Take 3: Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II (1978) Review

On January 11, 2026 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

As I explained in my recent review of A Circle of Children, I’m covering the sequel, Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II for the Film. Release. Repeat. Blogathon. Because I’ve been meaning to review the 1978 television film since 2022, I believed the blogathon was a great time to finally check the movie out! But as I also mentioned in my review of A Circle of Children, I haven’t found a made-for-tv movie from the 1970s I actually like. Whenever I’ve selected this particular type of film to write about, I find the film itself either fine, ok, or underwhelming. This is one of the reasons why I put “1970s Made-for-TV movie” on my Year-Long Bingo card, so I could, hopefully, find a television movie I enjoy from that decade. When I saw and reviewed A Circle of Children, I thought it was just ok. Will its sequel be better? Let’s begin this review to find out!

*Lovey A Circle of Children, Part II* title card created by Time-Life Television Productions and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

A smaller cast: In my review of A Circle of Children, I mentioned the film containing a large cast of characters. This is one of the reasons why the audience was forced to either only become familiar with the characters or not getting to know them at all. This flaw became remedied in Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II! In the 1978 sequel, the cast is much smaller. Even Mary’s class contains fewer students. Because the story has less characters to keep track of, it gives the audience an opportunity to truly get to know the characters. The audience also has more time to spend with characters like Mary’s students and even Mary’s boyfriend, Cal, because of a tightly written script.

Progression that’s written gradually: When I reviewed A Circle of Children, I talked about how Sarah’s sudden achieved progress taking place after being a static character for half the movie felt like it was written into the story for the sake of plot and time convenience. Even though I was happy to see Sarah achieving progress, I wish that progress was gradually woven into the script. It seems like the creative team behind Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II felt the same way I did, as Hannah’s/Lovey’s progression was gradual. Hannah/Lovey joins Mary’s class as an unruly child who is very unpredictable. But as the film goes on, Mary’s influence takes effect on Hannah/Lovey as she becomes more responsive, less violent, and even participates in class. The smaller cast size I talked about earlier certainly influenced this part of the story. It allowed Hannah’s/Lovey’s progression to receive emphasis instead of competing against other stories. The transformative power of Mary’s teaching abilities is also on full display because of the gradually written progression of Hannah/Lovey.

The dialogue: Like I said in my list of The Best and Worst Movies I Saw in 2025, how well-written the dialogue was in The Chalk Garden allowed me to remember what Laurel said about the term “good morning”. The quality of the screenwriting was also a strength in Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II! Some of the dialogue in the 1978 movie sounded profound without trying too hard to be philosophical. A great example can be heard during a conversation between Mary and a fellow teacher named Patty. Patty feels discouraged over the lack of progress from her students. Mary reassures Patty that her impact on the students has been positive, reminding Patty how hope comes from believing the children can learn something. Patty then tells Mary, “Yeah, but you can’t mop the floors with hope”. Mary experiences her own period of discouragement after Hannah/Lovey has an angry outburst involving paint. In a voice-over, Mary says, “For a moment, my dreams and plans for Hannah shattered. But paint is only paint and never worth a dream. Besides, a teacher’s dream dies hard”. The two examples I provided show how Mary’s and Patty’s frustrations and concerns were eloquently and thoughtfully written into the script.

The Film. Release. Repeat. Blogathon banner created by Quiggy from The Midnite Drive-In and Hamlette from Hamlette’s Soliloquy

What I didn’t like about the film:

How Hannah was introduced: As I’ve already said in this review, Hannah/Lovey joins Mary’s class as an unruly child who is very unpredictable. However, I found her introduction in Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II to be distasteful. As Mary walks down the hallway to retrieve Hannah/Lovey, suspenseful music plays over the scene. The music itself sounds as if it came straight out of a horror movie. The reveal of Hannah’s/Lovey’s face was prolonged because of specific camera angles that were utilized. When Hannah’s/Lovey’s face was finally revealed, a frozen close-up shot was presented to intentionally appear frightening. To me, the introduction I described felt sensationalized to the point of being counterproductive of what Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II was trying to achieve; making the audience feel empathetic toward Hannah/Lovey by looking past her horrific behavior. I truly believe there was a more tasteful way Hannah/Lovey could have been introduced in the story, especially compared to how some of the students were introduced in A Circle of Children.

Doris’ limited involvement in the story: A Circle of Children introduced Doris as the director of the Children’s School for Special Education. Though she appeared in only a handful of scenes, Doris’ role was pivotal as she literally and figuratively opened the door for Mary to the world of Special Education. Doris was one of the few characters from the first movie to return in the sequel. But she was given even more limited involvement in the second film. While she was still the director of the Children’s School for Special Education, her role in Mary’s story had a reduced significance. I wish Doris received more to do in Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II because I think she could have made a bigger impact.

Lack of further progression: I said earlier in this review how Hannah’s/Lovey’s progression was written gradually into the story. Even though this was one of the movie’s strengths, I didn’t like how there was a lack of further progression for two of Mary’s students. While Hannah/Lovey was improving her reading skills and Brian (from the first movie) was learning how to board the bus by himself, Rufus and Jamie were at a standstill in their education. With a smaller cast size I talked about in this review, there should have been room in the script to give Jamie and Rufus at least a small victory. At the end of Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II, Mary reveals through a voice-over what happened to her students. However, not showing Rufus and Jamie achieving further progression in the movie was a missed opportunity.

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

My overall impression:

Sometimes, a sequel ends up becoming better than its predecessor. Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II just so happens to be one of those films! Some of the flaws of A Circle of Children were improved upon in the second chapter, such as containing a smaller cast and the script featuring a gradual progression for Hannah/Lovey. The sequel even had its own unique strengths from its predecessor, like how well-written the dialogue was. But despite these positive aspects, Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II did have its flaws. I believe there are more respectful ways Hannah/Lovey could have been introduced into the story, as her debut in the film was too sensationalized for my liking. I not only wish Jamie and Rufus had received further progression in the movie, I also wish Doris was given a greater significance in the script. But similar to what I said in my review of A Circle of Children, I’m grateful Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II exists at all. The 1978 film gives the audience a glimpse into what Special Education was like in the 1970s. It’s a made-for-tv movie that was spared from getting lost to time as well.

Overall score: 7.2 out of 10

Have you seen Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II? Are there any made-for-tv movies from the 1970s you’d like to see me cover on 18 Cinema Lane? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: A Circle of Children (1977) Review

On January 9, 2026January 12, 2026 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Back in 2022, I wrote a list of the Top 10 Movies I’d Love to Review. Each chosen film was categorized based on how accessible they are. Reflecting on this list, I realized that as of early January 2026, the only more “accessible” titles not yet covered on my blog were A Circle of Children and Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II. With the Film. Release. Repeat. Blogathon (an event about remakes and sequels) on the horizon, I finally found a reason to review the 1978 sequel. However, I’ve never seen its predecessor, A Circle of Children. So, in preparation for my review of Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II, I’m also writing about the first film. As I said in my list of the Top 10 Movies I’d Love to Review, both A Circle of Children and Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II are based on the true story of a teacher named Mary MacCracken. Like I also said in my list, Mary’s books were not only the source material for these movies, Mary was also one of the screenwriters for both films. But over these eight years of 18 Cinema Lane’s existence, I haven’t found a made-for-tv movie from the 1970s I actually like. Will A Circle of Children change that? Let’s begin the first movie review of 2026 to find out!

*A Circle of Children* (1977) title card created by Edgar Scherick Productions, 20th Century Fox Television, and CBS

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: In A Circle of Children, the protagonist, Mary, visits the mother of a student named Brian O’Connell. During Mary’s conversation with Mrs. O’Connell, Brian’s mother consistently has a worn look on her face. Not only did Mrs. O’Connell’s eyes look heavy, her mouth was set in a straight line as well. Her voice almost sounded monotone, lacking emotion over her situation. Though she admits to Mary that she’s tired, Mrs. O’Connell was able to express how tired she was without relying too much on dialogue. That’s because Judy Lewis, the actress who portrayed Mrs. O’Connell, effectively utilized vocal inflection, facial expression, and even her eyes to emphasize what her character was going through.

Speaking of Brian O’Connell, I want to talk about Matthew Labyorteaux’s performance! I am familiar with his portrayal of Albert on Little House on the Prairie. Therefore, Matthew’s acting capabilities are already known to me. Mary teaching Brian to speak presents a great display of Matthew’s acting talents. When Mary is using a tape recorder in order to help Brian learn to speak, Brian has a blank look on his face. But when a teacher named Dan sings a song to the students, he offers the microphone to Brian. This time, Brian has a determined look on his face, as he intensely looks at the microphone and makes a great effort of trying to repeat Dan’s song. The next scene shows Brian receiving a second chance to speak into the microphone. His eyes become really wide and a smile spreads across his face, excited by the opportunity given by Mary and Dan. As I watched A Circle of Children, it made me believe Little House on the Prairie’s creative team chose wisely when they cast Matthew as Albert!

Since A Circle of Children is based on the true story of Mary MacCracken, I must discuss Jane Alexander’s portrayal of Mary. Throughout the movie, Jane’s performance brought empathy and relatability to her role. One great example happens when Mary encourages Brian to say his name. Brian puts together a puzzle resembling a short story he was reading earlier in the film. Because one of the characters in that story was named Brian, Mary uses this fact to motivate Brian to say his name for the first time since coming to the Children’s School for Special Education. When this plan fails, Mary develops a look of defeat on her face. Her mouth is turned into a frown and her eyes present a mixture of sadness and concern. This medium shot of Mary’s face not only says so much without saying anything at all, it also shows the audience how much she cares about the students, especially Brian.

The chemistry of Mary and Dan: When Mary first visits the Children’s School for Special Education, she meets a teacher named Dan. Over the course of A Circle of Children, Dan and Mary develop a friendship that is shown in only a handful of scenes. Despite this, their chemistry highlights how the two have become kindred spirits, bringing thoughtfulness and understanding to their friendship. The chemistry between Mary and Dan works because the on-screen chemistry between Jane Alexander and David Ogden Stiers (the actor who portrays Dan) works! The strength of their acting abilities allows David and Jane to effectively present a friendship that looked and felt believable. Because of how well they seemed to get along, I was hoping Dan and Mary’s friendship would gradually become a romance. Mary and Dan’s chemistry was such a pleasant surprise in A Circle of Children!

Creating a complex character: One of the teachers at the Children’s School for Special Education is Helga. At first, she and Mary don’t see eye to eye due to how Helga treats the students. Some examples include making a child plunge the toilet and intentionally hiding a young girl’s (literal) security blanket. But as the story goes on, Mary, as well as the audience, learns Helga actually has good intentions for the students. In fact, she wants the children to succeed just as much as Mary does. It would have been so easy for A Circle of Children’s creative team to present Helga as a one-dimensional mean teacher. Instead, the screenwriting and Rachel Roberts’ performance created a character that was complex, representing how, sometimes, approaches to education aren’t straightforward. Helga’s complexity made her a memorable character as well!

What I didn’t like about the film:

Only becoming familiar with characters: A Circle of Children consists of a large cast of characters. That’s because most of the characters are students from the Children’s School for Special Education. But A Circle of Children has a run-time of an hour and thirty-six minutes, leaving the audience with not enough time to truly get to know the characters. The film’s run-time actually forces the audience to either only become familiar with the characters or not getting to know them at all. Had A Circle of Children received a longer run-time, more opportunities to show Mary getting to know her students and help them could have been provided in the story.

Scene transitions that weren’t smooth: If a movie features smooth transitions between scenes, they can not only help the audience process the story unfolding, they can also maintain the film’s overarching pace. But in the case of A Circle of Children, choppy scene transitions sometimes created emotional whiplash. In one glaring example, Mary and her husband, Larry, confess to their daughter, Liz, of their recent separation. This confession is so upsetting, Mary herself appears to be on the verge of crying. However, the very next scene shows Mary being interviewed for a teaching aide position at the Children’s School for Special Education. This scene is intended to be less sad than the scene I previously described. To me, the transition between these two scenes felt jarring because the transition itself was choppy and abrupt.

Solutions happening for the sake of plot and time convenience: Within the first fifteen minutes of A Circle of Children, a young girl named Sarah is enrolled at the Children’s School for Special Education. According to Sarah’s mother, Sarah is unable to stand or walk. She’s also so attached to a blanket that she continuously screams at the top of her lungs if the blanket is taken away from her. For half the movie, though, Sarah is a static character. She’s either shown lying on the floor sucking her thumb or screaming because she can’t find her blanket. But at a Christmas party that takes place a little more than halfway through the movie, Sarah not only randomly starts walking, she also willingly trades her blanket for a doll. While I was happy to see Sarah achieving progress, I wish this progress was gradually woven into the script. Because Sarah suddenly achieved progress after being a static character for half the movie, the moment itself felt like it was written into the story for the sake of plot and time convenience.

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My overall impression:

In the introduction of this review, I said I haven’t found a made-for-tv movie from the 1970s I actually like. Sadly, A Circle of Children will not be the film to change that. The 1977 production isn’t a bad movie. In fact, it has its merits, especially when it comes to the acting performances. But I found the story itself to be too “slice of life” for my liking. Plus, there were other flaws that stood out to me, such as the run-time and choppy scene transitions. Looking back on A Circle of Children, however, I will admit my gratitude for its existence at all. This movie is like a time capsule when it comes to Special Education, giving viewers a glimpse into how this specific topic was approached in the 1970s. Though the film only shares one teacher’s perspective, it does express themes of helping others reach their full potential, working together to achieve a common goal, and not giving up on others. The creative team behind A Circle of Children definitely had their hearts in the right place. Now that I’ve finally seen this movie, it’ll be interesting to see where the story in Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II goes from here.

Overall score: 6 out of 10

Have you seen A Circle of Children? Are you looking forward to my review of Lovey: A Circle of Children, Part II? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Evenings At The Shore: Sooner Than Expected

On August 30, 2021September 5, 2021 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

As I mentioned in my season five premiere re-cap, I was looking forward to learning more about Luke and discovering why he is the way he is. Figuring any information about this new character wouldn’t come right away, I expected to wait until it was revealed in an upcoming episode. But in this episode of Chesapeake Shores, Luke shared more about his backstory than I thought he would. Because it is only the third episode of the season, I was surprised by how soon this information came. At the same time, receiving these pieces of the story now is probably for the better. Now that the foundations of Luke’s character are being placed together, we have a starting point of where Luke could go from here. However, we’ll probably have to wait for that to be discovered, as we’re only toward the beginning of the season.

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of Chesapeake Shores, there are spoilers in this re-cap.

Season: 5

Episode: 3

Name: Are the Stars Out Tonight?

Abby’s story: Abby is having difficulty reaching a new client named Evan Kincaid. He’s interested in building a hotel in Chesapeake Shores, but the soil surrounding underground pipes in contaminated with asbestos. One day, at the O’Brien family home, Mick and Abby discover why they have been struggling to contact Evan. Through a Zoom video call, they learn Evan has been mountain climbing in New Zealand, which means Evan is in a different time zone than Abby and Mick. During this call, Evan reveals he might pull out of the project. But Abby convinces Evan to check out Chesapeake Shores, giving him a sales pitch on why her hometown is, in fact, prime real estate. Later in the episode, Evan arrives at the building site, riding a Hoverboard. He says he arrived early to view the property, saying it reminds him of his home in Ireland. But he’s still not convinced of the project’s reality. While crossing paths with Evan at the mini golf course, Abby explains how the asbestos in the soil can be easily removed in a short amount of time. Evan tells her that if he gets a Birdie, he’ll reconsider. Since he does get a Birdie, he stays true to his promise. Toward the end of the episode, Evan surprises Abby to showing up at the O’Brien family home. He agrees to go through with the hotel project, only if Abby is the lead contractor. Evan says this is a perfect business plan because they not only don’t like each other, but that Abby also tells things like it is.

Mick’s story: While sitting by the outdoor fireplace, Mick learns that Abby offered Thomas their Hampton property as potential office space. He is unhappy to hear this, telling Abby he doesn’t want to risk ruining his relationship with his brother again by working together with him. As Abby reveals, this concern is partly due to Evan’s hotel project and the Dilpher case. Several days later, through a conversation between the brothers, it is revealed that Thomas loves the Hampton property. While talking about a past business project, they become distracted by old photographs. This is because Abby and Megan are searching through photo albums, in an attempt to find pictures for Jess’s wedding. When they come across a photo of a camping trip from 1967, Mick and Thomas reminisce about their camping experiences. This inspires them to take a weekend camping trip, promising to discuss the Hampton propriety during the trip.

Megan’s story: While shopping at a local store, Megan comes across a painting of Chesapeake Shore by an artist named Arthur Driscoll. After discovering the painting’s eight-dollar price tag, Mick, who happens to be shopping with Megan, agrees to buy the painting for her. Megan explains that Arthur was a well-known artist in the ‘60s, but fell off the map in the ‘70s. She also reveals that if the painting was created by Arthur, it could be financially valuable. At the O’Brien family home, Megan continues to inspect the painting, trying to locate a signature. She experiences difficulty contacting Arthur as well. She eventually receives a phone call from the artist, only to have him rudely give his blessing to display the painting anywhere Megan’s heart desires. This doesn’t stop Megan from continuing to contact Arthur. She tells Kevin she has ridden on her bike past the artist’s house. Megan says that she also turned to Nell for any information. Nell told Megan she used to be close with Arthur, but lost touch when his wife died. Several days later, Megan visits Arthur at his home, bringing the painting with her. After unenthusiastically answering the door, he recognizes the painting as one of his own. Arthur also tells Megan she paid too much for it, after Megan reveals she only paid eight dollars for the painting.

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Luke’s story: Luke arrives at The Bridge while Thomas and Mick are having a conversation. Instead of being an interruption, Luke is given the opportunity to be introduced to both men. While Luke is telling Mick about his search for employment, Mick reveals how The Bridge is having electrical and plumbing problems. After volunteering to look at the fuse box, Luke quickly discovers the issue. Mick is not only impressed with Luke’s electrical knowledge, but also agrees to hire him. On his first night at The Bridge, Luke tells Mick he fixed the aforementioned plumbing problems. He also asks Mick for a favor. Luke wants Mick to keep a record of his employment. He reveals that he will give this information to his parole officer. After Luke embarrassedly leaves The Bridge, Mick demands to know what has been going on. Luke shares that, years ago, he dropped out of college after his dad died, in order to take care of his mom. After his mom died, he started to lean more toward alcohol. One night, while consuming a lot of alcohol, Luke got into a bar fight with another patron. This fight not only caused the patron to become seriously injured, but it also caused Luke to get arrested for assault and battery. Even though his original sentence was three years, he got out after two for good behavior. Mick appreciates Luke’s honesty and agrees with work things out with Luke.

Bree’s story: At the University of Maryland, Bree shares one of her lesson plans with Jerome. She tells him her play-writing class will revolve around memoir writing. During this conversation, Bree asks Jerome why he became a professor, after dreaming of becoming a politician in high school. Jerome shares that law school was his original plan. But after reading The Great Gatsby, he fell in love with reading and didn’t look back. Later, in Chesapeake Shores, Bree is struggling to come up with an introduction for her class. After Kevin agrees to hear Bree’s ideas, he suggests she find a way to grab her students’ attention. This causes her to think of a quote from one of her favorite writers, one that revolves around what the writer wants the reader to hear. Kevin’s advice and the aforementioned quote give Bree the confidence she needs for her new job.

Connor’s story: Connor is still working on the unequal pay case that was mentioned in the season five premiere. He, Linda, and Margaret attend the case’s hearing, to determine whether the case will go to trial. When the judge asks Connor if he agrees that men have more physical strength than women, Connor says he agrees. But he also says that women are capable of having emotional strength, using his sisters as an example. At his next hearing appearance, Connor reveals the case’s issue is not necessarily about unequal pay, but unequal employment opportunities. His findings show that women are being denied job offerings for fork-lift operator. As the case goes on, Linda and Margaret are pleased with Connor’s work. One day, at the firm, Connor sees Paul Dilpher and Linda go into her office. Connor later tells Linda that Paul is trying to fight his father in court, which would cause a conflict of interest. Linda assures Connor that as long as he isn’t given information about the case, everything will be fine.

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Some thoughts to consider:

In this episode of Chesapeake Shores, Kevin is looking for a swimmer to join his Triathlon team. This Triathlon has been brought up a few times this season, so far. It provides a consistent part of the story, as well as giving the fans something to look forward to. With the introduction of Luke, I wonder if he will join Kevin’s team? We already know Luke is athletic and he is familiar with the O’Brien family. Since Luke doesn’t have any known family, maybe he will be “adopted” by the O’Briens?
As I mentioned in this re-cap, Nell tells Megan she was close with Arthur. When I heard Megan tell Kevin this, it made me wonder if Arthur and Nell will form a relationship? Throughout the course of this series, Nell hasn’t been given many stories of her own. In fact, her presence hasn’t been as consistent as the other members of the O’Brien family. If Nell and Arthur did form a relationship, it would be a win-win for the both of them. Not only would Nell receive a new story, but Arthur could also have the opportunity to grow as a character.
During this episode’s credits, there was an announcement about Jess and David’s wedding. It stated that there were two episodes left until the wedding would air on the show. What surprises me is how the wedding is being shown in the middle of the season instead of the season finale. This decision reminds me of how most of the weddings on When Calls the Heart have taken place in the middle of a season.

Evening view from the shore image created by 0melapics at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/landscape-in-a-swamp-at-night_1042860.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by 0melapics – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Are you looking forward to seeing Mick and Thomas’s camping trip? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Chesapeake Shores!

Sally Silverscreen

Evenings At The Shore: Chasing Ghosts

On August 22, 2021August 29, 2021 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

It was interesting to hear ghosts brought up in this episode of Chesapeake Shores. One of Abby’s daughters says Mick’s pancakes look like a ghost. Trace tells Abby that, while living in Chesapeake Shores, he has been “chasing ghosts”. As I listen to what was said, I realize how the characters on this show have been doing the same thing as Trace. Each member of the O’Brien family has dealt with their own traumas, troubles, and trials. Even characters like Luke and Jerome seem to be wrestling with their own demons. The important thing to remember is that everyone will have a different reaction when they finally face their “ghosts”. They will also come face-to-face with these “ghosts” in their own time. For now, though, let’s re-cap this episode of Chesapeake Shores!

Just a reminder: If you did not see this episode of Chesapeake Shores, there may be spoilers within this re-cap.

Season: 5

Episode: 2

Name: Nice Work If You Can Get It

Abby’s story: Abby continues to work alongside Mick. But because of Dilpher’s case, potential and current clients have stayed clear of Mick’s firm. At a job site, two of Mick’s clients want to talk with him privately about the case. Abby steps in and defends Mick, reminding them of how he took on a chance on their business. Not swayed by Abby’s speech, they back out of their business partnership with Mick. Before this exchange, Mick makes Abby his official business partner. This is because he’s known since Abby was six that she wanted to work with her dad. Abby is also dealing with the aftermath of her breakup with Trace. Shown through flashbacks, Trace gives his half of The Bridge to Mick and moves out of Chesapeake Shores. He claims that everything about the town reminds him of Abby and that he needs to find a missing piece of himself. At the end of the episode, Abby asks Kevin how long it took him to heal from his breakup with Georgia, his fiancé from season one. Kevin tells his sister it took a while.

Jess and David’s story: Jess is at a crossroads after receiving the prenuptial agreement. She wants to tell David about it, but she doesn’t want to make him upset. So, she tries to avoid the subject as much as possible. Before David’s parents leave, Mrs. Peck gives Jess a diamond bracelet. She and Abby believe this could be a bribe, Mrs. Peck’s attempt to pressure Jess. Later in the episode, when the O’Brien family are surrounding the campfire, Jess comes clean about the agreement Mrs. Peck gave her. David confesses he already knew about it because he found it tucked away in a laundry basket. He also says he burned the papers in the campfire. They both promise to be more honest with one another, which leads David to reveal that the bracelet was not only real diamond, but that it was also a gift from his mother and aunt.

Bree’s story: At the beginning of the episode, Bree tells Abby that, while in England, she had dinner with Simon and his new girlfriend. She also reveals she felt nervous and homesick during her stay. When she is loading clothing donations into her car, she shares with Mick that Jerome, her high school nemesis, made her feel less than. Mick apologizes for not knowing how hurt Bree was. Bree’s revelations don’t stop there. At the clothing donation bin, she runs into Luke, Kevin’s former classmate from the previous episode. She shares she had a crush on him back in high school. When she arrives at the University of Maryland, she learns more about Jerome than she bargained for. Not only did he like her book, he also enjoyed her play. He also tells her how he was unlikable in high school because he had difficulty getting to know others. After Jerome shares the reason why she didn’t make the debate team, because he felt she was a better debater than him, Bree starts to gain a better understanding of Jerome.

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Kevin’s story: One again, Kevin goes to the gas station where Luke works. He tells Luke how Mick owns The Bridge and is looking for employees. Luke turns down Kevin’s offer, saying he isn’t looking for charity. However, Kevin’s words must have had an effect on him. Later in the episode, Luke crosses paths with Bree. When he brings up the job offer, Bree encourages Luke to take it. During this conversation, Luke quotes literature by telling Bree that when it comes to life, “it goes on”. After this exchange, Luke takes a shirt and a pair of boots from the clothing donation bin. Meanwhile, Kevin provides a shoulder to lean on for Abby. He gives her advice about moving on after a breakup and reminds her how strong the Irish are.

Mick’s story: Mick and Abby are still dealing with the effects of Dilpher’s case. While Abby is suggesting to take on some new clients, Mick wants to focus on the projects they already have. Throughout this episode, Mick starts to regret working as hard as he did years ago. When talking with Bree about Jerome, Mick is surprised to discover how much Jerome hurt Bree. He also shares with Abby how he missed so much because of his career. However, they are able to relate to how imperfect parenting is.

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Some thoughts to consider:

Compared to last week’s episode, this episode felt anticlimactic. While things were happening within the overarching story, we didn’t receive much information about the individual storylines introduced in the season premiere. Luke’s backstory is still unknown, Connor’s story was not addressed, and Kevin was barely featured in this episode. In a storyline where we did receive answers, Trace and Abby’s breakup, it played out in such an uneventful way. I know this is only the second episode of the season, but I was hoping for something a little more exciting.

While it’s great to see Bree enter a new chapter in her career, it makes me wonder who has been running her bookstore this whole time? Is Bree’s bookstore still in business or did she sell it prior to the events of the fifth season? I hope this is addressed in an upcoming episode.

Before the O’Brien family starts their campfire, Jess can be seen wearing a white denim jacket. When she turns to leave the house, a crystal angel wing design is displayed on the jacket’s back. This is one of my favorite pieces from Jess’ wardrobe! It not only compliments Jess’ personality, but I would love to own a jacket like that!

What are your thoughts on this episode? How do you feel about Trace and Abby breaking up? Please let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Chesapeake Shores!

Sally Silverscreen

Evenings At The Shore: The Department of Time

On August 17, 2021 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Due to a scheduling conflict, I’m posting this re-cap later than I hoped. But, like my other re-cap posts, I will continue to help viewers by delivering these re-caps as quickly as realistically possible. In the season premiere, as Jay was walking on the beach with Abby, he says he wants to make a complaint to The Department of Time. This is because Jay wishes the summer lasted longer. While reflecting on this part of the script, I think about how Jay’s statement could apply to television shows, especially those from Hallmark. I’ve heard from fans over the years how they wished the seasons lasted longer, wanting to see the network expand the show past ten episodes. But, as the age old saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever”. As Chesapeake Shores returns for their fifth chapter, let’s appreciate the time who do have with these characters and their world.

Just a reminder: If you did not see the season premiere of Chesapeake Shores, there may be spoilers within this re-cap.

Season: 5

Episode: 1

Name: A Kiss is Still a Kiss

Abby’s story: Abby is enjoying her new job at her father’s business firm. She is also spending more time with Jay. But what her family has noticed is how she has avoided talking about Trace. They give Abby as much time and space as she needs, allowing her to decide when she’ll open up about that subject. One day, as the O’Brien family are about to play a game, Bree asks Abby what really happened between her and Trace. Shown throughout the episode in short flashbacks, Abby explains that she had an argument with Trace about their future. She feels that they might have loved their memories more than each other. Trace disagreed, telling Abby he cares about his music and her. Meanwhile, Abby discovers just how talented of an artist her daughter, Kerry, is after volunteering for an upcoming parent-teacher meeting. When Abby sees one of Kerry’s paintings, she is blown away by her daughter’s talent. Even Jay gives Kerry words of encouragement. While Kerry is appreciative of these compliments, she thinks her painting could have been better.

Mick and Megan’s story: At home, Mick and Kevin are putting the finishing touches on a porch-swing. After their project, Kevin asks Mick if he thinks he’ll be a good father. Even though Mick has confidence in his son, he tells Kevin to fight for his marriage. Mick says this after he admits that he and Megan were poor planners. During this conversation, Kevin asks Mick if he and Megan are getting back together. Mick simply says that things are going. He then calls Megan and asks if she’d like to go on a date, with Megan saying yes. Later in the episode, Megan and Mick go on their date to a fancy restaurant. During their date, Mick’s former business partner, Dilpher, shows up at the restaurant with his wife. At first, Mick refuses to leave. But when Dilpher comes up to Megan and Mick’s table to say hello, Mick shows him animosity due to his legal decision from the previous season. At this point, Mick and Megan decide to leave the restaurant. On the boardwalk, Mick shares his concerns over his reputation. Megan tells him how people will see his honesty.

Kevin’s story: Kevin wakes Sarah up on the morning of their second month anniversary. During this time, Kevin shares his ideas for Irish baby names. Not satisfied with Kevin’s ideas, Sarah says she’ll choose the names. Later in the episode, Kevin gets gas at a local gas station. While he is paying, Kevin notices that the man behind the counter is a former classmate named Luke. Luke is very short with Kevin, blocking Kevin’s opportunities of starting a conversation. This makes Kevin wonder why Luke has become this way. One morning, as Kevin is jogging through the park, he sees Luke again. This time, Luke is getting ready for work near his truck.

Paint palette image created by Freepik at freepik.com <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-artsy-tools_836777.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a> <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/hand”>Hand vector created by Freepik</a> Image found at freepik.com

Jess and David’s story: As Jess and David plan their wedding, they make the decision to get married in Chesapeake Shores. Their challenge is to convince David’s parents that getting married in Chesapeake Shores is a good idea. After inviting Mr. and Mrs. Peck to The Inn at Eagle Point and sharing their wedding plans, David’s parents agree with Jess and David’s decision. However, they personally wish David and Jess got married at their home in Wales. Mr. Peck tells Mick this in an attempt to change Jess’s mind. However, after Mick shares this conversation with Jess, Jess stays firm in her choice. Meanwhile, Mrs. Peck advises Jess to consider signing a prenuptial agreement. When Jess receives the paperwork, she is dismayed by that concept.

Bree’s story: Bree returns from England, already sick of tea and bad weather. One day, while at Sally’s Café, she receives a job offer from the University of Maryland. During her conversation with Jess, who also happens to be at the café, Bree discovers that the job is a playwright teaching position. But she also discovers the head of the Humanities department is her high school nemesis, Jerome. At first, she is upset by this news. Later in the episode, as she is talking with Abby and Jess, Bree decides to not show Jerome any fear.

Connor’s story: Connor has found success working at Linda’s law firm. The lawyers, including one named Louis, seem to like him. While working on a case related to wages, Connor becomes friends with a co-worker named Margaret. She not only shares her thoughts on the topic, but she and Connor learn they have some things in common. During a meeting involving Connor’s wage case, Linda is called out of the meeting due to a pre-set appointment. This appointment is with Dilpher, Mick’s former business partner. Dilpher is looking for a lawyer who will help him win his case. Linda thinks pairing Connor with Dilpher would be a good way to get back at Mick.

Wedding postcard created by Kraphix at freepik.com.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/postcard-for-a-wedding-invitation_1058640.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding vector created by Kraphix – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

Last year, I wrote a post titled ‘Top 10 Things I’d Like to See in Chesapeake Shores’ Fifth Season’. In this post, I said I wanted to see Kerry and Caitlyn receive their own subplot. I liked seeing Kerry’s character development in this episode. While it’s only the start of the season, learning more about her interests could, hopefully, lead to a subplot for at least one of Abby’s daughters. Also, I discovered on Hallmark’s website that I’ve been spelling Kerry’s name incorrectly. So that is the reason why I will be spelling Kerry’s name like this from now on.
As I already said, this is only the beginning of the season. However, I’m already noticing a change in the script. I’ve said before in my Evenings At The Shore re-caps that seasons three and four made the show’s overall quality plateau, placing more emphasis on the relationship drama. In the aforementioned post, ‘Top 10 Things I’d Like to See in Chesapeake Shores’ Fifth Season’, I hoped the relationship drama would be toned down in the upcoming season. In the season premiere, it looks like a healthy balance between a character and plot driven story has returned! I hope this continues throughout the season!
Speaking of stories, Kevin’s story seems the most interesting so far! I’m looking forward to learning more about Luke and discovering why he is the way he is. This story certainly gives me a reason to stay invested in season five!

What are your thoughts on the season premiere? Which storyline are you excited to see unfold? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Chesapeake Shores!

Sally Silverscreen