Tag: Hallmark Channel

Take 3: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas Review + 515 Follower Thank You

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With today being Thanksgiving, I wanted to share my thanks to all the followers of 18 Cinema Lane. I am grateful for having a reason to keep writing and sharing my thoughts on film! For this Blog Follower Dedication Review, I decided to select a movie from one of my recommendations. In fact, the film I chose has been on my Pinterest Film Recommendation board for so long, it has been on the very bottom. That movie in question is 2010’s The Night Before the Night Before Christmas! Suggested by a reader named T. Ann, this is a film I actually recall watching before. Though the only clear memory I had of the movie was the teenage daughter being upset over receiving a hamburger phone for Christmas. This isn’t the first time (nor will it be the last time) I revisited a film from Christmas past. One of my more recent movie reviews was The Christmas Choir, a title I had expressed interest in watching again. But in that review, I shared how I didn’t find the film as strong as I had initially believed. What will my thoughts be on The Night Before the Night Before Christmas? Keep reading my review to find out!

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas poster created by Muse Entertainment Enterprises and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is one of those movies where I found it difficult to choose a favorite acting performance. That’s because the cast as a whole was strong! Expressions and emotions appeared genuine. Whether it was Hannah (portrayed by Rebecca Williams) looking forlorn when her younger brother, Toby, runs away or a volunteer named Yolanda (portrayed by Kim Roberts) being surprised when she receives an unexpected donation, the acting performances made watching the story unfold more enjoyable. There were even times when the strength of the acting talents helped characters become more likable. Two great examples are Toby and Nigel. The youngest member of the Fox family, Toby has such a sweet personality. Gage Munroe, the actor who portrayed Toby, does an excellent job showing what’s in his character’s heart through his face. In a scene where Toby and his mom are having a heart-to-heart conversation, Toby’s tear-streaked face and tear-filled eyes present how troubled he’s been over his parents’ decision to prioritize their jobs over their family. Meanwhile, Jordan Prentice’s portrayal of Santa’s head elf, Nigel, was very animated. His liveliness and comedic timing made Nigel one of the most memorable characters I’ve seen in a Hallmark, let alone Christmas, presentation! Out of the films I’ve seen (and reviewed) this year, so far, Jordan’s performance was one of the best.

Emphasis on giving: One of the interconnected conflicts in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is the disappearance of Santa’s sack of presents. This particular conflict could have produced one of two types of stories; a villain stealing Santa’s sack in order to ruin Christmas or a selfish character taking the sack of presents for themselves. Instead, Santa’s sack of presents is mistaken for donations to those less fortunate. The recipients of the gifts and the volunteers of various non-profits are surprised and even grateful for the “donations” received. This decision in story-telling helps emphasize the movie’s major theme of giving. Toward the beginning of the film, Toby tells Hannah if they want Santa to give them presents, they should consider giving presents to others. What Toby said, as well as the movie itself, frames Santa in a way I hadn’t really thought of before; someone who has a reputation for giving. These two examples show the clever and thoughtful ways the creative team behind The Night Before the Night Before Christmas remind their viewers of an important component of the Christmas season!

How Christmas activities were incorporated: In Hallmark’s more recent Christmas offerings, activities related to the holiday feel like they’re incorporated into the story just for the sake of completing an unspoken checklist. This creative decision contributes to the network’s Christmas projects feeling repetitive. But in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, whenever a Christmas activity was featured in the movie, it was there to compliment the story itself as well as the themes of the film. Santa losing his memory is the movie’s major conflict. In order to help Santa reclaim his memory, the other characters partake in activities like decorating a Christmas tree and baking cookies. Before the tree is decorated, Hannah and her mom talk about choosing a very tall tree because it looked similar to a tree the family had years prior. The activity of picking out a Christmas tree expresses one of the story’s main themes of sharing and keeping memories. What I selected as the examples for this review show how the creative team behind The Night Before the Night Before Christmas put effort and thought into how the aforementioned activities were included in the script.

Adorable Santa image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-background-with-funny-santa_1324597.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A drawn-out sense of urgency: As I mentioned earlier in my review, the major conflict in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is Santa losing his memory. What gives the film a sense of urgency is how Santa must reclaim his memory before Christmas Eve so he can successfully deliver presents. While this conflict was eventually resolved, it ended up being drawn-out. The drawn-out nature of the conflict was caused by the story trying to divide its time between Santa searching for his memory, the whereabouts of his missing sack of presents, and the Fox family learning to reconnect. At one point in the movie, Nigel, as well as the other characters, frantically search for Santa’s sack of presents. The search then becomes interrupted by the characters’ attempts to help Santa get his memory back. These attempts last for about fifteen to twenty minutes, with the characters going back to looking for the sack of presents. This balancing act between the main conflict and subplots stretched out the story’s sense of urgency as well.

Things that don’t make sense: Christmas movies, like any fictional story, require the audience to suspend a certain amount of disbelief. But in The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, a few things didn’t make sense, sometimes requiring more than enough disbelief to be suspended. Like I said earlier in this review, Toby runs away. Santa and Toby’s mom find him riding on a carousel. As Toby’s mom and Santa are about to share a heart-to-heart conversation with Toby, the carousel is still moving. This raises the question of how Santa and Toby’s mom got on the carousel while it was still in motion?

Mrs. Claus’ minimal involvement: At the beginning of The Night Before the Night Before Christmas, Santa shares a heartfelt moment with Mrs. Claus. The on-screen chemistry between R.D. Reid and Marcia Bennett was so sweet and adorable, they effectually sold the idea of the loving relationship between Mrs. Claus and Santa. This aforementioned moment with Santa and Mrs. Claus is one of the few times she appears in the movie, as she is only featured in two scenes within the hour and twenty-eight-minute film. Personally, I found Mrs. Claus’ minimal involvement in the story disappointing. She could have played a larger role in helping Santa regain his memory sooner or locating his sack of presents faster.

Image of Thanksgiving dinner created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

In the introduction of this review, I said The Night Before the Night Before Christmas was suggested by one of my readers. Looking back on the 2010 picture, I can honestly say I’m glad it was recommended to me! The Night Before the Night Before Christmas is, in my opinion, one of Hallmark’s better films, especially among their collection of “older” titles! The acting alone helped make my movie-viewing experience enjoyable, as every actor and actress gave a solid performance. How Christmas activities were incorporated into the story was a breath of fresh air. They ended up complimenting the story itself and the film’s themes instead of trying to complete an unspoken checklist. The story’s emphasis on giving was woven into the script in clever and thoughtful ways as well. Even though The Night Before the Night Before Christmas has its flaws, it felt like the movie’s creative team got more right than wrong. A film like this one makes me wish Hallmark went back to creating titles that didn’t rely too much on a formula, tropes, and/or cliches.

Overall score: 8 out of 10

Have you seen The Night Before the Night Before Christmas? What “older” Hallmark Christmas movie would you like to check out this Christmas/holiday season? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun on Thanksgiving!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: The Christmas Choir Review

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

November’s theme for Genre Grandeur is “Movies about Music or Musicians”. As I was looking for a potential title to review, I remembered how this is the time of year when I write about Christmas movies. This then led me to recall my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, where I brought up the 2008 movie, The Christmas Choir. Since I expressed interest in revisiting the film, I selected it for this month’s Genre Grandeur! In that aforementioned list, I stated my surprise over how The Christmas Choir isn’t a Hallmark Hall of Fame production. That’s because the story of a choir forming in a homeless shelter seems like perfect material for the Hallmark Hall of Fame collection. Though when it comes to Hallmark Hall of Fame presentations, I have wondered what the criteria is for a story or script to be chosen. While that topic would make a great editorial or list article, that will have to wait for another day. For now, let’s begin this review for 2008’s The Christmas Choir!

The Christmas Choir poster created by Muse Entertainment Enterprises, Towers Pictures, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

The cast’s on-screen chemistry: In my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, I mentioned how the quality of the acting talents in The Christmas Choir allowed the characters to come across as realistic and endearing. To further articulate my point, the on-screen chemistry among the cast helped create interactions that felt believable. One of my favorite examples is when Juan (portrayed by Luis Oliva) sang for the first time. A rule for staying in the choir is to come to practices and performances sober. Hector (portrayed by Roc Lafortune) is not happy about this rule, angrily throwing the sheet music and storming toward the door in a huff. The other members, like Bob and Fred, and even the choir’s director, Peter, plead with Hector to stay. Worry, concern, and even disappointment are reflected on the men’s faces and in their voices. When Juan begins to sing, however, the look of surprise on everyone’s faces appears genuine. This is because, at the homeless shelter, Juan had a reputation for remaining silent. As Juan finds a nearby can and turns it into a makeshift drum, that surprise turns into joy, lifting the men’s spirits and boosting choir morale. Juan’s voice ended up becoming the glue that held The Christmas Choir together!

Incorporating Christmas’ religious elements: I said in my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story how it’s been years since I saw The Christmas Choir. Because of that, I had forgotten about Christmas’ religious elements woven into the film. Most of the songs performed by The Christmas Choir are religious. In fact, the only secular Christmas song the choir sings is ‘Deck the Halls’. Sister Agatha will occasionally quote the Bible and bring up Biblical examples when the situation calls for it. Even one of the movie’s overarching themes is serving as Jesus would have. Personally, I liked The Christmas Choir’s incorporation of Christmas’ religious elements because they’re not often found in Hallmark’s Christmas movies. This creative decision also allows The Christmas Choir to form its own unique identity!

The messages and themes: As I just mentioned in this review, one of the overarching themes in The Christmas Choir is serving as Jesus would have. Other themes and messages sprinkled throughout the story perfectly fit the Christmas season as well. When Peter gives a monetary donation to the homeless shelter, Sister Agatha tells him that while money is appreciated, what the homeless shelter really needs is for people to give their time. Sister Agatha’s words inspire Peter to utilize his time (and talents) to form The Christmas Choir. The conversation between Peter and Sister Agatha alone is such a perfect example of how money doesn’t always solve a problem, especially when it comes to being charitable. This overarching theme actually encourages the film’s audience to think outside the box in the season of giving.

Three Wise Men themed wish list paper image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Too many conflicts: Within my review’s introduction, I brought up how The Christmas Choir is about a choir forming in a homeless shelter. While this is the movie’s main conflict, other conflicts like Peter’s issues with his father and The Christmas Choir competing for a permit are included in the script. As I watched the film, however, it felt like the creative team behind The Christmas Choir tried to squeeze as many conflicts as they could in an hour and thirty-minute timeframe. This choice made the movie overwhelming and the runtime feel longer. Though the 2008 movie is based on a true story, I’m not sure which parts of the script are based on fact or creative liberty. Therefore, the script should have focused on one main conflict with at least two subplots.

Sister Agatha’s inconsistent personality: When Sister Agatha was introduced in The Christmas Choir, she had a friendly personality with a bit of spunkiness. As I mentioned earlier in this review, Sister Agatha occasionally quotes the Bible and brings up Biblical examples when the situation calls for it. But as the story progressed, she became pessimistic and discouraging toward Peter and The Christmas Choir. Sister Agatha eventually returns to her spunky, friendly personality by the end of the film. However, the inconsistency of her personality is a flaw I couldn’t unsee. Rhea Perlman, who portrayed Sister Agatha, did a good job with the acting material provided. This mistake, though, lies with the screenwriter.

Things that don’t make sense: Sometimes, there were things in The Christmas Choir that didn’t make sense. One example happened at Peter’s office building. While at work, Peter’s colleague, Rita, tells Peter there are a group of homeless men singing in the office building’s lobby. Those “homeless men” were The Christmas Choir. Several scenes prior to this impromptu performance, however, Rita saw The Christmas Choir singing on television while at work in the aforementioned office building. Wouldn’t she have recognized The Christmas Choir when they spontaneously showed up in the office building’s lobby?

String of musical notes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/pentagram-vector_710290.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com. 

My overall impression:

By revisiting The Christmas Choir, I was reminded of the film’s aspects I had forgotten about, like the inclusion of Christmas’ religious elements. This is one aspect of the movie I liked, as religious elements associated with Christmas are not often found in Hallmark’s seasonal presentations. I was also made aware of the flaws I overlooked. This is not a bad movie, but it wasn’t as strong of a picture as I initially believed. The abundance of conflicts in The Christmas Choir’s script made the film overwhelming and the runtime feel longer than an hour and thirty-minutes. There were not only some things in the story that didn’t make sense, Sister Agatha’s personality was also inconsistently written. But as I said in my list of the top five Hallmark films based on a true story, the 2008 picture is one of Hallmark’s more unique Christmas titles. This is due to the movie not following a formula or containing a certain set of Christmas movie tropes and cliches. What works in The Christmas Choir’s favor as well is the on-screen chemistry among the cast and the messages and themes stitched throughout the story. If you’re looking for a Christmas film from Hallmark that stands out within their festive collection, I’d recommend checking out The Christmas Choir.

Overall score: 7 out of 10

Have you seen The Christmas Choir? Are there any “older” Hallmark Christmas movies you’d love to see reviewed on 18 Cinema Lane? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Jobs are Cut at Hallmark and Lifetime in Pursuit of New Directions

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Two weeks ago, I published a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary returning to Hallmark as the company’s head of programming. But this is not the only recent change happening at Hallmark. Lynette Rice, of Deadline, reports how the company “eliminated 30 jobs on Wednesday”. The desire “to “transition our workforce to meet the needs of the business today”” was the provided reason for the cut jobs. Jimmy Holcomb, who was Hallmark’s Vice President of Production, is one of the laid off employees. His role at the company was overseeing “the physical production of MOWs, series, and specials for Hallmark Media’s broadcast channels”. He is “credited for creating new ventures for Hallmark Media throughout the world” as well. Meanwhile, Peter White, also from Deadline, reports how Lifetime “cut the majority of its non-scripted team”. The article states the reason for the cut jobs is “Lifetime is focusing more on its television movie business”. Affected by this decision is Nicole Vogel, who was the network’s VP for Programming and Development. At the time of the article’s publication, “The only remaining member of the unscripted team is now Brie Miranda Bryant, SVP, Original Programming”.

Illustration of woman quitting her job created by stories at freepik.com. Office vector created by stories – www.freepik.com

When I wrote about Michelle Vicary coming back to Hallmark in my last Word on the Street story, I addressed the network’s declining viewership. At that time, two Hallmark Channel films, A Machu Picchu Proposal and Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime, attracted less than a million viewers. Five movies in a row have received under a million viewers at the publication of this Word on the Street story. These newer titles are Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise (592,000 viewers), Providence Falls: Thief Of Fate (592,000 viewers), and Mystery Island: Play for Keeps (350,000 viewers). Similar to what I said in my last Word on the Street story, I’m not surprised Hallmark is making decisions like cutting jobs, especially when no movie in 2025, so far, has seen two million viewers or more.

Employee leaving job image created by rawpixel.com at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by rawpixel.com – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Though I haven’t seen many Lifetime movies this year, most of the ones I have seen have been decent. However, I am aware of Lifetime’s reputation for distributing a large quantity of films with poor quality. Almost every year, at least one Lifetime movie ends up on my end of the year worst movies list. In 2024, three movies were placed on that list; Revenge Best Served Chilled, My Life Is on the Line, and Boy in the Walls. With this recent prioritization of made-for-tv movies, I’m hoping emphasis is not only placed on quality over quantity, I’m also hoping production value is raised as well.

What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? What other changes do you think are in store for Lifetime and Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Deadline articles: https://deadline.com/2025/08/hallmark-eliminates-30-jobs-1236493506/, https://deadline.com/2025/08/lifetime-layoffs-unscripted-1236493483/

Viewership numbers for Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-fox-and-nfl-network-share-leadership/

Viewership numbers for Providence Falls: Thief Of Fate: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-nfl-network-continues-to-lead-cable-with-preseason-football/

Viewership numbers for Mystery Island: Play for Keeps: https://programminginsider.com/sunday-ratings-buffalo-bills-chicago-bears-posts-fox-networks-most-watched-nfl-preseason-game-in-four-years/

Word on the Street: Michelle Vicary Receives New Role Upon Returning to Hallmark

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Way back in 2021, I wrote a Word on the Street story about Michelle Vicary’s departure from Hallmark. At the time, she was the company’s executive for programming and production. Now, four years later, Michelle has returned with a new title. In a recent article from Variety, Emily Longeretta reports how Michelle will now become Hallmark’s “head of programming”, allowing her to “oversee all production and original programming across Hallmark’s content platforms”. Her new role comes at a time when Hallmark has been attempting to bring their assets under one umbrella as “One Hallmark”. Their goal is to “deliver incredible content, incredible products and incredible experiences that leverage the full breadth of the brand” by “tying all of those things together in really unique ways”. When reflecting on Michelle’s importance in the company, Darren Abbott, Hallmark’s Chief Brand Officer, stated, “She was really the missing piece of the puzzle, I think, around the way I’m thinking about the brand.”

People working on films image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by katemangostar – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

In the 2020s, so far, Hallmark’s viewership has been gradually declining. As of the publication of this Word on the Street story, 2025 hasn’t seen any movie premiere achieve two million viewers or more. In fact, the latest film release, Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime only attracted 695,000 viewers. This is now the second movie in a row to garner less than a million viewers, as the previous premiere, A Machu Picchu Proposal, received 964,000 viewers. Based on everything I just said; I’m not surprised Michelle Vicary came back to Hallmark. She worked at Hallmark when the network was in its prime, so I’d like to think she knows how to bring the company back to success. Though only time will tell how Michelle’s leadership will impact Hallmark as well as its consumers.

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you happy to see Michelle Vicary return to Hallmark? Tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Article from Variety: https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/michelle-vicary-hallmark-head-of-programming-1236478202/

Viewership numbers for Providence Falls: Chance of a Lifetime: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-fox-still-tops-the-night-despite-rainout-of-mlb-speedway-classic/

Viewership numbers for A Machu Picchu Proposal: https://programminginsider.com/saturday-ratings-fox-tops-all-key-prime-time-figures-with-mlb-action/

Word on the Street: Updates on Three Upcoming Fall Movies for Hallmark Channel!

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Back in June, a third movie in the Haul Out the Holly series was announced. According to an article from the blog, It’s a Wonderful Movie, the film is Halloween themed, as two “spooky new neighbors”, Luna and Marvin, move to the neighborhood of Evergreen Lane. At the time of the announcement, no release date had been revealed. However, the official IMDB page for the third chapter, titled Haul Out the Halloween, has the release date listed as October 15th, 2025. As of the publication of this Word on the Street story, Hallmark has not confirmed this date. If Haul Out the Halloween will indeed premiere on October 15th, this could indicate when Hallmark Channel’s ‘Countdown to Christmas’ line-up will begin. With October 15th falling on a Wednesday and with the first Christmas films of 2024 and 2023 premiering on October 18th and October 20th, I speculate 2025’s first ‘Countdown to Christmas’ film could premiere as early as October 17th.

Cute Halloween border created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/halloween-background-with-fun-style_1310632.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

On Hallmark Channel’s website, a new movie has received a September 27th release date. The film is titled Adventures in Love & Birding, with Andrew Walker and Rachel Boston co-leading. The movie is about the following:

“A single mom agrees to be the partner of a bird enthusiast for a birding competition but misunderstands the assignment and tells everyone she’s his new girlfriend instead of just his teammate.”

Because the phrase “misunderstands the assignment” is included in this synopsis, I wonder if Rachel Boston’s character is a teacher? Maybe she is teaching her students about birds, leading to her involvement in the competition?

Image of crow at sunset created by Rayudu NVS at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/rayudu238-57835″>rayudu NVS</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;. Image found at freeimages.com.

Back in May, I wrote a Word on the Street story about two new films in the Mystery Island series; Mystery Island: Play for Keeps and Mystery Island: House Rules. At the time, the fourth movie, Mystery Island: House Rules, had not received a premiere date. But Hallmark Channel’s website has now chosen September 14th as the film’s date of release. The movie’s official synopsis is the same on both its IMDB page and its Hallmark Channel page. Plus, Hallmark Channel revealed a collection of promotional photos for Mystery Island: House Rules as well. This fourth installment comes a month after Mystery Island: Play for Keeps, which premieres August 17th.

Tropical island image created by Brgfx at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/island-background-design_1020626.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Brgfx – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? Are you looking forward to either Haul Out the Halloween, Adventures in Love & Birding, or Mystery Island: House Rules? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

References in this article:

Haul Out the Halloween‘s official IMDB page: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt37212241/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_haul%2520ou

Article from It’s a Wonderful Movie: https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2025/06/breaking-lacey-chabert-and-wes-brown-star-haul-out-the-halloween-hallmark-channel.html

Hallmark Channel’s official page for Adventures in Love & Birding: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/adventures-in-love-birding

Hallmark Channel’s official page for Mystery Island: House Rules: https://www.hallmarkchannel.com/mystery-island-house-rules

Thirteen Questions for When Calls the Heart’s 13th Season

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It’s been a while since I’ve written a list article. In fact, the last time I wrote any kind of list article was when I published my list of the top ten best stand-alone films back in March. It has also been a while since I published anything Hallmark related, as I reviewed Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back in April. To make up for lost time, I decided to create a list of thirteen questions I have for When Calls the Heart’s 13th season! With the announcement of any new television season comes a series of questions and speculation from the fans. Though these questions will not be answered until next year, a list like mine gives Hearties something to think about while they wait for the show to come back. This list is going to contain spoilers for When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season as well as some of the series’ other seasons. If you are a Heartie who is not caught up with the show, please read my list at your own discretion.

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

1. Will Elizabeth and Jack Jr. permanently reside in Cape Fullerton?

In the season twelve finale of When Calls the Heart, Jack Jr. and Elizabeth are forced to make an emergency trip to Cape Fullerton due to Jack Jr. receiving Insulin that wasn’t properly refrigerated. But earlier in the episode, Elizabeth receives a letter from Charlotte Thornton. In this letter, Charlotte encourages her grandson and daughter-in-law to move to Cape Fullerton, so Jack Jr. can live closer to Diabetes-related medical facilities. Since the season twelve finale ended with Elizabeth and Jack Jr. traveling to the train station, it’s currently unknown how long Jack Jr. and Elizabeth plan to stay out of Hope Valley. If they were to make Cape Fullerton their permanent home, this creative decision would lead to a collection of other questions. Would Elizabeth continue teaching at a new school or would she retire from the teaching profession? What would Jack Jr. and Elizabeth’s new home look like? Would the show’s overarching story alternate between Cape Fullerton and Hope Valley, similar to how season two alternated between Hope Valley and Hamilton?

2. Will Allie and Nathan make Cape Fullerton their permanent residence?

With Nathan on his Mountie rounds, Elizabeth cannot quickly tell him of her and her son’s sudden departure to Cape Fullerton. So, before leaving Hope Valley, she writes a letter to Nathan explaining what happened. To Elizabeth’s surprise, Nathan and Allie join her and Jack Jr. as they make their way to their destination. When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season concludes with the two families traveling beyond Hope Valley. Like I said for question number one, season twelve’s finale ended with Jack Jr. and Elizabeth on their way to the train station. This means we also don’t know how long Nathan and Allie plan on staying in Cape Fullerton. If they end up permanently leaving Hope Valley, there would be a lot of questions associated with that creative decision. Would Nathan join the Mounties in Cape Fullerton or would he retire from the Mountie profession? Would Allie complete her education at a new school or graduate from the Jack Thornton School in Hope Valley? How would they adjust to their new environment?

3. Are we going to see more frequent appearances of Charlotte and/or Tom Thornton?

As I mentioned for question number one, Charlotte encourages Jack Jr. and Elizabeth to move to Cape Fullerton. I remember Elizabeth saying in the season twelve finale how, in Cape Fullerton, Charlotte owns a boarding house. If Jack Jr. and Elizabeth were to make Cape Fullerton their permanent residence, how often would Charlotte appear in When Calls the Heart’s thirteenth season? Would the character get re-cast or would Brooke Shields reprise her role? When Tom Thornton was on the show in seasons five and eleven, he never mentioned if he still lives in Hamilton like he did in season two. In fact, I don’t recall the script ever revealing where Tom currently resides. So, if Charlotte were to make more frequent appearances in season thirteen, does this mean Tom could also appear on the show more often as well? In my opinion, seeing the Thornton family more consistently on When Calls the Heart would be a breath of fresh air!

Heart image created by Dashu83 at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundimage created by Dashu83 – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/happy-valentines-day-and-heart-card-with-happy-valentines-day-and-heart_1747001.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

4. What will become of Fiona’s barber shop?

One of the biggest surprises in season twelve was Fiona’s decision to sell her barber shop. While the sale was successful, the identity of the buyer or their intention for the space was never revealed. What the new purpose of the building will be is, at this point, any Hearties’ guess. However, I wonder if this is how Rosemary finally gets her long-awaited theater? Elizabeth and Nathan are shown leaving a movie theater in the twelfth season’s seventh episode, “Dance the Night Away”. From a production perspective, this makes the chances of Rosemary receiving her theater seem a little more realistic. If the creative team wanted to add a theater to Hope Valley using the set space they already have, the set design department could tear down the barber shop’s back and side walls. From there, they could build upon the barber shop by expanding the walls and adding more length as well as depth to the space. Another realistic way a theater could be incorporated in Hope Valley is for the set design department to repurpose the school/church’s interior as the inside of the theater.

5. Will Edie actually start her law firm in Hope Valley?

Edie Martell was one of the new characters introduced in When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season. During a conversation she shared with Lucas, I recall Edie discussing her desire to open a law firm in Hope Valley. As of the publication of this list, no official announcements have been made regarding Edie’s return to the show. But if she does stay in Hope Valley, will her law firm become a reality? From what I remember, When Calls the Heart has never featured a law firm in Hope Valley before. Now that I say that, it makes me question how Hope Valley’s residents have settled their legal matters prior to Edie’s arrival?

6. Has the national park project become abandoned like season eleven’s hotel project?

At the beginning of When Calls the Heart’s eleventh season, Lucas announced he was planning on building a hotel using land gifted to him from Lee. But as the season carried on, Lucas’ hotel project became abandoned in favor of a new project; a national park. Reintroduced at the beginning of season twelve, I had my concerns the national park project would become the next abandoned large-scale project. Seeing how little progress was made throughout season twelve, I think those concerns were proven correct. Speaking only for myself, I’m becoming tired of major plans on When Calls the Heart being left unfinished. This kind of makes the show’s creative team look like they’re making promises they know they can’t keep. Though I’d like to see the national park project completed in season thirteen, it’s one of those creative decisions where I’ll believe when I see it.

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

7. Will Hope Valley finally see their first female Mountie?

My second question on this list was will Allie and Nathan make Cape Fullerton their permanent residence? If they do, that means Hope Valley will need a new Mountie to look after the town. This would be the perfect opportunity for When Calls the Heart to introduce the show’s first female Mountie! I’ve said before on 18 Cinema Lane how a female Mountie’s inclusion in the show’s story fits the narrative the series has had since the beginning. During When Calls the Heart’s soon-to-be thirteen season lifespan, Hope Valley has had a female mayor and several female business owners. The town also has a female doctor as well as a female pharmacist. With all that said, I truly believe Hope Valley’s first female Mountie would provide an interesting and exciting dynamic to When Calls the Heart!

8. Will a subplot revolve around Angela’s experiences at college?

Angela, Joseph, and Minnie took a tour of the Schwartzman School in season twelve’s ninth episode, “Buried Treasure”. In my re-cap for that episode, I wondered how Angela’s story would be included in future seasons if she attended the school. Would some scenes cut away to the Schwartzman School, alternating the show’s story between the school and Hope Valley?  Or would Angela be temporarily written off When Calls the Heart, with her story told through dialogue from the Canfield family? Season twelve’s finale revealed Angela will, indeed, attend college. She even receives a quilt as a graduation present. With Angela Canfield and the show itself embarking on a new chapter, it’ll be interesting to see how these stories are told in season thirteen!

9. Now that Emily has graduated, will she continue to work for Joseph and Henry’s hazelnut business?

Toward the beginning of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season, Joseph and Henry start their own hazelnut business. Over the season, the business successfully grows, with Emily playing a pivotal role in the business’ operation. But now that Emily has graduated from the Jack Thornton School, where does her story go from here? Does she continue to work for Henry and Joseph’s hazelnut business, saving money to eventually go to college? Or will Hearties learn through dialogue Emily already left for college by the start of the new season? If season thirteen shows Emily leaving for college, will another student of the Jack Thornton School help run the business or will When Calls the Heart’s creative team introduce a new character? Joseph and Henry’s hazelnut business was such a pleasant surprise in season twelve, so I’m curious to see what’s in store for next year!

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

10. Will season thirteen contain an overarching mystery?

An overarching story in season twelve was the mystery of the gold coin. What started as a simple search for who originally owned a unique looking coin turned into a discovery of buried treasure. Based on responses from the Hearties and my own personal opinion, the gold coin mystery was one of the best parts of When Calls the Heart’s twelfth season! This positive reception makes me wonder if the show’s creative team will feature another overarching mystery in season thirteen? Are Bill and Rosemary going to solve another case or will different characters become amateur detectives? If an overarching mystery is written into season thirteen’s script, would it connect to characters and stories from past seasons? Personally, I hope When Calls the Heart’s new season contains a mystery, as it would add intrigue and excitement to the overall story!

11. Is an unresolved story going to be completed in season thirteen?

Back in season ten, Rosaleen Sullivan returned to Hope Valley. While there, she overcame her resentment toward Henry, even making a peace offering by inviting him to church. Meanwhile, Henry apologized to Rosaleen for the mining tragedy that claimed her father. This joint story provided a conclusion for both Henry and Rosaleen, with Rosaleen moving forward from the past and Henry finally achieving redemption. When Calls the Heart will soon enter its thirteenth season. Television shows lasting that long are bound to contain unresolved stories. If a story from season one could become resolved in season ten, I wonder if any uncompleted stories from When Calls the Heart will be finished in season thirteen?

12. Is another student going to receive the Hope Valley Scholarship?

After learning Rosaleen doesn’t have enough money to attend nursing school, Henry created the Hope Valley Scholarship. This scholarship allows current and former students of the Jack Thornton School to achieve their academic dreams. Since its introduction in season ten, however, I haven’t heard of any other student receiving this scholarship. With Angela, Timothy, and Emily having recently graduated and with Allie’s graduation on the horizon, I wonder if the Hearties will see another Hope Valley Scholarship recipient? Now that Henry is co-owner of a successful hazelnut business, does some of his financial earnings go toward the scholarship? Will one of Hope Valley’s residents organize a fundraiser to raise additional scholarship funds? If the Hope Valley Scholarship were incorporated into season thirteen’s script, maybe it could provide an overarching story on When Calls the Heart.

13. Will Oliver receive the birthday party he’s never had?

Oliver Garrett made his official debut in the twelfth season of When Calls the Heart. During their trip to a nearby river, Oliver reveals to Allie how he’s never had a birthday party. This is likely due to his experiences in the foster care system. As season twelve went on, I actually thought the season would end with Oliver finally receiving a birthday celebration. But in a season where a birthday party was already featured (Allie’s, in this case), I can see why When Calls the Heart’s creative team would save Oliver’s birthday party for a future season. In the season twelve finale, Oliver was promoted to Mountie Deputy. That creative decision gives him a reason to stay in Hope Valley. If Oliver does remain in Hope Valley, as well as on the show, I wonder if he will get that birthday party he’s never had?

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

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back Review

On By 18cinemalane18 Comments

Lately, I’ve been reading books for the Eurovisionathon readathon as well as conducting research for my upcoming Sally Solves a Mystery article. But I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to review Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back! Leading up to the premiere of Hallmark’s newest presentation, I was going to write a Word on the Street story sharing my thoughts on the film’s trailer. This did not happen because Hallmark gave the movie almost nonexistent marketing. On Hallmark Channel’s website, there were no promotional photos, trailer, or official poster presented for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back. Only three images on IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) make up any promotional campaign this film received. Even on social media, the only people I saw talking about the film were POstables (fans of the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series). Despite this minimalistic marketing approach, I was looking forward to Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back. That’s because I was curious to see who would portray the rock star character and how that character would impact the mystery.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back promotional image created by Moon Water Productions, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, and Hallmark Channel

Things I liked about the film:

Correcting the predecessor’s mistakes: When I reviewed Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters last year, one of my criticisms was Shane and Oliver’s relationship problems. In my review, I said the couple’s woes got to the point where they didn’t seem compatible like in previous films. It looks like Signed, Sealed, Delivered‘s creative team took this criticism seriously, as Oliver and Shane appeared more compatible in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back! Throughout the movie, the couple are shown genuinely supporting and loving one another, making their moments together feel reminiscent of past installments. Even when Oliver is facing a bit of an identity crisis, Shane never gives up of her husband. She cheers Oliver on from the (figurative) sidelines and lets Oliver deal with his situation on his own terms. Because Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s creative team placed more emphasis on the loving interactions between Shane and Oliver, they fixed a mistake from the previous chapter!

A humble celebrity: In some Hallmark productions, the story will include a public figure (either a celebrity or royalty) who needs to learn humility by the end of the movie. But in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back, that celebrity was already humble. Nate Holloway is the rock star I mentioned in this review’s introduction. When the POstables turn to Nate for help with their letter-related mystery, he is reluctant to give away any information. This is because he’s protecting a close friend who chooses privacy over fame. Though he eventually shares his friend’s identity with Oliver and Shane, Nate reveals how his friend has written all his hit songs. However, Nate also shares how he sets aside money for his friend, showing acknowledgement and appreciation for his musical success. Through the screenwriting and William Wilder’s performance, Nate Holloway was such a pleasant surprise in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back!

A mystery within a mystery: The mystery of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back involves the POstables tracking down the sender of a mysterious letter. Not only do the POstables turn to Nate for help, they go on a multi-state road trip in order to solve the mystery. While the story continues, however, another mystery emerges from the initial, previously stated one. This second mystery isn’t revealed until about the film’s half-way point. I liked this creative decision of presenting a mystery within a mystery! The way Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s creative team incorporated these mysteries into their script allows the audience to stay invested in the movie, as well as maintain intrigue!

Music and stage image created by Topntp26 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/music-sign_1179519.htm’>Designed by Topntp26</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage image created by Topntp26 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

Forced humor: Back in February, when I reviewed Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery, I talked about how the film’s humor felt forced. In that review, I said Delores’ antics and gimmicks came across as too over-the-top and silly. I also said Delores’ interactions with other characters felt like they belonged in a sit-com. The creative team behind Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back made this same mistake; presenting humor that feels forced. One example is when Oliver, Shane, Rita, and Norman meet up for brunch. During this gathering, the friends discuss who is having a baby. This discussion quickly turns into miscommunications about who is pregnant and how many babies they are having. The scene itself is drawn out to about a little over a minute, lasting longer than necessary. The conversation sounded very repetitive as well. Norman, Rita, Shane, and Oliver talked in an animated fashion, making their discussion feel over-the-top. What I just described sounded like a scene out of a sit-com. All it was missing was a laugh track.

Far-fetched resolutions: Hallmark’s presentations, more often than not, make their audience suspend a certain amount of disbelief. Sometimes, this suspension of disbelief can be so great, the audience can’t take that movie seriously or believably. This happened on a few occasions in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back. At the Dead Letter Office, Norman is trying to figure out the identity of the letter’s sender. A few seconds after analyzing the handwriting, Norman is able to conclude certain aspects of the sender’s identity, such as their age. While I’m aware the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series is a fictionalized version of postal detective work, I found the discovery of Norman’s resolution too far-fetched. I couldn’t take Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back seriously because of moments like the one I brought up.

An emphasis on Oliver’s subplot: Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back features a main plot (the mystery with its accompanying mystery that I mentioned earlier in this review) and two subplots. These subplots are the preparations for a fundraising gala and Oliver receiving a box from his biological father. The creative team behind the 2025 film decided to place the most emphasis on Oliver’s subplot. Personally, I found this subplot the least interesting part of the movie. No new information is revealed from this box, especially for viewers who have consistently followed the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. The box itself and Oliver’s response to it have very little connection to the other plots in the script. Any time Oliver’s subplot came up in the movie, I wanted the story to go back to showing the characters either planning the gala or solving the mystery. The box did not present a strong conflict that needed to be resolved by the end of the story.

Envelope with hearts image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/hearts-and-pink-envelope-for-mothers-day_1950691.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/love”>Love image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

While Shane, Rita, Oliver, and Norman discuss the mysterious letter in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back, Rita says the letter itself says so much and nothing at all at the same time. Rita’s statement is the best way I can describe this newest chapter in the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. On the one hand, there are aspects of the film I liked. The movie improved upon some of the predecessor’s flaws, like making Oliver and Shane’s relationship seem more compatible. I also liked how Nate was a humbler celebrity and how the story contained a mystery within a mystery. On the other hand, several creative errors held the film back from becoming a stronger picture. The creative team behind Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back chose to emphasize Oliver’s subplot, which I found the least interesting part of the story. Far-fetched resolutions and forced humor prevented me from taking the movie seriously. Looking back on the Signed, Sealed, Delivered films from this year and last year, I think the series should have stayed in retirement. These titles lack the cozy charm that made the series stand out from others on Hallmark Mystery. How can we expect more films from Signed, Sealed, Delivered when Hallmark provided very little marketing for this movie?

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back? Do you think the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series will continue? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

That’s a Wrap for my Second Chance Christmas Double Feature

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Now we’ve come to the end of another double feature, as both chosen titles, Young at Heart and An Old Fashioned Christmas, have been watched and reviewed! In the introduction, I brought up the following question:

Did these two movies deserve a second chance?

For my answer, I’ll say Young at Heart was more deserving of a second chance than An Old Fashioned Christmas. With Young at Heart, I not only received an opportunity to check out more projects from Frank Sinatra’s and Alan Hale Jr.’s filmography, I was also given an official introduction to Doris Day’s movies. I found a good excuse to see more musicals, as well as films from the 1950s. Overall, I enjoyed Young at Heart more than Hallmark’s 2010 presentation. As someone who loves An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, the sequel left a lot to be desired. Despite being titled An Old Fashioned Christmas, the film didn’t feel like a Christmas film. Instead of prioritizing the messages and themes of the holiday, the script primarily focused on stories that could have taken place any time of year. It also doesn’t help how so much of the story revolves around a love triangle. Looking back on An Old Fashioned Christmas, it makes me wonder if the sequel’s poorer quality, as well as becoming forgotten by time and Hallmark themselves, is the reason why I’ve, more often than not, seen DVD copies of the movie included in Christmas movie box sets?

Christmas themed movie tickets image created by Kraphix at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/movie-tickets-christmas_971544.htm’>Designed by Kraphix</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by Kraphix – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: An Old Fashioned Christmas Review (Second Chance Christmas Double Feature Part 2)

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Thank you for joining me for the second part of my Second Chance Christmas Double Feature! Unlike my review of Hallmark’s Frankenstein, this review of An Old Fashioned Christmas will contain a few spoilers. If you’re curious about why I chose An Old Fashioned Christmas  for this double feature, you can check out the introduction in the link below.

Coming Soon to a Blog Near You; The Second Chance Christmas Double Feature!

An Old Fashioned Christmas poster created by RHI Entertainment, The Government of Ireland, Parallel Film Productions, MNG Films, Muse Entertainment Enterprises, and Hallmark Channel

1. How were you introduced to An Old Fashioned Christmas and why was it selected for this double feature?

I have declared An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving as one of my favorite Hallmark movies. Years ago, when I discovered the 2008 film received a sequel, I was eager to check that movie out. But as time went on, Hallmark gave the sequel fewer airings during their Christmas line-ups, making it more difficult to watch the film. I’ve always looked for the right time to write about An Old Fashioned Christmas. I even included it on two lists; 2022’s top ten movies I’d love to review and 2023’s top ten Christmas movies I’d love to review. On both lists, I said I found a few DVD copies of the 2010 title. But, more often than not, these DVDs were included in Christmas movie box sets, which, typically, are expensive. Fortunately, An Old Fashioned Christmas was uploaded on Youtube, which is how I watched it.

2. You’ve mentioned An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving being one of your favorite Hallmark movies. Did An Old Fashioned Christmas contain any elements that made you like the 2008 film?

One of the reasons why I love An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving is how immersive the production is! The attention to detail and historical accuracy created the illusion of taking the audience to another time and place. This same strength was found in An Old Fashioned Christmas! One simple, yet effective, example were the props. Anytime Tilly and Isabella shared a meal with the Shannon family, the table was covered with fine china dishes, crystal goblet-style glasses, and even a shiny silver teapot. These specific props reflected the story’s time period, which appears to be the late 1800s. They also symbolized the prestigious family history of the Shannons.

3. Is the theme of “second chances” incorporated in An Old Fashioned Christmas’ story? If so, how?

One of the reasons why Tilly wanted to travel to Ireland was to meet her father’s side of the family. After she gets to know her paternal grandfather and uncle, Tilly writes a letter in the hopes Isabella will make amends with Sean (Tilly’s grandfather). So, in An Old Fashioned Christmas, not only is Tilly given a second chance to connect with her father’s side of the family, Isabella received a second chance to build a bridge between herself and Tilly’s grandfather.

4. Was there anything about An Old Fashioned Christmas you liked or didn’t like?

Similar to Young at Heart, the dialogue was one of the best parts of An Old Fashioned Christmas! Because of the thought and effort put into this film-making aspect, conversations between characters sounded intelligent and eloquent. During breakfast one morning, Lady Shannon asks, “Wouldn’t it be lovely for Americans to have titles”? This question relates to how her son, Cameron, will become an Earl someday. Isabella responds by saying, “Actually, we do. We all share the same title: American”. The way Isabella answered Lady Shannon’s question carried a sense of confidence and grace, simply stating a major difference between her world and the world of the Shannon family. I also thought Isabella’s response to Lady Shannon’s question was pretty clever.

Speaking of Lady Shannon’s son, Cameron, I found him to be the worst character in An Old Fashioned Christmas. He always acted like he had something to prove. Plus, Cameron attempted to get the last word in every argument or conversation. The longer I watched An Old Fashioned Christmas, the more annoying Cameron became. I recognize the film’s creative team was trying to create a male character different from Gad (Tilly’s fiancé). However, this goal can be achieved without making that male character completely unlikable.

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5. On 18 Cinema Lane, you’ve covered plenty of Christmas films. How is An Old Fashioned Christmas similar to or different from other Christmas pictures written about on your blog?

As I answered for question number three, meeting her father’s side of the family was the reason Tilly wanted to travel to Ireland. Like I also answered for question number four, Isabella responded to Lady Shannon’s question by stating Americans share the same title: American. The story of an American protagonist traveling to Ireland to learn more about her father’s side of the family felt very reminiscent of Christmas at Castle Hart. Another similarity these films share is how a majority of their stories take place in an Irish castle.

6. Did you develop any thoughts and/or questions while watching this film?

What makes An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving such a great movie is how the story embraces the Thanksgiving holiday. The film boasts a Thanksgiving dinner and showcases themed decorations, like a handmade blanket. But the 2008 picture also weaves the messages and themes of the holiday into the story and dialogue, truly making An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving feel like a Thanksgiving movie. An Old Fashioned Christmas definitely looked like a Christmas movie, as decorations and themed activities were sprinkled throughout the film. However, it did not feel like a Christmas picture. That’s because the majority of the story emphasized the love triangle between Tilly, Gad, and Cameron. An Old Fashioned Christmas is a Hallmark presentation where the protagonist says they are going to do something, but spends the majority of the film not doing what they said they were going to do. One of the reasons for Tilly and Isabella’s trip to Ireland was for the Earl of Shannon to mentor Tilly in her writing, in the hopes of getting Tilly’s work published. But throughout the one hour and fifteen-minute movie, Tilly barely accomplishes any writing goals. In fact, the only writing Tilly does is composing letters to her mother.

7. How would the story of An Old Fashioned Christmas change if it revolved around another holiday?

I just mentioned for question number six how the majority of An Old Fashioned Christmas’ story emphasized the love triangle between Tilly, Gad, and Cameron. Other stories, such as the Earl of Shannon mentoring Tilly, didn’t really have anything to do with the Christmas holiday. Therefore, changing the plot of An Old Fashioned Christmas to another time of year wouldn’t make a difference.

8. Did An Old Fashioned Christmas deserve a second chance? If so, why?

Now that I have seen An Old Fashioned Christmas, this is, honestly, a tough question to answer. On the one hand, I received some closure for how the story continues after An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving. I also developed my own, honest opinion about the sequel. But, on the other hand, An Old Fashioned Christmas, kind of, let me down. The Christmas holiday almost seems like an afterthought in the 2010 title. There were underutilized aspects of the story, like Tilly pursuing her writing dreams. So, to answer this question, I’m thankful I received an opportunity to check out An Old Fashioned Christmas. However, I don’t think it was worth the wait.

9. After watching An Old Fashioned Christmas, is there anything you can take away from your movie viewing experience?

If you ignore the fact An Old Fashioned Christmas was created as a sequel to An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, this is an ok film. The attention to detail and historical accuracy create a visually immersive experience. The dialogue was also well written and delivered. But if you intend to watch An Old Fashioned Christmas as a sequel to An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, you will be underwhelmed. With Tilly, Gad, and Isabella as the only returning characters, the family dynamic between Tilly’s family and Isabella is absent. Like I said for questions number six and seven, the majority of An Old Fashioned Christmas’ story emphasizes the love triangle between Gad, Tilly, and Cameron. It did not help that Cameron was such an unlikable character. Honestly, this movie will likely be a one-time watch for me. Since I still love An Old Fashioned Thanksgiving, I’ll just stick with the 2008 picture.

Irish heart image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/label”>Label vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: If the Time Comes

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

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 Heart season 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.

Sewing pattern image created by Nenilkime at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Nenilkime – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/sewing-color-background_1380853.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor story:

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.

Mountie face image created by Bakar015 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/a-set-of-canada-icons_1050671.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food vector created by Bakar015 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • 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.
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this season finale? Where do you think Elizabeth and Jack Jr.’s journey will take them? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen