I can’t believe we’re already half-way through the 5^th season! Time really does fly when you’re celebrating a wedding, saving a town’s finances, or visiting your favorite Canadian small town. The creative team behind When Calls the Heart has, once again, not failed us in providing stories that are fantastically written and engaging. This leads Hearties, like myself, to want to come back for more stories and see how they unfold for our favorite characters. The writing is just one of many things that make When Calls the Heart as special as it is. Now it’s time to talk about this latest episode re-cap!

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

Season: 5

Episode: 6

Name: Love and Marriage

Major Stories:

• Jack and Elizabeth enjoy their new life as newlyweds. The early honeymoon ends abruptly when they find out the bank is threatening to take away Jack’s plot of land due to legal contractual reasons. Mr. Jenkins tells Jack that if he wants to keep his land, he only has a few days to pay the bank. Elizabeth considers asking her father for some financial help, but Jack assures her that he will figure something out before it’s too late. One day, at Abigail’s Café, Elizabeth reveals her and Jack’s situation to Abigail. Upset by this recent news, Abigail confronts Mr. Jenkins and persuades him to let Jack keep his land. The bad news keeps coming when Jack shares that he accepted a Mountie assignment where he trains young Mounties, causing him and Elizabeth to be apart for two months. This destroys their previously planned honeymoon to Chicago. Elizabeth tries to make the best of the situation by suggesting their honeymoon take place during the trip to Jack’s Mountie assignment. On the morning of their trip, Mr. Jenkins shares that Jack will be able to keep his land after all, especially if Jack hands in his payments on time. Both Jack and Elizabeth are pleasantly surprised when they find out that Abigail helped to change Mr. Jenkins’ mind.

 

• At recess, Phillip and his friends are playing baseball. During the game, Phillip misses a ball that was aimed toward his glove. A few days later, Elizabeth notices that Phillip is having difficulty seeing the board. Remembering how discouraged Phillip seemed after the baseball game, she convinces Phillip to go visit Dr. Carson after school. When they visit Dr. Carson, he discovers that Phillip needs glasses. After receiving his glasses, Phillip realizes that his vision improved, despite dealing with some teasing. A few days later, Phillip confesses to Elizabeth that, after receiving his glasses, he started getting bad headaches. When Elizabeth and Phillip take another trip to Dr. Carson’s office, Dr. Carson shares with Elizabeth that Phillip has a medical condition called glaucoma, which causes blindness if not taken care of quickly. Frank later volunteers to take Phillip to the children’s hospital in Cape Fullerton, where he will receive the proper treatment.

Minor stories:

• Because of the lack of funding in Hope Valley, neighbors have been encouraged to donate unwanted items to those in need. A student from Elizabeth’s class, Laura, receives a coat containing a letter that was hidden in one of the pockets. She asks Bill to help her find the intended receiver of the message, especially since he was an investigative detective. After some persuading from Laura, Bill gives in to helping her. They ask almost everyone in Hope Valley about the letter, but no one seems to know who wrote it. While examining the coat, Bill notices that a piece of red hair is found on the coat. Assuming that it belongs to Molly, they ask her about at the Mercantile. Unfortunately, she denies ever owning that coat. In a last attempt to solve the mystery, Bill and Laura visit Abigail, asking her if she knows anything about the letter. Right when Bill and Laura are about to leave the Café, Abigail remembers that Florence’s husband wrote the letter before he passed away. After this conversation, Bill and Laura find Florence to present the letter to her. Florence is not only moved by this new-found sense of closure, she is also pleased with how her old coat looks on Laura.

 

• After Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding, Rosemary starts to become jealous of the couple’s relationship. She reminiscences about her wedding day and misses the feeling that came afterwards. Determined to overcome her jealousy, she decides to do small favors for Lee, such as making him lunch. Unfortunately, these good intentions don’t work out as Rosemary had hoped. Lee starts to figure out what is happening with Rosemary as she looks at her and Lee’s wedding album. One evening, Lee surprises Rosemary by setting up a candlelit dinner and presenting her with tickets to The Pirates of Penzance. He reminds her that even though they’re not newly-weds anymore, he will always love her.

 

• While Frank is staying in Hope Valley, he and Abigail spend as much time together as possible. During this time, Abigail notices that Frank talks a lot about his volunteer work with the children’s hospital in Cape Fullerton. Several days later, she confesses to Elizabeth that she feels Frank’s heart is somewhere else. When it is revealed that Phillip needs medical treatment in Cape Fullerton, Frank volunteers to take him to the children’s hospital. Before Phillip and Frank leave Hope Valley, Abigail accepts Frank’s decision to continue volunteering at the children’s hospital instead of staying in Hope Valley.

Some thoughts to consider:

• Now that Jack will be training young Mounties, I wonder if the storyline of Jack bringing a young Mountie to Hope Valley looking for “Christmas inspiration” will be incorporated into this year’s Christmas movie? Last year, this specific plot was a part of the official synopsis for When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree. I was so excited to see this story come to life on-screen, wanting to know more about the “young Mountie” character. Sadly, this plot was taken out of the movie, so I’m hoping this story gets a second chance at being told (especially since it makes sense with what’s going on in the series).

 

• I’m kind of disappointed that Jack will be temporarily absent from the rest of the season (again). When he left Hope Valley in the middle of the fourth season, the rest of that season felt like something was missing. I was honestly hoping that his character wouldn’t go on an extended leave this season, but I guess we can’t get everything we want. I just hope Jack can return in the Christmas movie later this year.

What are your thoughts on this episode? What was your favorite story? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

 

Link to the When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree synopsis that I referenced in my re-cap post: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/christmas/2017-holiday-movies-preview/20#listheader

I’ll be honest with you, there was a lot going on in this episode of When Calls the Heart. It felt like an episode before a season finale. This seems strange, considering that we’re about halfway through the season. But despite this, I thought the episode was engaging and entertaining! It asked several questions and provided some answers to them. This episode was almost like a mystery story, where the audience was given puzzles to solve alongside the characters. To answer this growing list of questions, let’s talk about When Calls the Heart’s most recent episode!

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

Season: 5

Episode: 4

Name: Open Hearts

 

Major Stories:

• At the beginning of the episode, Abigail tries to calm the people of Hope Valley as they fear for the financial future of their town. After this town gathering, Abigail is overwhelmed by the situation at hand. She reveals to Bill that doesn’t have a plan yet, but that she will quickly figure something out. The next day, Abigail talks to Henry at the lumber mill about the possibility of having him help to recruit investors in their cause. Henry turns down Abigail’s offer as he recognizes that his troubling past could cast a shadow on Abigail’s plan. Later in the episode, Abigail conducts a meeting in her office with all of Hope Valley’s merchants. She decides that until the bank can re-open again, all of the merchants will put customer’s purchases on credit. She also decides that if Hope Valley does acquire debts, she will sell a plot of land that the town happens to own. Before the meeting ends, all of the merchants agree to Abigail’s plan.

 

• Elizabeth notices one day that Jack is packing for an upcoming trip. Jack tells her that where he’s going is a surprise, leaving Elizabeth in the dark about Jack’s whereabouts and his experiences in the Northern Territories. During Jack’s brief absence, Elizabeth worries that Jack is hiding something from her and addresses her concerns to Abigail. Meanwhile in Hamilton, Jack pays Mr. Thatcher a visit to ask for his blessing. Mr. Thatcher expressed his concerns, at first, about whether Jack was a good choice for Elizabeth’s future husband. Jack successfully persuades Mr. Thatcher to approve of Jack and Elizabeth’s marriage, as well as look forward to their wedding. When Jack comes back to Hope Valley, he shares the news with Elizabeth, causing her to express happiness. Shortly after Jack’s news, she asks him to share his experiences in the Northern Territories. At first, Jack attempts to avoid the subject like before. But Elizabeth states that healthy couples are the ones that share their feelings with each other. This causes Jack to tell Elizabeth, later in the episode, about a tragedy he faced during his recent service as a Mountie.

  

 

Minor stories:

• One day during class, Elizabeth reveals that her entire class is invited to her and Jack’s wedding. She also shares that everyone will have a special role to play during the ceremonies. After class, Phillip asks Elizabeth what role he will get for the wedding. Elizabeth thinks that he would a perfect ring bearer, so she gives Phillip that responsibility. During recess several days later, Harper tells some other students that after his previous teacher got married, she resigned from her teaching job to raise a family. Phillip starts to fear that after the wedding, Elizabeth will abandon her class. One day, as Jack and Elizabeth plan to get eloped, Abigail tells them that Phillip has gone missing. Elizabeth knows that Phillip would go to his favorite spot near the lake, so she and Jack go to find him. When they do find Phillip, Elizabeth asks him why he seems upset. Phillip shares his fears to Elizabeth about the possibility of her leaving the class behind. She reassures him that Hope Valley is her home and that she’s not going anywhere anytime soon. As they return Phillip home, Jack and Elizabeth decide not to elope and get married in Hope Valley.

 

• Rosemary volunteers to help plan Elizabeth’s wedding. While it started with creating Elizabeth’s wedding dress, Rosemary recruits friends and neighbors to participate in planning the wedding. As the wedding comes together, Elizabeth feels that Rosemary means well, but has taken Elizabeth’s ideas out of proportions. Elizabeth is also concerned about the money that is going into the wedding, as Hope Valley is currently short on funds. Rosemary’s wedding planning obsession has also affected Lee, who tries to remind Jack about the color-scheme of the wedding. Jack tells him that he wants to wear his Mountie uniform instead of a suit. After a few days of feeling ignored, Jack and Elizabeth share that they want a simple wedding and that they will make all wedding plan decisions.

 

 

• At the lumber mill, Lee considers giving one of his employees a promotion. He asks Jesse if Henry is the right man for the job. Jesse shares his honest opinion, saying that Henry just started working at the lumber mill and that there are other employees that are more deserving of that promotion. Several days later, Henry and Jesse confront each other in town, with Henry accusing Jesse of having a personal bias against him. Clara happens to show up when this confrontation happens, where she stands up for Jesse. After this confrontation, Jesse and Clara realize that staying together as a couple makes more sense than being apart. They decide to continue pursuing their relationship.

 

• Sofia and Carson continue to stay friends as Sofia stays longer in Hope Valley. During their time together, Sofia expresses her concerns about still being unemployed. A few days, Carson gets a letter at the Merchantile, which is revealed to be from San Francisco. Right before Sofia leaves Hope Valley, Carson gives her the letter he received. This letter was actually for Sofia, informing her of a job offer from one of Carson’s friends. Sofia seems to be pleased by this news as she encourages Carson to visit her on the West Coast.

  

Some thoughts to consider:

• After this episode, there was a commercial for the next episode, where Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding will take place. I was surprised by this because I assumed that Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding would take place in the season finale. Now that it will happen halfway through the season, I wonder what the rest of Season 5 will be about?

 

• I think it was interesting when Henry told Abigail that she became a gambler when she was appointed as mayor. It reminded me of something Brian Bird, the Executive Producer of When Calls the Heart, said in his production journal back in Season 2. In this journal entry, Mr. Bird was describing how all the characters on the show were playing a figurative game of poker, where every detail needs to be paid attention to. Maybe our favorite characters will enter a second round of this continuous poker game, with no Heartie knowing how it ends.

What did you think of this episode? Are you excited for Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding? Let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

 

Link to Brian Bird’s production journal entry that I referenced in this re-cap post: http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/when-calls-the-heart/when-calls-the-heart-season-2-production-blog/episode-2005-heart-and-home#listheader

My re-cap post for When Calls the Heart has finally arrived (just like Jack returning to Hope Valley)! I can honestly say that I’m glad Jack is back on the show. When Calls the Heart did not feel the same without him and it always felt like something was missing. There are other stories from this episode that sparked my interest as well. So let me jump right into talking about this latest episode!

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

Season: 5

Episode: 3

Name: Home Is Where the Heart Is

Major Story:

• Lee meets with Mr. Jenkins, the owner of a private bank, to talk about taking money out of the bank in order to make payroll. Mr. Jenkins tells him during the meeting that the money will be available later in the week because the bank was short on funds. Later, at the lumber mill, Lee tells his employees that they won’t get paid that day. Henry Gowan, after hearing the news at the mill, pays a visit to Abigail to share the troubling news. She tells him that she will talk to Mr. Jenkins about the town’s finances, even though Henry suggested to take the town’s funds out of the bank as soon as possible. The next day, Abigail catches Mr. Jenkins as soon as he’s about to leave Hope Valley. She asks him about what’s going on at the bank. He reveals that the bank has made some bad investments, but are trying to quickly get more money. Mr. Jenkins tells Abigail before he leaves that he hopes to get a loan from another bank and bring better news to Hope Valley. Toward the end of the episode, the majority of the town meets up at the local bank to figure out what’s going on, with Mr. Jenkins running into his private office.

  

Minor stories:

• Jack Thornton comes back to Hope Valley among a group of Mounties. When he visits Elizabeth’s class, he reveals that the conflict in the Northern Territories is resolved, causing him to return home. Jack avoids talking about the conflicts in battle whenever people ask him to talk about it. During his return, Jack decides to start building his and Elizabeth’s future home. At the lumber mill, when he’s purchasing the lumber to build his future house, Lee gives him a discount and refers to Jack as a “hero”. Jack insists that he’s not a “hero” and graciously accepts Lee’s offer. Several days after Jack’s return, Jack and Elizabeth make their wedding announcement official, with Abigail and Rosemary as Elizabeth’s maids of honor and Lee and Bill as Jack’s groomsmen.

 

• After Elizabeth’s class receives a donation of a printing machine, Elizabeth introduces the class to the concepts of investigative journalism by starting a school newspaper. Hattie enthusiastically volunteers to be the editor, leading the class in the effort to find the right front-page story. After overhearing Florence and Katie Yost talk about the possibility of the lumber mill closing, Hattie tries to write about Florence and Katie’s conversation for the front-page of the school newspaper. When she sees a rough draft of the paper, Elizabeth tells Hattie how honest investigative journalism involves getting facts from more than one source, as well as first-hand eye-witness accounts. A few days later, Hattie sees another student, Harper, at Elizabeth’s desk. Thinking that he was cheating on a test, Hattie decides to write about the incident for the school paper. The next day, Elizabeth finds out that everyone in her class learned about Hattie’s story by reading the school paper. Because of that story, some students in the class have labeled Harper a “cheater”. When Elizabeth and Hattie talk about the situation before class, Elizabeth shares that Harper was really writing a thank you note, thanking Elizabeth for letting him borrow some study materials for an upcoming test. Later on in the episode, Hattie makes an apology to the class for putting the story in the paper. Hattie also apologized to Harper and they both agreed to make Harper the co-editor of the school paper.

 

• Rosemary’s friend, Sofia, comes to Hope Valley to surprise Rosemary. On the day of her arrival, Sofia and Rosemary catch up on everything that has happened to them recently, with Sofia revealing that she has trouble finding a job, even though she has an official architecture license. Rosemary gives Sofia some positive encouragement to bring her spirits up. The next day, Rosemary, Lee, and Sofia go to Abigail’s Café for dinner. At the restaurant, Carson stops by to eat his pre-made dinner. Rosemary introduces Sofia to Carson and the two of them seem to get along. On the second day of Sofia’s trip, Carson and Sofia go on a picnic, where their friendship slowly but surely starts to develop. Later that day, when Sofia tells Rosemary about the picnic, Rosemary is pleased that Sofia is having a good time in Hope Valley.

  

Some thoughts to consider:

• Something that stood out to me in this episode was Jack’s unwillingness to talk about his recent experiences as a Mountie, as well as the irritation he seemed to express during the conversation between him and Lee at the lumber mill. This has led me to speculate that maybe Jack is dealing with some sort of trauma from his latest Mountie experiences, choosing to hide it instead of addressing it. This would not be the first time Hallmark has incorporated stories of military veterans dealing with trauma after their service; Cedar Cove, Chesapeake Shores, and Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Lost Without You have all contributed to the discussion of that issue.

 

• Like I said in my review for Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride, I don’t understand why Hallmark is obsessed with the planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period cliché. The fact the Jack and Elizabeth are planning their wedding in two weeks reminded me of when Lee and Rosemary were planning their wedding back in Season 3, which felt really rushed to me. I’m kind of disappointed that Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding isn’t made a bigger deal in context with the show. Jack and Elizabeth (the lead couple on the show) finally getting married is exciting, but sadly, it doesn’t feel like it. I honestly think that their wedding should have taken place during a When Calls the Heart Christmas movie. Both Christmas movies that correlated with the show earned strong ratings and Hallmark has made several Christmas themed wedding movies in the past. If Jack and Elizabeth received a Christmas themed wedding, it might have been easier for the creative team to bring the actors who portrayed Thatcher and Thornton family members back to the show, giving Hearties a first glance at the interaction involving both families. Also, a memorable story about the spirit of Christmas and the themes of family could have made for a well fleshed-out story.

  

What are your thoughts about this episode? Are you excited about Jack and Elizabeth getting married? Please share your thoughts in the comment section!

 

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Thanks for coming back for another re-cap post for When Calls the Heart! One thing I like about this show is each character has a quality about them that makes you want to root for them. Everyone on When Calls the Heart is special in his or her own way, offering their talents and perspectives to each story as it unfolds. Speaking of stories, it’s time for me to talk about the second episode of the fifth season!

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

Season: 5

Episode: 2

Name: Heart and Minds

Major Story:

• A representative from the railroad company informs Abigail and Bill that a depot will not be built in Hope Valley. He explains to them that the railroad company has made some contractual negotiations and decided to build the depot in a neighboring town. Upset about the railroad company not keeping their word, Abigail invites the representative to talk about the issue in her café. During their conversation, the representative reveals that he is also a lawyer, explaining that he has extensive knowledge about contracts like the railroad company’s. Still feeling troubled about the situation, Abigail decides to host a town meeting to discuss this very issue, even inviting the representative to hear what the people of Hope Valley have to say. At the town meeting, other Hope Valley citizens have expressed their concerns about the absence of a depot, this moment occurring after days of uncertainty and fear of Hope Valley’s future. Toward the end of the meeting, Elizabeth and her class come into the saloon to show the representative that the depot’s absence also affects Hope Valley’s children. After Cody makes a heartfelt speech about his mom’s honesty and his teacher’s lessons about telling the truth, the representative starts to reconsider. The next day, it is revealed that the depot will not only be built in Hope Valley, but also in the originally planned neighboring town.

  

Minor stories:

• Julie is still under the apprenticeship of her sister, Elizabeth. When a student’s piece of artwork gets destroyed accidentally, Julie tries her best to handle the situation. However, Julie’s choices involving that situation have led one of the student’s parents to be critical of Julie’s ability to teach. After hearing about this criticism, Elizabeth makes an effort to guide her sister with some helpful teaching advice. Toward the end of the episode, Julie decides not be pursue teaching as a career, but instead focuses on being an artist. Also, Elizabeth fears for Jack’s life after reading a troubling headline from a local newspaper.

 

• While Rosemary is working at Dottie’s dress shop, she notices one of the women from Hope Valley, named Wilma, admires one of her dresses in the window display. Wilma explains to Rosemary that the dress would be perfect to wear on her anniversary. After some encouraging from Rosemary, Wilma finally agrees to try on the dress. When Wilma does try on the dress, everyone in the shop, including Wilma, marvels at how great the dress looks on her. After Wilma expresses her concern about the dress’s price, Rosemary offers a discount to help her afford the dress. The next day, Wilma and her husband bring the dress back to the shop, sharing their need to spend money on more practical items. Discouraged by the situation, Rosemary decides to give the dress pattern to Wilma so she can make a replica of the very same dress herself. On the night of their anniversary, Wilma surprises her husband by wearing the finished dress that she made. She also reveals to her husband why she wanted the dress in the first place. Rosemary and Lee help finalize the couple’s anniversary plans by letting them borrow Lee’s car.

  

Some thoughts to consider:

• Has anyone else noticed that Rip (Jack’s dog) and Dasher (Cody’s dog) have been omitted from the show? I know the dog who played Rip (Oscar) passed away last year, but I’m surprised that the show wouldn’t provide a brief explanation of their absence.

 

• I find it very odd that in the entire duration of When Calls the Heart, no one has mentioned the Titanic tragedy. The show takes place in the 1910s, so I would assume, as a Heartie, that at least one of the characters would have heard about it or would be affected by it in some way. I guess the characters on When Calls the Heart don’t pay attention to what’s going on in the world outside of Canada.

  

What did you think of this episode? What was your favorite moment? Please let me know in the comment section.

 

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Thank you for joining me for not only my first When Calls the Heart episode re-cap, but also for the season premiere re-cap! Just like the rest of the Hearties, I was just as excited for Season 5 to start. I couldn’t wait to see what adventure was in store for the show’s most precious characters. So, what am I waiting for? Let me get started talking about Season 5’s first episode!

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

When Calls the Heart poster image created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Poster image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=series&ShowTitle=When%20Calls%20the%20Heart%20Season%205&IsSeries=True.

 

Season: 5

Episode: 1

Name: Believing

 

Major Stories:

• Bill Avery and Abigail Stanton go to Cape Fullerton to take part in Henry Gowan’s trial. The only crime that Henry has left to be tried for is financial theft of government money. Bill is there to argue against Henry, believing that he should face the appropriate consequences. Abigail is arguing for Henry Gowan, feeling that he should get a second chance. During the trial, Bill brings up A.J. from Season 4, saying that Henry was directly involved in the financial theft and that he and Ray Wyatt (also from Season 4) threatened A.J. to keep quiet about the crime. Before a trial session, Henry reveals to Abigail that the reason why he stole the money is because, since he was a child from a simple background, taking things was the only way he has known how to get what he wanted. When she got to the stand, Abigail remembers how Henry protected Bill from Ray’s bullets in the previous season, using that example, as well as his past experience as mayor, to sway the judge in her and Henry’s favor. The judge rules Henry as guilty for his crime, but gives him a sentence of community service, adding previous jail time to his current sentence.

 

• Elizabeth’s sister, Julie, comes back to Hope Valley. She shares with Elizabeth that she wants to be a teacher and offers to be her apprentice during her stay. Elizabeth reluctantly agrees, but reflects on her sister’s past and thinks that this is just a phase. One evening, Elizabeth receives a letter from her parents and confronts Julie about it the next day. Julie confesses that she wasn’t being honest about her reasons for visiting her sister. She feels if she were honest, her parents would put an end to her plans. Toward the end of the episode, Elizabeth decides to give her sister a chance and puts her belief and faith in Julie.

 

• Carson starts noticing that some people in Hope Valley are receiving stomachaches. After talking with some of his patients, he discovers that they were taking a “miracle” tonic to cure other illnesses. After buying a bottle of the tonic from a traveling peddler, Carson finds out that arson is one of the “secret” ingredients, causing people to receive stomachaches. Opposed by what the peddler is doing, Carson steals the peddler’s wagon and hides it in the woods. Carson reveals to Lee what he had done when asked about the incident, resulting in both Carson and the peddler to be arrested. While in jail, Carson shares a story with the peddler about how one of his former patients almost died because of ingesting arson, hoping the peddler will be persuaded to remove the arson from his tonic. After spending a night in jail, the peddler agrees to create a new tonic, using approved ingredients from Carson’s medical notes. Carson helps the peddler get rid of the old product.

Minor Stories:

• Lee becomes temporary sheriff while Bill is in Cape Fullerton. Lee has his doubts about whether he can successfully carry out his new “duties”, while Rosemary provides him the moral support he needs. While Rosemary and Lee are having dinner at the saloon, Lee finds out that the traveling peddler’s wagon has been stolen. Quickly figuring out who the culprit is, Lee goes to visit Carson. When Lee asks Carson what happened, Carson admits that he stole the peddler’s wagon. Lee then arrests both Carson and the peddler, making them spend a night in jail. After Rosemary expresses her disapproval of Lee’s choice the next day, Lee explains that he was using his business experience to solve the problem, hoping that Carson and the peddler will work things out by simply being in the same room.

• While Clara is tending to Abigail’s Café during Abigail’s absence, Jesse notices that Clara seems upset. When he asks her about it, Clara refuses to say anything. The next day, Jesse goes to Clara’s place before the start of their date, when Jesse discovers that Clara has been crying. Jesse talks to her about it and Clara reveals that her anniversary to her late husband was on that same day. Feeling that she can’t move forward yet, she suggests to Jesse that they put their relationship on hold, with Jesse agreeing. One evening, Clara goes the saloon to drop off some food, only to find Jesse talking with Elizabeth’s sister, Julie. Assuming that Jesse moved on from their relationship, Clara leaves the saloon, appearing very upset. After gossip goes around that Julie could be trying to tear Clara and Jesse’s relationship apart, Julie later tells Elizabeth that she was really trying to help Clara and Jesse get back together.

  

 

Some thoughts to consider:

• While waiting for a trial session to start, Bill tells Abigail that the judge had a son who ran away when he was 16 and was never seen again. Could this son be Jesse Flynn? If you think about it, we know nothing about Jesse’s background prior to his appearance on the show in Season 3. This would give Jesse a bigger story arc than he has had before, with the show promoting the themes of family like it has done in the past.

 

• Since Julie is currently in Hope Valley (and will probably be there for Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding) and since Mr. Thatcher was featured in the Season 5 sneak preview commercial, could the rest of the Thatcher and Thornton family show up for Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding? There are six actors that Hallmark would have to convince to come back to the show, but it would not be an impossible task.

 

• This episode really made an effort to reference characters and events from past seasons. It seemed like the creators of When Calls the Heart were trying to test the knowledge of their fans, seeing how much the Hearties remembered about their favorite show. If you’re a fan of the Garage Sale Mystery series like I am, I’m pretty sure you noticed that Kevin O’Grady was the attorney for Henry Gowan! This makes Mr. O’Grady the second Garage Sale Mystery actor to appear alongside Lori Loughlin on When Calls the Heart.

  

What did you think about the season premiere? Do you have any predictions for upcoming episodes? Please let me know in the comment section!

 

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen