Though this piece of movie news isn’t actually “movie news”, it does involve movie theaters. Therefore, this month’s Word on the Street story provides an interesting tidbit of news. Originally reported on February 23rd by Eurovoix News, the Spanish theater chain, Cinesa, has agreed to present Eurovision’s Grand Final in their theaters. With tickets becoming available on April 1st and continuing this screening for a seventh year, Cinesa is carrying their tradition of bringing Eurovision to the contest’s Spanish fans. Over the years, I’ve heard of sporting events and theatrical productions being broadcast in cinemas. There have even been concerts recorded in a documentary style and screened at theaters. But this is the first time I have heard Eurovision being shown in a movie theater. Spain is certainly capitalizing on their presence in the competition, as Spain is not only competing in Eurovision’s Grand Final, the Spanish band, Megara, will be representing San Marino. Cinesa’s decision to present Eurovision’s Grand Final makes me hope fellow Eurovision participating countries are inspired to provide experiences like this for their Eurovision fans!
Hello everyone! This post is to remind anyone who is interested in participating in the Familyathon Blogathon that there is still time to sign up for the event! Information about the blogathon can be found at the link below:
You may have read the title of this editorial and thought the following:
A. Who the heck are Evan Williams and George Blagden?
B. Why do you want to see Evan and George go to Eurovision?
C. Why are you writing another Eurovision editorial after Das Sound Machine weren’t chosen to represent Germany for this year’s Eurovision?
That third question references my editorial from last year, where I explained why Das Sound Machine should be chosen to represent the German delegation at Eurovision 2023. Though Das Sound Machine weren’t selected, Eurovision’s German delegation did almost everything I wanted; from choosing a “showstopper” to trying something different. With Germany once again receiving a score within the bottom three at this year’s Grand Final, maybe there’s a chance the German delegation could choose Das Sound Machine for Eurovision 2024. Speaking of Eurovision 2024, now comes the part where I explain who George Blagden and Evan Williams are. Evan and George are Canadian and British actors who worked together on the television show, Versailles. They also happen to have musical talents that could make them eligible for Eurovision representation. My editorial is intended to answer the second question; why I want to see George and Evan go to Eurovision next year. Before I begin my explanations, I want to stress how any Eurovision related decisions are up to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the participating Eurovision delegations, and Evan and George themselves.
Several Participating Countries Desperately Need a “Fan Favorite”
At this year’s Eurovision, Sweden won the contest with a total of 583 points. Though receiving more jury votes then televote points, Loreen was, arguably, one of the most popular artists competing in Liverpool. But she wasn’t the only representative people were excited about. Finland’s representative, Käärijä, was beloved among televoters and Eurovision’s audience. People loved him so much, they chanted his name and the title of his song, “Cha Cha Cha”, during the voting portions of the Grand Final. While Finland and Sweden benefitted by sending strong representatives to Eurovision, some participating countries weren’t lucky enough to have a “fan favorite”. A few of them were San Marino, Ireland, Denmark, and the United Kingdom (U.K.). Competing in the semi-finals, Ireland, Denmark, and San Marino didn’t receive enough points to attend the Grand Final. Denmark and San Marino garnered only 6 and 0 points in semi-final two, while Ireland only got ten points in the first semi-final. Even though the U.K. automatically qualified for the Grand Final, as they are one of the “Big Five” countries, they received 25th place, a far cry from the second place they got in 2022. Participating countries like the aforementioned four need a “fan favorite”, someone the audience is willing to spend money on in order to give them televotes. In my opinion, George and Evan have the potential to become “fan favorites” for reasons I will get to later in this editorial.
The Indefinite Run of the Writers and Actors Strikes
I don’t want to talk too much about the current writers and actors strikes, as I try to make 18 Cinema Lane a place where readers can take a break from the stressing issues of the world. But since these strikes could affect whether Evan and George can compete in Eurovision, I’ll briefly mention the strikes. Since about May, screen-writers in Hollywood have chosen to go on strike, similar to the Writers’ Strike that took place in 2007. A few months later, several actors in Hollywood have chosen to carry on their own strike. Now you’re probably wondering, “How can these strikes affect George and Evan if they’re British and Canadian”? Any project that Evan or George is attached to could be delayed or even cancelled as a result of any of these strikes. According to their filmographies on IMDB, both Evan and George have two upcoming projects. On Evan’s filmography, a movie titled 1 Million Followers and a short film titled Terminally Unique are in post-production. Meanwhile, on George’s filmography, a project called The Chelsea Cowboy is in post-production. Another project on George’s filmography, called Montserrat, is in pre-production. If any of the aforementioned four projects are affected by the strikes and if Evan and George have time on their hands, maybe there would be room in their schedules for Eurovision.
Eurovision is a televised musical competition. Since 1956, solo artists, duos, trios, and even bands have shared their talents in the hopes of winning the contest. As I mentioned in the introduction, George and Evan happen to have musical talents that could make them eligible for Eurovision representation. They are not only singers, but guitarists as well. On George’s Youtube channel, simply titled ‘George Blagden’, there are some videos showing George performing song covers. In one of these videos, George performs an acoustic cover of the song, “Hallelujah”. The steady guitar cords pair nicely with George’s vocals, creating a simple melody that is pleasant to listen to. Meanwhile, Evan created a song titled “Lola” for a short film of the same name. Also performed acoustically, Evan’s soulful vocals provide the perfect musical match. George and Evan have even performed a duet together! In a video from the Youtube channel, Fr Conventions, they performed a song titled “Take Me Away”. Both Evan and George’s vocals sound beautiful together, creating a solid acoustic duet.
Remember earlier in this editorial, when I said George and Evan have the potential to become “fan favorites” for a participating Eurovision delegation? The reason I believe this is because they already have fans who would be so excited to see them attend Eurovision! Like I said in the introduction, both Evan and George starred on the television show, Versailles. During that show’s three-season run, fans from all over the world tuned in to catch the drama within France’s famed palace. Vikings, another show George starred on, also attracted a fanbase within a three-season run. Evan appeared on the tv program, Degrassi: The Next Generation. Degrassi is a Canadian multi-generational show that has developed a large fan following over the years. If fans of these previously referenced tv shows, plus Eurovision fans and audience members who simply like Evan and George’s talents, were to spend money on televotes for George and Evan, they could garner enough televotes to not only make it to the Grand Final, but also receive a good score.
Now comes the part of my editorial when you’re likely asking yourself, “What the heck is CowHouse Films and what it does have to do with George and Evan’s chances of going to Eurovision”? If Evan and George were to represent a delegation at Eurovision next year, CowHouse Films could play a key role in their potential success. On Versailles, George and Evan worked alongside their co-star, Alexander Vlahos. Alexander co-created the independent movie company, CowHouse Films. In his Q&A live video on the company’s official Youtube channel, Alexander mentions creating a music video for Evan, titled “So It Goes”. He also mentions needing funding for some upcoming projects, such as “Shoeless Summer” and “The Lord Won’t Mind”. If Evan and George were to go to Eurovision in 2024, they could collaborate with CowHouse Films to not only create a music video, but also bring an on-stage concept to life. With that said, if George and Evan were to make it to the Grand Final and place somewhere in the Top Ten, that good placement could attract more clients to CowHouse Films. More clients would equal more revenue, which would result in more funding for future projects.
Once upon a time, there was a Canadian vocalist named Celine. Eurovision’s Swiss delegation loved Celine’s vocals so much, they selected her as their representative for the contest. The Swiss delegation were not the only ones who adored her musical talents, as she ended up winning Eurovision. Since then, Celine has enjoyed a fruitful career, from performing one of the most famous movie theme songs of all time (“My Heart Will Go On”) to having a residency in Las Vegas. I believe none of these things would have happened had the Swiss delegation not chosen Celine as their representative back in 1988. If they could take a chance on Celine Dion before she became the beloved artist she is today, then I think it’s only fair for a Eurovision delegation to take a chance on Evan Williams and George Blagden. To me, they have what it takes to make Eurovision history, as well as join an ever-growing community of musical artists from all over the world. Now, the question remains: who would like to give George and Evan their “golden ticket” to Malmö?
As I was coming up with a theme for my next blogathon, I first reflected on late Autumn to early Winter, the time when the event will take place. Several holidays where family gathers together take place during this time of year. This common theme inspired my new blogathon, which is called “Familyathon”! November 16th to 20th is when the event will take place. Since the subject of ‘family’ is so broad, I’ll list some ideas on potential topics:
Themes relating to the subject of ‘family’ (ex: how of the theme of ‘family’ is woven into the Fast & Furious franchise)
Stories revolving around a family (ex: I Remember Mama, The Middle, etc.)
Characters joining a family (ex: birth, marriage, adoption, etc.)
Characters departing from a family (ex: someone going to college, someone moving out of the neighborhood, etc.)
Families losing a family member (ex: a family member passing away, a family member going missing, etc.)
Stories about siblings (ex: What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, etc.)
Stories of “found family” (a group of unrelated people forming their own family)
The subject of ‘family’ from a pet’s perspective (ex: Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, etc.)
Familyathon blogathon banner created by Sally Silverscreen of 18 Cinema Lane
If you’re interested in joining Familyathon and have an idea in mind, here are the official rules every participant must follow:
Please be respectful toward other participants and the subject(s) you’re writing about
Please let me know in advance if you plan on publishing your post(s) earlier or later than the allotted time-frame (November 16th to 20th).
Only new posts will be eligible for the event.
Duplicate entries will not be allowed, as the subject of ‘family’ is broad.
Each participant can only submit a total of three entries.
All entries must be original work.
Subjects from any genre, year, or country are allowed.
If you’re interested in participating, please share your idea(s) in the comment section below.
Choose one of the four banners and let others know about Familyathon!
Participants of Familyathon
Sally from 18 Cinema Lane – Review of …and Your Name Is Jonah (1979)
Gill from Realweegiemidget Reviews — A list article of the theme of family from the Fast and Furious franchise
Rebecca from Taking Up Room — Review for Life Begins for Andy Hardy (1941)
Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy — Review of Mr. Mom (1983)
Ruth from Silver Screenings — Review of Old Yeller (1957)
Quiggy from Midnite Drive-In — Review of The Godfather(1972)
Erica from Poppity Talks Classic Film — Review of Sabrina (1954)
Grace Avender — A list of Grace’s top five favorite families
Katherine — An article about Katherine’s three favorite film families
Familyathon blogathon banner created by Sally Silverscreen of 18 Cinema Lane
Familyathon blogathon banner created by Sally Silverscreen of 18 Cinema Lane
Familyathon blogathon banner created by Sally Silverscreen of 18 Cinema Lane
For the past four weeks, I’ve been participating in the Eurovisionathon readathon! Hosted by Helen, from the Youtube channel, Helen’s Book Haven, this event encourages participants to read books associated with Eurovision’s competing countries in a month-long time-frame. This was my first year taking part in the readathon and, like other readathons, I was curious to see how well I’d perform. In the months leading up to the event, I cultivated a TBR (to be read) list of diverse literary works, in an attempt to make my reading experience as enriching as possible. My goal was to read twenty-six books in a month, as there were twenty-six countries competing in Eurovision’s Grand Final. But was I able to obtain this goal or was this goal too lofty? Let’s find out in this break-down of my Eurovisionathon results!
Eurovisionathon 2023 book collection image created by Sally Silverscreen
In this year’s Eurovision, thirty-seven countries competed in the contest. There were six countries that automatically qualified for the Grand Final. These countries were the “Big Five” (United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy) and Ukraine (the winner of the previous year’s song contest). Two Semi-Finals determined the rest of the countries partaking in the Grand Final alongside the six aforementioned countries, with fifteen countries competing in the first Semi-Final and sixteen countries competing in the second Semi-Final. Out of the six automatic qualifiers, I read five books, as I knew I would receive guaranteed points no matter how those countries performed.
Eurovisionathon 2023 “book collection “Big Five” and Ukraine image created by Sally Silverscreen
From the first Semi-Final, I read six books. These books represented Portugal, Croatia, Israel, Moldova, Sweden, and Finland. All six countries advanced to the Grand Final.
Eurovisionathon 2023 First Semi-Final image created by Sally Silverscreen
From the second Semi-Final, I read four books. These books represented Romania, Iceland, Australia, and Slovenia. Only Australia and Slovenia advanced to the Grand Final.
Eurovisionathon 2023 Second Semi-Final image created by Sally Silverscreen
Eurovisionathon ended on the day of Eurovision’s Grand Final. A country’s combined jury and televote score determined how many points a readathon participant received. The more books a participant read, the more points they were given. Thirteen out of the fifteen books I read represented countries that competed in the Grand Final. Three of these books represented countries that missed the top twenty; Germany, Portugal, and Slovenia. Three books I read represented Moldova, Spain, and France, countries that made the top twenty. Croatia is the only country whose book I read that placed in the top fifteen. The rest of the books I read represented countries who were given top ten placements, with Israel, Finland, and Sweden among Eurovision’s top three countries.
Eurovisionathon 2023 Grand Final image created by Sally Silverscreen
With all of that said, my total score was two thousand, seven hundred, and ninety-three points! For my first time participating in Eurovisionathon, I’d say I did a pretty good job! With 2024’s contest on the horizon, I can’t wait to see what’s in store for next year’s readathon. Thank you, Helen, for hosting this event. The next Eurovision Song Contest can’t come soon enough!
Ok, so you probably read the title of my editorial and thought, “Sally, don’t you know Das Sound Machine is not a real musical group”? Readers who are familiar with Eurovision will likely think, “Isn’t Germany planning on hosting a national contest”? As of November 9th, 2022, Germany’s national broadcasters, NDR/ARD, have announced their plans to host a national final “in early March”, according to Eurovoix News. The application process for potential representatives is currently open. There’s even the likelihood of the broadcasters seeking out artists and their respective record labels to participate in the selection. With Germany still looking for a Eurovision representative, I think it would be really cool if the cast members who portrayed Das Sound Machine in Pitch Perfect 2 represented Germany in Eurovision next year! It sounds like a pipe dream on paper. But the more I’ve thought about it, the more I realized how my idea could realistically work. Before I explain how Das Sound Machine could compete in 2023’s Eurovision, I’d like to first explain why this plan should work.
Das Sound Machine image created by Gold Circle Films, Brownstone Productions, and Universal Pictures
Germany Desperately Needs a Showstopper
In 2023, there will be thirty-seven countries participating in Eurovision. Twenty-six of those countries will compete in the grand final, with Germany being one of them. Even though Germany automatically qualifies for the grand final, because they are one of the “Big Five” countries, they still need to stand out with a memorable entry. But if Germany is serious about their chances at Eurovision success, they need an entry that will stand out for the right reasons. In 2021, Germany placed second to last in the grand final, with a total of three points. This year, Germany received last place with only six points. As NDR/ARD searches for the perfect representative, they can use that desperation to not get a low score as motivation to submit the best entry possible. Germany was not the only country in 2021’s grand final to receive disappointing results. The United Kingdom didn’t receive any points, while Spain only got six points. The following year, Spain and the United Kingdom sent Chanel and Sam Ryder to Eurovision, who both placed in the top three.
There Has Never Been an A Capella Entry at Eurovision
Over Eurovision’s fifty plus year history, a variety of musical genres have been represented. But according to my research, no country has ever submitted an a capella entry. If Germany were to select Das Sound Machine to represent them next year, an original a capella number would not only bring something new to Eurovision’s table, it would give Germany a chance to try something different. According to an article from Wiwibloggs, this year’s national final, Unser Lied für Turin, was not met with favorable results. This is because of “the lack of variety within the songs but also for its production”. Before 2021, Italy had neversent an entry that was strictly rock. Sure, their entries may have contained elements of rock. ButMåneskin and their song, “Zitti e buoni”, was the first rock group Italy selected for Eurovision. This huge musical risk led to huge rewards, as Italy not only won Eurovision for the first time since 1990, but Måneskin has also found success after their song contest victory. The public’s response to Unser Lied für Turin and Italy’s recent Eurovision achievements should encourage Germany to think outside the box.
Das Sound Machine was given only two performances in Pitch Perfect 2: their Car Show number and their World Championship Finale number. Despite these limited performance opportunities, Das Sound Machine uses their talent to create what is, in my opinion, the best moments of the film! While reflecting on these two performances, there are three key elements that could help Das Sound Machine at Eurovision. The first is their energy! As I said earlier in this editorial, there will be twenty-six countries competing in the grand final. From what I’ve heard, the grand final’s run-time can reach up to four hours. Having performers who can consistently maintain a high energy level during their performance would keep viewers both in the stadium and at home invested in the show.
Das Sound Machine’s second key element is their mastery of the choreography! Because Eurovision is a live show, representatives need to give the audience something interesting to look at. Whether it’s dance routines, large scale props, or cool special effects, these ingredients could work in a representative’s favor. Based on Das Sound Machine’s aforementioned performances, each member displays control over their body, allowing every movement to stay parallel to the beats within the songs. This understanding between the physical and the musical showcase Das Sound Machine’s musicality. The third key element is the group’s creativity! During their World Championship Finale number, Das Sound Machine had very few props at their disposal. Instead of seeing it as a limitation, they used this as an opportunity to be creative! While performing Fall Out Boy’s “Light Em Up”, some Das Sound Machine members got into a strategic formation, coming together to create a ship. Other members of Das Sound Machine stood on either side of the formation, giving the appearance of water.
Das Sound Machine image created by Gold Circle Films, Brownstone Productions, and Universal Pictures
Built-in Enthusiasm
After seeing Pitch Perfect 2 for the first time, I remember thinking, “I wish Das Sound Machine was a real group”. Whenever I think about that movie, I always feel Das Sound Machine is the much stronger group than the Barden Bellas. If I get the opportunity to watch Pitch Perfect 2, I only watch the scenes featuring Das Sound Machine. It seems like I’m not the only one who feels this way. On the Youtube channel, King Samo, there are two videos featuring Das Sound Machine’s performances. In the comment sections of these videos, over a thousand commenters praised Das Sound Machine. Most of the comments were about how the group should have won the film’s World Championship. But there are other commenters who simply want to express their love for Das Sound Machine. Three commenters on the World Championship Finale video have made the following comments this year:
As a German person it’s insanely hilarious to me how every other country seams to think of us as this overly perfect nation when really, we’re not comparable with incredible groups like “Das Sound Machine“ at all. Just look at our contestants for the Eurovision Song Contest. We embarrass ourselves everytime. So can we please have them perform for us this year?
If DSM were a real group they would’ve won Eurovision and they would of deserved to win.
this would win the eurovision
As the comment section of the aforementioned videos show, there is built-in enthusiasm for Das Sound Machine. If Germany sent Das Sound Machine to Eurovision next year with a strong, original a capella number, that could translate well for grand final televoting.
According to official Eurovision rules, the maximum number of group members is six. This means Das Sound Machine couldn’t have the number of members they did in Pitch Perfect 2. From an a capella perspective, though, a six-person group could still create a strong original number. According to Wikipedia, only two Pitch Perfect 2 cast members are listed as official members of Das Sound Machine: Flula Borg and Birgitte Hjort Sørensen. NDR/ARD would recruit four German a capella singers to accompany Flula and Birgitte. If Das Sound Machine were selected to represent Germany at next year’s Eurovision, expenses related to the contest would be co-funded by NDR/ARD and Universal Music Group, as Das Sound Machine was created specifically for Pitch Perfect 2. Universal Music Group is Universal Studio’s music label. On their website, there are eight German music labels associated with Universal Music Group. If possible, more than one of these labels could help fund any Eurovision expenses.
As of early to mid November, 2022, only three participating countries have chosen their representative. About half of the participating countries are planning on hosting a national contest. With the weeks leading up to Eurovision, it’s exciting to hear who will be selected to compete. This anticipation reminds me of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, as the golden tickets are waiting to be discovered. Unlike Ronald Dahl’s story, receiving a “golden ticket” to Eurovision is not as simple as tearing open the wrapper of a candy bar. Each participating country has their own process of choosing their representative. Even if they do choose to host a national contest, various factors go into making that event a reality. My idea of Das Sound Machine representing Germany at 2023’s Eurovision is just that: an idea. Even if Das Sound Machine were selected to participate in Unser Lied für Liverpool, there’s no guarantee they’ll be granted that “golden ticket”. But no matter who ends up representing Germany next year, I still believe Das Sound Machine should receive their “standing ovation”. So NDR/ARD, if you’re reading this, will you consider giving Das Sound Machine their Eurovision “golden ticket”?
Have fun at Eurovision!
Sally Silverscreen
Here are the link to the sources for this editorial:
When I published my review of Murder, She Wrote: The Queen’s Jewels for August’s Buzzwordathon, I announced I would be hosting a new blogathon this November. I also said more details were to follow. Well, the time has come to reveal more information about the event! As I mentioned in the aforementionedreview, the theme is ‘World Television Day’. Because this particular holiday takes place on November 21st, my blogathon will happenbetweenNovember 19th and November 22nd. Television is such a broad topic, so here is a list of ideas if you are interested in participating:
Television Shows (favorite or least favorite, specific episodes, talent involved, etc.)
TV Movies and Mini-Series
Films based on or inspired a show (Downton Abbey: A New Era, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, etc.)
Books based on or inspired a TV show (Murder,She Wrote, etc.)
Songs used in TV productions
Sports Events (Super Bowl, Olympics, etc.)
Televised Contests (pageants, Eurovision, etc.)
Historical Events (Challenger Disaster, etc.)
Podcasts or Youtube videos about TV shows
History of Television
Lost/Found Media related to TV (Sesame Street’s infamous Wicked Witch episode, etc.)
Public Service Announcements (PSA) or Public Information Films (PIF)
Commercials, Trailers, or TV Spots
Created by Sally Silverscreen at Adobe Creative Cloud Express
Once you’ve selected an idea, take a moment to read the official rules:
Please be respectful toward other participants and the subject(s) you’re writing about (especially if you choose to write about historical events on television).
Please let me know in advance if you plan on publishing your post(s) earlier or later than the allotted time-frame (November 19th to 22nd).
Only new posts will be eligible for the event.
Because of how broad the subject of television is, I will not be allowing duplicate entries.
There is a three-entry limit for each participant.
All entries must be original work.
Subjects from any genre, year, or country are allowed.
If you’re interested in participating, please share your idea(s) in the comment section below.
Pick one of the four banners and spread the word about the World Television Day Blogathon!
Created by Sally Silverscreen at Adobe Creative Cloud Express
World Television Day Participants
Sally from 18 Cinema Lane — The Flamingo Rising: Book vs. Movie, Top 10 or 15 Characters Who Didn’t Reach Their Full Potential
Rebecca from Taking Up Room — List of Top 10 Gilmore Girls episodes
Andrew from The Stop Button — Review of Jericho Mile (1979 made-for-tv movie)
oldbooksandmovies from Old Books and Movies — Ten Favorite Songs Preformed Live on TV During the Golden Age (1948-1959), Raymond Burr’s two appearances on the Jack Benny Show
Created by Sally Silverscreen at Adobe Creative Cloud Express
Created by Sally Silverscreen at Adobe Creative Cloud Express
I know my fourth blogathon, the ‘Travel Gone Wrong’ Blogathon, ended two weeks ago. However, I wanted to provide enough time for participants to submit later entries. But now that the event has come and gone, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who “boarded” this year’s blogathon! As usual, the ‘Travel Gone Wrong’ Blogathon was successful, with a variety of topics being discussed. I enjoyed reading every article sent in, as they provided a great collection of written work! The fun continues because I’ll be hosting my fifth blogathon! But that official announcement will come later this year. Stay tuned!
Created by Sally Silverscreen at Adobe Creative Cloud Express
All aboard the blogathon train! Spring is a time when vacations are either in the planning stage or just beginning. This is one of the inspirations for my Travel Gone Wrong Blogathon! As was mentioned in the official announcement post, plans can either go hilariously or horrifyingly wrong. So, for this year’s event, entries are classified accordingly. All the participant’s posts will be found on this one communal post, in order to locate them easier. With that said, grab your suitcase and fasten your seatbelts! We’re off on a blogathon adventure!
Created by Sally Silverscreen at Adobe Creative Cloud Express
Life is filled with storms. Some are “category 5” and affect multiple people. Others are so small, they pass by in the blink of an eye. Whether these storms are literal or figurative, what matters is how you react to them. Storms have come and gone in Hope Valley. When the children of the town were left without a school, the men of Hope Valley came together to build a school that could also double as a church. As the settlers moved into Hope Valley, Rosemary donated her bridesmaid dress material in order for injured settlers to have bandages. These are just two examples of the “storms” that have taken place on When Calls the Heart. The way these characters have reacted allowed their town to remain standing. Speaking of Hope Valley, let’s begin this re-cap of the show!
Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of When Calls the Heart, there will be spoilers within this re-cap.
When Calls the Heart season nine poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel
Season: 9
Episode: 5
Name: Journey into Light
Major Stories:
Mr. Landis has, once again, returned to Hope Valley. This time, though, he has come to apologize to Elizabeth. Mr. Landis informs her he will find a way to figure out the credential situation. Meanwhile, Minnie stills does not like Mr. Landis. She does offer him a cranberry muffin as a peace offering. But Minnie feels there’s more that can be done. She comes up with a plan to invite Mr. Landis to dinner. Joseph is skeptical about the plan, but supports his wife. The night of the dinner is met with a rainstorm. Joseph, Angela, and Cooper wonder if Mr. Landis has left town. However, Mr. Landis arrives with a wet coat and a broken umbrella. During pre-dinner tea, Mr. Landis reveals that before he became the district’s superintendent, he was a music teacher. Upon hearing this information, Joseph and Minnie tell Mr. Landis of Angela’s musical talents. Angela and Mr. Landis begin to play the piano. This experience brings joy to Angela’s parents. Cooper was, at first, upset by this duet. Over time, he becomes proud of his sister’s recognition. The next day, Minnie tells Elizabeth the dinner went wonderfully. Elizabeth is just as surprised as the Canfields were by Mr. Landis’ musical abilities. Before he leaves Hope Valley, Mr. Landis shares with Elizabeth how he plans to return to music.
Fiona has returned from San Francisco. When she arrives, Henry finds her asleep in the carriage. Fiona attempts to tell Henry her news. But he suggests she go home and get some rest. Henry also has news to share with Fiona, that he’s staying with the petroleum plant. But the timing is never right. One day, Henry receives a letter about why Fiona went to San Francisco. While there, she found a group of investors to join the petroleum plant. Upset by this information, he visits Fiona at the barber shop. Henry shares how he feels with her, stating how he wanted to string these investors along in order to learn their motive. After hearing what Henry had to say, Fiona realizes she made a mistake. Also, in Hope Valley, Lucas and Mike were spotted talking with Wyman. This concerns both Nathan and Bill.
Ally has come home from her grandparents’ house. Though she had a good time, she missed Hope Valley. But Ally missed Robert the most, besides Nathan. The new ice cream parlor and Mei excite Ally. She’s also excited that Robert sometimes works at the ice cream parlor. What doesn’t excite Ally is Nathan’s moustache, which he shaves off after their heart-to-heart conversation. During this conversation, Nathan reveals the car crash that injured him and Newton. Understandably, Ally is upset that she wasn’t told this information sooner. She does forgive Nathan because he explains how he didn’t want to worry Ally on her trip. Their heart-to-heart conversation also provides a good opportunity for Ally to share her growing feelings for Robert. Nathan’s advice for Ally is to, for now, just remain friends with Robert. Later in the episode, Nathan and Lucas hold a race, with Lucas riding on his motorcycle and Nathan riding on Elizabeth’s horse, Sargent. This race was the result of a disagreement that started when Nathan learned Lucas bought Lee’s motorcycle. The event itself starts earlier than expected, with Mike accidently dropping the starting flag. During the race, Lucas runs out of gas. Nathan offers to help, but Lucas refuses, saying how he’ll walk the bike back to town. This mechanical difficulty allows Nathan to win the race. When Lucas returns to Hope Valley, Elizabeth is waiting for him at the gas station.
While things are going well at the Valley Voice, Rosemary worries she and Lee are growing apart. Lee has recruited Joseph’s help with a project. This has caused Rosemary to become suspicious. While moving some papers on Lee’s desk, Rosemary finds an unaddressed poem. She wonders if Lee wrote it for someone else. At Elizabeth’s house one evening, Rosemary shares her feelings and the poem she found. Elizabeth encourages Rosemary to be honest with Lee. The next day, Lee tells Rosemary how he wants to spend more time with her, as work has taken up so much of their time. This surprises Rosemary and debunks her concerns. Lee reveals the project he and Joseph were working on: a lawn chair set. These connected lawn chairs face in opposite directions. This is because Rosemary likes to look out at the garden and Lee likes to look at the hills. The lawn chairs also allow Rosemary and Lee to turn to each other. Lee then recites the poem Rosemary found on his desk, revealing how the poem was for her all along.
It was such a pleasant surprise to find the Canfield family’s swing on the church/school grounds! Yet, the more I think about it, the more this decision makes sense. In season eight, Joseph built that swing for his family. After he became Hope Valley’s preacher, donating the swing to the church was likely his way of giving back to the community. The swing itself will be beneficial for church and school gatherings. I like how it didn’t get lost in the show’s shuffle of stories!
In the previous Sunset Over Hope Valley post, I said Elizabeth should face accountability for her actions. While I still think this is true, Elizabeth should also not receive credit for someone else’s efforts. Toward the end of this episode, Mr. Landis thanks Elizabeth for helping him rethink his priorities. But his musical passions were reignited because of his dinner with the Canfield family, which was Minnie’s idea. I know Mr. Landis was in Hope Valley because of Elizabeth’s mistakes. However, he ended up giving Elizabeth more credit than she deserved.
During the aforementioned heart-to-heart conversation between Ally and Nathan, Ally calls Nathan “dad”. Even though it was a simple comment said in passing, this is, actually, a big deal. For one, it maintains the consistency of this particular part of the show’s overarching story. It also shows how Ally has become comfortable enough to call Nathan “dad”. While everything seems well in Nathan and Ally’s world, it will be interesting to see who Ally calls “mom”.
18 Cinema Lane 