Tag: Hallmark

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Stars in a Lantern

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

To help Lily feel more at home in Hope Valley, Minnie gives Lily Cooper’s lantern from when he was younger. This golden lantern is covered in stars, lighting up the ceiling with bright star-shaped images. When we think about stars, the idea of a collection of stars existing in the night sky usually comes to mind. Within that collection, the stars come together to make the sky brighter. The aforementioned idea could also be applied to the residents of Hope Valley. Each character is a star, shining in their own right. But when they either come together for a special occasion or work together to solve a problem, the town as a whole becomes a brighter place. Characters coming back to the show after an extended period of time are like shooting stars. Their return is so memorable, they captivate the audience’s attention.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 11

Name: Run to You

Major story:

Bill and Nathan recruit Lee, Henry, and even Mike to not only protect Lucas, but Hope Valley as well. They agree to guard the town from outside, waiting for Casimir Shaw to show up. Jeanette returns to Hope Valley to warn Lucas of Casimir’s arrival. However, in one scene, Jeanette is shown shining her compact in the sun, signaling Casimir himself. Frustrated by the lack of information, Rosemary wants to know what’s going on in town. But she’s not the only curious person. Randall, Rosemary’s rival reporter, also wants answers. His quest for answers is fueled by his family being threatened by his source. After Randall shares this information with Rosemary, they discover Randall’s source and Jeanette possess the same handwriting. Rosemary goes to the Queen of Hearts Hotel to share this news with Lucas, only to fall into Jeanette’s trap and become a hostage. Elizabeth also becomes a hostage because she went to the hotel looking for Rosemary. During this situation, Rosemary realizes Jeanette and Casimir are the same person. She confronts Jeanette with this realization. Meanwhile, outside of Hope Valley, Randall shares his and Rosemary’s findings with Bill, Nathan, and Lucas. The men return to Hope Valley in order to rescue Rosemary and Elizabeth. At first, there is a struggle at the hotel that causes Bill to get hurt. But after Lucas talks Jeanette into turning herself over to authorities and Elizabeth gets away by jumping into a pile of hay with Nathan, the situation de-escalates. Multiple Mounties arrive to take Jeanette to jail.  

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.

Minor stories:

One day, Lily shares with Faith how, when she lived with her grandmother, she and Dora used to look at the stars from her bedroom window. Faith is suddenly reminded how Lily’s room window at The Café doesn’t have a good view of the sky. In order to solve this problem, as well as helping Lily feel more at home, Minnie offers Cooper’s lantern that was referenced in this re-cap’s introduction. Joseph even provides an electric bulb for the lantern. Later in the episode, when Faith is reading a story to Lily, the lantern works as intended. Meanwhile, Mei receives a letter from her brother. The letter reveals Mei’s brother will be in Cape Fullerton. Originally, Mike and Mei plan to meet Mei’s brother in an out-of-town trip. Instead, Mike suggests having Mei’s brother come to Hope Valley. Mike suggests this because he wants to marry Mei. He shares his feelings to Mei in an official wedding proposal. Mei accepts the proposal, despite not receiving a ring.

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Some thoughts to consider:

  • At the beginning of the episode, Mollie and Florence talk about the recently cancelled hotel. This discussion causes Minnie to ask about the upcoming merger between Benson Hills and Hope Valley. Now that the hotel seems to not be moving forward, there is little to no reason to merge these towns. But if that plan gets cancelled too, what will serve as the overarching plot for season twelve? I’m pretty sure the creative team behind When Calls the Heart will think of something. However, I would be disappointed if Hope Valley and Benson Hills didn’t merge.

  • This episode of When Calls the Heart was very well written! Having Jeanette and Casimir be the same person is one of the most clever decisions this show’s creative team has made in quite some time. I also like how the tension built up over the course of the episode, leading to a climactic and suspenseful moment. Now that this story has wrapped up, I’m curious to see how season eleven ends, as well as what cliff-hangers will be left in preparation for season twelve!

  • When I first read the synopsis for When Calls the Heart’s season finale, I discovered a wedding was on the horizon. Out of all the characters that were eligible to get married, I figured the aforementioned wedding would be Mei and Mike’s. This decision makes sense, especially since the hints throughout this season have not been subtle. At the same time, I think Mike and Mei’s relationship is moving a little too fast, considering they just became a couple in season eleven. I understand the show’s creative team needed a big event to close out the season. But when it comes to any of the characters get married, I wish the creative team waited at least one more season to host another wedding in Hope Valley.
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What are your thoughts on this episode? Are you looking forward to the season finale? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies Review

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

For last year’s Broadway Bound Blogathon, I reviewed the
Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation, A Tale of Two Cities. This is an adaptation
from 1980 I liked so much, it was one of the best movies I saw in 2023! While
reflecting on that film, I realized it’s been a whole year since I reviewed a
Hallmark Hall of Fame production. To make up for lost time, I chose to write
about the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame film, Pack of Lies! Two years
before this movie aired on television, Pack of Lies premiered on
Broadway, making the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie a good choice for the
blogathon. Pack of Lies is also a Hallmark Hall of Fame film from the ‘80s
I haven’t seen before. One of my aspirations is to see as many Hallmark Hall of
Fame movies as realistically possible. Out of the titles I have seen, I’ve
noticed the mystery genre is rarely represented throughout the Hallmark Hall of
Fame collection. That fact is another reason why I chose to review Pack of
Lies!

Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Pack of Lies poster created by Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions, Robert Halmi, and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: Ellen Burstyn and Teri Garr portray Barbara
Jackson and Helen Schaefer in Pack of Lies. The friendship of these two
characters highlights how different they are from one another. Helen has a very
outgoing and bubbly personality, a talkative woman who’s willing to solve
problems. Meanwhile, Barbara is more reserved, dressing more modestly and
avoiding conflict whenever possible. Part of why the differences between these
characters were achieved was through the acting abilities of both Ellen and
Teri! They presented the uniqueness of their characters through various emotions
and expressions. When creating a movie where actors portray friends, the believability
of their performances can make or break that illusion. The aforementioned illusion
was certainly created and maintained throughout Pack of Lies!


In stories where a character has some degree of authority,
their personality is usually serious. This can be a challenge for an actor or
actress, as there are few opportunities to utilize a variety of expressions and
emotions. That didn’t stop Alan Bates from portraying Stewart and making that
performance memorable! When Mr. and Mrs. Jackson first meet Stewart, he leaves
a trusting first impression. During this meeting, Alan incorporates eye movements,
vocal inflections, and variations of mouth movements to create an interaction
that appeared realistic. Because of the realistic nature of Stewart’s meeting,
the scene itself contains a sense of realism. This realism is consistently
carried in the movie through the acting performances!


A mystery within a mystery: The meeting between Stewart and
the Jacksons I previously referenced in this review is about how Stewart is
looking for a man named Laurence. The main mystery in Pack of Lies is
discovering who Laurence is and why Stewart is interested in finding him. At
the same time, the legitimacy of Stewart and his mission serve as a second
mystery. Because of the vagueness Stewart provides to the Jackson family, it
leaves both the Jackson family and the audience wondering who Stweart really is
and why he wants to confront Laurence so much. This second mystery provides an
added layer of intrigue to the overall story!


Providing books as gifts: While visiting their friends, Helen
and Peter Schaefer, Barbara and Bob Jackson receive books as gifts from Peter.
Barbara loves art so much, she and Helen take art classes regularly. Meanwhile,
Bob is an employee in the aircraft industry. In the meeting between the Jackson
family and Stewart, Stewart points out a model plane Bob built. From Peter, Barbara
receives a book of drawings from the Clark Institute in Massachusetts. Peter gives
Bob a book about the first flights across the Atlantic. These books were
thoughtful presents Peter took the time and effort to find. Looking back on the
Hallmark films I’ve seen, including those from Hallmark Hall of Fame,
characters receiving books as gifts are rarely shown. Therefore, I appreciate
this creative choice from Pack of Lies’s creative team to fill a
creative void that is, more often than not, overlooked.

The Seventh Broadway Bound Blogathon banner created by Rebecca from Taking Up Room

What I didn’t like about the film:

Telling instead of showing: In an ideal movie, it’s
important to show and tell what’s happening on screen. But because film is a
visual medium, showing should be emphasized. Unfortunately, in Pack of Lies,
telling was preferred over showing. Throughout the movie, Stewart tells Mr. and
Mrs. Jackson that a man named Laurence Powell is a man of interest. The reason for
this interest is his possible connections to Russian communists. Dialogue is
the only way the truth about Laurence and Stewart’s reason for recruiting the
Jackson family is revealed. The subject of espionage in entertainment media isn’t
always action-packed and adrenaline-fueled. If a creative team knows their
story will have low energy, they should maintain a sense of suspense and
intrigue by showing what’s going on.


Little lapse in time: At the beginning of the movie, Stewart
assures the Jackson family he’ll only observe Laurence for a day or two. As the
story progresses, Stewart’s mission ends up lasting longer than the proposed
one to two days. Like I just said in this review, Pack of Lies
emphasized telling instead of showing. The little lapse in time throughout the
movie is another example of this flaw. Christmas decorations in the Jackson
house are the only indication a significant period of time took place. Prior to
that part of the story, the film looks like events happened within a week.


Things that don’t make sense: As I’ve been saying in this
review, Stewart’s mission is to observe Laurence over a period of time. The more
information revealed by Stewart, the more the Jacksons and the audience learn
Stewart knew more about Laurence than he originally let on. I know the subject
of espionage can be varied and complicated when included in entertainment
media. However, with everything I just said, why didn’t Stewart just arrest
Laurence instead of observing him over multiple days? Why did Stewart need to
get the Jackson family involved in the first place? This is one example where Pack
of Lies doesn’t make sense.

Sketch of London image created by Archjoe at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-houses-of-parliament_1133950.htm’>Designed by Archjoe</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Archjoe – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Hallmark Hall of Fame movies, like any creative endeavor, are
not created equally. As I shared in this review’s introduction, I liked A
Tale of Two Cities so much, it was one of the best movies I saw last year.
Sadly, I can’t say the same about Pack of Lies. The 1987 presentation
was a two hour slow and tedious build-up to a resolution that was underwhelming
and anticlimactic. The cause of these flaws was the emphasis on telling instead
of showing. This is not the first time a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie from the ‘80s
let me down, as I also found 1985’s The Corsican Brothers disappointing.
After watching Pack of Lies, I learned the movie was based on a true
story. Now knowing this, I think the story would have benefitted more had it
become a documentary instead. As I wrap up my review of Pack of Lies, I
reflect on a Hallmark commercial I have seen. In this commercial, a man, whose
first language is not English, is looking for the perfect card for his wife,
who will soon arrive in the United States. When he goes to a Hallmark store,
the man is assisted by an employee named Rose, who helps him find exactly what
he is looking for. Another man who occasionally appears throughout the
commercial reveals the events in the commercial are based on a true story.
Honestly, the story behind that Hallmark commercial is a more fascinating movie
idea than what was presented in this Hallmark Hall of Fame film.


Overall score: 5 out of 10


Have you seen Pack of Lies? Which Broadway show do
you wish received a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie? Tell me in the comment
section!


Have fun on Broadway!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Hallmark Releases Trailer for ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters’

On By 18cinemalane2 Comments

I recently published an editorial speculating why I believed Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters could be a Christmas movie. This speculation was not only based on the film’s premiere date, but on other factors like only one Christmas movie throughout the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series and how I thought the title could allude to the Nativity story or A Christmas Carol. At the time I published my editorial, Hallmark hadn’t released any promotional material for their upcoming production. During the premiere of Tipline Mysteries: Dial 1 for Murder, the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters aired on Hallmark Mystery. I wanted to write this Word on the Street article to own up to my error and dispel confusion for my readers, as the trailer proves the new Signed, Sealed, Delivered film is not a Christmas movie. I also wanted to write about this trailer because, after all, it is movie news.

The trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters has been shown on Hallmark Mystery and is available on Hallmark Mystery’s website. However, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, the trailer is not featured on the movie’s official page on Hallmark Mystery’s website. This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is proof the trailer exists.

I have always been honest about my thoughts on the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. In my opinion, the overall quality of this series has been inconsistent. Based on the trailer alone, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters appears underwhelming. One reason is a story that seems recycled and predictable. As a Heartie, I’m over redemption stories because of how long Henry Gowen’s redemption arc was drawn out on When Calls the Heart. With the trailer’s voice-over stating “with a teacher trying to rewrite her wrong” and with the aforementioned teacher admitting sending a letter “in a very weak moment”, it looks like two out of the three titular letters will likely serve a redemption story.

Hand-written letter image created by Veraholera at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Veraholera – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/love-letter-pattern_1292902.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

At the beginning of the trailer, Oliver brings up “the great mailbox breach of 2017”. The way this event is addressed in the trailer gives me the impression the POstables (Oliver, Shane, Rita, and Norman) have been working on this case for a long period of time. Signed, Sealed, Delivered is a series where the stories are given a contemporary setting. From 2017 to 2021, five Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies have been released. If the movies take place within the years of their release, how come this “great mailbox breach of 2017” is just now being brought up? I hope a logical explanation is provided in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters.

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.

In my editorial about why Francesca Quinn: PI is the worst Hallmark movie I’ve ever seen, I talked about the importance of fictional detectives having “quirks”, something about that character that sets them apart from other fictional detectives. The POstables serve as a good example of characters possessing “quirks” and being unique from one another, like Rita being obsessed with owls or Norman having a memory that rivals an encyclopedia. Based on the trailer’s voice-over stating “and a delivery that hits closer to home” and Oliver telling Charley “we are here on official business”, I wonder if Charley will become a fifth member of the POstables? Charley was introduced in the last Signed, Sealed, Delivered chapter; Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made. Looking back on that film, the only aspect I remember about Charley was how she was pregnant. The lack of strong characterazation for Charley is one reason why I didn’t like the previous Signed, Sealed, Delivered film. So, if she does become a fifth member of the POstables, I wonder what “quirk” Charley will adopt?

The trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters has been shown on Hallmark Mystery and is available on Hallmark Mystery’s website. However, as of the publication of this Word on the Street story, the trailer is not featured on the movie’s official page on Hallmark Mystery’s website. This screenshot, taken by me, Sally Silverscreen, is proof the trailer exists.

When I speculated Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters being a Christmas movie, I wondered if the next movie, “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” could serve a two-part story. This speculation was based on the belief of Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters retelling A Christmas Carol and the rock star in “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” as a Marley-like character. As the title suggests, three letters will be key elements in the film’s plot. But the trailer for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters shows only two letters; one from the teacher and one for someone named “Maria”. The synopsis for “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” states how the POstables go “on a road trip” in an effort to “find the recipient of a lost letter”. This indicates only one letter serving as the story’s mystery. Maybe that letter is the titular third letter in Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters, making that film and “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” a two part story?

What are your thoughts on this piece of movie news? Are you excited for Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: How Did We Get Here?

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

While waiting for the arrival of Jeanette, Lucas asks Henry “you ever find yourself asking how you got here”? Henry responds by telling Lucas, “Just about all the time”. Lucas’ question was a very poignant inclusion in this episode. As When Calls the Heart is close to wrapping up their eleventh season and will soon embark on a twelfth season, it can be easy to think about and ask a question similar to Lucas’. Fans of a television show are so invested in what is happening on screen, they may not realize how much time has passed.  When that realization dawns on a fan, they might wonder “where has all that time gone”? I guess Lucas’ question is a testament of the longevity of When Calls the Heart. Captivating stories and memorable characters have made each episode feel shorter than an hour.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 10

Name: What Goes Around

Major stories:

Allie still has her heart set on meeting her father, Dylan. Though she has money for a train ticket, Angela gives Allie more money to afford a hotel room if necessary. At the Jack Thornton School, Elizabeth organizes a day to restock school supplies, with some of her students volunteering to help. But when Allie doesn’t show up, Elizabeth and Nathan become concerned with Allie’s whereabouts. Angela confesses Allie’s plan to Nathan and Elizabeth. Nathan finally realizes why he received a phone call about Grandville prison earlier in the episode. When Elizabeth and Nathan arrive at the prison, they find Allie in tears. Allie tells Nathan Dylan didn’t want to see her. This crushing reality hurts Allie for most of the episode. As she wonders why her own father would reject her, Nathan explains to Allie how Dylan made a mistake by refusing to see his daughter. Nathan also stresses how lucky he has been to have received the opportunity to raise Allie. Toward the end of the episode, Nathan thanks Elizabeth for supporting both him and Allie. Elizabeth tells him how she will always to there for them.

As a last resort, Lucas agrees to meet with Jeanette about her hotel bid. Even though Henry claims everything seems legitimate, Lucas still has his doubts. Similar to his meeting with Montague, Lucas wants to keep this meeting a secret. This secrecy concerns Lee and he turns to Maisie to share these concerns. For the first time, Maisie and Lee agree on something. They come together to create a statement pulling their support for the hotel. After Lucas receives this statement, he regains his memory. Lucas not only remembers Jeanette visiting him the night he got shot, he also remembers a man named Casimir Shaw shooting him. When he confronts Jeanette about these memories, she confesses how Casimir forced her to work with him. Jeanette shares Casimir’s involvement in the hotel bid as well. In response to all this news, Lucas cancels the hotel indefinitely. He also encourages Jeanette to leave Hope Valley in the middle of the night.

Small, western town image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Faith spends one more day with Lily before Dora comes to retrieve her. One of the things they do is have ice cream at the Ice Cream Parlor. Later in the episode, Dora arrives in Hope Valley. Though Lily is excited about her grandmother’s return, she’s also heartbroken about leaving “Auntie Faith”. Seeing how upset Lily is about saying goodbye to Faith, Dora and Faith come to a mutual agreement: Lily will permanently stay with Faith. Dora also agrees to visit Lily from time to time.

At the Queen of Hearts Hotel, Maisie tells Mei how her and Mike’s mother would love to meet Mei. Brother and sister agree for Mei and their mother to meet over dinner in a few days. Despite being put on the spot, Mei accepts the offer. While Mei comes up with a meal plan for the dinner, Mike confesses to Mei how Maisie invited the whole family to meet Mei. Even though she receives unexpected news, Mei still agrees to the dinner. When the dinner finally arrives, Mei not only meets Mike and Maisie’s mother, she also meets Maisie and Mike’s sisters. After all the curve balls during the planning process, the dinner itself is a success.

Railway Train image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-train-retro-background_1112415.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.

Some thoughts to consider:

  • In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I stated how the hotel was not worth losing friends over. I still stand by that statement. But from a production perspective, it seems like the creative team behind the show made a promise they likely couldn’t keep. As I said in one of my re-cap posts from this season, creating a television show is like trying to solve a math equation. One aspect of that equation is figuring out how to utilize funds and manage a budget. Building a set piece, whether it’s the Jack Thornton School or a hotel, costs money. The longer a television show stays on the air, the more money required to keep that show running. With all that said, I wonder why the show’s creative team would entertain the idea of a hotel if they probably couldn’t afford to create one?
  • Back in season five, one of the overarching subjects was the creation of a train depot. Since this depot had been heard but not seen, I honestly didn’t think it would ever appear on the show. However, this is the second episode this season where Hope Valley’s train depot was featured! It actually looks like a nice location. Plus, the train depot proves how Hope Valley has become a desirable travel destination since the show began in 2014. With Hope Valley and Benson Hills merging in the future, I wonder what will happen to the train depot?
  • Strong acting performances have been showcased throughout the lifespan of When Calls the Heart. But in this episode, I thought the strongest performances were Kevin McGarry’s and Jaeda Lily Miller’s! One of the best scenes this season was when Nathan explains to Allie why Dylan didn’t want to see his daughter. The emotion expressed between these characters appeared genuine. The sincerity of Allie and Nathan’s emotions and expressions were the result of Jaeda and Kevin’s acting talents!
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? How do you feel about the hotel being indefinitely canceled? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Is Hallmark’s new ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’ movie a Christmas film?

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In one of my recent Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts, I
brought up two upcoming Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies. Originally
reported by Net from It’s a Wonderful Movie, these films were given release
years of 2024 and 2025. The first of these movies, Signed, Sealed, Delivered:
A Tale of Three Letters, has just received a premiere date, airing much earlier
than I expected. But the more I thought about this piece of movie news, the
more I wondered why Hallmark would air this chapter of Signed, Sealed,
Delivered in the middle of July? Then I came to the realization how Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters could be a Christmas film. Besides
the movie’s premiere date, there are other observations that support my claim.
These observations will be discussed in this editorial. Before I begin
explaining my claim in further detail, I want to remind my readers how Hallmark
has provided very little information about these Signed, Sealed, Delivered
movies, as of the publication of this editorial. As you read my article, take
what I say with a reindeer sized grain of salt.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=143&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=series&ShowTitle=Signed%2c+Sealed%2c+Delivered+To+the+Altar

The Film’s
Premiere Date

As I stated in this
editorial’s introduction, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters
has received a premiere date, with July 12th being the specific
day. As I also stated, this news led me to question why Hallmark would choose
to air this movie so soon. A possible answer can be given in three words:
Christmas in July. In recent years, Christmas in July marathons have become
exclusive with Hallmark Channel. However, there was a time when Hallmark would devote
the entire month of July with Christmas in July marathons among Hallmark Channel
and Hallmark Mystery. In fact, the movie, Christmas Camp, premiered
during 2019’s Christmas in July marathon on what was then known as Hallmark
Movies & Mysteries.

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

Hallmark Channel’s
Viewership Numbers

During the 2020s, Hallmark
Channel’s viewership numbers have, so far, been declining. The network’s
numbers are so bad that as of early June 2024, none of Hallmark Channel’s
movies this year have garnered two million viewers or more. Hallmark Channel
will host a Christmas in July marathon, premiering two new Christmas films
during that event. These titles are Falling Like Snowflakes (premiering
on June 29th) and A Very Vermont Christmas (premiering on
July 20th). With a two-week gap between the aforementioned Christmas
films and Hallmark desperate to raise their viewership numbers, the decision to
air Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters during the
Christmas in July marathon could be made. The film could premiere on Hallmark
Channel after it premieres on Hallmark Mystery or the film could air on both
networks on the same day. In the past, Hallmark would simultaneously air movies
on both of their networks. One notable example is A Bone to Pick: An Aurora
Teagarden Mystery back in 2015.

Christmas house created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/smiling-snowman-with-a-red-house-background_958592.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.

The Title

Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters is
the title the series’ newest chapter is boasting. It should be noted how the
number three is important within the Christmas season for two reasons. The
number three references the Three Wise Men that play a significant role in the
Nativity story. This would be on brand for Signed, Sealed, Delivered, as
the series is known for incorporating elements of religion/faith into their films.
One example is the inclusion of a Nativity play in Signed, Sealed, Delivered
for Christmas. A Christmas Carol shows Ebenezer Scrooge being
visited by three ghosts throughout the story. Perhaps Signed, Sealed,
Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters is a retelling of Charles Dickens’ classic,
where a Scrooge-like character is intended to receive letters from the past, present,
and future?

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.

The Series Itself

Since 2013, the Signed,
Sealed, Delivered series has become a staple on Hallmark Mystery. But during
the series’ eleven-year timeframe, Signed, Sealed, Delivered has
received only one Christmas movie; 2014’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered for
Christmas. By Hallmark choosing to create new films for this series, they
are bringing Signed, Sealed, Delivered out of a three year hiatus, as
the last title, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have Made, was
released in 2021. In a Word on the Street story from two years ago, I pointed
out how Hallmark’s recent sequel efforts were continuations of movies that
first aired in 2014. Like I just said, Signed, Sealed, Delivered for Christmas
premiered ten years ago. If Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three
Letters is indeed a Christmas film, these decisions would not only fit
Hallmark’s aforementioned trend, but would also fill a creative void left barren
for so long.

Christmas book image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-psd/christmas-mockup-with-open-book_1482296.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/mockup”>Mockup psd created by Freepik</a>.  Image found at freepik.com.

Like I told my
readers in this editorial’s introduction, take what I say with a reindeer sized
grain of salt, as my claim is based on speculation and observation. However, if
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters will become a
Christmas movie, this calls into question the other new chapter in the series; “Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back”. Based on the title alone, it could be
a reference to It’s a Wonderful Life. In the 1946 movie, George promises
to give Mary the moon by saying “You want the moon? Just say the word and I’ll
throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That’s a pretty good idea. I’ll
give you the moon, Mary”. But if Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three
Letters is a retelling of A Christmas Carol, the new character from “Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” could provide a clue. According to the
movie’s synopsis, Oliver, Shane, Norman, and Rita are trying “to track down a
rock star who holds the keys”. I remember how Marley’s ghost is shown holding
keys in some adaptations of A Christmas Carol. Perhaps the rock star in “Signed,
Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” is intended to be a Marley-like
character meant to give the Scrooge-like character a lesson or moral?


What do you think of
my claim? Do you think Signed, Sealed, Delivered: A Tale of Three Letters
could be a Christmas film? Let me know in the comment section below!


Have fun at the
movies!

Sally Silverscreen


Sources for this editorial:

https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2024/04/hallmark-media-releases-new-titles-storylines-signed-sealed-delivered-movies-2024-2025.html

https://www.hallmarkmystery.com/signed-sealed-delivered-a-tale-of-three-letters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Hallmark_Channel_Original_Movies

https://itsawonderfulmovie.blogspot.com/2015/01/candace-cameron-bure-stars-in-Aurora-Teagarden.html

Word on the Street: Is Hallmark Already Planning a Christmas Movie for 2023?

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Keeping Secrets

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

It seems like almost every character is keeping a secret in
this episode of When Calls the Heart. Lucas wants Montague’s hotel bid
to be kept under wraps. Nathan wants to protect Allie from the truth about her
biological father. Faith prolongs telling Lilly about her grandmother’s
recovery. But, sometimes, keeping secrets is not a bad thing in Hope Valley.
Earlier this season, Elizabeth keeps Nathan’s surprise party a secret. In this
episode, Bill has a surprise for Jack Jr. When it comes to keeping secrets on When
Calls the Heart, it depends on the character and the context of their
secret. The secrecy can cause a conflict within an episode’s story or give the
audience a certain perception of a character. What is not a secret is how kept
secrets in a television show adds intrigue and gives viewers a reason to still
watch. When these secrets are finally revealed, it can, sometimes, be
satisfying.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 9

Name: Truth Be Told

Major stories:

Montague returns to Hope Valley to discuss his hotel bid
with Lucas. During their meeting, Lucas reveals how an acceptance of the bid
equals an acceptance of 50% of the hotel’s profits. When Montague brings up his
desire to receive 60% of the hotel’s profits, Henry denies that request. Meanwhile,
Rosemary and Bill discover Montague’s return to Hope Valley. They even approach
Montague and question his involvement in the mystery surrounding Lucas’ injury.
Montague claims he had nothing to do with shooting Lucas. After learning how
Lucas is strongly considering working with Montague on the hotel, Rosemary
struggles with whether to share this news with Hope Valley. She ultimately decides
to write about Montague and Lucas, despite Lucas wanting to keep Montague’s
hotel bid a secret. When her article is published, Lucas is very upset about
Rosemary sharing his secret with the town, believing she broke his trust. Rosemary
stands by her decision, as she feels the residents of Hope Valley have a right
to know what’s happening in their town. But shortly after Rosemary’s article is
published, Montague is attacked in Hope Valley’s stables. Due to the attack, Montague
receives a concussion and his arm is put in a sling. Montague not only still
denies shooting Lucas, he also refuses to work with Lucas on the hotel,
thinking the project will put his life further into danger.


Allie’s family album makes her curious about her biological
father. This is because there are no pictures of him in this family album. When
Allie asks Nathan about her biological father, Nathan refuses to share any
information about him. Upset by this secrecy, Allie turns to Elizabeth for
advice. Elizabeth tells Allie how her search for her father is up to her, but
she shouldn’t shut Nathan out. Nathan also turns to Elizabeth for advice,
revealing how Allie’s father, Dylan, showed up in Hope Valley back in season
eight. Elizabeth tells Nathan how he should trust his gut as well as know when
the timing is right. Later in the episode, Nathan shares the truth about Dylan
with Allie. This information does not deter Allie’s desire to meet Dylan, as
she believes people can change. Allie is so determined, she learns how to
contact Dylan while volunteering to work the phone board at the Mercantile.

Newspaper image created by Zlatko_plamenov at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-psd/newspaper-mockup_1386098.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/mockup”>Mockup psd created by Zlatko_plamenov – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor story:

Dora, Lilly’s grandmother, calls Faith to tell her how she
has finally recovered from her medical issues. This means she will retrieve
Lilly in the following days. While Faith is happy Dora has recovered, she is
also sad that Lilly will soon leave Hope Valley. She turns to Joseph because
she doesn’t know how she will share this recent news with Lilly. Joseph
suggests giving Lilly a perfect day in Hope Valley, so Lilly will always
remember the good times she had in this town. Taking Joseph’s advice to heart,
Faith makes this perfect day a reality. From a trip to the hair salon to an
afternoon in the park, Lilly has a smile on her face the entire time. Faith
even shares with Joseph how she plans on asking Dora if she will allow Faith to
stay in Lilly’s life. Later in the episode, Faith comes clean about Dora’s
health with Lilly. Even though Lilly is happy to see her grandmother again, all
she wants is to have another perfect day with Faith and her grandmother.

Close-up of pony image created by Flatart at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background photo created by flatart – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

·       
When Allie shares her desire to learn about her
father with Angela, Angela tells Allie how Jacob recently called and invited
her family to spend Christmas with him. As soon as Angela said this, I thought
this story could lend itself to a Christmas movie! I know the creative team
behind When Calls the Heart doesn’t create movies in between seasons
anymore. But if Hallmark is looking for ideas for this or a future Christmas
season, I think a Christmas movie about the Canfield family could work,
especially since the movie would already have a built-in audience.


·       
I know no character is meant to be everyone’s
cup of tea. But out of all the seasons Lucas has been on When Calls the
Heart, he was his most unlikeable in this episode. While he had his heart
in the right place, he was too narrow-minded and stubborn about his “grand
vision”. It got to the point where, in this episode, his plans seemed
underhanded. As a Heartie, I’d like to see this hotel brought to life in season
twelve. However, I don’t think the hotel is worth losing friends over.


·       
In my re-cap’s introduction, I mentioned Bill
having a surprise for Jack Jr. This surprise is a pony, as Jack Jr. has
expressed his wish to ride a horse. When Calls the Heart has a history
of recruiting cute animals to appear on the show. But I can’t help mentioning
how adorable Pal the pony was in this episode! In fact, this pony looked like a
giant stuffed animal.

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

What are your thoughts on this episode? How
do you think Lucas’ “grand vision” will be resolved? Tell me in the comment
section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Let the Show Go On

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In this episode of When Calls the Heart, the plans of Hope Valley’s choir fall through. They don’t go to Salt Lake City as originally expected. To help Tom as well as other choirs, a new idea is put in place where everyone benefits. This isn’t the first time things didn’t work out in Hope Valley. But I’m willing to guess the show itself has experienced hiccups along the way. Making a television show is a huge creative endeavor. When working on a large project involving multiple people, there’s always a chance things could go wrong. Most fans don’t think about these possibilities, as they just see the final product. From the perspective of a long-time Heartie, though, the solution in this episode of When Calls the Heart made me reflect on other likely behind-the-scenes conflicts and how they were resolved. Because as the saying goes, “the show must go on”.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 8

Name: Brother’s Keeper

Major stories:

Nathan contacted the police in New York in an attempt to track down Mr. Sweeney. The New York police were able to arrest Mr. Sweeney and retrieve the $65 from Hope Valley’s choir. Unfortunately, Mr. Sweeney gambled the $300 collected from Benson Hills’ and Jamison’s choir. In an emergency choir meeting, Tom comes clean with all this news. Helping Tom save face, Nathan and Elizabeth quickly come up with the idea of hosting their own music festival to raise money for the aforementioned choirs. However, they allow Tom to take full credit for their idea. Maisie is not happy when Rosemary shares all this information with her. She believes Tom should be arrested, but Nathan reassures Maisie that the money will be raised. The festival itself is not the only way Hope Valley raises money. Several stalls selling food and valuable items are sparkled throughout the town. The Voices of the Valley festival is a success, with over $200 raised. But during the financial count, the choir discovers they are just under $300. When Lucas learns this, he takes money from his cultural fund and donates it to the festival. Before leaving Hope Valley, Tom makes the sad realization he’ll soon have to find a new job.

Just in time for the Voices of the Valley festival, Jacob Canfield arrives in Hope Valley. He still expects an apology from Joseph, but Joseph has no idea what he should apologize for. This angers Jacob and makes him consider leaving Hope Valley. While Minnie tries to coax Jacob to stay in town, Jacob reveals he hasn’t attended church or sang in over ten years. When Minnie shares this information with Joseph, he feels bad that whatever he did caused his brother to pull away from God. As he tries to figure out what he did wrong, Joseph turns to Henry for advice. Henry says that no matter what Joseph did, Jacob was hurt and Joseph should apology for hurting his brother. Later in the episode, Joseph does apologize to Jacob. When Joseph finally learns why Jacob is upset, he discovers that Jacob felt abandoned after he married Minnie. Though Jacob got the apology he wanted, he is still upset because he doesn’t believe the apology will change anything. Joseph disagrees, as he believes there is still hope for his and Jacob’s relationship. Right before Hope Valley’s choir performs “Amazing Grace”, Jacob becomes the missing tenor the choir was looking for. Both Canfield brothers later confess how much they’ve missed each other.

As promised, Nathan allows Clayton Pike to stay in Hope Valley during his prison transfer so Rosemary could interview Clayton. But when given the opportunity to interview Clayton, Rosemary, as well as Bill, find no luck. This is because Clayton refuses to reveal the identity of who really shot Lucas. Even when Lucas has a one-on-one conversation with Clayton, Clayton still remains silent. The next day, Clayton shares that the man responsible for Lucas getting hurt is so powerful, even the Mounties can’t intervene. Later, at the Queen of Hearts Hotel, Henry confronts Lucas about his decision to, possibly, accept Montague’s hotel bid. Henry addresses how Montague doesn’t have a good reputation with the people of Hope Valley due to decisions he made in the previous season. Lucas confesses how the Benson Hills Oil Company recently closed, causing hundreds of employees to lose their jobs. When Henry brings up Jeanette’s hotel bid, saying it looked legitimate, Lucas shuts out that possibility, simply asking Henry to trust him on that choice.

Money plant image created by Dooder at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/infographic”>Infographic vector created by Dooder – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/watering-the-coin-plant_1076121.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Similar to season eleven’s seventh episode, “Facing the Music”, there are no minor stories in this episode.

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. 

Some thoughts to consider:

In the previous episode, Tom went on a date with Faith at The Café. Toward the end of this episode, at the Voices of the Valley party at the Queens of Hearts Hotel, Tom gets asked by Faith to dance before Elizabeth asks Nathan to dance. I like the idea of Tom and Faith sharing a romantic relationship, especially since Max Lloyd-Jones and Andrea Brooks had nice on-screen chemistry. But if these characters are going to share a relationship, one of two things have to happen; either Tom needs to make more frequent appearances on the show or Faith needs to live closer to Tom.

Similar to last week’s episode, this episode of When Calls the Heart was stronger than other episodes this season! The featured stories were intriguing and weren’t as drawn out as season eleven’s previous episodes, so far. With only four episodes left, it makes me wonder how some of these stories will be resolved?

In my re-cap for this season’s second episode, I mentioned how curious I was to see how Henry’s story turned out in season eleven. This thought came after witnessing Henry adopting a happier and calmer personality, as well as developing a genuine interest in Hope Valley’s agriculture and foliage. Now that Henry starting working for Lucas, he has become Hope Valley’s Voice of Reason. In my opinion, this is a pleasant new direction for Henry’s story! It gives him a sense of purpose while acknowledging how far Henry has come.

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

What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you like Henry becoming Hope Valley’s Voice of Reason? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Waiting for Tom Thornton

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Last September, I wrote a list sharing which ten characters
I’d love to see return to When Calls the Heart. My number one choice was
Tom Thornton, as his last appearance was all the way back in season five. So,
when I discovered Tom was returning to the show, my interest in the rest of
season eleven piqued! When Tom told Elizabeth and Jack Jr. what he did for a living,
he said he “sold happiness”. I would like to point out how Tom has been doing
that all along. Though I can only speak for myself, Tom has always made me
happy whenever he appeared on the show. Despite his more recent appearances
being brief, these moments were special and cherished. Looking back on Tom’s
story, I’m starting to realize how his and Henry’s story share several similarities.
Both characters had a troubled past, made a conscious effort to change, and now
have brighter futures!

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 7

Name: Facing the Music


Major stories:

Tom Thornton has returned to Hope Valley in honor of Jack’s
birthday. After visiting his brother’s grave, Tom reconnects with familiar faces,
like Faith and Elizabeth, and meets new ones, such as Allie, Angela, and
Nathan. Tom’s career has taken a new path, this time selling sheet music for a
man named Mr. Sweeney. When the members of Hope Valley’s choir discover Tom is
looking for acts for an upcoming music festival, they become interested in
participating in the event. Tom informs them how only one spot remains in the
festival, so they would have to audition. The choir agrees to audition over the
phone, with the audition itself being a success. Because the choir received the
aforementioned last spot in the festival, Tom tells them they have to pay the $65
entry fee. Even though the choir agrees to chip in five dollars each, Elizabeth
and even Nathan are concerned by how quickly things are happening. When Nathan
and Elizabeth confront Tom about the entry fee, Tom reassures them how the
entire endeavor is legitimate. However, a phone call from Mr. Sweeney at the
Mercantile indicates how things are not going according to plan. Toward the end
of the episode, Elizabeth discovers Tom checked out of the Queen of Hearts
hotel and is on his way to Union City. She and Nathan find Tom waiting at the
train station. Tom confesses Mr. Sweeney not only stole the $65 dollars from
Hope Valley’s choir, but has stolen money from the festival’s other
participants. Tom turns to Elizabeth and Nathan for help with this situation.


Rosemary and Bill bring their lead on Luca’s case to Nathan.
Nathan would like to look into Clayton Pike’s connection to Union City
Holdings, but states how the Mounted Police are working on other cases.
Rosemary still cannot speak to Clayton himself, but feels the next best thing
would be to speak to his mother, Hazel. With Hazel living in Union City, Nathan
agrees to help Rosemary organize an interview. He also informs Bill and
Rosemary how Clayton is transferring prisons soon, so he’ll try to get an
interview for Rosemary. The original plan was for Rosemary to travel to Union
City for her interview with Hazel. But plans change when Hazel ends up visiting
Rosemary in Hope Valley. During the interview, Hazel claims she and Clayton
were at a political event around the time Lucas was shot. She even shares how
Clayton was taking care of her after she had injured her hip. Hazel received
money for surgery a week before Lucas became injured. She says a friend of
Clayton’s gave her the money, sharing how Clayton and the friend met at church.
While Hazel was at the hospital, Montague paid her visit and gave her flowers.


Lucas is having difficulty finding investors for the hotel.
Though Montague’s and Jeanette’s offer are still on the table, Lucas would
rather not work with them. Out of desperation, Lucas asks Lee to help find
investors. Though Lee agrees to help, he even has no luck finding a solution. As
a last resort, Mr. Mitchell, who now works for Lucas, suggests using an
emergency fund to start the hotel. Henry, who has recently started working for
Lucas, believes this is a bad idea. His belief is based on how the money in the
emergency fund came from the people of places like Hope Valley. Henry tells
Lucas to step away from the hotel if no other options are available. But toward
the end of the episode, Lucas ends up calling Montague.

Since Tom Thornton came back to When Calls the Heart, I figured adding this picture of Tom and Jack to my re-cap made sense. Image created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel.

Minor stories:

Because so much emphasis was placed on the major stories,
there are no minor stories in this episode.

Birthday party set-up image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food photo created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

·       Last month, Net (from It’s a Wonderful Movie)
shared an announcement about two new Signed, Sealed, Delivered movies.
One of these movies, currently titled “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon
and Back”, revolves around the POstables going on a road trip to find a rock
star. You’re probably wondering what this Signed, Sealed, Delivered
movie has to do with this episode of When Calls the Heart. During his
time in Hope Valley, Tom briefly sang a song at the Queen of Hearts hotel. I’m
not sure if Max Lloyd-Jones sang in that scene or if the singing belonged to a
voice double. But if Max sang himself and if Signed, Sealed, Delivered’s
creative team wanted to utilize more talent from Hallmark’s community, I hope
Max stars in “Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Moon and Back” as the
aforementioned rock star!


·       I’m disappointed the music festival ended up
becoming a scam. With When Calls the Heart receiving a twelfth season, Hope
Valley’s choir traveling to Salt Lake City could have served as a two-part
season premiere. If When Calls the Heart’s creative team was interested
in creating movies again, the music festival may have been the plot of the
film. According to the trailer for the next episode, it looks like Hope Valley
will host their own music festival. With all this said, it feels like the show’s
writers forced the original music festival to fall through just to keep the
story in Hope Valley.


·       This episode is, so far, the best one from season
eleven! It was great to see Tom come back to the show. But it was also great to
see the script less drawn out than other episodes this season. There was more intrigue
from each featured story, which kept me invested in what was happening on
screen. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how the story plays out in
next week’s episode!

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

What are your thoughts on this episode? Are you excited to
see Tom Thornton return to Hope Valley? Let me know in the comment section!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Very Important Hope Valley People

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Shortly after Lee became Mayor, Rosemary suggests organizing
an event to allow Hope Valley’s residents to have a one-on-one meeting with
Lee. She creates a list of notable people who she’d like to invite, calling
these folks “Very Important Hope Valley People”. While some of these “Very
Important Hope Valley People” include Mike, Mei, and Ned, this quote from
Rosemary brings up an excellent point. There are several characters on When
Calls the Heart that have returned season after season. Over the years,
characters like Elizabeth, the Coulters, and Lucas have become beloved within
the Heartie community. Well liked characters, such as Tom Thornton, Jesse, and
Clara have left a memorable impression during their time on the show. An
argument can be made how every character, whether they’ve made a brief
appearance in Hope Valley or have made the town their permanent residence,
makes up the “Very Important Hope Valley People”. The talents, skills,
personalities, and connections of every character make When Calls the Heart
what it is today!

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 6

Name: Believe

Major stories:

With the Jack Thornton School being integrated into the
valley school district, Elizabeth is expecting a visit from Mr. Wilcox, the valley
school district’s superintendent. Plans change when Thomas Higgins becomes the
new superintendent and pays Elizabeth a visit instead. The purpose of the visit
is to inform Elizabeth of the “guidelines” schools in the valley district must
follow. Because there is a history between Thomas and Elizabeth, he tries to
use intimidation to get Elizabeth to make certain choices. In a meeting about
these “guidelines”, Elizabeth addresses the use of standardized tests. She
fears these tests will limit her students’ academic potential, as she believes
her students learn best with more individualized teaching methods. Thomas doesn’t
agree with Elizabeth, suggesting how some students should be placed in
specialized schooling instead. Shortly after this meeting, Thomas meets Anna,
who is still working alongside Elizabeth. Later in the episode, Anna agrees to
go back to teaching college with Thomas. Anna explains to Elizabeth how Thomas
is organizing a recruiting opportunity for her career after college. Concerned
for Anna’s safety and Thomas’ constant intimidation, Elizabeth turns to Nathan
to share her history with Thomas. While attending teaching college, Elizabeth
caught Thomas’ attention. Since Thomas was the head of the teaching college at
the time, he possessed power and influence. At first, Elizabeth was flattered by
the attention she was receiving from Thomas. But over time, he became more obsessed
with Elizabeth, to the point where he adopted unprofessional behavior. With
this information in mind, Nathan and Elizabeth organize a meeting in an attempt
to get Thomas to confess to his poor choices. This plan works and Nathan warns
Thomas of the charges he’ll be given. To utilize the power he has, Thomas turns
to Lucas and shares this meeting between him, Elizabeth, and Nathan. Lucas
states how he believes Elizabeth as well as the other women that were
intimidated by Thomas. Because Thomas tries to intimidate Lucas into taking his
side, Lucas informs Thomas of other charges he will receive. Thomas leaves Hope
Valley a less powerful man than before he came to town.

While organizing a meeting between Lee and Hope Valley’s
residents, Rosemary is still investigating Lucas’ case. One day in town, she makes
a trip to town hall and delivers more documents relating to Pike. Rosemary
shares with Bill how she made a request to speak with Pike in jail, but the
request was denied by the judge.  Later
in the episode, Rosemary visits Bill at the saloon with an important piece of
information. According to Pike’s employment records, he worked for Union City
Holdings, the company Montague owned in season ten. This fuels Bill and
Rosemary’s belief that Montague may have played a role in Lucas’ case.

Magnifying glass image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/magnifying-glass-with-fingerprint-in-flat-style_2034684.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/flat”>Flat vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.


Minor stories:

Joseph attempts to write a letter to his brother, Jacob. His
attempts haven’t been fruitful, the words not coming to Joseph easily. In order
to help her husband, Minnie asks Joseph what he’d like to tell his brother.
Joseph shares how he would like to go back to the way things were. He also isn’t
aware of how his feud with Jacob started. Meanwhile, Mei is missing her
brother, who is a Merchant Marine. At the café with Mike, she reflects on her
mom’s cooking. This reflection inspires Mei to create a home cooked meal for
Mike. Though she has to specially order some ingredients and borrow a wok from
Florence, Mei accomplishes her goals and hosts a dinner date. Mike is not only
impressed with the food itself, he’s also impressed with Mei’s efforts to make
the date special. Mike proclaims how he’d like to be a part of Mei’s whole life.

Traditional Chinese dragon image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/design”>Design vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.


Some thoughts to consider:

·       
As I mentioned in this re-cap, Anna leaves Hope
Valley to return to teaching college with Thomas. Before she leaves, Anna
explains to Elizabeth how Thomas is organizing a recruiting opportunity for her
career after college. But during this explanation, Elizabeth doesn’t warn Anna
about the kind of person Thomas is. She also doesn’t share her story with Anna,
in the hope of preventing Anna from being in harms way. Even though Elizabeth
confronted Thomas, I wish Elizabeth had said something to Anna before she left
Hope Valley, especially since she knew what Thomas was capable of.

·       
With the eleventh season of When Calls the
Heart at the halfway point, I’d like to make an observation. It seems like
there are more sibling related stories this season compared to past seasons.
First, we have Mike dealing with the sibling rivalry of his sister, Maisie. Then,
Angela and Cooper worked through a feud after hearing a story about Joseph and
Jacob. Mei brought up her brother in this episode and Tom Thornton will come to
Hope Valley in the next episode. This overarching theme is one I definitely did
not expect this season!

·       
In my re-cap for this season’s first episode, I
commented on how the sign for the café changed from ‘Abigail’s Café’ to ‘The Café’.
This is not the only establishment in Hope Valley to receive a new sign. The
day care was given their own sign and the ‘Queen of Hearts Saloon’ is now the ‘Queen
of Hearts Hotel’. It makes me wonder if any more signs in Hope Valley will
change?

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


What are your thoughts on this episode? What do you think
Mike and Mei’s next date will be? Tell me in the comment section below!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen














Sunset Over Hope Valley: Drawing Up a Grand Vision

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

One day at school, Opal shares a drawing of what Hope Valley’s
planned hotel could look like. She explains to Elizabeth how the drawing was
inspired by Lucas’ “grand vision” of what the hotel could be. The idea of Lucas
having a “grand vision” reminded me of how television shows are created. Every
show starts with a story. Within that story are characters, settings, and
conflicts. All these pieces come together to create a “grand vision”, a dream
of what the show could become. Through the various creative departments, a show’s
creative team work towards making that dream come true. If a show is
successful, a show’s audience help keep that dream alive. While Opal shares her
drawing, she and Elizabeth are not the only characters present in that scene.
Emily and Anna also marveled at Opal’s artistic abilities. It seems like
yesterday when Anna, Emily, and Opal were Elizabeth’s first students. This full
circle moment is such a great example of how the dream of When Calls the
Heart has thrived!

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.

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

Season: 11

Episode: 5

Name: Stronger Together


Major stories:

Maisie is still close-minded on her views about the hotel. Mike
is overwhelmed by the lack of progress and Lee is frustrated by Maisie’s stubbornness.
But this tension goes beyond sibling rivalry. Maisie confesses to Mei how she
feels her constituents are not on the same page as her. This revelation
disappoints Mike, as he feels everyone promoting the hotel share the same goal.
Meanwhile, Lucas recruits Henry to share his perspective as a former businessman.
To prevent Lucas, Mike, and Lee from feeling cornered by Maisie’s demands, Henry
suggests merging Hope Valley and Benson Hills. Lucas loves the idea so much, he
proposes it at the meeting with Maisie. Henry, Mike, and Lee already support the
merging of Benson Hills and Hope Valley. However, Maisie still isn’t convinced.
Until the next election, Lucas decides to declare co-mayors; one for Hope Valley
and one for Benson Hills. Maisie still gets to continue being the mayor of
Benson Hills and is shocked to learn Lee has become Hope Valley’s mayor.


After learning about Henry’s idea, Lucas shares it with
several of Hope Valley’s residents. When they learn the Jack Thornton School
would become part of the valley school district, some of the residents are hesitant
by the merging of Hope Valley and Benson Hills. To ease their worries, Lucas
explains how the merging of the towns would provide Hope Valley more economic
opportunities as well as more opportunities for growth. This explanation lends
itself to a unanimous vote for Hope Valley to be joined with Benson Hills. Later
in the episode, Lucas learns from Bill how the person who hurt him fired their
gun at close range. Through a reclaimed memory, Lucas confesses how he grabbed
the gun from the shooter in order to get the gun away from them.


Elizabeth and Nathan’s interaction before Hope Valley’s
Easter egg hunt concerns Allie. This is because she doesn’t want to see Nathan
get rejected by Elizabeth again. When Allie shares her feelings with Nathan, he
reassures her how she has nothing to worry about. In Hope Valley, Nathan sees
Elizabeth and Lucas interacting with one another. That interaction gives Nathan
the impression Elizabeth may resume her relationship with Lucas. But later, at
the saloon, Lucas tells Nathan how he and Elizabeth are just friends. Lucas also
shares how he and Jeanette were never engaged, telling Nathan the exact same
thing he told Elizabeth. In a private conversation between Elizabeth and
Nathan, Nathan confronts Elizabeth about her feelings for him. Because their
conversation was interrupted, Elizabth didn’t provide an answer. Toward the end
of the episode, Elizabeth tells Nathan how “friends don’t look at friends
this way”.

Small, western town image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.


Minor stories:

Anna pays Elizabeth a visit at the Jack Thornton School. As she is currently enrolled in teaching college, Anna has come back to Hope Valley to work as Elizabeth’s teaching assistant. During recess, Anna confesses to Elizabeth how teaching college is more difficult than she imagined, remembering how easy Elizabeth made teaching appear. Elizabeth reminds Anna how she is her own person and how becoming a good teacher takes time. One responsibility Anna is given is handing out the math tests with their results. Toby is excited about passing the test. After school, Angela and Cooper confess to Elizabeth how they wrote a letter to Jacob in Joseph’s name. Joseph received a response from his brother, with Jacob expressing interest in visiting Joseph and finally getting an apology. Elizabeth encourages Cooper and Angela to talk to their father about the letter. That evening, Angela and Cooper tell Joseph the truth, sharing how his words about family inspired them to reach out to Jacob. Joseph forgives his children and, later, recalls with Minnie how he and his brother used to sing in a choir.

Hand-written letter image created by Veraholera at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Veraholera – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/love-letter-pattern_1292902.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.


Some thoughts to consider:

·       
As I mentioned in this re-cap, Lee became Hope
Valley’s new mayor. He promises Rosemary to not let his new role overshadow his
family. But this is just one important matter on his plate. Not only does Lee
own the town’s saw mill and saloon, he’s also the editor of The Valley Voice. Lee
is a husband and new father as well. I’d like to think Lee can balance all
these responsibilities. However, I’m not sure how.

·       
I know this season is almost at the half-way
point, but, so far, Elizabeth and Nathan’s story is the weakest one. Almost all
the other stories introduced in season eleven’s premiere contain some amount of
intrigue. With Nathan and Elizabeth’s story, it is too drawn out and doesn’t
have enough substance. I wouldn’t be surprised if Elizabeth and Nathan finally
share their feelings for each other in season eleven’s finale.

·       
An exciting development from this episode was
the idea of Hope Valley and Benson Hills merging. While this sounds like a
great idea on paper, I wonder how this idea will be brought to life on screen.
Will the story revolve around two separate places, similar to season two? Is
the creative team behind When Calls the Heart planning on building a whole
new town for Benson Hills? At this time, another season of the show has not
been announced. But if When Calls the Heart receives a twelfth season,
it’ll be interesting to see how these questions are answered.

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

What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you like the idea of Hope Valley and Benson Hills merging? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen