Tag: When Calls the Heart

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Very Important Hope Valley People

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

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

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 6

Name: Believe

Major stories:

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

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

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


Minor stories:

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

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


Some thoughts to consider:

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

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

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

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


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


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen














Sunset Over Hope Valley: Drawing Up a Grand Vision

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

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

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 5

Name: Stronger Together


Major stories:

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


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


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

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


Minor stories:

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

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


Some thoughts to consider:

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

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

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

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

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

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen








Sunset Over Hope Valley: An Easter Wish

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Back in season nine, I brought up how there had never been an Easter episode of When Calls the Heart. I hoped the holiday would appear in at least one episode of the tenth season. But two seasons later, I finally got my wish! As I mentioned in a past Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, faith/religion is only incorporated a limited number of times on the show. In fact, the only times faith/religion were included in the previous season was when Goldy was baptized and when Lee reminded Joseph how “the good Lord will provide”. When there were Christmas/holiday movies dedicated to bridging one season of When Calls the Heart with another, there were opportunities for faith/religion to be acknowledged. Since the show has abandoned creating seasonal films, this topic has made less appearances compared with older seasons. I know a show’s identity changes over time. However, I wish this part of When Calls the Heart’s foundation were more consistent.

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 4

Name: Along Came a Spider

Major stories:

Easter has arrived in Hope Valley! Lucas welcomes the holiday by making an Easter speech over the radio. He also hosts the first annual Easter egg hunt, which proves to be a success. However, Easter is not the only arrival in Hope Valley. Jeanette, a friend from Lucas’ past, shows up to place a bid on the incoming hotel. Lucas is uneasy because he believes Jeanette is still falling on the wrong side of the law. But throughout the episode, Jeanette reassures Lucas that she has changed her ways. Lucas is not convinced, rejecting Jeanette’s bid. As she leaves Hope Valley, Jeanette informs Elizabeth how she and Lucas were once engaged. Meanwhile, Bill has received the case file for Lucas’ case. He and Rosemary discover Pike’s fingerprints were only on the handle of the gun that shot Lucas. This leads them to believe Pike was framed.

Due to the revelation from the previous episode, a negotiation needs to be made between the mayors of Hope Valley and Benson Hills. Because Mike is technically Hope Valley’s mayor, he is forced to face Benson Hills’ mayor, who just happens to be his sister, Maisie. Lee also attends the meeting between Mike and Maisie, as he sold the land to Lucas. The meeting is not successful, with Maisie being close-minded and stubborn. She worries the hotel might attract the wrong crowd to Hope Valley. However, her perspective might have changed after meeting Mei. As their interaction carries on, Maisie discovers Mei is Mike’s girlfriend. Though the interaction was brief, it seems like Maisie approves of the relationship. Mike is discouraged by Maisie’s strong-willed perspective. However, Mei believes in Mike and feels he has the confidence to find an agreement between Hope Valley and Benson Hills.

Easter egg painting image created by Jcomp at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background photo created by jcomp – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

To prepare for the Easter egg hunt, Elizabeth’s students paint Easter eggs during class-time. Inspired by his mother’s eggs from “the old country”, Toby replicates the flower designs of his mother’s eggs. While Toby shares these eggs with Elizabeth, she realizes Toby is using division to create the flower designs. This simple activity solved Toby’s equation to his math problems! Cooper and Angela also solve an equation to a years long conflict! The siblings agree to write a letter to their uncle, Jacob, in their father’s name. Allie thinks this is a bad idea, but Cooper believes reuniting the brothers would be worth getting in trouble. While operating the phone lines at the Mercantile, Allie learns Jacob’s address. She passes this information on to Angela and Cooper.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

·       
As I mentioned in this re-cap’s introduction, I
finally got my wish of Easter being included in an episode! While I received
what I wanted, I didn’t receive it the way I wanted it. Showing an Easter egg
hunt is a nice way to have multiple characters interact with one another. But
not featuring an Easter sermon from Joseph was such a missed opportunity. Another
missed opportunity was not having the residents of Hope Valley sharing an
Easter feast. Overall, this episode just scratched at the surface when it came
to Easter.

·       
In my last re-cap post, I was confused by the
title of the fourth episode, “Along Came a Spider”. I wondered what the title
had to do with Easter. Looking back on this episode, my guess is the title
references the arrival of Jeanette. With that said, Jeanette seems more like a butterfly
than a spider. While she gave off a mysterious persona, there wasn’t anything mysterious
or shocking about her. Even her “secret” was ordinary. Despite this episode’s
trailer heavily promoting Jeanette’s arrival, I was underwhelmed by her
inclusion in the overall story.

·       
Even though the season hasn’t reached the
halfway point yet, this episode was the most “filler” one from season eleven,
so far. There was such little information given to the overarching stories, I
struggled writing this re-cap. As I just mentioned, Jeanette’s inclusion in the
overall story was underwhelming. I hope the upcoming episodes of this season
are stronger than this one was.

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


What are your thoughts on this episode? Which holiday would you like to see incorporated on the show? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen











Sunset Over Hope Valley: Solving the Equation

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In my last Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post, I brought up the subplot of Toby and Cooper studying for an upcoming math test, where Toby believed he didn’t have to study for the test because the test questions were the same as the math homework. At the time, I thought this subplot was random, as it wasn’t resolved in the episode. However, it was resolved in this episode, providing an explanation for Toby’s attitude toward the math test. As I watched When Calls the Heart, I thought about how creating a television show is like trying to solve a math equation. Every season, new characters are added to the story. A show’s creative team figures out how to utilize their funds, subtracting money from the show’s budget. Over time, a show attracts more fans, multiplying its viewership. But there are instances when a show’s creative team makes a controversial decision, which divides the fans. In order for a television show to be successful, and even stand the test of time, a creative team needs to work through the equation to find an answer!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 3

Name: Steps Forward

Major stories:

Lucas has returned to Hope Valley to finalize the sale of the saloon. The sale is a success, with Lee signing the official papers. While most people are excited about the new hotel, some Hope Valley residents are not pleased with the changes coming Hope Valley’s way. One of these residents is Jay Campbell. He shares with Lee his frustrations about how busy Lucas has become, believing he hasn’t been heard. Jay turns toward Rosemary in an attempt to catch Lucas’ attention through The Valley Voice. While Rosemary agrees to publish Jay’s thoughts, she also contacts Montague, hoping to not only get an official statement about the new hotel, but to also question him about Lucas’ case. Days later, Rosemary and Lee visit the site for the new hotel, along with Edwin, Lucas, Elizabeth, and her students. The purpose of this visit is to capture photos for an upcoming article. Randall, Rosemary’s rival reporter, attends as well to take pictures for his article. During this visit, Randall reveals how the site actually belongs to Benson Hills, a detail that slipped through the cracks. In this episode, Lucas receives a hotel bid from Montague, but turns it down.

Bill takes a trip to Capitol City in order to prove a theory. Through an experiment, Bill discovers how Pike wouldn’t have enough time to reach the gun’s hiding place, shoot Lucas, and get away in a short amount of time. This leads Bill to speculate a second person was involved. When Bill returns to Hope Valley, he shares his findings with Rosemary. She confesses how she’s planning on questioning Montague under the assumption the phone call is meant to capture Montague’s official statement about the new hotel. During the phone call, Rosemary and Bill learn Montague was at a party at the time Lucas was shot. He claims over a hundred people saw him at the event. Later in the episode, Bill acquires the train schedule from the night Lucas was shot. Rosemary found a newspaper article featuring a picture of Montague from the aforementioned party, with the photo taken after Lucas was injured. Despite the evidence claiming Montague was not involved in the case, Rosemary and Bill agree to not rule him out.

Chalkboard image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/mathematical-operation-written-on-blackboard_1357576.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.


Minor stories:

After school, Elizabeth confronts Toby about his math test. She shares how he didn’t get a good score. This encourages Toby to confess why he didn’t study for the test, stating how he can’t grasp the concept of math, specifically division. Elizabeth promises to help him with his academic issue. Later in the episode, Elizabeth finds Toby crying in the library. He tells Elizabeth how he fears he’ll never understand math. Until she and Toby figure out how to tackle the math issue, Elizabeth suggests not giving Toby any more math tests. Toby is not the only student of Elizabeth’s struggling with a problem. In the Canfield family, Cooper and Angela have a feud. This feud started because Cooper’s baseball was destroyed and Angela’s hair ribbon was used as a slingshot. The sibling’s feud leads Joseph to tell his children about his brother, Jacob. He shares how a feud caused them not to speak to each other. Joseph’s story encourages Angela and Cooper to apologize and replace the damaged items.


Mike and Mei celebrate their five-month anniversary. They want
the day to be special, so they brainstorm ideas. A few days later, Mei comes up
with the perfect date. She surprises Mike with a picnic, taking place on the
spot where the new hotel will be built. Their date is interrupted by the photo
shoot hosted by Rosemary and Randall. In Hope Valley, Faith feels it’s unsafe
to look after Lilly at the infirmary, as she can’t divide her time between
taking care of Lilly and treating her patients. Some of Hope Valley’s women
suggest starting a day dare center, with the idea quickly agreed upon. Henry
even gives the women his former office for free. After the day care’s
establishment, Lilly confesses how she doesn’t have an aunt. Faith allows Lilly
to call her “Auntie Faith”.

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.

Some thoughts to consider:

·       
The longer a television show has been on the
air, the more inconsistencies will appear on the program. When Calls the
Heart is no exception to this statement. After Jack Jr. was born, Elizabeth
relied on babysitters to look after her son. These babysitters have either been
the Coulters or one of her students. But when the day care is established,
Elizabeth takes advantage of the day care’s services by placing Jack Jr. in the
day care. She also makes it seem like finding a babysitter has been a struggle.
During Jack Jr.’s time on the show, Elizabeth has never expressed a problem
with recruiting a babysitter for Jack Jr. With Elizabeth’s attitude toward the
day care, it makes her story seem kind of inconsistent.

·       
In season six, an orphan named Spencer stayed
with the Coulters. Because he was traveling with Grace, the co-owner of an
orphanage, his time with the Coulters was limited, lasting only two episodes.
This reflection made me realize how long Lilly’s story has, so far, lasted. Not
only is she staying at The Café under Faith’s care, a day care was established
because of her and she now calls Faith “Auntie Faith”. These observations have
made me wonder what is the creative team’s ultimate goal for this story?
Perhaps something will happen that will cause Lilly to be adopted by someone in
Hope Valley?

·       
When reading the title names of When Calls
the Heart’s episodes, I’m sometimes left confused by how a title relates to
an episode’s story. The next episode serves as the perfect example. This season’s
fourth episode is titled “Along Came a Spider”. In this episode’s synopsis, the
first line reads “It’s Easter in Hope Valley”. Maybe the connection between the
title and the story will reveal itself when the episode airs. But as of the
publication of this re-cap, I question what spiders have to do with Easter?

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

What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you think Montague
hurt Lucas? Tell me in the comment section below!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen








Sunset Over Hope Valley: Lend a Helping Hand

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

This episode of When Calls the Heart shows Elizabeth planning a surprise party for Nathan. Because planning a party can be overwhelming, other residents of Hope Valley volunteer to help Elizabeth. Lending a helping hand is a common theme on the show. Hearties have witnessed individual characters act selflessly, from Rosemary donating bridesmaid dress material for bandages to Lucas sharing the magic of movies with Hope Valley’s residents. But when Hope Valley’s residents join together, Hearties see how anything is possible. Complications have reached solutions because the characters have worked together, putting their differences aside to reach a common goal. The help Hope Valley’s residents provide is genuine, coming from a place of goodness and charm. For me, this is what has made When Calls the Heart enjoyable to watch!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 2

Name: Tomorrow Never Knows

Major stories:

Elizabeth is reminded by Rosemary how Nathan’s birthday is just around the corner. When Elizabeth mentions this to Nathan, Nathan is convinced he’ll receive a surprise party due to Allie’s random decision to go fishing. After school one day, Elizabeth questions Allie about her plans for Nathan’s birthday. Allie confirms her plans only consist of going fishing. These plans change to both a fishing trip and a party because Nathan is still suspecting a party. Rosemary volunteers Elizabeth to plan the party, believing Elizabeth is capable of making this party a reality. As more residents find out about the party, they agree to help with party preparations. On Nathan’s birthday, he and Allie go fishing, where they don’t catch any fish. This works in Allie’s favor as she suggests having dinner at the saloon. At the saloon, Nathan is pleasantly surprised at how many people attended the party. He’s also surprised when Lucas later shows up.

Due to Lucas’ plans for the resort, he decides to sell the saloon. He feels hanging on the saloon would be a conflict of interest. This news makes Mike concerned for his job as saloon manager. When Lee looks at the saloon’s books, he discovers how profitable the establishment is due to Mike’s management. Lee plans on buying the saloon, but allowing Mike to continue managing it. Explaining this plan to Rosemary for the first time causes Rosemary to feel she and Lee don’t spend enough time together due to putting work first. He later explains to Rosemary how purchasing the saloon but allowing Mike to manage it would actually give them more time to spend together. Rosemary agrees to co-own the saloon after hearing Lee’s plan. She even suggests adding a stage to the saloon. When Mike learns of Lee and Rosemary’s plans, he is excited to keep his job.

Birthday cake image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/chocolate-birthday-cakes-collection_765437.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/birthday”>Birthday vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Rosemary is frustrated at being “scooped” by another newspaper reporter. While some of Hope Valley’s residents are impressed with the competition, Rosemary reads between the lines, discovering how Lucas’ case’s official statement was copied word for word. She figures her problem is how she lacks a source. So, Rosemary turns to Bill for help. Bill questions Rosemary’s interest in Lucas’ case, wondering if all she cares about is creating an exciting headline. Rosemary reassures Bill how she just wants to protect Lucas because he’s her friend. Later in the episode, Rosemary receives a mystery board from Lee.

Bill calls Mei and Mike “newlyweds” as he passes by the pharmacy. Mike and Mei appear a bit uncomfortable by this comment due to how their relationship hasn’t become serious yet. After this comment, Mei has been distant with Mike. Mike thinks he did something wrong, but Mei is afraid to engage in a serious romantic relationship because to a past relationship, as she confesses to Faith. At Nathan’s birthday party, Mei shares her fears with Mike. But all Mike wanted to do was ask Mei to dance.

Faith has her hands full not only running the infirmary, but
also looking after Lily. She is sometimes frustrated by how frequently Lily
changes her mind about things. However, Faith recognizes how much joy Lily has
brought to Hope Valley. While Faith reads a story to Lily, Lily questions where
the parents of the story’s protagonist are. Faith explains how the story’s
protagonist went to live with her aunts. This encourages Lily to ask about her
grandmother. Faith tells Lily how her grandmother is being taken care of at the
hospital. When Lily asks how long her grandmother will stay in the hospital,
Faith suggests Lily close her eyes and picture her grandmother, trying to help
Lily overcome her homesickness. While Lily takes Faith’s advice, Faith closes
her eyes and pictures Fiona.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

·       
I’ve always been confused on how to spell Allie’s
name. In When Calls the Heart’s promotional material, I have seen Allie’s
name spelled ‘Allie’ and ‘Ally’. To maintain consistency and prevent confusion
for my readers, I will be spelling Allie’s name ‘Allie’ for the remainder of
these re-caps.

At the café, Cooper and Toby study for a math test. Toby shares with Cooper how the test questions are the same as their math homework, so he feels he doesn’t have to study. Later in the episode, Minnie addresses what she overheard with Elizabeth as she’s grading the aforementioned math test. But this part of the story was not resolved. Toby is not confronted by Elizabeth and no lessons are learned. Because of everything I said, this subplot felt random.

·       
Henry comes back to Hope Valley! While talking
with Elizabeth, he shares how he visited Abigial and how Abigail wanted him to
be happy. Henry also volunteers to help the Canfields tend the trees in the café’s
backyard. During this episode, I noticed how much happier and calmer Henry
appeared. He seems to have adopted a genuine interest in Hope Valley’s agriculture
and foliage. Therefore, I’m curious to see how Henry’s story turns out this
season!

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

What are your thoughts on this episode? How many changes do you
think the saloon will endure? Please tell me in the comment section!


Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen







Sunset Over Hope Valley: Nathan’s Standing Ovation

On By 18cinemalane3 Comments

In this season premiere of When Calls the Heart, there were so many things that were inspiring enough to talk about in my re-cap’s introduction. However, I decided to focus on a quote I’ve referenced on my blog before. In the book, Wonder, the protagonist, Auggie, stated “Everyone in the world should get a standing ovation at least once in their life because we all overcometh the world.” After a criminal was caught by Nathan in this episode, everyone wants to give Nathan his “standing ovation”. But Nathan doesn’t feel he deserves it, as he thinks he just did his job. The idea of a worthy individual receiving a “standing ovation” is a nice one. However, in order for a “standing ovation” to take place, the person in question has to want it. This is a concept that isn’t explored often in stories. Therefore, I’m glad Nathan’s story gave me something to think about!

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

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

Season: 11

Episode: 1

Name: When Stars Align


Shortly after becoming Governor, Lucas gets shot by someone
he knows. When Bill learns of this news, he informs Nathan and Elizabeth of
what happened. During a phone call, Edwin, Lucas’ campaign assistant, shares
with Elizabeth how Lucas had to have surgery in order for the bullets to be
removed. After learning this, Elizabeth and Bill go to Capital City to visit
their friend. Lucas not only survives his ordeal, he is eager to start his new
journey as Governor. However, he doesn’t remember who shot him. While Lucas is
in the hospital, Henry pays him a visit. Lucas offers him a position on his
team. Though appreciative of Lucas’ offer, Henry turns it down. Later in the
episode, Lucas calls Rosemary and Lee. He informs them of an upcoming radio
announcement and thanks Lee for giving him a patch of land. On the day of the
announcement, Lucas reveals he will build a resort near Hope Valley, using the
land Lee gave him. It is a part of Lucas’ plan to improve Hope Valley and its
surrounding communities.


Four months after Lucas was shot, Nathan arrested Pike, a
man who confessed to shooting Lucas. A gun with Pike’s prints is also
discovered. Believing justice was served, everyone in Hope Valley congratulates
Nathan for saving the day. Everyone except Bill. He feels Lucas’ case was
solved too quickly. Bill also finds it odd how Montague was overlooked as a
potential suspect. During a private discussion, Bill shares his concerns with
Nathan. Nathan confesses how he has his own hunch about the case, as well as
requesting the case remain open. Nathan’s request was denied. Meanwhile,
Rosemary is desperate to become involved in the mystery. By questioning Bill,
she discovers his doubts about the case’s outcome.

Illustrated image of bicycle created by Freepik at freepik.com. Background vector created by freepik – www.freepik.com


Through a telegram, Faith learns Fiona has permanently moved
to Nashville. This news causes Faith to become lonely. She shares her feelings
with Minnie, who reminds Faith how she isn’t alone. In this same episode, Faith
takes care of a patient named Dora. Troubled by Dora’s cough, Faith listens to
Dora’s lungs. Discovering her patient has breathing issues, Faith prescribes
Dora medication. But the following day, Dora experiences a cardiac episode.
Concerned for her patient’s well-being, Faith calls the hospital in Benson
Hills. Because Dora came to Hope Valley with her young grand-daughter, Lilly,
Faith is worried about who will look after the girl. After Dora is sent to
Benson Hills, Dora sends a telegram informing how, during her recovery, Faith
she should look after Lilly.


Because of Fiona’s departure from Hope Valley, Mei has been
tasked with looking after the barber shop. Along with this responsibility, she also
has to maintain the pharmacy. Overwhelmed by everything on her plate, she asks
Mike for his help. He agrees to help, quickly taking note of Mei’s stress.
Offering another helping hand, Mike gives Mei a bike as a gift. He explains to
her how the bike will allow Mei to travel in a shorter amount of time. The
basket on the bike will also give Mei more room to store mud from Hope Springs.
Mei is appreciative of Mike’s gift. Their interaction causes Ned to comment how
Mike and Mei act like an old married couple.


With Lucas recovering in the hospital, Elizabeth reflects on
everything that happened in the four months since he was elected Governor. She
comes to the conclusion that life shouldn’t be taken for granted, as anything
can take place in the blink of an eye. In order to put actions to words,
Elizabeth decides to get a hair-cut. But with Fiona now in Nashville, Elizabeth
thinks the hair-cut will have to be postponed. Being the good friend that she
is, Rosemary volunteers to cut Elizabeth’s hair. Elizabeth accepts her friend’s
offer, but wants a hair-style that is simpler. The next day, Elizabeth reveals
her new hair-style with several of Hope Valley’s residents. The change with
Elizabeth’s hair receives positive results.

Colorful galaxy image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/lovely-hand-drawn-galaxy-background_2943080.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:
This season premiere of When Calls the Heart was pleasant! Even though some of the stories were stronger than others, there are things to look forward to for the rest of the season. However, I found this episode’s trailer to be a bit cruel. Within this commercial, there was a clip of Lucas from the previous season. When this clip appeared, a voice-over stated how Lucas doesn’t remember anything. I can only speak for myself, but I thought Lucas had developed amnesia. However, this episode revealed how Lucas doesn’t remember anything about being shot. This isn’t the first time When Calls the Heart’s marketing tried to make its audience assume the worst about Lucas. Plus, Lucas’ fans are likely still disappointed by his and Elizabeth’s break-up from season ten. Personally, I found that part of the trailer to be an unnecessary way to spark an emotional reaction over Elizabeth’s relationships.


When Abigail Stanton was on the show, her café was called Abigail’s Café. Since she owned this establishment, it made sense for it to be named after her. But after she left Hope Valley and the Canfields bought her half of the café, I always wondered why the café was still named after Abigail. While watching the season premiere, I noticed in one scene how the café now boasts a sign stating ‘The Café’. Because this restaurant has been a staple of Hope Valley since, practically, the show’s beginning, it makes sense for the café to not feature any person’s name in the title, as the establishment, figuratively, belongs to everyone.

During one of Elizabeth’s classes, Elizabeth tells her
students how, in the following days, Venus and Jupiter will align in the sky,
causing them to be visible from Earth. I found this part of the story to be an
interesting coincidence because this episode premiered the day before April 8th’s
solar eclipse. This isn’t the first time a story on When Calls the Heart has
been unintentionally relevant with the time it aired on television. In the
seventh season’s fourth episode, ‘Sweet and Sour’, Hope Valley’s chickenpox
outbreak coincidently paralleled 2020’s Coronavirus.

As I mentioned in this re-cap, Lucas shares how he will
build a resort on the land Lee gave him. Even though I’m excited to see this
resort come to fruition, I hope Lucas plans on building a theater on that land.
At this point, it’s a pipe dream for Rosemary to receive her theater. But I’ve
always been hopeful of Rosemary’s dream finally coming true. If any character
is going to make that dream a reality, it’s Lucas. Not only does he have the
funds and resources, he did introduce Hope Valley’s residents to movies through
his saloon.

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

What are your thoughts on season eleven’s premiere of When Calls the Heart? What are you looking forward to seeing this season? Let me know in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen



Sunset Over Hope Valley: Achieving Inspiration

On By 18cinemalane9 Comments

Every character on When Calls the Heart has been inspired by something or someone. Once this inspiration is found, each character has been encouraged to either follow their dreams, change their life, or make a difference. Reflecting on the show, even this season, it seems like Hope Valley is abundant with inspiration. Despite the town’s small size, the inspiration found has made a big impact. I can only speak for myself, but When Calls the Heart has inspired me, when it comes to writing my re-cap posts. Things characters say, an overarching theme, or an observation have served as a re-cap post’s title, as well as a main talking point for the introduction. As the sun sets on the tenth season, let’s re-cap the season finale of When Calls the Heart!

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

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

Season: 10

Episode: 12

Name: Starry Nights

Major story:

The Governor election is just around the corner! Everyone in Hope Valley is doing their part to make their votes count. Elizabeth and Rosemary volunteer to run the voting booths. Meanwhile, Lee, Bill, and Mike try to keep the saloon afloat. Ned suggests voters wear buttons advertising they had voted, an idea that helps Rosemary and Elizabeth later in the episode. When the voting polls open, the lines are moving slowly. Rosemary creates more booths so more people can vote. Hours later, when the polls are about to close, Elizabeth and Rosemary discover several residents have not voted. They walk around town, identifying those who haven’t voted by their lack of buttons. Their efforts seem to have paid off, as Lucas wins the Governor election by twenty-one votes! While Hope Valley is celebrating, someone in Capital City is not happy. They meet with Lucas one evening, shining their headlights in Lucas’ face. During this encounter, Lucas seems to recognize the unknown person. The next day, Bill tells Elizabeth and Nathan something has happened to Lucas. The episode ends with Bill, Elizabeth, and Nathan riding on a forest path.

Old fashioned telephone image created by Kues1 at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage photo created by kues1 – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Goldy’s Baptism is on the horizon. Rosemary wonders who could be Goldy’s Godfather. Lee suggests Henry serve that role, as Goldy seems happy when Henry is around. Lee also brings up how becoming Goldy’s Godfather could give Henry something to look forward to. When Lee asks Henry to be Goldy’s Godfather, Henry turns down the offer at first, saying he doesn’t know much about God or being a father. But he ends up changing his mind, making an appearance at Goldy’s Baptism. Later in the episode, Henry reflects on his time working across the street from Abigail. He tells Elizabeth even though the view hasn’t changed, he has. The next day, Henry visits Abigail at her house.

Mike and Mei want to spend more time together. Because of their jobs, they haven’t picked a day and time. Mei suggests meeting the following day at three, with Mike agreeing to meet. But Mike’s role on election day causes him to be busy, making Mei believe he stood her up. Disappointed with himself, Mike turns to Fiona for advice. She suggests being honest with Mei, a suggestion Mike takes to heart. That evening, Mike apologizes to Mei, explaining why he was late for their date. Mei tells Mike she likes him. Now at a mutual understanding, they dance in celebration of Lucas’ success.

Image by Freepik

Some thoughts to consider:

  • I’m going to be honest; this season finale was underwhelming. If anything, the stories were more predictable than in past seasons. Plus, Elizabeth’s romantic conflict was not resolved. That creative decision is frustrating, especially since it feels like the characters are going back to the beginning of the love triangle. While I’m looking forward to season eleven, I hope Elizabeth’s relationship issues are given more clarity.
  • Season ten of When Calls the Heart was, in my opinion, a little bit better than season nine. Once again, Henry’s story was one of the strongest. Plus, I liked the introduction of Harry and the return of Rosaleen. But some of the flaws of the past season found their way into the tenth season. Madeleine’s story was drawn out a little longer than necessary. Elizabeth’s story was, again, the weakest one. Revisiting the love triangle didn’t help, rehashing a story that should have already been resolved. As I’ve already said, I’m looking forward to season eleven. However, I hope it’s stronger than both season nine and ten.
  • Is it just me or am I the only Heartie who thinks Henry’s fondness for Abigail is random? From what I remember, Henry was never romantically interested in Abigail. While Abigail was cordial with Henry, she was falling in love with Frank, Hope Valley’s former pastor. I know Henry has brought up Abigail for a few seasons now. I would also like to see Henry find true love. But personally, I’d rather witness a new character capture Henry’s heart.
  • There have been several times this season where Fiona gave other characters advice. This advice has solved problems and made people happy. With Fiona’s success and the introduction of Hope Valley’s radio, I would love to see Fiona create her own radio show! Her experience with technology could work in her favor. Plus, she has such a friendly personality, one that listeners would find easy to warm up to. While the sky is the limit for Fiona’s career, a radio show would provide an exciting chapter in Fiona’s story!
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on season ten’s finale? What would you like to see in season eleven? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: A Jar Full of Potential

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

The Governor election on When Calls the Heart is just around the corner. The town raises money for Mr. Cunningham, the man who is running against Governor Balfour, collecting donations in a big jar. But over the course of the episode, plans end up changing, meaning all those donations will be used elsewhere. To me, that jar of money was more than just election donations. It represented the potential those dollars could bring. The residents of Hope Valley raised funds for Mr. Cunningham because they believed he could make Hope Valley a better place. Even though that money would have likely been put toward election expenses, I’d like to think if Cunningham won the election, some of that money could be used for good. Maybe some of those funds could go to Mountie training, ensuring the safety of towns like Hope Valley. Or perhaps literacy programs in under-funded Canadian regions. Though these are merely ideas, they might lend themselves to new stories and new character introductions in future seasons of When Calls the Heart!

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 ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Season: 10

Episode: 11

Name: Long Time Running

Major stories:

Everyone in Hope Valley is excited for the upcoming Governor election, as a man named Mr. Cunningham is running against Governor Balfour. But shortly after some of Hope Valley’s residents have made donations toward his campaign, Mr. Cunningham pulls out of the race due to “health concerns”. Thinking Mr. Cunningham’s resignation has something to do with Governor Balfour himself, Lee and Rosemary try to find another candidate. But with three weeks until the election, no one volunteers as a replacement. Mr. Mitchell suggests Lucas become the new candidate, due to his new-found fame after exposing Governor Balfour’s scheme. With the support of Elizabeth, Lucas decides to accept Mr. Mitchell’s suggestion. From being interviewed by several newspapers to preparing a nomination acceptance speech, Lucas is looking forward to this new chapter in his life. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is having doubts about her future. While confiding in Rosemary one evening, Elizabeth confesses the reason why she became engaged to Lucas. She says Lucas was a “safe” choice, as she didn’t want her heart to get hurt again. She also states how she can’t imagine living in Capitol City, where the Governor resides. As Lucas is about to board the train to the election convention, Elizabeth calls off their engagement. She explains how her home and her life are in Hope Valley, refusing to hold Lucas back from his potential. Lucas admits how he knew they were pulling apart, but wanted to believe they could make their relationship work. Despite the heartbreak, Lucas embarks on his new journey.

Bill and Nathan learn there’s been an injunction placed on Governor Balfour’s scheme. This means all water related projects have paused for the time being. But according to Robert, Montague’s camp has been stationed just outside Hope Valley. When confronting Montague and his employees, Nathan and Bill discover the injunction only applies to privately owned land. Montague and his employees are currently working on public land and they act like Governor Balfour will win the election again, as they think he’s running unopposed. When Montague and one of his employees ride through Hope Valley, however, they discover Lucas has become Governor Balfour’s opponent.

Breaking heart image created by Kjpargeter at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/broken-heart-valentine-background_1041991.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background vector created by Kjpargeter – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Rosemary and Lee make several phone calls, trying to find a replacement candidate. During their phone conversations, their roof starts leaking, as the phone calls were made while it was raining outside. The next day, Henry visits Lee and Rosemary’s office to fix their roof. While there, Rosemary asks Henry to watch Goldy so she can get her newspaper article published. As soon as she leaves, Goldy wakes up and starts crying. Rosemary’s article is published just in time! Even though Lee is happy for Rosemary, he wonders who is looking after their daughter. Rosemary tells him Henry is watching Goldy, both of them seeing Henry rocking Goldy and singing to her through their office window.

Mei and Mike cross paths at the Mercantile. Because he’s holding a romance book, Mei asks questions about the book. Mike claims he has not only read the book, it’s a favorite book of his. Mei is intrigued by Mike’s praise, agreeing to borrow the book. Later in the episode, Mei tells Mike she loved the book. When she asks Mike what his thoughts on the book are, Mike confesses he hasn’t read it. Mei gives the book back and encourages Mike to read it. She suggests they discuss the book after he has read it.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

  • On social media, Hearties have expressed their dislike for the creative team’s decision to break up Elizabeth and Lucas’ relationship. In fact, Lucas and Elizabeth’s break-up has been talked about more than the Governor election. This creative decision reminds me of Dr. Ian Malcolm’s quote from Jurassic Park, where he said “your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn’t stop to think if they should”. To me, it seems like When Calls the Heart’s creative team was so focused on adding a dramatic story to their milestone season, they may not have thought about how that decision would affect the fans or their show in the long run. As I recently told a fan of Lucas Bouchard, the only way to fix this story is to bring Jack Thornton back and provide a logical explanation for his absence.
  • In my re-cap post, I said the injunction only applies to privately owned land. The injunction doesn’t affect Montague and his employees because they are working on public land. I found this part of the story confusing. If public land isn’t affected by the injunction, how are the Mounties, publicly funded employees, supposed to do their jobs? I hope this part of the story is clarified in the season finale or in season eleven.
  • As I said in this re-cap, Henry was responsible for watching Goldy while Rosemary got her article published. When Rosemary shares this information with Lee, they discover Henry rocking Goldy and singing to her. In my opinion, this was the best scene on this episode! It serves as a good visual for how far Henry has come. The moment itself was also very sweet!
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? What do you think the results of the Governor election will be? Tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: The Selflessness of Lucas Bouchard

On By 18cinemalane14 Comments

Ever since Lucas Bouchard stepped into Hope Valley for the first time, he has been nothing but selfless. Think about it; any time there has been a new addition to the town, from the library to the radio, it was for the benefit of all of Hope Valley’s residents. Even when Lucas hosted events, like the Christmas festival in When Calls the Heart: Home for Christmas, everyone was invited. He has always put others before himself. But sometimes, I feel like Lucas’ selflessness is underappreciated. To me, Lucas is more than just a photogenic, wealthy man in a suit. He represents the best Hope Valley can be. From season six until now, Lucas has tried to make his home a better place than how he found it, not just for himself, but for all the people who made Hope Valley a place to stay. Everything I’ve said is why I believe Lucas Bouchard is one of the most valuable characters in When Calls the Heart history!

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 ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Season: 10

Episode: 10

Name: All Dressed Up

Major stories:

Lucas has come up with a plan to reveal Montague’s scheme to the Governor. Not only is Lee a participant in this plan, but so is Nathan, as he is tasked with guarding the Governor during his stay. Before the Governor’s tour of Hope Valley begins, Montague tags along, possibly ruining Lucas’ plan. When the group arrives at the hot springs, they discover the water levels have returned back to normal. Knowing Montague likely had something to do with the water levels, Lucas pulls Montague aside for a private conversation. Meanwhile, Lee and Nathan escort the Governor to the lumber mill. During the trip, Nathan and Lee confess Montague’s scheme to the Governor. Appearing appalled by this news, the Governor agrees to look into the matter. But later, at the black-tie gala, Elizabeth shares with Lucas how the Governor has worked with Montague in the past, information she discovered from Bill. In a private meeting in Lucas’ office, Bill, Elizabeth, and Lucas confront Montague and the Governor about Bill’s claims. The Governor shows his true colors by siding with Union City, expressing how there is growth and potential in the city. Another private conversation with the Governor and Montague gives Lucas a chance to expose the truth, telling them he’d like fifty percent of the shares from the recently purchased land. But during Hope Valley’s first radio broadcast, Lucas reveals their “business deal”, sharing the next two towns that could have their water stolen. After the Governor and Montague angrily leave Hope Valley, Mr. Mitchell congratulates Lucas for standing up to the Governor.

Bill received word from the land office how Madeleine never submitted the official papers from the land purchase. This means Bill’s land still belongs to him. Bill plans on finding Madeleine to reclaim the papers, learning she is in Buxton from Elizabeth. When he arrives in Buxton, Bill learns no one by the name of Madeleine St. John signed into the hotel. But Jaime shortly appears, along with Madeleine. In a one-on-one conversation, Madeleine confesses to Bill how Montague was a business partner with her late husband. Since her late husband was a gambler, he squandered most of the family’s money. While the St. Johns had some savings, that money was controlled by Montague. Madeleine claims if she didn’t purchase the land for Montague, he wasn’t going to give her the money. Yet she didn’t want to get involved with Montague’s scheme because she didn’t want to hurt the people of Hope Valley. Later in the episode, Madeleine hands over the land papers to Bill. She also reveals how the Governor has worked with Montague.

Image of high school students dancing at prom created by Jan Sundstedt at freeimages.com. Photo by <a href=”/photographer/jansun-33414″>Jan Sundstedt</a> from <a href=”https://freeimages.com/”>FreeImages</a&gt;. Image found at freeimages.com.

Minor stories:

Everyone is excited for the black-tie gala. But Florence hasn’t found a dress for the event yet. Helping where help is needed, Elizabeth and Rosemary agree to let Florence borrow one of their dresses. But when they arrive at the saloon with their dresses, Rosemary and Elizabeth learn other women need dresses for the gala. They allow these women to borrow their dresses too, happy to assist where they can. Among the flurry of excitement, Mike wants to ask Mei to the gala. But she gets asks by Harry instead. The night of the event looks, sounds, and feels like a success. Everyone is well dressed and enjoying each other’s company. Even Mike gathers up the courage to ask Mei to dance.

Elizabeth’s wedding dress has arrived from Hamilton. While Rosemary is excited for her friend, Elizabeth is more reserved. As they transport the box from the Mercantile to Elizabeth’s house, Rosemary and Elizabeth hide the box from Lucas’ view, as they don’t want him to see the dress before the wedding. When it’s time to see the dress, Elizabeth and Rosemary discover they received the wrong dress. Elizabeth thinks this is a bad sign. She’s also overwhelmed by everything that has happened in Hope Valley recently. Rosemary agrees to help Elizabeth fix her dress. But during this process, Nathan pays Elizabeth a visit, seeing Elizabeth in her dress. Meanwhile, Nathan received an award from the Governor. This means he’ll have to make a speech. In an effort to help Nathan, Elizabeth suggests looking for a friendly face in the crowd and pretend like he’s talking just to them. At the gala, when Nathan has to make his speech, he looks at Elizabeth the entire time. Nathan’s speech is received with an applause.

Pocket watch with confetti image created by Freepik at freepik.com. Christmas clock photo created by freepik – www.freepik.com

Some thoughts to consider:

  • I’m really happy Harry was in this episode! Not only did Harry look nice in his suit, I also liked how he had a date for the gala! Even if he and Mei don’t form a romantic relationship, I’m glad Harry went to the gala at all. As long as Harry makes new friends and gets involved in Hope Valley’s community, that’s all that matters!
  • I’ve heard Chris McNally, the actor who portrays Lucas Bouchard, might consider leaving When Calls the Heart. If this is true and if Lucas becomes Governor, he may sell the saloon. This makes me wonder if the saloon will be converted into a theater? Based on what is presented on the show, the saloon is the biggest building in Hope Valley. Since Hope Valley has a smaller population, there would be enough room to comfortably fit a theater audience.
  • In past seasons, a wedding dress would typically not be shown on screen until the wedding itself. So, I’m surprised Elizabeth’s dress was shown in this episode at all. Granted, the dress was the wrong one. But with specific camera angles, the show’s creative team could have hidden Elizabeth’s dress, leaving an element of surprise when her dress is finally revealed.
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? What do you think Lucas’ future will look like? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: A Promise Made is a Promise Kept

On By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Rosemary wants the Governor to visit Hope Valley. She writes a letter to the Governor himself, making her town look impressive and worthwhile. When Rosemary gets her wish, she is both excited and overwhelmed, due to the Governor’s arrival happening sooner than anyone expected. In order to get the Governor to come to Hope Valley, Rosemary makes several promises. Throughout this episode, she is a woman of her word, trying to keep as many promises as realistically possible. Rosemary is not the only character to keep a promise on When Calls the Heart. Hope Valley’s residents try to make their words have meaning, giving other characters and viewers a reason to trust them. When this happens, problems get solved and goals are achieved!

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 ten poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel

Season: 10

Episode: 9

Name: Deep Water

Major stories:

Rosemary receives the exciting news of the Governor’s visit to Hope Valley! However, she is concerned about how she will deliver on all the promises she made to the Governor. This is because the Governor plans to arrive the following day. Keeping her word, Rosemary recruits as many residents to help her deliver her plan. Because Rosemary promised a radio broadcast, Fiona is in charge of locating a microphone. Meanwhile, Mike and Mei are responsible for creating an original song. Joseph and Lee volunteer to build a grandstand. Even Lucas helps organize a black-tie gala during the Governor’s first night in Hope Valley. But after Mr. Mitchell, one of the town’s guests, informs Lucas of the missing water in Hope Springs, he also informs Lucas of the Governor’s change of plans. Now, the Governor will arrive in Hope Valley in three hours. When Lucas asks Mr. Mitchell how he knows this information, Mr. Mitchell reveals he works closely with the Governor. Determined to make things as perfect as possible, Rosemary strives to bring her promises to life, especially upon hearing the Governor’s new plans. As the Governor arrives, everything runs smoothly. Hope Valley’s choir performs an original song, created by Angela and Ally. The Governor seems impressed with this introduction. But during his visit, he’s interested in meeting with Lucas.

Nathan receives a mission to settle a dispute between a farmer and a group of Pinkertons. When he arrives at the farmer’s house, Nathan agrees to trade places with the farmer’s hostage. After the hostage and Nathan switch places, the farmer accuses Nathan of working with Montague. While convincing the farmer how this accusation is false, Nathan learns how Montague is attempting to buy the farmer’s land. Because the Pinkertons are trying to hurt Nathan and the farmer, they escape from the farmer’s property, with Bill’s help. The three return to Hope Valley unharmed. Both Nathan and Bill learn more about Montague’s plans from some of the other characters. Lee reveals how he received a huge lumber order from Montague, with plans to build large wooden structures. Elizabeth comes to the conclusion Montague is building aqueducts, used for stealing water from other sources. They also become suspicious of Madeleine and Jaime’s whereabouts. Elizabeth finds it strange how Jaime mailed the library’s book about geology, even though he claimed he and his mom were returning to Hope Valley in a few weeks. Mike confesses how Montague told him he isn’t sure where Madeleine is, making Mike believe Montage and Madeleine aren’t engaged.

Wish list image created by Vectorjuice at freepik.com. Task list vector created by vectorjuice – www.freepik.com

Minor stories:

Because this episode’s stories revolved around the Governor’s arrival and the conflict involving the Union City Holdings company, there were no minor stories.

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

Some thoughts to consider:

  • On Twitter, I saw one fan ask why Rosemary isn’t the mayor of Hope Valley. Reflecting upon this question, I realized how much of a good idea that would be! It’s been several seasons since a woman has become Hope Valley’s mayor. Plus, Rosemary has proven of multiple occasions how she can accomplish anything her heart desires when she sets her mind to something. At this point, there’s no knowing what’s in store for season eleven. However, I hope When Calls the Heart’s creative team strongly considers making Rosemary Hope Valley’s next mayor!
  • During Hope Valley’s preparations for the Governor’s arrival, Henry volunteers to build a stage for the choir. Rosemary replies by saying “Hope Valley will finally get a stage”. For years, fans have been waiting for Rosemary to receive her theater. While Lucas has brought movie nights to Hope Valley, Henry’s construction of the stage is the closest step to creating that theater. With Henry taking the time to build the park’s plant boxes and the stage, I wonder if he’ll choose to build a theater for Hope Valley?
  • Ever since Hope Valley’s choir was formed, some of its members seem eager to pair Mei and Mike together. This makes me wonder if Mike and Mei will start a romantic relationship? I think they would make a nice couple. I also think Amanda Wong and Ben Rosenbaum have pleasant on-screen chemistry. As I’ve said before, there’s no knowing what’s in store for season eleven. However, Mei and Mike falling in love could lend itself to an interesting subplot!
Sunset image created by Photoangel at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Photoangel – Freepik.com</a>.<a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/red-sunset-clouds-over-trees_1254327.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Where do you think Madeleine and Jaime are? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen