Calls the Heart, Joseph tells Cooper when good ripples out, it touches the lives of everybody. The more I thought about Joseph’s quote, the more I realized how true that quote is when it comes to the show. When Calls the Heart emphasizes characters doing good things within Hope Valley and beyond. Just in season thirteen alone, Hearties have seen their favorite characters giving back to those from Benson Hills who had lost so much. But even before the fire at Goldie National Park happened, good things were taking place in Hope Valley. Multiple weddings have mended broken hearts. New life renewed the spirit of the town. The little things, like Lucas teaching Allie how to play cards, built confidence and bridges between new characters and familiar faces. When Calls the Heart has always been a show that makes its audience feel good about the program they are watching. Having the characters consistently try to make their world a better place than how they found it has definitely influenced that belief.
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 thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 5
Name: Growing Pains
Major stories:
Nathan and Bill continue their investigation over how the fire started. When they visit the site of Toby and Cooper’s cooking fire, Bill and Nathan discover unrecognizable pieces of concrete. They question Henry over the pieces of concrete, but he doesn’t recognize them either. At the saloon, Henry learns Christopher has earned a regional assistant promotion. This promotion allows Christopher and Rachel’s engagement to move forward. Later in the episode, Henry and his son go birdwatching. During their expedition, they discover Elizabeth’s class planting trees in the forest. Henry offers to donate mulch from his and Joseph’s hazelnut business in order to help Elizabeth’s students plant more trees. Toward the end of the episode, Christopher hurriedly leaves Hope Valley. But before his son drives away, Henry helps Christopher pack up his vehicle. As he places Christopher’s luggage in the trunk, Henry finds pieces of concrete similar to the ones found by Nathan and Bill.
One day, Cooper and Toby arrive late to class. When Elizabeth asks them about their book report, Toby and Cooper claim they forget about the assignment. Recognizing how tired her students appear, Elizabeth gives Cooper and Toby extra time to complete their book report. Concerned about their wellbeing, Elizabeth follows Toby and Cooper into the forest. She then learns her students have been replanting trees to make up for their cooking fire potentially starting the fire that destroyed Benson Hills. Wanting to lend a helping hand, Elizabeth turns Cooper and Toby’s act of kindness into a class project. At first, some of the Benson Hills students are frustrated because the newly planted trees won’t bring back their lost homes. Elizabeth reminds them how the trees could, one day, build the home of someone’s dreams. As more people learn about Elizabeth and her class replanting trees, they want to help. Not only does Henry donate mulch from his and Joseph’s hazelnut business, Lee donates some trees from his construction business as well.
Lee is preparing a presentation in order for his construction company to be granted approval to rebuild Benson Hills. This presentation consists of illustrations of what new buildings and homes would look like. When it’s time for Lee to make his presentation, he presents his building plans to a building committee (which includes Maisie, Lucas, and Christopher). Because he made such a good argument to the building committee, Lee and his construction company were granted approval to move forward with their rebuilding project. Amidst the celebration, Gwen asks Lee to rebuild her family’s house, even drawing a picture of what the house looked like. She makes a special request to crack one of the windows, as her father claimed the crack in their window looked like a spider web. As Lee is showing Rosemary the building plans one day, he experiences what he believes is a heart attack. But when Rosemary and Lee go to the Infirmary, Faith confirms Lee actually had an anxiety attack likely caused by all the responsibilities he has been trying to balance. While he’s attempting to take things easy, Gwen tells Lee and Rosemary about her class replanting trees in the forest. Lee volunteers his family to join in the replanting efforts. He also donates some trees from his construction business.
At the saloon, Lucas sees Edie trying to carry multiple crates at once. Edie confesses how she wants to use the crates to build a desk. This desk will be placed in her new living quarters, which is a room at The Café. Lucas not only offers a spare desk he already owns, he also offers to help Edie carry the desk to her place. As they transfer the desk to The Café, Edie tells Lucas why she stayed in Hope Valley. At first, it was to look after her uncle’s ranch. But when Edie lost it in the fire, she says she actually likes the town. When Lucas and Edie try to carry the desk up the stairs at The Café, Lucas falls backwards and receives a minor head injury. Later in the episode, when Edie apologizes for the desk-related mishap, Lucas apologizes for missing the insurance claim meeting. During their conversation, they both admit they like spending time with each other. Lucas even encourages Edie to share her office with him again.
While Bill and Nathan investigate around the site of Toby and Cooper’s cooking fire, Oliver finds a tooth fossil belonging to a prehistoric sea creature called a Mosasaur. This discovery sparks Oliver to share his interest in dinosaurs with Allie, even telling her how he used to own a book about dinosaurs when he was younger. One day, Oliver, Allie, and Bill go to the forest to find more dinosaur fossils. But because their adventure lasted longer than expected, Allie arrived home late for dinner. Nathan is concerned for Allie’s wellbeing, especially since she’s been spending more time with Oliver. Allie feels Nathan is losing trust in her, even though she didn’t do anything wrong. Nathan shares his concerns about Allie with Elizabeth during one of their conversations. Elizabeth reminds him how things can’t go back to the way they used to be. The next day, Nathan apologizes to Allie for not trusting her. He also reminds his daughter how, even though she is open-minded and kind-hearted, she is still young. Therefore, Allie should take her time exploring the world.
Back in season twelve of When Calls the Heart, it was revealed Lee’s father died of an unnamed medical condition. Lee expressed his concerns with Faith about developing this medical condition, to the point where he created a will and was worried about leaving a legacy behind for Goldie. With Lee’s anxiety attack being the first time his health has been addressed since the twelfth season, it makes me wonder if this situation is connected in any way to that medical condition brought up a season ago?
As I said in this re-cap, pieces of concrete looking similar to those found by Nathan and Bill were discovered by Henry in the trunk of Christopher’s vehicle. Though this makes Christopher look suspicious, I hope he’s not guilty of starting the fire. Henry put so much effort into reconnecting with his son, as well as rebuilding that familial relationship. If Christopher caused the fire, that would break Henry’s heart, which I don’t want to see happen.
After this episode of When Calls the Heart aired, there was a commercial advertising the next episode. This commercial revealed the episode would premiere on February 7th at 10 p.m./9 p.m. From episode seven and beyond, When Calls the Heart will go back to its regularly scheduled day and time. I wanted to let my readers know about this temporary change in case they missed the commercial.
What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think Edie will go back to sharing an office with Lucas? Let me know in the comment section!
In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Minnie is concerned over news related to Cooper. She also has other concerns on her mind like funding Angela’s college education. But as Minnie tells Joseph, she can only control what she can control. Minnie’s quote reminded me of how another character has responded to situations; Oliver. Throughout his young life, Oliver has been forced to deal with situations beyond his control, from entering foster care to his mother going to prison. Despite how turbulent his life was prior to coming to Hope Valley, Oliver always seemed aware of the things he could control. He chose to follow the rules because he didn’t want to prove his doubters right. When he lied about his education, Oliver considered resigning from the Mounties because he wanted to prevent Nathan from getting in trouble. He doesn’t even dwell on how he’s never had a birthday party before. As I reflect on Oliver’s time on When Calls the Heart, I remember how Oliver has responded to situations with a level head, a generous heart, and with the intention of doing the right thing.
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 4
Name: Until Proven Guilty
Major stories:
McGinty is being questioned by Bill and Nathan over his whereabouts during the fire at Goldie National Park. While he admits to entering the park prior to the fire, McGinty confesses he was burying his deceased cat, Mr. Mittens. It was also confirmed McGinty was in Benson Hills when the fire was taking place. With McGinty officially ruled out as a suspect, it appears the fire was accidentally started, as Toby and Cooper confess to Nathan and Bill. However, they stress they put out their cooking fire as instructed. When those from Benson Hills are looking for something or someone to blame, Bill and Nathan host a town meeting to discuss what is known about the fire. The residents of Benson Hills are frustrated by the lack of definitive answers and even question Allie’s involvement in how the fire started. Elizabeth, who also attended the meeting, speaks up to remind Benson Hills’ residents how blaming others isn’t going to solve problems. Meanwhile, Lee decides to convert his lumber business into a construction business. Encouraged by Joseph to forgive McGinty and after learning McGinty doesn’t have insurance or a loan, Lee decides to build McGinty a new cabin as his construction company’s first project. He and Rosemary also give McGinty a kitten.
Minnie has started selling homemade jam. As the episode progresses, it’s revealed Minnie’s business venture is to not only found Angela’s college education, but to fund a lawyer for Cooper as well. When Cooper overhears his parents’ conversation about the family’s financial situation, he tries to run away from home. But Minnie stops Cooper by reminding him how he isn’t a burden. Meanwhile, Lucas attempts to apologize to Edie for missing the insurance claim meeting from the previous episode. Edie is now convinced Lucas is like the other politicians she’s met before. But during Lucas’ interview on Rosemary’s radio show, Edie’s mind starts to change. As he reveals his plans to run for re-election, Lucas states how he wants to raise taxes in order to collect funds to help re-build Benson Hills. This idea helps Edie see Lucas does care about the people he serves.
Allie not only remembers Oliver’s 18th birthday is on the horizon, she also remembers how Oliver has never had a birthday party before. These facts inspire Allie to plan a surprise party for Oliver. Allie wants to invite the students from Benson Hills to join Oliver’s celebration. But throughout the episode, the Benson Hills students seem unwilling to branch out beyond their friend groups. Allie also wants to invite Cooper and Toby. However, their guilt over the fire discourages them from attending Oliver’s party. When his birthday finally arrives, Oliver is pleasantly surprised by how the party turned out, as well as how many people showed up. Even the students from Benson Hills came to the event. But when Oliver discovers Toby and Cooper’s absence, Oliver convinces them to attend the party. But one of the reasons why they go to the party is to apologize for the fire. After the celebration, Allie gives Oliver a book of poems. Oliver then gives Allie the present he was supposed to give at Allie’s birthday party; a silver wolf brooch.
Maisie is currently staying at Mike and Mei’s apartment. This adjustment period has had some bumps in the road. One day, Mei and Mike discover some of their clothes have been donated by Maisie. They learn Maisie doesn’t like their wardrobe, even expressing her dislike over Mike wearing the color blue. Mike believes leaving Maisie alone is better than confronting his sister. But Mei encourages Mike to stand up to Maisie. He eventually confronts Maisie by proclaiming he’ll wear blue whenever he wants, as well as inviting Maisie to Oliver’s birthday party. Mike believes the community spirit will be good for Maisie as well as the rest of Benson Hills’ residents. Taking Mike’s words to heart, Maisie attends Oliver’s birthday party and gives Oliver one of Mike’s ties as a gift.
Is it just me or is everyone’s acceptance over Cooper and Toby accidentally starting the fire a bit concerning? With the episode titled, “Until Proven Guilty”, I would assume at least one of the characters would encourage others to wait until all the facts had been collected before making conclusions. But the characters seem so convinced Toby and Cooper started the fire by accident, even Cooper and Toby themselves have accepted responsibility for a problem they may not have caused. Based on synopses I read for upcoming episodes, it seems like the investigation surrounding the fire will be an overarching story this season. This leads me to believe the real culprit is going to be revealed later in season thirteen.
At Oliver’s birthday party, Allie reveals how each decorated table represents a birthday where Oliver didn’t receive a party. This display of toys, mementos, and personal belongings became a visual way of making up for lost time. I liked this design detail because it incorporates the show’s continuity. It also highlights how important Oliver’s story is for not just him as a character, but for When Calls the Heart as well.
As I said in this re-cap, Minnie is selling homemade jam to fund Angela’s college education. This fact makes me wonder why Angela didn’t receive the Hope Valley Scholarship when she graduated last season? Did Timothy or Emily accept the scholarship instead or did it go to one of the school’s alumni? I’d like to hear this detail get addressed sometime this season.
What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think Lee’s new construction business will re-build Rosemary’s Playhouse? Tell me in the comment section below!
I’ve mentioned in the past how my favorite character from Freaks and Geeks is Harris Trinsky. To show my gratitude to one of the people responsible for bringing this character to life, Stephen Lea Sheppard (the actor who portrayed Harris), I decided to review one of the projects from Stephen’s filmography on his birthday. When I looked at his official page on IMDB, I discovered Stephen has only one movie on his filmography. That film is 2001’s The Royal Tenenbaums. While I have heard of this movie, I had never seen it before. Stephen’s birthday was the perfect opportunity to, once again, expand my cinematic horizons! Two years ago, I published a list of the Top 10 “Icks” from Hallmark Hall of Fame Movies. In that list, I discuss how Saint Maybe did a better job than Back When We Were Grownups at showcasing a dysfunctional family. When I learned The Royal Tenenbaums revolved around a dysfunctional family, I wondered if the film would remind me more of Back When We Were Grownups or Saint Maybe. Now that I’ve seen the 2001 movie, I can find the answer to that question in this review!
The Royal Tenebaums poster created by Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, and Vantage Media, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Things I liked about the film:
Dudley’s bluntness as comic relief: In The Royal Tenenbaums, Stephen portrays Dudley Heisenbergen. Throughout the story, Dudley resides with Bill Murray’s character, Raleigh St. Clair, because he is researching Dudley’s medical condition. Though he receives a very limited amount of screen-time, as well as lines within the script, Dudley left a memorable impression on me. That’s because his bluntness was effectively utilized as comic relief. One example is when Raleigh discusses Dudley’s medical condition through a tape recorder. Raleigh addresses how Dudley has Color Blindness, yet marvels at Dudley’s exceptional hearing. In the very next scene, while Dudley is in another room, Dudley asks Raleigh if he is Color Blind, with Raleigh confirming this fact. Why I found this exchange hilarious is how Dudley’s bluntness felt reminiscent of Stephen’s portrayal of Harris on Freaks and Geeks, as Harris’ brutal honesty sometimes led to humorous moments. I wish Dudley’s bluntness was incorporated more in The Royal Tenenbaums.
Use of mixed media: Before watching The Royal Tenenbaums, I knew the movie had an offbeat and quirky presentation. But because I hadn’t seen the movie before, I didn’t give much thought to why it was presented this way. Now that I’ve seen The Royal Tenenbaums, I know what gave the 2001 film its unique identity was the creative team’s use of mixed media. The entire story is told as if the audience is reading a book, complete with parts of the film being separated by “chapters”. If a character wrote a book, a cover of their book was presented on screen to emphasize that character’s progress and/or success. When Richie and his father, Royal, talk about a disastrous tennis match, the tennis match is shown in the movie as a television broadcast, which provided additional context to what Royal and Richie were saying. Details like the ones I described show how The Royal Tenenbaums’ creative team creatively and cleverly told their story!
Brutal honesty about family dysfunction: I brought up in the introduction of this review how Saint Maybe did a better job than Back When We Were Grownups at showcasing a dysfunctional family. This is because there was a very clear reason for the family in Saint Maybe to be dysfunctional, as a death in the family caused a ripple effect which led to the family’s dysfunctionality. The Tenenbaum family’s dysfunctional nature felt reminiscent of the 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation. But in the case of The Royal Tenenbaums, the Tenenbaum’s dysfunction was caused by a series of little things that culminated over time. A great example is when Margot debuted a play she created on her 11th birthday. When Margot asks her dad, Royal, what he thought of her play, Royal honestly tells his daughter the play didn’t feel believable because it seemed like a child wrote it. Prior to that moment, Margot had been praised as a playwright protégé, so her father’s criticism affected her in the long run. Scenes like the one I described showcase the brutal honesty of what can lead families to become dysfunctional. The acting performances and screenwriting made this dysfunctionality feel realistic.
Margot and Richie’s romantic attraction for each other: As the story of The Royal Tenenbaums carries on, the script reveals Margot and Richie have developed romantic feelings for each other. These feelings come years after Richie and Margot grew up together as brother and sister. However, Margot was adopted into the Tenenbaum family, so she and Richie are only related by familial connection. But despite this fact, Margot and Richie’s romantic attraction creates an awkwardness that can’t be overlooked. Plus, this attraction has little bearing over the plot. It would have made more sense if Richie and Margot’s subplot had instead revolved around helping their friend, Eli, overcome his addiction, especially since Eli grew up infatuated with the Tenenbaum family.
Endings wrapping up too neatly: Earlier in this review, I talked about the brutal honesty about family dysfunction in The Royal Tenenbaums. The script’s brutal honesty brought a sense of realism to the family dysfunction, even addressing issues family dysfunction can cause, like addiction and self-harm. But by the end of the movie, all of the stories are wrapped up in neat little packages, giving the characters a semblance of a “happily ever after”. It seems like The Royal Tenenbaums’ creative team wanted to have their cake and eat it too. What I mean by this is they didn’t want to sugarcoat family dysfunction, yet, at the same time, they wanted to make sure all the characters were ok. One solution to this flaw is showing the characters gradually working through their dysfunction as the story goes on. This way, the “happily ever afters” would have felt more earned and complimentary to the story’s realism.
Dudley’s unclear connection: When I discussed Dudley’s bluntness as comic relief in The Royal Tenenbaums, I brought up how Dudley resides with Bill Murray’s character, Raleigh St. Clair, because he is researching Dudley’s medical condition. But other than this fact, the script never provides a clear explanation how Dudley connects to the other characters. Did Raleigh and Margot adopt Dudley? Does Dudley’s parents allow him to spend time with Raleigh whenever he feels like it? Are Raleigh or Margot Dudley’s legal guardian? This lack of explanation left me confused, especially since the connections between the other characters in The Royal Tenenbaums were made clearer.
Since I’m reviewing The Royal Tenenbaums in honor of Stephen Lea Sheppard’s birthday, I decided to include this photo of Shephen’s character, Dudley, and Bill’s character, Raleigh. Photo created by Touchstone Pictures, American Empirical Pictures, Scott Rudin Productions, Vantage Media, and Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
My overall impression:
The 1998 Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Saint Maybe, proves stories about family dysfunction can work. What helped Saint Maybe was not only providing a clear reason for the family’s dysfunction, but also showing the family using their dysfunction as motivation to make impactful changes in their lives. Like the 1998 film, The Royal Tenenbaums gives the audience reasons to explain why the titular family is dysfunctional. However, the impactful changes in the Tenenbaum family’s lives don’t happen until toward the end of the film. In my opinion, these changes should have been more gradual throughout the story. What I can appreciate about The Royal Tenenbaums is the brutally honest approach to the subject of family dysfunctionality. A sense of realism was brought to the story because of this creative decision. But as I stated in the introduction of this review, Stephen Lea Sheppard is the reason I sought out The Royal Tenenbaums. His character’s bluntness left a memorable impression on me and even reminded me a bit of Harris Trinsky. So, if you’re reading this, Stephen, I just want to say Happy Birthday and thank you for making Harris Trinsky a sparkling, shooting star in our landscape known as entertainment.
Overall score: 7 out of 10
Have you seen The Royal Tenenbaums? What stories about family dysfunction do you think work in film? Please tell me in the comment section!
Before school begins in Hope Valley, Elizabeth states how she wants to create a routine for the students of Benson Hills so they can have a sense of normalcy in their lives. When I first heard what Elizabeth said, I remembered how When Calls the Heart has created their own routine. For Hearties, it’s the fact the show itself premieres each episode at a consistent time on a consistent day of the week. Behind the scenes, this routine looks like a block of days or months set aside for filming, screenwriting, and editing. These routines created by the show give the cast, crew, and Hearties expectations, a sense of predictability, but most importantly, something to look forward to. Even when this routine has become interrupted, the creative team behind When Calls the Heart has adapted to the best of their abilities so the routine carries on as smoothly as possible. Few television shows have survived past ten seasons like When Calls the Heart. What seems to have worked in When Calls the Heart’s favor is building a strong and stable routine.
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 thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 3
Name: Back to School
Major stories:
The children of Hope Valley and Benson Hills are going back to school. But for the students of Benson Hills, they are having a difficult time adjusting to their new educational surroundings. One young girl tells Elizabeth how she’s tired of receiving people’s sad faces. Gwendolyn, who likes to be called Gwen, is carving into one of the desks with a fork belonging to Rosemary. Elizabeth encourages Hope Valley’s students to sit with the students from Benson Hills in an effort to integrate Benson Hills’ children into her class. But Elizabeth feels there is more she can do to make all her students feel like they are part of a community. Later in the episode, Elizabeth, Nathan, and Jack Jr. organize a field day. Everyone participates in the activities except for Cooper and Toby. They turn to Elizabeth toward the end of the episode to reveal they made a small cooking fire during their hike in the national park. However, Toby and Cooper reassure Elizabeth they put the fire out. As they reflect on what happened, they second guess if their fire was what caused the national park, Rosemary’s Playhouse, and Benson Hills to burn.
Lee is convinced someone intentionally started the fire in Goldie National Park. One day, at the saloon, Mollie confesses to Lee how, on the day of the fire, she saw an older gentleman entering the park carrying what looked like a kerosine can. Even though Bill and Nathan are currently conducting an investigation, Lee wants McGinty to be held accountable, as he believes McGinty is responsible for the fire. But when Lee confronts McGinty about the fire at the saloon, McGinty is appalled by Lee’s accusations. Nathan arrests Lee after Lee punched McGinty. When Rosemary picks up Lee from the jail, Lee shares how all he wants is for the guilty party to be held responsible for what they did. Rosemary reminds her husband how they don’t know all the answers yet.
The residents of Benson Hills are literally and figuratively picking up the pieces of their lives after the fire. Some of Hope Valley’s residents, including Mei, volunteer to take Benson Hills’ residents back to Benson Hills to reclaim their lost possessions. Maisie, Benson Hills’ mayor and Mike’s sister, is trying to acquire relief funds to rebuild Benson Hills. When Mei offers Maisie a place to stay at her and Mike’s apartment, Maisie turns down the offer at first because she doesn’t want Benson Hills’ residents to believe she gave up on them. But after Mei finds a baby portrait of Mike from what was Maisie’s house, Maisie realizes her family is just trying to support her. Meanwhile, Lucas agrees to appear at a meeting about insurance claims, organized by Edie and Maisie. But due to a scheduled dinner that runs longer than planned, Lucas ends up missing the meeting.
Like I mentioned in this re-cap post, Gwen carves into one of the desks with a fork belonging to Rosemary. Later in the episode, at the Coulter family’s house (where Gwen is currently residing), Gwen tries her hand at woodcarving under Lee’s guiding eye. The two instances I brought up make me wonder if Gwen will eventually take up woodcarving as a hobby? Maybe this new hobby will help Gwen pass the time and make new friends until she can be reunited with her father?
Rupert is one of Elizabeth’s newest students from Benson Hills. During class, he brings up his past studies about ancient Rome. Rupert even talks about a class project he made that became lost in the fire. In my list of the Thirteen Questions for When Calls the Heart’s 13th Season, I wondered if another student would receive the Hope Valley Scholarship. With Rupert’s expressed desire for learning, could Rupert be the next Hope Valley Scholarship recipient? Though he is one of Benson Hills’ students, perhaps he could be the exception to the rule.
In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Elizabeth brings up the idea of a poetry club, in order to encourage Oliver to read William Shakespeare’s work. Reflecting on Elizabeth’s idea, it would be great if Hope Valley had a book club! The library would be the club’s official meeting spot. Different stories and genres could be explored within the club. Maybe they could even solve mysteries like in the Ainsley McGregor Mysteries series! Since Hearties know a fourteenth season is on the horizon, perhaps Hope Valley could see its first book club come to fruition.
What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? What lessons do you hope Elizabeth’s students learn in their upcoming school year? Please tell me in the comment section!
I’ve heard Hope Valley referred as a “sanctuary” in this episode of When Calls the Heart. While this was a reference to Benson Hills’ evacuees coming to Hope Valley, I’ve thought about the town as a “sanctuary” for other characters on the show. When Mei was introduced back in season nine, Hope Valley became her “sanctuary” as she was escaping from a bad relationship. Hope Valley was also a “sanctuary” for both Jesse and Clara, as they found a second chance and love in this very town. And, recently, Hope Valley has turned into a “sanctuary” for Jack Jr. and Elizabeth, providing Jack Jr. with a healthy place to live and Elizabeth peace of mind. Hope Valley has been plentiful for its residents, giving them what truly needed. Whether it was forgiveness, extra help on math homework, or an opportunity to give back, everyone in Hope Valley has been provided for.
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 thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 2
Name: Up in Smoke
Major stories:
Allie, Cooper, Toby, and Opal are lost within a fiery Goldie National Park. Attempting to find their way out of the park, Opal and Allie travel in one direction while Toby and Cooper go in another direction. Fortunately, all four children are rescued by Nathan, Bill, Oliver, and Joseph. Meanwhile, Lucas leads some of Hope Valley’s residents to create a fire trap in order to stop the fire. With the fire potentially spreading to Hope Valley, evacuation plans are made. Edie even rescues her animals from her cabin. But because winds eventually move easterly, Hope Valley is out of the fire’s path. However, the changing winds make Benson Hills the fire’s next target. Rosemary warns the town through a radio broadcast, giving residents enough time to flee. Though the fire burns past the fire trap and destroys Benson Hills’ main street, as well as half the town’s houses, there are no casualties. But Benson Hills is not the only location to be affected by the fire. Goldie National Park is destroyed and Rosemary’s Playhouse went up in smoke.
Hope Valley literally and figuratively opens its doors to the evacuated residents of Benson Hills. One of those residents is a young girl named Gwendolyn. During the evacuation, Gwendolyn and her father became separated. Until her father comes to Hope Valley to reunite with his daughter, Gwendolyn vows to stay at the saloon. As the day carries on, however, Gwendolyn’s father doesn’t show up in Hope Valley. But Gwendolyn agrees to stay with the Coulters and be Goldie’s babysitter. The next day, Gwendolyn learns from Nathan her father is staying at a hospital in Buxton. At the moment, though, Gwendolyn is advised not to visit her father yet, as doctors don’t want his injuries to become infected.
Everyone in Hope Valley lends a helping hand during the fire at Goldie National Park. Besides the rescue and fire trap efforts, Lee and Mike also attempt to put out the fire with the town’s fire truck. As the fire spreads to Benson Hills, donations for the evacuees are given and organized. Even Minnie cooks hot meals for them. With the day turning into night, other residents of Hope Valley make big impacts through small acts. Rosemary and Lucas host a magic show to entertain the children. When the power goes out, Faith makes sure the Infirmary’s refrigerator is properly working with the help of a back-up generator. This way, Jack Jr. can always have Insulin available. Even though the power returns the following day and everyone is accounted for, the timing of everything doesn’t feel like a coincidence to Lee. He brings up the idea of an investigation to Bill and Nathan, believing McGinty is responsible for starting the fire.
There were no minor stories in this episode because all the stories revolved around the fire at Goldie National Park.
Campfire with marshmellows and shooting stars image created by macrovector at freepik.com.
Some thoughts to consider:
As I said in this re-cap post, Rosemary’s Playhouse went up in smoke. When Lee told Rosemary what happened, I became incredibly disappointed, especially after expressing excitement in the last re-cap post over finally seeing Rosemary’s theater come to life. What’s also disappointing is how the theater itself wasn’t shown on screen yet. I’d like to think Rosemary’s Playhouse could get rebuilt by the end of the season. But When Calls the Heart does not have a strong track record when it comes to keeping promises. One such example is when the show promised to give Jesse and Clara an outdoor wedding despite the show’s creative team knowing the weather would prevent them from filming any outdoor events. At this point, I’m cautiously optimistic.
On social media, I’ve read some comments from Lucas’ fans expressing their disinterest in seeing Lucas and Edie falling in love. They believe Miranda MacDougall and Chris McNally, the actress and actor who portray Edie and Lucas, lack on-screen chemistry. While I wouldn’t mind seeing Lucas and Edie become a couple, they haven’t shared enough screentime together for me to determine if Chris and Miranda truly share on-screen chemistry that is strong. Even though this is only the second episode, I hope Edie and Lucas get to spend more time together this season.
Despite only being season thirteen’s second episode, the episode itself was very strong! Higher stakes were consistently incorporated into the story. The characters well-being was in danger without the screenwriters believing they had to kill characters off the show. Plus, the outcome of the fire leaves a lot of questions for the rest of the season. It’ll be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
What are your thoughts on this episode of When Calls the Heart? Do you think the fire at Goldie National Park was intentionally started? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!
In the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart, Rosemary and Lee have a conversation about Rosemary’s new Playhouse. She’s discouraged by a news article from the Benson Hills Beatle calling the Playhouse a “vanity project”. Lee reassures his wife by reminding Rosemary how opening the Playhouse is her way of sharing her heart with everyone. As I’ve mentioned in past Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts, my introductions are inspired either by what a character says, something that happens in an episode, or an observation I’ve made while watching the show. When Lee’s conversation with Rosemary made her theater finally seem like a reality, I knew I had to bring it up in my re-cap’s introduction! As a Heartie who’s been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one, I have been waiting for Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater to come true for over ten years. I’ve even brought it up in some of my re-cap posts as well as articles related to the show. Though few details were revealed about the Playhouse, I’m excited to see Rosemary’s dream come to life in Hope Valley! Having a long-awaited wish granted is definitely a good way to start the New Year!
Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heartseason thirteen poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 13
Episode: 1
Name: Up In the Air
Major stories:
Over the summer, Elizabeth, Jack Jr., Nathan, and Allie have been living at Charlotte’s boarding house in Cape Fullerton while Jack Jr. has received Diabetic treatment. This living situation was meant to be temporary, however, because the Infirmary in Hope Valley was being prepared to become a certified Diabetic center. But this plan is literally and figuratively derailed, as the country’s only medical inspector, Marvin, is unable to travel due to a railroad strike. So, the trip to Hope Valley for Allie, Nathan, Jack Jr., and Elizabeth is planned as a weekend excursion. Assuming she won’t come back to Hope Valley in time for the start of the school year, Elizabeth prepares to give Minnie her lesson plans. But during a conversation with Rosemary, Nathan comes up with an idea to keep his and Elizabeth’s family permanently in Hope Valley. Remembering what a boarder named Skeet Rivington said about his nephew, Nathan recruits Skeet’s nephew to fly Marvin to Hope Valley’s Infirmary. His plan is successful, as not only is the trip safely executed, the Infirmary officially becomes a certified Diabetic center. This allows Jack Jr., Elizabeth, Allie, and Nathan to stay in Hope Valley for good.
The grand opening of Goldie National Park is just around the corner. Hope Valley has been preparing for this day, from Rosemary and Lee posing for press photos to the town being decorated for the occasion. Even the younger residents of Hope Valley are looking forward to Goldie National Park’s grand opening. Oliver sketches a map of the park to include in the children’s park guidebook. Even Jack Jr. draws pictures for the guidebook covers. But when Toby, Cooper, Opal, and Allie go for a hike in the park, the residents of Hope Valley notice smoke coming from the park’s direction. Concerned over the well-being of Cooper, Allie, Toby, and Opal, the Mounties of Hope Valley (Bill, Nathan, and Oliver) ride toward the park to figure out what is going on.
Theater seats image created by weatherbox at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/weatherbox.”
Minor stories:
Henry’s son, Christopher, returns to Hope Valley. This time, he is installing the town’s first traffic light. Christopher likes working at the electric company that helped install the traffic light in Hope Valley. While the money is good, he enjoys being able to help others. During a conversation over lunch at the saloon, Christopher tells Henry about a job offer he’s interested in. Henry reminds his son how he’s more than just his job.
Summer was a busy season for Lucas and Edie. While Lucas prepared for his re-election campaign, Edie dealt with land related legal disputes. Edie utilized Lucas’ office at the saloon whenever he worked on governor duties. However, the idea of Edie and Lucas sharing an office was brought up. During a conversation between Lucas and Lee, as well as during a conversation among Edie, Mollie, and Florence, Lucas and Edie discuss how despite both of them being busy, they miss each other’s company. Though the true nature of Edie and Lucas’ relationship is still up in the air.
As I mentioned in the introduction of this re-cap post, Rosemary’s dream of opening a theater will finally come true. This could not have come at a better time for me. Lately, I’ve been heart-broken and frustrated about Eddie Munson being denied a second chance at receiving his full potential in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. So, seeing Rosemary’s theater come to fruition has not only given me some much needed joy, it has also given me something to look forward to for the rest of season thirteen!
McGinty, the disgruntled land-owner from season twelve, has returned to Hope Valley in the season thirteen premiere of When Calls the Heart. His conversation with Bill suggests he’s still bitter about how much prime farmland the national park is taking up. Based on the synopsis for upcoming episodes, the wildfire at the national park will be investigated. If the fire was intentionally started, I hope McGinty isn’t the guilty party because that would make the mystery’s outcome predictable. Personally, I’d like to see an interactive and engaging mystery, so the audience can try to solve the mystery alongside the show’s characters.
Like I said in this re-cap post’s introduction, I’ve been watching When Calls the Heart since literally day one. Looking back on how past seasons have begun, season thirteen has one of the better season premieres! This season’s first chapter does a nice job reintroducing Hearties to the world of Hope Valley without feeling overwhelming. Resolutions to conflicts also feel earned instead of being created for the sake of plot convenience. With a cliff-hanger conclusion and some pleasant surprises, season thirteen’s premiere provides enough story points to give the rest of the season intrigue!
Last July, I created a list of thirteen questions for When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season. One of those questions was whether Edie would actually start her law firm in Hope Valley. Based on how Edie’s story has turned out, so far, in the season thirteen premiere, that law firm hasn’t become a reality yet. But since the season has just started, only time will tell where Edie’s story will go.
What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season premiere? What are you looking forward to this season? Let me know in the comment section below!
Have you ever associated a particular actor with a specific movie or television show? For me, Jasmine Guy comes to mind every time I think of Touched by An Angel! In the earlier seasons of the show, Jasmine guest starred as an antagonist named Kathleen in three episodes. For the Luso World Cinema Blogathon, I decided to review these episodes of the show! According to Beth, one of the hosts of the event, Jasmine’s mother is Portuguese-American and her father is African-American. As I was looking for a topic to write about for the blogathon, I remembered seeing Jasmine’s name on a list of American film people with Portuguese heritage, which caused me to think about when she guest starred on Touched by An Angel. When Beth welcomed me as a Luso World Cinema Blogathon participant, I received another opportunity to review more Touched by An Angel episodes! Like my past reviews of television episodes, I’m going to discuss what I liked about the episode, what I didn’t like about the episode, the story itself, the other factors from the episode, and my overall thoughts. Now, let’s begin discussing Jasmine Guy’s Touched by An Angel episodes!
Touched by An Angelseason two poster created by CBS Productions, Caroline Productions, and MoonWater Productions
Episode Name: Sympathy for the Devil
Season 2, Episode 3
Premiere Date: October 7th, 1995
What I liked about this episode:
This episode of Touched by An Angel, “Sympathy for the Devil”, is where Kathleen makes her official debut. When she steps out of the truck at the fairgrounds, Jasmine Guy’s charisma already bursts off the screen! Her portrayal of Kathleen was so expressive. This made Kathleen’s interactions with other characters captivating to watch, especially when she crossed paths with Monica. Jasmine even brought some sass to her character, which helped Kathleen’s personality stand out. While watching this episode, I actually looked forward to seeing Kathleen appear in a scene. That’s because it meant I got another chance to see Jasmine’s strong acting performance!
What I didn’t like about this episode:
A conflict in “Sympathy for the Devil” is the fall out of Kathleen and Monica. Before this episode, they were best friends. But they grew apart when Kathleen turned to the “dark side” and Monica received her promotion as a case worker. This was an interesting story, especially since it dealt with a realistic conflict of friends growing apart and going their separate ways. Unfortunately, it became overshadowed by the episode’s main story of a father coming back into his son’s life. This was caused by the lack of balance between the plots in “Sympathy for the Devil”. Because both stories were strong, I wish they were placed in their own episodes.
The story itself:
Like I just mentioned in this review, “Sympathy for the Devil” contains two stories. The main story is about a father coming back into his son’s life, seeking forgiveness and redemption. The episode’s subplot revolves around the fall out between Monica and Kathleen. Monica’s mission is to reunite the father and son, helping them heal from years of heartache. Meanwhile, Kathleen wants to keep the son and father apart, just for the sake of causing chaos. As I already mentioned in my review, both stories were strong. Due to the lack of balance between these plots, though, it would have been more beneficial to put these stories in their own episodes, so they wouldn’t have to compete for screen-time. Without spoiling “Sympathy for the Devil”, I will say something happens in this episode that made me wonder why Andrew wasn’t introduced on Touched by An Angel sooner? While Andrew made his official debut in the show’s second season, it wasn’t until the twelfth episode, “The One That Got Away”.
The other factors from this episode:
During one of their confrontations, Ty Duncan (portrayed by Stacy Keach) calls his son “Chicken Boy”. Though it was intended to be an insult one takes seriously, I, personally, found it goofy. So, every time a character said “Chicken Boy”, I would burst out laughing. This is one of the most unintentionally funny moments I’ve seen on Touched by An Angel!
Matt Duncan (portrayed by Robert Kelker-Kelly) owns and operates a local fairground. His son, Daniel, admits his dad doesn’t like rodeos. Yet Matt agreed to host the fairground’s first rodeo despite his dislike. When he meets Monica, Matt confesses how he didn’t know a veterinarian needed to be on the premises at all times. I’m aware that the internet in 1995 was not as expansive as today’s internet. However, if Matt had little knowledge of how to host a rodeo, there were other resources at his disposal, especially considering his fairgrounds were located in Texas.
The purpose of Monica and Kathleen’s subplot was to address the battle of good vs. evil. While this was an interesting theme to include in this episode, I wish the backdrop had elaborated on this theme. Ty Duncan comes to the rodeo because he wants to ride his two thousandth bull. Daniel even dreams about riding a bull because of his grandfather. The sport of bull-riding could have provided symbolism for evil being conquered by the hero. But because bull-riding was simply presented as bull-riding, I found this a missed opportunity to connect one of the story’s themes to the background.
My overall thoughts:
When it comes to the introduction of new cast members or characters on television shows, the ultimate goal is to leave a good first impression. If this goal is achieved, those cast members could become series regulars and their characters may become popular. In the Touched by An Angel episode, “Sympathy for the Devil”, Kathleen was given a strong introduction. This is because Jasmine Guy’s performance was one of the best parts of the episode! Jasmine helped create a character that was captivating to watch, especially when Kathleen was interacting with other characters. I, honestly, wish Jasmine had been nominated for an award for her portrayal of Kathleen! As for the rest of the episode, I thought it was just fine. Even though both stories were strong, I think they should have been placed in their own episodes, so they wouldn’t need to compete for screen-time. I also believe the theme of good vs. evil should have been elaborated by the story’s backdrop. Looking back on “Sympathy for the Devil”, I wish Andrew had been introduced on Touched by An Angel sooner. If he had made his introduction in this episode, I wonder what job Andrew would have received at the fairground?
Rating: A 3.5 out of 5
White horse image created by Gabor Palla at freeimages.com. “FreeImages.com/Gabor Palla.”
In the Touched by An Angel episode, “Lost and Found”, Frank falls in love with Kathleen. Despite Kathleen providing Frank with a “false impression of love” (according to Monica), the story presents moments where their relationship feels honestly genuine. This is because the on-screen chemistry between Jasmine Guy and Bill Nunn was so sweet, they sold the concept of Kathleen and Frank being compatible, under different circumstances. It was almost easy to forget that these characters were not supposed to fall in love, as a result of the effective on-screen chemistry. Jasmine’s and Bill’s performance also worked in the on-screen chemistry’s favor. Unlike “Sympathy for the Devil”, Jasmine added a tender sweetness to Kathleen’s personality, allowing Kathleen to carry her charade. Bill consistently gave his character, Frank, a kind-hearted selflessness, which drove Frank to always help those in need.
What I didn’t like about this episode:
When I talked about what I didn’t like about “Sympathy for the Devil”, I explained how the overshadowing of Monica and Kathleen’s fall out was the result of a lack of balance between the episode’s plots. “Lost and Found” has the same flaw. There are two plots in this episode of Touched by An Angel: the relationship between Frank and Kathleen and the search for missing children. The first plot was actually interesting. If written differently, it could have had a conflict similar to the intended conflict of The Crow: City of Angels; where Kathleen must choose between remaining in the angelic world or becoming mortal in the name of love. The second plot, about the missing children, was also interesting, giving the characters a mystery to solve. But “Lost and Found” placed more emphasis on the missing children plot. The lack of balance between these two plots sometimes made me wonder what happened to Kathleen, as she would be absent for periods at a time. With both plots being strong, they should have existed in their own episodes. This way, they wouldn’t need to compete for screen-time.
The story itself:
Like I just mentioned in my review, there are two plots in “Lost and Found”, the search for missing children and the relationship between Frank and Kathleen. These plots are interconnected, as Frank himself provides the thread that keeps them together. As a policeman, Frank tries to help a missing boy return home. Yet he is haunted by the disappearance of another child. Kathleen uses her charade of love to disguise her true intentions; exploiting Frank’s trauma. The union of these stories express how the job of rescuing children can sometimes take its toll. Similar to “Sympathy for the Devil”, Monica must stop Kathleen from spreading evil and causing chaos. But unlike that episode, “Lost and Found” gives Andrew a reason to become involved in the story. Andrew’s job at the Center of Missing Children is with the computer department. Though his real assignment is guiding deceased children to Heaven. Andrew explains to Monica how he takes his role as “Angel of Death” very seriously. During their conversation, however, the bleakness of some children’s fate causes Andew to appear as if he’s about to cry. Andrew’s emotional response reenforces what I said earlier about the job of rescuing children sometimes taking its toll. From time to time, Touched by An Angel incorporates at least one plot twist into a given episode. While there is a plot twist in “Lost and Found”, I already knew what it was because I have seen this episode before. Therefore, it wasn’t as impactful as it was when I first saw the episode.
The other factors from this episode:
When I talked about the story of “Lost and Found”, I mentioned Andrew’s real assignment was guiding deceased children to Heaven. This part of the story addresses the sad reality some families of missing children face. There’s even a scene where Andrew helps a missing girl who just passed away. However, the dialogue between the girl and Andrew is subtle, giving the audience some time to figure out what is going on. Even the interaction between Andrew and the girl is friendly, with the girl expressing no fear over her situation. The combination of acting, screenwriting, and also the lighting acknowledges the bleakness of the moment without making the scene itself bleak.
Frank has a scrapbook of all the missing child cases he’s worked on. As he explains to Kathleen, the articles he collects are pieces of darkness he cuts out and traps into the scrapbook. Frank consistently does this to protect his soul, as he confesses how he doesn’t look back at the scrapbook once he adds another article. In entertainment media, scrapbooks have typically been portrayed positively. These books are collectors of good memories or visual time capsules. So, the way a scrapbook was written into “Lost and Found” was not only creative, but gave the episode a unique identity as well.
A janitor from a local mall wants to provide information on a missing child case. However, he’s nervous about going to the Center of Missing Children because he doesn’t know if what he saw and heard will truly help rescue the missing child. Tess gives the janitor some words of encouragement, saying, “ “If” is the saddest word in the history of language”. Tess’s conversation with the janitor emphasizes how worrying about “ifs” can sometimes take away the courage to make a difference and reach achievements. Tess’s motherly guidance and headstrong wisdom helped make this scene one of the most heart-warming in “Lost and Found”!
Some scenes in “Lost and Found” took place in Frank’s apartment. One of the items in his apartment is a large fish tank. The fish tank was placed on a metal shelf with wheels. A top shelf appeared to make opening the fish tank’s lid difficult. Anytime I’ve seen large fish tanks like Frank’s in entertainment media, they have been placed on their own stands. The lids have looked accessible, so the tank can be opened for cleaning or feeding the fish. With everything I said, Frank’s fish tank was one of the most questionable design choices I’ve ever seen on a television show.
My overall thoughts:
Touched by An Angel is both a heart-warming and heart-breaking show. There are times when the script doesn’t shy away from the world’s saddening truths. But there are also times when moments are up-lifting and inspiring, sharing valuable lessons with the characters and audience. “Lost and Found” is a perfect example of how the show can be joyful and sorrowful at the same time. The script addresses how searching for missing children doesn’t always have a happy ending. However, positive moments like Tess encouraging the mall janitor to speak up prevent the episode from becoming too “doom and gloom”. The stories of the missing children and Frank’s relationship with Kathleen were both interesting. Though I wish these stories were placed in their own episodes, to prevent them from competing for screen-time. The on-screen chemistry between Bill Nunn and Jasmine Guy was such a pleasant surprise, due to how sweet it was. Andrew was even given a reason to become involved in “Lost and Found”, as he was able to help in various ways. I have seen this episode before, so the plot twist wasn’t as impactful during the second viewing. Despite this, though, I found “Lost and Found” to be a decent episode.
It’s such an interesting coincidence how, prior to this review, I had only reviewed one Touched by An Angel from season three. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
Episode Name: Clipped Wings
Season 3, Episode 18
Premiere Date: February 16th, 1997
What I liked about this episode:
Because this episode of Touched by An Angel revolves around Monica receiving an evaluation for her angelic work, the story takes place within an office building. Despite the limited use of locations, there were two examples of set design I really liked! For about half of the story, Monica mistakenly waits for the start of her evaluation in the waiting room of a psychiatrist’s office. This waiting room was one of the bougiest waiting rooms I’ve ever seen in the history of entertainment media! From marbled pillars and floor to the designer-esque furniture and even a giant cappuccino maker, this space did a convincing job at looking like Heaven on earth. Later in the episode, Monica must meet with the Angel of Angels. His office consisted of warm wood walls, an impressive wood desk, and complimentary blue carpet. Even the large fish tank had its own wooden cabinet, matching the wood of the walls and desk! The Angel of Angels’ office boasted a very masculine style, yet looked classy at the same time. I wish more scenes had taken place in this space.
What I didn’t like about this episode:
As I’ve stated in the introduction of this article, Jasmine Guy’s portrayal of Kathleen is the reason why I chose to review these episodes of Touched by An Angel. So, you can imagine my disappointment when, in this episode, Jasmine only appeared in four scenes. Compared to “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Lost and Found”, her acting talents in “Clipped Wings” were underutilized. This was led by the creative team’s decision to prioritize “Monica’s greatest hits”, showing clips from previously aired episodes. There were times while watching this episode of Touched by An Angel where I found myself wondering why Kathleen was even written into the story in the first place? Though Kathleen appeared in “Clipped Wings” for a reason, I think Jasmine should have received more screen-time.
The story itself:
As beloved as The Golden Girls have become over the years, that show is infamous for one creative choice: the “clip episode”. A typical “clip episode” of The Golden Girls focuses on the four protagonists sitting around the kitchen table and reminiscing over moments that took place in previous episodes. The Touched by An Angel episode, “Clipped Wings”, took a page from The Golden Girls’ playbook, devoting about 80% of the story to presenting clips of episodes airing before February 16th, 1997. Like I mentioned when I talked about what I didn’t like this episode, the creative team prioritized “Monica’s greatest hits”. Even though the script contained an original story involving Kathleen and another angel named Ruth, this part of the story was featured for only about 20% of the episode. These creative decisions were disappointing, especially since “Clipped Wings” commemorated Monica’s completion of fifty cases.
The other factors from this episode:
When I discussed the story of “Clipped Wings”, I mentioned how about 80% of the story was devoted to presenting clips of episodes airing before February 16th, 1997. In some of these clips, Tess reminds Monica how she shouldn’t take the “easy way out”. I found the inclusion of this advice ironic, as the decision to make “Clipped Wings” a “clip episode” seems like an “easy way out”, especially after watching (and reviewing) “Psalm 151”. I don’t know if this moment of self-awareness was intentional or coincidental. However, I wish the show’s creative team took Tess’s advice and gave this episode a stronger, more creative story.
One of the conflicts in this episode is Monica running late for her evaluation meeting. During the meeting, as Tess and Andrew discuss Monica’s flaws with Ruth, they remember how Monica has a history of misunderstanding directions. This realization helps Tess discover Monica’s reason for her tardiness. If Tess knew misunderstanding directions was a problem for Monica, why didn’t she come to the aforementioned conclusion sooner? Also, why didn’t Tess encourage Andrew to go look for Monica before the meeting started?
As I just mentioned in this review, Monica is late for her evaluation meeting. This mistake leads Ruth to enforce consequences. When Andrew and Tess object to Ruth’s decision, Ruth declares how Monica is now on her own. But for about half of this episode, Monica was on her own, seeming to be perfectly fine. I’m not sure if this moment of self-awareness was coincidental or intentional. However, I believe Ruth should have given Monica some grace and understanding.
My overall thoughts:
Whether a birthday or an anniversary, a 50th year is considered “golden”. From cake toppers to snowglobes, even pieces of art, the shiny metal has become a prize to be won in the journey of milestones. But when it comes to the Touched by An Angel episode, “Clipped Wings”, the show’s creative team missed a “golden” opportunity to commemorate Monica’s milestone of completing fifty cases in a more meaningful way. Unlike “Psalm 151”, where the script prioritized a unique story with its own set of conflicts and resolutions, “Clipped Wings” followed in The Golden Girls’ footsteps by emphasizing clips from previous episodes. This creative decision caused the original story involving Kathleen and Ruth to be overshadowed. Another missed opportunity was not giving Maureen McCormick’s character, Jodi, a larger role in the story. Other disappointing creative decisions include not showing James Earl Jones on-screen, underutilizing Jasmine’s acting talents, and the show’s creative team not taking Tess’s advice. Out of the Touched by An Angel episodes reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane, so far, “Clipped Wings” is my least favorite.
Rating: A 2.5 out of 5
Since I’m reviewing some episodes of Touched by An Angel, I figured including this screenshot would make sense. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
In the finale of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season, Elizabeth receives a letter from her mother-in-law, Charlotte Thornton. Within the letter, Charlotte encourages Elizabeth and Jack Jr. to move to Cape Fullerton, in order to live closer to Diabetes related medical facilities. Turning to Rosemary for advice, Elizabeth is unsure of what to do. Rosemary reassures her friend how she’ll know what to do if the time comes. As I watched this episode, I considered talking about how When Calls the Heart’s future is unknown, similar to how Elizabeth and Jack Jr.’s future is unknown. But, during the airing of the season finale, an official commercial declared a thirteenth season coming in 2026. So, in a way, the Hearties received closure. However, while we know another chapter is on the horizon, we don’t yet know what will happen in that chapter. So, for now, there is still some uncertainty. Like any season finale, this episode of When Calls the Heart leaves Hearties with a variety of questions. The unknowns of the next season may cause some fans to be concerned over their favorite characters. What we do know is how the show will likely go into production from mid-summer to late autumn, with the season possibly premiering during the first half of 2026. This speculation is based on the schedules of past seasons. We also know we’ll get answers to, at least, some of our questions when the time comes.
Just a reminder: If you did not see the season finale 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: 12
Name: Must be Gold
Major stories:
The stolen gold coins are still at large. Not wanting to leave a mystery unsolved, Rosemary interviews Edie, hoping she knows something about the treasure. Unfortunately, Edie knows about as much as Rosemary: nothing. But after Rosemary reexamines a map with Bill and Nathan, they figure out the treasure’s likely hiding place; a wishing well. Edie and Lucas also come to this conclusion when they visit Ernie’s ranch. Among a jar of coins, they find a double-headed eagle gold coin, similar to the one found earlier in season twelve. Remembering how Ernie always put coins in the wishing well, Edie leads Lucas there. When all five people discover they’re at the wishing well for the same reason, they work together to dig up a large metal box. Later, at Hope Valley’s Mountie office, it is discovered the box contains the missing gold coins. Edie also discovers Ernie left her a secret message on the back of the map, explaining how he came to possess the treasure. Because there is a reward for the return of the coins, Lucas suggests Edie claim the reward to pay off Ernie’s loan.
As graduation approaches, Minnie is anxious about Angela’s departure to college. Both Elizabeth and Mei have picked up on Minnie’s recent mannerisms. They, along with Mike and Florence, agree to create a surprise for Minnie and her daughter. Throughout the episode, Mei and Mike collect answers to a series of questions about Angela’s favorite things. These answers are used to create a quilt for Angela to bring to college. Minnie is both emotionally moved and appreciative of the gesture. Meanwhile, after graduation, Jack Jr. passes out. This is the result of a recent batch of Insulin not being refrigerated properly. Elizabeth decides to make an emergency trip to Cape Fullerton, in order to help Jack Jr. feel better. Because Nathan is on Mountie rounds, Elizabeth writes a letter explaining what happened. As Elizabeth and Jack Jr. journey to the train station, Allie and Nathan join them on the trip, in support of both Jack Jr. and Elizabeth.
Because of Oliver’s progress and his help arresting the Garrisons, Nathan reveals how he’ll help Oliver graduate early. Not only that, Nathan also tells Oliver he’ll be stationed at Fort McNeil. Realizing the possibility of leaving Hope Valley (and Allie) behind, Oliver fails his examinations on purpose. When Elizabeth confronts him about his exam performance, Oliver confesses how living in Hope Valley has made him feel normal, as he never really had a childhood. However, Elizabeth figures out Oliver’s most important reason for staying in town; Allie. Eventually, Nathan realizes Elizabeth is correct in her speculation. In an effort to make a compromise, Nathan offers Oliver a promotion to Mountie Deputy.
Is it just me or did this episode, kind of, feel like a series finale? As I mentioned in this re-cap’s introduction, When Calls the Heart will receive a thirteenth season. But the scene showing Elizabeth turning off the light in her house, her letter to Nathan, and Elizabeth’s last line about finding a way to come back to Hope Valley gave an unintended sense of finality to the episode. Now that we know another season is on the horizon, this episode leaves a lot of questions. Will Elizabeth and Jack Jr. permanently move to Cape Fullerton? If so, will season thirteen take place in more than one location, similar to season two? Will Charlotte Thornton return to When Calls the Heart?
During Elizabeth’s graduation speech, she says she remembers the little faces of the graduates; Angela, Timothy, and Emily, on her first day of teaching in Hope Valley. However, this information is incorrect. While Timothy and Emily have been Elizabeth’s students since the earliest days of Elizabeth’s time in Hope Valley, Angela made her debut on When Calls the Heart in season eight. I know television shows have their continuity errors from time to time. But I was surprised no one from the show’s creative team caught this error.
Like I said in this re-cap, Angela receives a quilt, with each square representing her favorite things. The name of the town, ‘Hope Valley’, is embroidered in braille and the images on the quilt are sewn with a raised material, so Angela can feel their shapes. But this is not the only thoughtful present on this episode of When Calls the Heart. At the graduation party, Elizabeth thanks Mike and Mei for sacrificing their second honeymoon to help Jack Jr. Elizabeth, along with some of Hope Valley’s residents, pay for Mei and Mike’s third honeymoon to Miami.
When season twelve started, I had my concerns that the national park project wasn’t going to get completed. Now that the season is over, my concerns were proven correct. I’m aware large projects, like creating a national park, take time to come to fruition. But after the short-lived hotel project from season eleven, I am becoming tired of major plans on When Calls the Heart being left unfinished. Perhaps the national park will make its debut in season thirteen. But, at this point, only time will tell.
18 Cinema Lane 