I apologize to my readers for my lack of blog posts these past two weeks. I’ve been working on an editorial I’m publishing on Halloween. Researching, writing, and curating that editorial has taken up a lot of time. But I wasn’t going to miss out on participating in Taking Up Room’s Secret Places and Trippy Houses Blogathon, especially since my selected film is a perfect choice for Halloween! When I learned one of the eligible subjects was “strange neighbors”, I was reminded how I was recommended the 2010 movie, Let Me In. Suggested by John L. Harmon, I had heard it was one of the better vampire films in the world of cinema. Since I had heard of the movie, but never saw it, I couldn’t agree or disagree with that statement. But now that I’ve finally seen Let Me In, I can now give my honest opinion about the film!
Let Me In(2010) poster created by Overture Films, Exclusive Media Group, Hammer Films, EFTI, and Relativity Media
Things I liked about the film:
The mise-en-scène: As I explained in my review of 1955’s The End of the Affair, mise-en- scène is how a film’s scene is presented to the audience. Throughout Let Me In, the way mise-en- scène was utilized presented scenes in visually creative ways. At the very beginning of the movie, a snowy forest was shown during the night. The only source of light comes from two police cars and an ambulance. A long shot slowly becomes a close-up shot, giving the audience a reason to focus on the bright vehicles. Anytime Owen and Abby look through the peephole of their apartment door, the shot is shown in a fish-eye lens. This film-making technique puts the audience in Abby and Owen’s perspective, allowing them to see what the children are seeing. It also emphasizes how, despite their differences, Owen and Abby have shared experiences like seeing who is at their door.
How music was incorporated: Music can be an effective component of film-making. It can elevate a scene’s emotions or set a scene’s tone. In Let Me In’s opening scene I just referenced in this review, a rhythmic drumbeat is one of the first sounds the audience can hear. That specific sound creates a sense of urgency, signifying danger is on the horizon. When Abby moves into Owen’s apartment building, gentle angelic-sounding singing can be heard. This is symbolic of how Owen sees Abby; an angel who will provide a light in his darkness. The two examples from Let Me In I discussed add additional context to the scenes themselves. How the film’s creative team incorporated music into the 2010 picture shows the understanding they had for how music can work in their project’s favor.
Disguising Abby’s vampire identity: Before watching Let Me In, I knew it was a vampire movie. But I was pleasantly surprised by how Abby’s vampire identity was disguised. Most of Abby and Owen’s interactions take place at night, at first seeming like just a coincidence. When Owen notices Abby isn’t wearing shoes, she states how she doesn’t feel cold. Abby even tells Owen she’s stronger than he thinks. These verbal and visual clues creatively signified how Abby was a vampire. But because of the clues’ subtlety, it leaves the audience guessing why, on the surface, Abby seems so strange. New twists on vampire cliches, like vampires avoiding sunlight, made Let Me In more unique from other vampire films.
The audio: When I reviewed Fist of Fury, I talked about the film’s audio being one of the major flaws. I had to turn up my television’s volume in order to hear what the characters were saying. Let Me In shares this same issue. Once again, I had to raise my television’s volume just to hear the dialogue, as the characters’ speech was quiet. As I suggested in my review of the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Face to Face, Let Me In’s creative team should have used ADR (automated dialog replacement).
The bullying subplot: One of the subplots in Let Me In involves Owen dealing with bullies. This subplot gave Owen a conflict to resolve, with the conflict eventually reaching a resolution. But because the script prioritized Abby and Owen’s friendship, the bullying subplot wasn’t consistently focused on. In fact, Owen stands up to his bullies about an hour into this hour and fifty-six minute movie. The inconsistency of the bullying subplot also drew that story out longer than necessary.
Underutilized religious undertones: In a scene taking place at a hospital, President Ronald Reagan is delivering a speech on television. During the speech, he talks about evil being present in the world and how people are joined together by Scripture. Owen’s mother says prayers during mealtime and features religious relics in her apartment. These are some examples of the religious undertones in Let Me In. With the movie set in early 1983, I thought the “Satanic Panic” was going to play a large role in this story, especially with Abby being a vampire. However, the religious undertones present in the script were underutilized, not providing any commentary or interesting perspective. In fact, it felt like this part of the film was there just for the sake of being there.
Vampires are no stranger to 18 Cinema Lane. Out of the vampire movies I’ve seen (and reviewed), these projects have shown that this type of story can be as creative as film-makers want it to be. 2010’s Let Me In is an interesting and creative vampire film! Abby’s vampire identity was disguised in very clever ways, even putting new twists on vampire cliches. How mise-en-scène and music were incorporated into the movie showcases the creative team’s more unique approach to a familiar type of story. While Let Me In has its merits, it also has its flaws. Religious undertones that could have provided commentary or an interesting perspective to the script were underutilized instead. Poor audio and an overshadowed subplot also didn’t help. But the 2010 project does stand out from other vampire titles. If you don’t mind a slow-burn story that primarily focuses on the power of friendship, then I’d say give Let Me In a chance.
Overall score: 7 out of 10
Have you seen Let Me In? What kinds of movies do you like to watch around Halloween? Let me know in the comment section!
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.
2024 has hosted several anniversaries, from the 30th anniversary of the Disney animated film, The Lion King, to the 50th anniversary of Little House on the Prairie. But there is one anniversary that can’t be overlooked: the 30th anniversary of Touched by an Angel! With the show premiering on September 21st, 1994, I figured it would be appropriate to review some episodes this month in honor of the occasion. Since I reviewed three individual episodes of Touched by an Angel in the past, I will be writing about three episodes at once this time. Similar to 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 talk about the three selected episodes: “The Southbound Bus”, “Psalm 151”, and “Mother’s Day”!
Touched by An Angel has incorporated serious, real-world topics into their stories; providing the show with dramatic, even sad, moments. But there are times when Touched by An Angel can become light-hearted. One perfect example is when David meets Tess for the first time. Tess arrives at David’s house as his new nanny. Because of hardships he experienced prior to the events of “The Southbound Bus”, David is skeptical of Tess and her new role. Tess, on the other hand, is ready to deal with David’s skepticism. Her no-nonsense attitude and motherly persona make it clear who’s in charge. She even calls David “dinosaur boy”, due to the dinosaur print on David’s shorts. The scene I described was genuinely hilarious because of how well written and acted it was. It also provided a balance between the episode’s light-hearted and serious tones!
What I didn’t like about this episode:
When she visits a rest stop known as Hewitt, Monica meets Ruth Ann and Christine. Later in the episode, a run-in with a local police officer forces Ruth Ann to confess to Christine how she’s attempting to flee the FBI due to her association with a criminal. During Ruth Ann’s attempt to flee, Monica pleads with Ruth Ann to confront her past. Monica’s pleading is fruitless, as not only Ruth Ann hitchhikes out of Hewitt, her part of the story is left unresolved. I know there’s only so much story you can tell in an hour-long episode. But if the show’s creative team knew Ruth Ann’s story wasn’t going to receive a resolution, why address it in the first place?
The story itself:
As I mentioned earlier in this review, Touched by An Angel has included dramatic, even sad, moments in their stories due to the show’s subject matter. However, as I’ve also mentioned, there are times when the show can become light-hearted. These tones were balanced very well in “The Southbound Bus” as viewers are introduced to Monica, Tess, and their roles as “case workers”! The story jumps right into the action as Monica not only receives an upgrade from “search and rescue”, she also receives her first assignment in her new role. This creative choice grabs viewers’ attention as Monica meets Tess at the bus stop. Touched by An Angel sometimes incorporates plot twists and surprises in their stories which can catch viewers off-guard. There is one plot twist in “The Southbound Bus” that I found really effective!
The other factors from this episode:
For this part of my review, I will spoil “The Southbound Bus”. If you have not seen this episode and are planning on watching it, please skip to the next point in this section.
When Monica confronts Christine on the loss of her daughter, Monica admits an angel was with Christine’s daughter, Katie, when she died. She also confesses how an angel is with Katie in Heaven. Monica’s statement confused me because I remembered how, prior to this episode, she was on “search and rescue”. Yet, when talking with her friend from “search and rescue”, Adam, Monica didn’t know the history of David’s family. Was Adam with Katie or was it perhaps Andrew, with this detail revealed in a later episode?
During her assignment to help David, Monica reconnects with a friend from “search and rescue” named Adam. Through their conversation, Monica receives key information about David’s mother and sister. From what I remember of Touched by An Angel, Adam doesn’t join the show’s main cast. This makes me believe Adam was the precursor of Andrew (who would make his debut in season two).
At the beginning of “The Southbound Bus”, Tess reminds Monica how she hasn’t appeared in human form for more than a few moments. This fact causes Tess to warn Monica not to eat everything in sight. Tess’s guidelines for the human world make me wonder what other rules angels have to follow? Were these rules expressed in other episodes?
My overall thoughts:
“The Southbound Bus” is the very first episode of Touched by An Angel. It’s also the very first time viewers meet Monica, Tess, and the world they interact with. I’d say this was a strong start for not only Touched by An Angel’s first season, but also for the series as a whole! The overall quality of the production sets up what viewers can expect from this show. “The Southbound Bus” addresses serious subjects like grief and neglect. But the way this story was written allowed moments of humor and even hope, providing a balance between serious and light-hearted tones. The dialogue is thought provoking as well, such as when Monica marvels at how humans have the courage to wake up and start a new day. I said in the past how “Perfect Little Angel” would be a good starting point when introducing someone to Touched by An Angel. Another good choice would be “The Southbound Bus”, as that is where it all began!
If I could choose one phrase to describe “Psalm 151”, it would be “genuine sincerity”. The reason is how genuine sincerity was the glue that kept this story together! The interactions between the characters felt sincere, giving the impression they truly wanted to respect Petey’s wishes. Cornelia/Celine and Petey’s friendship came across as genuine due to the performances of Mika Boorem and Joseph Cross, as well as the screenwriting. Even Céline Dion’s inclusion in this story felt sincere as she tells Petey and Cornelia/Celine to always focus on the light. This genuine sincerity left me invested in the story and caring about the characters!
What I didn’t like about this episode:
“Psalm 151”is a music-centric episode because music is one of the story’s main themes. As I mentioned in my review of the episode, “Perfect Little Angel”, Della Reese is a real-life singer. With that said, I think not incorporating Della’s singing talents in “Psalm 151” was a missed opportunity. Like I stated while talking about “The Southbound Bus”, there’s only so much story you can tell in an hour-long episode. This means there’s only so much time to include the singing talents of Céline Dion and Wynonna Judd. I still wish some amount of time had been given to Della so she could sing at least one song.
The story itself:
For Monica’s 100th case, the creative team behind “Psalm 151” could have turned this story into a “remember when” episode; where Monica, Tess, and Andrew reflect on flashbacks that occurred in previous episodes. Instead, Monica received a new case containing its own unique conflicts and resolutions. Even though the story of “Psalm 151” was different from preceding episodes, it shared a major similarity with “The Southbound Bus”: the story revolved around a mother and son dealing with a challenging situation. This similarity allowed Monica’s story to come full circle. When a television show chooses to create a musical episode, it can sometimes be met with skepticism due to the concern of the musical episode feeling out of character. But in the case of “Psalm 151”, a musical episode felt like an appropriate choice for Monica’s milestone, especially since Touched by An Angel is known for being a heart-warming, uplifting program.
The other factors from this episode:
Monica celebrates her 100th case by throwing a party. Tess explains to Andrew how Monica wanted coffee-flavored treats at her celebration. When Monica travels to Hewitt in “The Southbound Bus”, she tells Christine and Ruth Ann how coffee was a treat for her, as she consumed coffee so infrequently while on “search and rescue”. This creative detail was a nice throwback to Monica’s very first case!
Petey’s friend, Cornelia/Celine, calls herself “Celine” because she adores Céline Dion. In fact, one of Petey’s wishes is for Cornelia/Celine to meet her favorite singer. Céline Dion’s appearance in this episode serves an interesting coincidence. “Psalm 151” premiered in 1998, ten years after Céline won Eurovision. Reviewing this episode now also serves a coincidence, as Switzerland (the country Céline represented) won this year’s Eurovision and Céline performed during this year’s Olympic opening ceremony.
While reflecting on the coincidences in “Psalm 151”, I realized there is one coincidence related to Wynonna Judd. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of when Wynonna performed during the Super Bowl half time show. This is also a coincidence, as 1994 is when Touched by An Angel made its television debut.
My overall thoughts:
According to IMDB, “Psalm 151” is a top-rated episode with a score of 9.5 out of 10. Looking back on this episode, I can see why so many people like “Psalm 151”! Touched by An Angel pulled out every stop they could think of for Monica’s 100th case! The screenwriters created a script that allowed Monica’s story to come full circle. This same script also gave viewers characters, interactions, and resolutions that felt genuinely sincere; inviting viewers to care about the characters and stay invested in their story! Musical television episodes can sometimes receive a bad rap due to those episodes feeling out of place among their respective shows. For “Psalm 151”, its musical nature made the episode feel like a joyous celebration. Yet the serious subjects of chronic illness and grief were never overlooked or sugarcoated. If I came up with a list of the top ten best Touched by An Angel episodes, “Psalm 151” would find a place on that list!
Wynonna Judd is, in my opinion, talented, yet underrated. Even though she guest-starred in “Psalm 151” and “Mother’s Day”, Wynonna’s strongest performance was found in “Mother’s Day”! The emotional intensity Wynonna brought to this episode made Audrey’s grief feel realistic. In a scene where Cornelia/Celine is confronting Audrey about her alcohol addiction, Audrey’s bitter tone, sharp look in her eyes, and anger show how she is not yet ready to handle the truth. Meanwhile, Cornelia/Celine is terrified of Audrey, even becoming sad and tearful by Audrey’s hurtfulness. Wynonna Judd should have, at least, been nominated for an award for her portrayal of Audrey in this episode!
What I didn’t like about this episode:
In order to help Audrey cope with Petey’s death, Monica is sent to “The Middle”; giving her the ability to enter Audrey’s dreams. The way these dreams were presented felt out of character for Touched by An Angel. The background and even certain objects were coated in bright, fluorescent colors. Monica would look at Audrey with a blank stare and speak to her in a cryptic manner. Even Petey’s iguana, Fluffy, talks to Audrey. The dreams Monica enters would be described as “trippy”, a word typically not used for a show known for being heart-warming and wholesome.
The story Itself:
“Mother’s Day” is the follow-up to “Psalm 151”, picking up the story after Petey passed away. The death of Petey causes Audrey to turn further into her grief as well as give up music. While the story has its touching moments and a resolution is found, it undermines the message of “Psalm 151”; how music can help people heal and bring them closer together. Cornelia/Celine understandably misses Petey. Yet her grief is glossed over due to the story primarily focusing on Audrey’s struggles. The story of “Psalm 151” dealt with serious topics such as chronic illness and grief. Yet the genuine sincerity I mentioned earlier in this review is one of the reasons why that episode felt heart-warming, even hopeful. Because Audrey is consumed by grief in the majority of “Mother’s Day”, the story felt depressing.
The other factors from this episode:
Jean Stapleton portrays Emma, an angel who poses as a housekeeper. Reflecting on Jean’s role on All in the Family made me realize how her appearance in this episode was an interesting coincidence. In All in the Family’s two-part episode, “Edith’s Crisis of Faith”, Edith struggles with grief and her faith after her friend is murdered around Christmastime. Touched by An Angel’s episode, “Mother’s Day”, shows Audrey struggling with grief and her faith after the loss of Petey.
Without spoiling this episode, I recognize why it is called “Mother’s Day”. Yet, in my opinion, this is a story that could have taken place any time of year presenting a similar outcome. When a television show episode is holiday themed, messages connected to that holiday serve as threads throughout the story. With all that said, it makes me wonder why, out of all the holidays on the calendar, was Mother’s Day selected for this episode? Why not Christmas or Petey’s birthday?
When I talked about “Psalm 151”, I mentioned how 2024 (the year I’m reviewing the episode) marks the 30th anniversary of when Wynonna performed during the Super Bowl half time show. It should also be noted that Naomi Judd also performed in 1994’s Super Bowl half time show, where she and Wynonna sang “Love Can Build a Bridge”. The reason why I’m bringing this fact up is because Naomi appears in “Mother’s Day”.
My overall thoughts:
When it comes to “Mother’s Day”, I’m honestly torn. Earlier in my review, I pointed out how “Psalm 151” is a top-rated episode on IMDB. Therefore, it makes sense for a popular episode to receive a follow-up. On the other hand, “Mother’s Day” isn’t as strong as “Psalm 151”. The message of music helping people heal and bringing them closer together is undermined as Audrey is consumed by grief for the majority of the episode. Even though there are touching moments in this story, as well as a resolution, the overall presentation didn’t feel as heartwarming or hopeful as “Psalm 151” or even “The Southbound Bus”. However, Wynonna’s portrayal of Audrey was a highlight of this episode, as her emotional intensity showed a more realistic depiction of grief. I also thought Mika Boorem gave a solid acting performance, showing how Cornelia/Celine tried to provide the thread that kept her world together. “Mother’s Day” is not a bad episode. But its weaker production kind of makes me wish a different episode had received a follow-up instead.
The season eleven finale of When Calls the Heart shows Minnie confronting Elizabeth about Angela’s desire to go to teaching college in Hamilton. Though Minnie is concerned about the distance between Hamilton and Hope Valley, Elizabeth reminds Minnie how Angela still has a few years before she has to make a decision about her future. Minnie then states to Elizabeth how their children’s childhood are precious years. The statement Minnie made in this episode was reminiscent of the “precious years” the show has aired on Hallmark Channel. Time, like childhood, is fleeting. So, the memories made over time are important. As a Heartie, there are so many memories that come to mind as I write this re-cap of season eleven’s finale. Just in this season alone, fans have seen Tom Thornton return, Lily find a home, and Nathan singing a song with Allie. They’ve also witnessed Henry transform into Hope Valley’s Voice of Reason and Lee become the town’s mayor. Throughout When Calls the Heart, a quilt of memories has spread over the story, connecting each character by the thread of friendship. With the chapter of season eleven closing and season twelve’s chapter beginning, it will be exciting to see what new memories will be made on When Calls the Heart!
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 eleven poster created by Hallmark Media, Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 11
Episode: 12
Name: Anything for Love
Major story:
Mei and Mike prepare for their upcoming wedding. One surprise is the return of Fiona, who delivers Mei’s dress from the Mercantile. Her arrival is the result of being chosen as Mike’s Best Woman. Before he and Mei get married, Mike claims he is traveling to Benson Hills to share tea with his family. But he actually has other plans. The next day, hours before the wedding, Mike is nowhere to be found. While the men in the wedding party search for the groom, Fiona and the women from the wedding party help Mei get ready for her big day. Eventually, Mike returns to Hope Valley. However, he didn’t come back empty handed. Before the ceremony, several residents of Hope Vally arrive at the café with traditional Chinese drums and gongs. Mike surprises Mei with an engagement ring and the return of her brother, who shares how he ended his shipping contract early. Both the wedding and the reception are a successful time for everyone involved.
Elizabeth and Nathan want to go on a picnic, hoping to spend some more time together. When Jack Jr. overhears the idea of a picnic, Nathan and Elizabeth decide to invite Jack Jr. and Allie. Over the course of the episode, Elizabeth and Nathan tell their children about their new relationship. While Allie is supportive, Jack Jr. likes the thought of seeing Allie and Nathan more often. One evening, Nathan and Elizabeth share one secret to each other. Elizabeth tells Nathan how she didn’t want to like Nathan at first because she was still missing Jack. Nathan reveals he almost took an inspector job because of Elizabeth. At the end of the episode, a Mountie with a higher ranking approaches Elizabeth and Nathan. Originally, this Mountie wanted to speak with Nathan in private. But after Elizabeth expresses interest in what the Mountie has to say, the Mountie shares how his news relates to Jack Thornton.
After Jeanette’s arrest, Lucas’ approval is declining. Lucas loses confidence in his ability to be a good Governor. Wanting to help Lucas in his time of need, Lee comes up with a solution to replace the cancelled hotel. At the Queen of Hearts Hotel, Rosemary and Lee share the idea of creating a national park. This idea came from wanting to give Goldy and her generation a legacy of their own. Despite the national park providing fewer job opportunities and less revenue than the hotel would have, Lucas is open to the idea. In fact, Lucas invites Lee to come to Capital City to work on this national park project.
During Fiona’s visit to Hope Valley, she reconnects with Faith and Mei. She shares her experience with the Suffragette Movement in Nashville. Because the movement is still looking for more women, especially those that are doctors, Fiona invites Faith to join her in Tennessee. At the wedding reception, Faith tells Fiona she’d love to come to Nashville with her friend. However, Lily has become her purpose for staying in Hope Valley.
Looking back on the eleventh season, this chapter of When Calls the Heart was enjoyable to watch! However, the season’s second half was stronger than the first half, as the writing was tighter and the stories wrapped up sooner. The biggest critique of season eleven is the pacing of the stories, as some of the them lasted longer than necessary. In next year’s season, I hope the writing is more consistent.
As I mentioned in this re-cap, Mei’s brother shared how he ended his shipping contract early. This reveal makes me wonder if Mei’s brother will become a series regular in When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season? If he does make consistent appearances in Hope Valley, perhaps Mei’s brother and Faith could form a romantic relationship? It’s way too early to speculate any answers, especially since the twelfth season hasn’t received a release date yet. My hope is Mei’s brother, as well as Mei herself, receiving opportunities to create new memories on the show!
I know Lee’s idea for a national park will likely serve a plot for the twelfth season. But, in my opinion, this part of the story doesn’t make sense. The hotel project was indefinitely cancelled because of the danger of Casimir Shaw. But now that Casimir and Jeanette were the same person and Jeanette, as well as her henchman, was arrested for the committed crimes, there is nothing preventing people from placing bids for the hotel. Montague could even reconsider placing his bid and working alongside Lucas. One of Lucas’ reasons for creating a hotel was to provide more job opportunities for the Benson Hills residents who recently lost their jobs. As I mentioned in this re-cap, the national park will have fewer job opportunities and generate less revenue. To me, this seems like a step away from Lucas’ “grand vision”. Based on what was presented on screen, the land Lee gave Lucas isn’t big enough to host a national park. Personally, I think finally giving Rosemary her long awaited theatre would have been more beneficial not just for Hope Valley, but for the neighboring towns as well.
One of the biggest surprises of this season finale was the Mountie’s news about Jack Thornton. Because the news itself was not shared, the information could be anything. During the commercials for this episode, Erin Krakow and Daniel Lissing’s new Christmas movie, Santa Tell Me, was advertised. I wonder if Jack will return to When Calls the Heart, with the aforementioned Christmas film testing the waters to see if Hearties would welcome Jack’s return? Again, it’s way too early to speculate any answers. But I’m curious if the viewership numbers for Santa Tell Me have any influence over the creative process of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season.
Last month, in my post about what my readers could look forward to in 2024, I stated how I was taking a break from the Buzzwordathon readathon. But I also promised the reviews for October, November, and December’s books from 2023. As a blogger of my word, I am finally publishing the last three reviews of the previous year’s Buzzwordathon! Since I did read these books, but didn’t finish them within their respective months, I will consider these readathon challenges a “fail”. With this article published after Buzzwordathon 2023, these reviews will be shorter.
Title: The Witcher: The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski
Theme: Magic words
The Witcher: The Last Wish is a collection of short stories that serve as an introduction to Geralt and the world around him. Even though I learned quite a bit while reading this book, it felt like I spent most of the book getting to know everyone but Geralt. In fact, there was one portion of an overarching short story where Geralt exposition dumped his entire life story. But there were parts of the book I did like, such as the magic system and the pacing of the action scenes. I also thought the politics within the story’s world were intriguing.
One of David Baldacci’s strengths is creating literary worlds that are memorable enough to stick with the reader. This is achieved through strong descriptive imagery and world building. These writing techniques were applied to One Good Deed, creating a landscape that I could picture as I read the book. I also liked the banter between the characters, as it was quippy and clever. The protagonist, Archer, did amateur detective work in the story, but it wasn’t as consistent as I expected. Because One Good Deed is a slow-burn, character-driven story, patience is required from the reader.
A Song for Jeffreyis a story that relies more on a premise than a plot. That, along with serious topics being incorporated, but not explored, in the story prevent the book from containing as much depth as other middle grade titles. However, there are good lessons found throughout the text, from how to be a good friend to trying to find the positives in life. Jeffrey is the best character from this book, as his personality is down-to-earth and friendly. While Dodie, the protagonist, means well and works through her flaws, she is kind of insensitive for most of the book. For about half the book, Dodie has a selfish, entitled attitude.
Overall score: 3 out of 5 stars
Have fun reading!
Sally Silverscreen
Disclaimer: The Witcher: The Last Wish, One Good Deed, and A Song for Jeffrey contain subject matter that may not be suitable for some readers. Reader discretion is encouraged.
Every character on When Calls the Heart has been inspired by something or someone. Once this inspiration is found, each character has been encouraged to either follow their dreams, change their life, or make a difference. Reflecting on the show, even this season, it seems like Hope Valley is abundant with inspiration. Despite the town’s small size, the inspiration found has made a big impact. I can only speak for myself, but When Calls the Heart has inspired me, when it comes to writing my re-cap posts. Things characters say, an overarching theme, or an observation have served as a re-cap post’s title, as well as a main talking point for the introduction. As the sun sets on the tenth season, let’s re-cap the season finale of When Calls the Heart!
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 ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 10
Episode: 12
Name: Starry Nights
Major story:
The Governor election is just around the corner! Everyone in Hope Valley is doing their part to make their votes count. Elizabeth and Rosemary volunteer to run the voting booths. Meanwhile, Lee, Bill, and Mike try to keep the saloon afloat. Ned suggests voters wear buttons advertising they had voted, an idea that helps Rosemary and Elizabeth later in the episode. When the voting polls open, the lines are moving slowly. Rosemary creates more booths so more people can vote. Hours later, when the polls are about to close, Elizabeth and Rosemary discover several residents have not voted. They walk around town, identifying those who haven’t voted by their lack of buttons. Their efforts seem to have paid off, as Lucas wins the Governor election by twenty-one votes! While Hope Valley is celebrating, someone in Capital City is not happy. They meet with Lucas one evening, shining their headlights in Lucas’ face. During this encounter, Lucas seems to recognize the unknown person. The next day, Bill tells Elizabeth and Nathan something has happened to Lucas. The episode ends with Bill, Elizabeth, and Nathan riding on a forest path.
Goldy’s Baptism is on the horizon. Rosemary wonders who could be Goldy’s Godfather. Lee suggests Henry serve that role, as Goldy seems happy when Henry is around. Lee also brings up how becoming Goldy’s Godfather could give Henry something to look forward to. When Lee asks Henry to be Goldy’s Godfather, Henry turns down the offer at first, saying he doesn’t know much about God or being a father. But he ends up changing his mind, making an appearance at Goldy’s Baptism. Later in the episode, Henry reflects on his time working across the street from Abigail. He tells Elizabeth even though the view hasn’t changed, he has. The next day, Henry visits Abigail at her house.
Mike and Mei want to spend more time together. Because of their jobs, they haven’t picked a day and time. Mei suggests meeting the following day at three, with Mike agreeing to meet. But Mike’s role on election day causes him to be busy, making Mei believe he stood her up. Disappointed with himself, Mike turns to Fiona for advice. She suggests being honest with Mei, a suggestion Mike takes to heart. That evening, Mike apologizes to Mei, explaining why he was late for their date. Mei tells Mike she likes him. Now at a mutual understanding, they dance in celebration of Lucas’ success.
I’m going to be honest; this season finale was underwhelming. If anything, the stories were more predictable than in past seasons. Plus, Elizabeth’s romantic conflict was not resolved. That creative decision is frustrating, especially since it feels like the characters are going back to the beginning of the love triangle. While I’m looking forward to season eleven, I hope Elizabeth’s relationship issues are given more clarity.
Season ten of When Calls the Heart was, in my opinion, a little bit better than season nine. Once again, Henry’s story was one of the strongest. Plus, I liked the introduction of Harry and the return of Rosaleen. But some of the flaws of the past season found their way into the tenth season. Madeleine’s story was drawn out a little longer than necessary. Elizabeth’s story was, again, the weakest one. Revisiting the love triangle didn’t help, rehashing a story that should have already been resolved. As I’ve already said, I’m looking forward to season eleven. However, I hope it’s stronger than both season nine and ten.
Is it just me or am I the only Heartie who thinks Henry’s fondness for Abigail is random? From what I remember, Henry was never romantically interested in Abigail. While Abigail was cordial with Henry, she was falling in love with Frank, Hope Valley’s former pastor. I know Henry has brought up Abigail for a few seasons now. I would also like to see Henry find true love. But personally, I’d rather witness a new character capture Henry’s heart.
There have been several times this season where Fiona gave other characters advice. This advice has solved problems and made people happy. With Fiona’s success and the introduction of Hope Valley’s radio, I would love to see Fiona create her own radio show! Her experience with technology could work in her favor. Plus, she has such a friendly personality, one that listeners would find easy to warm up to. While the sky is the limit for Fiona’s career, a radio show would provide an exciting chapter in Fiona’s story!
The Governor election on When Calls the Heart is just around the corner. The town raises money for Mr. Cunningham, the man who is running against Governor Balfour, collecting donations in a big jar. But over the course of the episode, plans end up changing, meaning all those donations will be used elsewhere. To me, that jar of money was more than just election donations. It represented the potential those dollars could bring. The residents of Hope Valley raised funds for Mr. Cunningham because they believed he could make Hope Valley a better place. Even though that money would have likely been put toward election expenses, I’d like to think if Cunningham won the election, some of that money could be used for good. Maybe some of those funds could go to Mountie training, ensuring the safety of towns like Hope Valley. Or perhaps literacy programs in under-funded Canadian regions. Though these are merely ideas, they might lend themselves to new stories and new character introductions in future seasons 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: 11
Name: Long Time Running
Major stories:
Everyone in Hope Valley is excited for the upcoming Governor election, as a man named Mr. Cunningham is running against Governor Balfour. But shortly after some of Hope Valley’s residents have made donations toward his campaign, Mr. Cunningham pulls out of the race due to “health concerns”. Thinking Mr. Cunningham’s resignation has something to do with Governor Balfour himself, Lee and Rosemary try to find another candidate. But with three weeks until the election, no one volunteers as a replacement. Mr. Mitchell suggests Lucas become the new candidate, due to his new-found fame after exposing Governor Balfour’s scheme. With the support of Elizabeth, Lucas decides to accept Mr. Mitchell’s suggestion. From being interviewed by several newspapers to preparing a nomination acceptance speech, Lucas is looking forward to this new chapter in his life. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is having doubts about her future. While confiding in Rosemary one evening, Elizabeth confesses the reason why she became engaged to Lucas. She says Lucas was a “safe” choice, as she didn’t want her heart to get hurt again. She also states how she can’t imagine living in Capitol City, where the Governor resides. As Lucas is about to board the train to the election convention, Elizabeth calls off their engagement. She explains how her home and her life are in Hope Valley, refusing to hold Lucas back from his potential. Lucas admits how he knew they were pulling apart, but wanted to believe they could make their relationship work. Despite the heartbreak, Lucas embarks on his new journey.
Bill and Nathan learn there’s been an injunction placed on Governor Balfour’s scheme. This means all water related projects have paused for the time being. But according to Robert, Montague’s camp has been stationed just outside Hope Valley. When confronting Montague and his employees, Nathan and Bill discover the injunction only applies to privately owned land. Montague and his employees are currently working on public land and they act like Governor Balfour will win the election again, as they think he’s running unopposed. When Montague and one of his employees ride through Hope Valley, however, they discover Lucas has become Governor Balfour’s opponent.
Rosemary and Lee make several phone calls, trying to find a replacement candidate. During their phone conversations, their roof starts leaking, as the phone calls were made while it was raining outside. The next day, Henry visits Lee and Rosemary’s office to fix their roof. While there, Rosemary asks Henry to watch Goldy so she can get her newspaper article published. As soon as she leaves, Goldy wakes up and starts crying. Rosemary’s article is published just in time! Even though Lee is happy for Rosemary, he wonders who is looking after their daughter. Rosemary tells him Henry is watching Goldy, both of them seeing Henry rocking Goldy and singing to her through their office window.
Mei and Mike cross paths at the Mercantile. Because he’s holding a romance book, Mei asks questions about the book. Mike claims he has not only read the book, it’s a favorite book of his. Mei is intrigued by Mike’s praise, agreeing to borrow the book. Later in the episode, Mei tells Mike she loved the book. When she asks Mike what his thoughts on the book are, Mike confesses he hasn’t read it. Mei gives the book back and encourages Mike to read it. She suggests they discuss the book after he has read it.
On social media, Hearties have expressed their dislike for the creative team’s decision to break up Elizabeth and Lucas’ relationship. In fact, Lucas and Elizabeth’s break-up has been talked about more than the Governor election. This creative decision reminds me of Dr. Ian Malcolm’s quote from Jurassic Park, where he said “your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should”. To me, it seems like When Calls the Heart’s creative team was so focused on adding a dramatic story to their milestone season, they may not have thought about how that decision would affect the fans or their show in the long run. As I recently told a fan of Lucas Bouchard, the only way to fix this story is to bring Jack Thornton back and provide a logical explanation for his absence.
In my re-cap post, I said the injunction only applies to privately owned land. The injunction doesn’t affect Montague and his employees because they are working on public land. I found this part of the story confusing. If public land isn’t affected by the injunction, how are the Mounties, publicly funded employees, supposed to do their jobs? I hope this part of the story is clarified in the season finale or in season eleven.
As I said in this re-cap, Henry was responsible for watching Goldy while Rosemary got her article published. When Rosemary shares this information with Lee, they discover Henry rocking Goldy and singing to her. In my opinion, this was the best scene on this episode! It serves as a good visual for how far Henry has come. The moment itself was also very sweet!
Ever since Lucas Bouchard stepped into Hope Valley for the first time, he has been nothing but selfless. Think about it; any time there has been a new addition to the town, from the library to the radio, it was for the benefit of all of Hope Valley’s residents. Even when Lucas hosted events, like the Christmas festival in When Calls the Heart: Home for Christmas, everyone was invited. He has always put others before himself. But sometimes, I feel like Lucas’ selflessness is underappreciated. To me, Lucas is more than just a photogenic, wealthy man in a suit. He represents the best Hope Valley can be. From season six until now, Lucas has tried to make his home a better place than how he found it, not just for himself, but for all the people who made Hope Valley a place to stay. Everything I’ve said is why I believe Lucas Bouchard is one of the most valuable characters in When Calls the Heart history!
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: 10
Name: All Dressed Up
Major stories:
Lucas has come up with a plan to reveal Montague’s scheme to the Governor. Not only is Lee a participant in this plan, but so is Nathan, as he is tasked with guarding the Governor during his stay. Before the Governor’s tour of Hope Valley begins, Montague tags along, possibly ruining Lucas’ plan. When the group arrives at the hot springs, they discover the water levels have returned back to normal. Knowing Montague likely had something to do with the water levels, Lucas pulls Montague aside for a private conversation. Meanwhile, Lee and Nathan escort the Governor to the lumber mill. During the trip, Nathan and Lee confess Montague’s scheme to the Governor. Appearing appalled by this news, the Governor agrees to look into the matter. But later, at the black-tie gala, Elizabeth shares with Lucas how the Governor has worked with Montague in the past, information she discovered from Bill. In a private meeting in Lucas’ office, Bill, Elizabeth, and Lucas confront Montague and the Governor about Bill’s claims. The Governor shows his true colors by siding with Union City, expressing how there is growth and potential in the city. Another private conversation with the Governor and Montague gives Lucas a chance to expose the truth, telling them he’d like fifty percent of the shares from the recently purchased land. But during Hope Valley’s first radio broadcast, Lucas reveals their “business deal”, sharing the next two towns that could have their water stolen. After the Governor and Montague angrily leave Hope Valley, Mr. Mitchell congratulates Lucas for standing up to the Governor.
Bill received word from the land office how Madeleine never submitted the official papers from the land purchase. This means Bill’s land still belongs to him. Bill plans on finding Madeleine to reclaim the papers, learning she is in Buxton from Elizabeth. When he arrives in Buxton, Bill learns no one by the name of Madeleine St. John signed into the hotel. But Jaime shortly appears, along with Madeleine. In a one-on-one conversation, Madeleine confesses to Bill how Montague was a business partner with her late husband. Since her late husband was a gambler, he squandered most of the family’s money. While the St. Johns had some savings, that money was controlled by Montague. Madeleine claims if she didn’t purchase the land for Montague, he wasn’t going to give her the money. Yet she didn’t want to get involved with Montague’s scheme because she didn’t want to hurt the people of Hope Valley. Later in the episode, Madeleine hands over the land papers to Bill. She also reveals how the Governor has worked with Montague.
Image of high school students dancing at prom created by Jan Sundstedt at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/jansun-33414″>Jan Sundstedt</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a>. Image found at freeimages.com.
Minor stories:
Everyone is excited for the black-tie gala. But Florence hasn’t found a dress for the event yet. Helping where help is needed, Elizabeth and Rosemary agree to let Florence borrow one of their dresses. But when they arrive at the saloon with their dresses, Rosemary and Elizabeth learn other women need dresses for the gala. They allow these women to borrow their dresses too, happy to assist where they can. Among the flurry of excitement, Mike wants to ask Mei to the gala. But she gets asks by Harry instead. The night of the event looks, sounds, and feels like a success. Everyone is well dressed and enjoying each other’s company. Even Mike gathers up the courage to ask Mei to dance.
Elizabeth’s wedding dress has arrived from Hamilton. While Rosemary is excited for her friend, Elizabeth is more reserved. As they transport the box from the Mercantile to Elizabeth’s house, Rosemary and Elizabeth hide the box from Lucas’ view, as they don’t want him to see the dress before the wedding. When it’s time to see the dress, Elizabeth and Rosemary discover they received the wrong dress. Elizabeth thinks this is a bad sign. She’s also overwhelmed by everything that has happened in Hope Valley recently. Rosemary agrees to help Elizabeth fix her dress. But during this process, Nathan pays Elizabeth a visit, seeing Elizabeth in her dress. Meanwhile, Nathan received an award from the Governor. This means he’ll have to make a speech. In an effort to help Nathan, Elizabeth suggests looking for a friendly face in the crowd and pretend like he’s talking just to them. At the gala, when Nathan has to make his speech, he looks at Elizabeth the entire time. Nathan’s speech is received with an applause.
I’m really happy Harry was in this episode! Not only did Harry look nice in his suit, I also liked how he had a date for the gala! Even if he and Mei don’t form a romantic relationship, I’m glad Harry went to the gala at all. As long as Harry makes new friends and gets involved in Hope Valley’s community, that’s all that matters!
I’ve heard Chris McNally, the actor who portrays Lucas Bouchard, might consider leaving When Calls the Heart. If this is true and if Lucas becomes Governor, he may sell the saloon. This makes me wonder if the saloon will be converted into a theater? Based on what is presented on the show, the saloon is the biggest building in Hope Valley. Since Hope Valley has a smaller population, there would be enough room to comfortably fit a theater audience.
In past seasons, a wedding dress would typically not be shown on screen until the wedding itself. So, I’m surprised Elizabeth’s dress was shown in this episode at all. Granted, the dress was the wrong one. But with specific camera angles, the show’s creative team could have hidden Elizabeth’s dress, leaving an element of surprise when her dress is finally revealed.
Rosemary wants the Governor to visit Hope Valley. She writes a letter to the Governor himself, making her town look impressive and worthwhile. When Rosemary gets her wish, she is both excited and overwhelmed, due to the Governor’s arrival happening sooner than anyone expected. In order to get the Governor to come to Hope Valley, Rosemary makes several promises. Throughout this episode, she is a woman of her word, trying to keep as many promises as realistically possible. Rosemary is not the only character to keep a promise on When Calls the Heart. Hope Valley’s residents try to make their words have meaning, giving other characters and viewers a reason to trust them. When this happens, problems get solved and goals are achieved!
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: 9
Name: Deep Water
Major stories:
Rosemary receives the exciting news of the Governor’s visit to Hope Valley! However, she is concerned about how she will deliver on all the promises she made to the Governor. This is because the Governor plans to arrive the following day. Keeping her word, Rosemary recruits as many residents to help her deliver her plan. Because Rosemary promised a radio broadcast, Fiona is in charge of locating a microphone. Meanwhile, Mike and Mei are responsible for creating an original song. Joseph and Lee volunteer to build a grandstand. Even Lucas helps organize a black-tie gala during the Governor’s first night in Hope Valley. But after Mr. Mitchell, one of the town’s guests, informs Lucas of the missing water in Hope Springs, he also informs Lucas of the Governor’s change of plans. Now, the Governor will arrive in Hope Valley in three hours. When Lucas asks Mr. Mitchell how he knows this information, Mr. Mitchell reveals he works closely with the Governor. Determined to make things as perfect as possible, Rosemary strives to bring her promises to life, especially upon hearing the Governor’s new plans. As the Governor arrives, everything runs smoothly. Hope Valley’s choir performs an original song, created by Angela and Ally. The Governor seems impressed with this introduction. But during his visit, he’s interested in meeting with Lucas.
Nathan receives a mission to settle a dispute between a farmer and a group of Pinkertons. When he arrives at the farmer’s house, Nathan agrees to trade places with the farmer’s hostage. After the hostage and Nathan switch places, the farmer accuses Nathan of working with Montague. While convincing the farmer how this accusation is false, Nathan learns how Montague is attempting to buy the farmer’s land. Because the Pinkertons are trying to hurt Nathan and the farmer, they escape from the farmer’s property, with Bill’s help. The three return to Hope Valley unharmed. Both Nathan and Bill learn more about Montague’s plans from some of the other characters. Lee reveals how he received a huge lumber order from Montague, with plans to build large wooden structures. Elizabeth comes to the conclusion Montague is building aqueducts, used for stealing water from other sources. They also become suspicious of Madeleine and Jaime’s whereabouts. Elizabeth finds it strange how Jaime mailed the library’s book about geology, even though he claimed he and his mom were returning to Hope Valley in a few weeks. Mike confesses how Montague told him he isn’t sure where Madeleine is, making Mike believe Montage and Madeleine aren’t engaged.
Because this episode’s stories revolved around the Governor’s arrival and the conflict involving the Union City Holdings company, there were no minor stories.
On Twitter, I saw one fan ask why Rosemary isn’t the mayor of Hope Valley. Reflecting upon this question, I realized how much of a good idea that would be! It’s been several seasons since a woman has become Hope Valley’s mayor. Plus, Rosemary has proven of multiple occasions how she can accomplish anything her heart desires when she sets her mind to something. At this point, there’s no knowing what’s in store for season eleven. However, I hope When Calls the Heart’s creative team strongly considers making Rosemary Hope Valley’s next mayor!
During Hope Valley’s preparations for the Governor’s arrival, Henry volunteers to build a stage for the choir. Rosemary replies by saying “Hope Valley will finally get a stage”. For years, fans have been waiting for Rosemary to receive her theater. While Lucas has brought movie nights to Hope Valley, Henry’s construction of the stage is the closest step to creating that theater. With Henry taking the time to build the park’s plant boxes and the stage, I wonder if he’ll choose to build a theater for Hope Valley?
Ever since Hope Valley’s choir was formed, some of its members seem eager to pair Mei and Mike together. This makes me wonder if Mike and Mei will start a romantic relationship? I think they would make a nice couple. I also think Amanda Wong and Ben Rosenbaum have pleasant on-screen chemistry. As I’ve said before, there’s no knowing what’s in store for season eleven. However, Mei and Mike falling in love could lend itself to an interesting subplot!
More often than not, the residents of Hope Valley are shown doing the right thing. While part of this has to do with the nature of the show, this also has to do with the nature of the characters themselves. The majority of the characters have a sense of goodness to them. Sure, they make mistakes from time to time. But, for the most part, the characters take responsibility for their actions and try to learn from those mistakes. Through these on-screen mistakes and choices, it encourages the audience to do the right thing, whatever that may be. Even after the show ends for the season, viewers can carry that goodness with them and incorporate it into their lives. Since this is When Calls the Heart’s season finale, let’s begin this re-cap!
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 Heart season nine poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 9
Episode: 12
Name: Rock, A Bye, Baby
Major stories:
Henry returns to Hope Valley. But this time, he has been arrested for destroying the coal mines. Even though Bill told Henry to lay low in Benson Hills, Henry chose to turn himself in. When the residents of Hope Valley find out what Henry did, they applaud him and label him a “hero”. But Henry doesn’t agree with their sentiment. He even tells Elizabeth to stop Rosemary from publishing an article about his recent actions. While in jail, Henry donates a lot of money to Hope Valley’s church, money that was given to him by Lucas several episodes ago. Henry also starts to pray, with the help and guidance of Joseph Canfield. Jerome and the rest of the investors are planning to press charges against Henry. However, Bill promises to help Henry in any way possible.
Lucas’ out-of-town trip from the previous episode is revealed to be a solo camping trip. Because Elizabeth has been worried about Lucas, she asks Nathan to help locate him. When Nathan rides to the top of a secluded hill, he finds Lucas and his campsite. During this encounter, Lucas confesses he just needed some time to think. When Nathan returns to Hope Valley, he reassures Elizabeth that Lucas is ok. Later in the episode, a fire breaks out at the saloon. Lucas arrives just in time to help several Hope Valley residents put out the flames. The next day, Lucas and Elizabeth revisit the saloon to assess the damage. While no one was hurt from the fire, part of the saloon’s sitting area was blackened by the fire and smoke. Shortly after leaving the saloon, Elizabeth reveals she didn’t read the letter Lucas left behind in the previous episode. However, she somehow knew that Lucas’ words to her would be endearing. Lucas tells Elizabeth even if he had lost the entirety of the saloon, he would be fortunate to still have Elizabeth and Jack Jr. Toward the end of the episode, Lucas shares he called Elizabeth’s father to ask for Elizabeth’s hand in marriage. He then surprises Elizabeth with a marriage proposal, which Elizabeth accepts.
Rosemary is still unsure if she is pregnant. Desperate for answers, she finds a book at the doctor’s office about the subject of pregnancy. Even though Elizabeth is present at the office when Rosemary finds the book, she encourages Rosemary to ask Faith. Later, outside the ice cream parlor, Faith passes by Elizabeth and Rosemary. When Faith notices the book Rosemary is reading, Elizabeth says what Rosemary has wanted to tell Faith: that Rosemary is curious of her pregnancy status. At the doctor’s office, Faith shares with Rosemary how, if she were pregnant, Rosemary would feel a fluttering feeling in her abdomen. Rosemary does get this feeling toward the end of the episode, indicating she is, indeed, pregnant. This is also the perfect time to tell Lee the news. After Rosemary shares the good news with her husband, Lee is excited by the prospect of becoming a father.
Joseph and Minnie decide to have a picnic just outside Hope Valley. But due to the windy weather, they change their plans, having the picnic in the church. During their outing, the subject of Minnie’s father is brought up. Joseph is unsure whether working with his father-in-law is a good idea. Minnie reminds him how he shouldn’t let pride get in the way of a good opportunity. Joseph tells her how he will, at least, hear what his father-in-law has to say. Meanwhile, at the Valley Voice, Rosemary discovers Arthur’s offer to Lee. Lee explains how he didn’t accept the offer because it didn’t include Rosemary. He also didn’t take the offer because he feels their home is in Hope Valley. Rosemary agrees with Lee, stating how Hope Valley is a good place to raise a family.
One evening, Bill pays Elizabeth a visit at her home. During this visit, he reveals to her the medical condition he’s been dealing with. Bill also gives her his will, simply as a precautionary move. He does reassure Elizabeth he will try to resolve his medical issue as soon as possible. In town, Mike decides to step down from his mayoral position. Because of this decision, there is a rumor Bill will become mayor instead.
At best, this season of When Calls the Heart has been enjoyable. There are aspects of the overall story I found myself liking, such as Nathan’s newfound snarkiness and the character development of Florence and Ned. But, at worst, season nine has been frustrating. As I said in the previous re-cap post, it feels like When Calls the Heart’s creative team banked a little too hard on receiving another season. Even the season finale didn’t feel like a season finale, but an episode to get things done and over with instead. As of the publication of this article, a tenth season has not been announced. I do hope When Calls the Heart receives another season, so the creative team gets another chance to tell a stronger story.
Is it just me or did the saloon fire seem totally random? Back in season five, there was a fire at the church because Cody accidently knocked over a candlestick while practicing for Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding ceremony. Because this fire took place shortly before the aforementioned wedding, it felt like the stakes were higher. In the case of the saloon fire, the cause of the fire was not revealed. The situation was isolated and lasted for a short period of time. With all that said, the stakes in this situation were lower than the season five fire.
I know Lucas’ camping trip was a temporary excursion. But now that he is engaged, I would really like to see Lucas receive a bachelor party camping trip! I could just picture Nathan planning the whole event, even recruiting Bill to help with the festivities. As I said, a tenth season has not been announced. If When Calls the Heart does receive another season, I hope this party becomes a reality!
18 Cinema Lane 