Sunset Over Hope Valley: On Hope Valley’s Block, There’s a New Kid in Town

On March 4, 2019March 11, 2019 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With six seasons and five years of screen-time, When Calls the Heart is bound to introduce a variety of characters on their show. Some of them have called Hope Valley their home, while others have gone their separate ways to broaden their Canadian horizons. Sometimes, characters from previous seasons return to the show, even if it’s just for a little while. When new characters arrive near the start of each season, and sometimes in the Christmas films, it’s always a treat for the show itself as well as for its audience. On When Calls the Heart this season, we’ve already been introduced to Fiona Miller. Now, we’ll be introduced to a new character, one that might shake up Hope Valley. Check out this Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap post if you want to learn more about this character!

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

Season: 6

Episode: 2

Name: The Queen of Hearts

Major Story:

The most talked about event in Hope Valley is the re-opening of the saloon. One of the reasons why is because of the new saloon owner himself. Lucas Bouchard has become Hope Valley’s newest resident. Some people in the town find him to be a charming gentleman. However, there are others who are very skeptical about Lucas’ intentions. One of them is Bill, who, almost immediately, does as much research as possible about Lucas’ past. This is because Lucas hasn’t shared his past with anyone. After calling the police in New Orleans, Bill finds out that Fiona listened in on his phone call. Because of this, Bill recruits her to help him learn more about Lucas. Not only is it revealed that the New Orleans police had never heard of Lucas, but that Lucas, while at Yost’s Mercantile, had called a female and spoke to her about Hope Valley in French. When Bill tried calling this mysterious female and told her he is one of Lucas’ friends, she hung up immediately. A few days later, as Lucas is preparing for the saloon’s re-opening, Bill sees him bringing in a mysterious looking package into Hope Valley. After Bill forces Lucas to open the package, it is revealed to be a box of fish, which Lucas plans on using to prepare a meal. At the saloon re-opening, where the saloon is renamed “Queen of Hearts”, Lucas invites the townspeople to the event. He makes it a point to remind everyone that the event is free. Despite all the things that Lucas has said and done, Bill still remains skeptical about him. Toward the end of the episode, Lucas goes into a back room during the re-opening to hide a box of money in a safe. This box of money was hiding in the box of fish that Bill had inspected days earlier.

90242-OJM5E8-442 — 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:

After Timmy expresses his desire to learn how to ride a bike, Elizabeth volunteers to help Timmy learn this new skill. While borrowing Cody’s bike, Timmy shares his concerns about falling and embarrassing himself. So, every time Timmy practices riding, Elizabeth holds on to the bike until Timmy has enough confidence to ride the bike on his own. One day, Timmy becomes so frustrated by his concerns of falling, that he decides to quit. In order to help him change his mind, Elizabeth asks Timmy to help her play a piano duet. Elizabeth shares with Timmy that she doesn’t want to embarrass herself in front of her students due to her limited piano skills. But, after the piano duet, Elizabeth teaches Timmy how overcoming fears will help him experience the best that life has to offer. Several days later, Timmy not only continues to practice his bike riding skills, but he also learns to ride a bike with no assistance.

While working at Abigail’s Café, Abigail discovers that Henry has an interest in the stock market. After talking with Henry about this matter, Abigail considers investing her money. When she consults with Lee and Rosemary over what she should do, Abigail decides to invest her money with Henry. The next day, Abigail and Henry discuss the amount of money that she should place in the investment. After some negotiations, Abigail chooses to invest five dollars. Later in the episode, Henry tells Abigail that her investment doubled in value, allowing her to receive ten dollars. When Abigail shares this news with Lee, he reveals that the company Henry invested in actually lost money. Lee gives Abigail the advice to talk to Henry about the situation. At the saloon re-opening, Abigail approaches Henry about the investment situation. Henry shares that he wanted Abigail to trust him as well as take him seriously. Abigail tells him that all she wanted to do was give him a second chance, which she thinks he has earned. With that, Henry gives Abigail her five dollars back.

When Jesse and Clara learn that the saloon is looking for new employees, Clara decides to apply for a waitress job. After being interviewed by Lucas himself, Clara receives the job. When she shares this news with Jesse, he becomes skeptical about Clara possibly putting too many responsibilities on her plate. Clara tells him that she accepted this job in order to help Jesse with his financial goals. When she tells Abigail about her new job, Abigail becomes concerned about Clara’s well-being. Clara tells Abigail the exact same thing she told Jesse. Clara’s first assignment at her new job is serving drinks at the saloon re-opening. When Jesse sees Clara working at the event, he still maintains his skepticism.

One day, Faith tells Rosemary about what Carson told her as they were leaving Rosemary and Lee’s house a few days earlier. Rosemary tells Faith not to lose hope about Carson’s possible feelings for her. Several days later, Carson shares with Lee what he told Faith about the state of their relationship. Lee gives Carson the advice to tell Faith how he feels about her. However, when Carson picks up his dinner at Abigail’s Café, he sees Faith marveling over a magic trick that Lucas shows her and Cody. At the saloon re-opening, Carson gathers up enough courage to tell Faith how he feels about her, telling her that she’s special to him. Faith tells Carson that he is special to her as well. After this conversation, Carson and Faith share a dance together.

Happy Valentines day and heart. Card with Happy Valentines day a — Heart image created by Dashu83 at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundimage created by Dashu83 – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/happy-valentines-day-and-heart-card-with-happy-valentines-day-and-heart_1747001.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

Even though Lucas seems suspicious, I really hope that he’s not an antagonist or villain. Based on what I’ve seen and heard from articles, interviews, and fan reactions from the Heartie Family Reunion, it seems like Chris McNally fits in really well within the When Calls the Heart. Also, there have been several characters on When Calls the Heart that have come and gone over the seasons. It would be nice if any of the new characters from season six stayed on the show for, at least, a season and a half.

While this is only the second episode, it seems like the overall narrative of this season isn’t focusing on the children as much as in other seasons. In this episode, Opal was only on screen for a few seconds compared to the minutes upon minutes of screen-time she’s had in previous episodes. Maybe this is a new story-telling technique that the screen-writers are incorporating into the show, where almost every child in Elizabeth’s class is given a story in each episode.

Something that I’ve been noticing, so far, is how Elizabeth’s story is not as central to the overall narrative as in years past. In my Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts last year, I wrote about how Elizabeth’s story was, sometimes, one of the major stories of a given episode. Since it’s only the second episode, we’ll have to wait and see if this trend continues.

Red sunset clouds over trees. — 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 did you think about this episode? How do you feel about Lucas Bouchard? Leave your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Coming Back Home

On February 25, 2019 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

One year and a Christmas movie later, the Sunset Over Hope Valley recap series is back! All of the recap posts for season six will be written just like before; focusing on the major and minor stories of each episode, as well as sharing some thoughts to consider. With this recap series starting again, it’ll feel like a lot has not been missed. That’s how I felt when watching the season six premiere of When Calls the Heart, like I didn’t miss much between the end of the Christmas movie and the beginning of this season. In fact, it felt like coming back to a place that was familiar and comfortable. I realize that this makes up the charm of the show. This story is about a town that the audience can feel comfortable in, with characters that they can also become familiar with. Speaking of this town, let’s watch the Sunset Over Hope Valley as I recap When Calls the Heart’s season six premiere!

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

Season: 6

Episode: 1

Name: Phone Rings and Heartstrings

Major Story:

There is much excitement in Hope Valley surrounding the arrival of the telephone. While most of the citizens are looking forward to having this new piece of technology in their town, Bill is skeptical about the amount of change that’s coming to Hope Valley. One day, Abigail gathers everyone in town to celebrate the town’s acquisition of its first telephone. When it’s time for the phone to ring for the first time, things don’t go according to plan. After experiencing some technical errors, Abigail contacts a representative from the telephone company. Several days later, to both Abigail and Rosemary’s surprise, a newcomer named Fiona Miller has arrived in Hope Valley as the new switchboard operator. When trying to assess the problem, Fiona discovers that Ned Yost’s lack of technical knowledge has caused the telephone not to work properly. After reconnecting some wires and fixing the problem, Fiona finds a way to make the telephone work. When the citizens of Hope Valley finally hear the ring of the telephone, Bill starts to realize that some change in Hope Valley can be a good thing.

OG26F10 — 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:

After going on maternity leave, Elizabeth returns back to school to teach the children of Hope Valley. One day, after school, there is a misunderstanding in who would take care of Jack Jr. In a written note, Elizabeth is told that Jack Jr. is with Clara. But, when Elizabeth visits Dottie’s Dress Shop, Clara tells Elizabeth that Jack Jr. is with Molly. This scenario causes Elizabeth to think about providing more stability in Jack Jr.’s young life. After Elizabeth teaches her students about how a telephone works, Laura, a recent graduate of the school, returns a book to Elizabeth. When Elizabeth learns that Laura likes reading Jane Austen’s novels, she invites Laura to borrow her collection of Jane Austen books. Several days later, Laura shares with Elizabeth that she’d like to go to college, but her family can’t afford it. Elizabeth comes up with a plan to hire Laura as Jack Jr.’s nanny and help her attend college. One day, at Yost’s Mercantile, Elizabeth reveals to Laura that she contacted her friend, who works at a prep school, and they were able to give Laura an invitation to that prep school. She also tells Laura that with the money she could earn as a nanny, she could use that income to afford the expenses of college. After listening to Elizabeth’s offer, Laura accepts the job.

Tom, the owner of the saloon, decides to sell the saloon in order to take care of his family in Union City. When Bill and Henry hear this news, they both want to purchase the saloon. After Bill and Henry ask Lee if he could be their business partner, Lee told both of them that he had to talk with Rosemary first before making any business decisions. One evening, during a meeting with Rosemary, both Bill and Henry share their ideas for the saloon, which both include Rosemary’s involvement. When Rosemary and Lee learn that Bill and Henry each have half of the funds to pay for the saloon, they convince Bill and Henry to go into business together and purchase the saloon with their combined funds. However, things don’t work in Bill and Henry’s favor when Tom reveals that someone else has already purchased the saloon with a larger financial offer.

One day, Jesse shares with Clara that he recently purchased a plot of land. Both Jesse and Clara are excited about the idea of Jesse being a landowner. When Jesse takes Clara to visit his plot of land, Jesse tells her that he’d like to marry her someday, but wants to put himself in a better financial situation first. Bothered by what Jesse told her, Clara wonders if there is anything that he could be hiding. After talking with Abigail about the situation, she tells Clara to talk with Jesse about she feels. The next day, after Clara tells Jesse how she feels, Jesse shares that when he was younger, he and some of his friends robbed a local store. Jesse was the only one in the group to get caught. While he served his time to make up for his crime, Jesse still wanted to give the store owner the same amount of money he and his friends stole. When Jesse discovered that the store owner was having difficulty running his store, he decided to send him at least ten dollars every month. Jesse then tells Clara that he wants to give the store owner a significant amount of money so he and Clara can start their life together with a clean slate.

After Rosemary sees Carson and Faith helping Ned Yost at his store, she thinks that Carson and Faith would make a good couple. Soon, she decides to invite Faith and Carson over to her and Lee’s house for dinner. But Faith and Carson don’t find out that they were both invited until they arrive at Rosemary and Lee’s house. During dinner, Rosemary and Lee have a disagreement about who should buy the saloon. Meanwhile, Faith shares that she doesn’t cook and Carson says that he doesn’t like beans. When they leave Rosemary and Lee’s house, Faith and Carson discuss how silly it is that Rosemary thought they would make a good couple. However, Faith appears as if she wants to be in a relationship with Carson. The next day, Lee and Rosemary talk about the disagreement they had the night before as well as resolve their issues.

Sale, Happy Valentine Day lettering with bunch of balloons — Heart shaped balloons image created by Katemangostar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundvector created by katemangostar – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

I’m really glad that Kayla Wallace has joined the When Calls the Heart family! The only acting performance of Kayla’s that I’ve ever seen was her performance in Once Upon a Prince. Her portrayal of Avery, Susanna’s sister, was fantastic, helping to make that movie even more entertaining! Speaking of Kayla Wallace, I just want to let you all know that she has been nominated for the Gold Sally Awards! Stay tuned for her nomination to appear in the voting polls.

Before the season premiered, I read articles about the official synopsis for this season. There were several plot points with these articles that, to me, sounded confusing. However, when I watched this episode, the things that I had read in those articles finally started to make sense. One of these things was the incorporation of Chris McNally. I knew he was joining the show, but I wasn’t sure what his character’s significance within this story was going to be. After learning about the saloon’s fate, it provided some context to how Chris’ character could serve the overall narrative.

I think this was a good start to the season! During the commercial break, there was a sneak preview of what’s to come. Based on what I saw, it looks like the creative team behind this show has made some interesting story-telling choices. I’m definitely curious to see where this story evolves as the weeks go on.

What are your thoughts on this season’s premiere? Is there something that you’re looking forward to seeing this season? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing Review

On December 26, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

December 25^th was a special day for Hearties: it was Christmas as well as the premiere of When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing! Hearties were given the opportunity to not only partake in the festivities of the season, but also to celebrate the arrival of When Calls the Heart’s next chapter. Even though I was looking forward to this film, my expectations for it were low. When I first learned about the film’s synopsis, it sounded like Cody and Becky’s story from When Calls the Heart: New Year’s Wish was being rehashed to a certain extent. Earlier this month, in a Word on the Street post, I shared my thoughts about the trailer for When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing. At best, it was just fine, not heightening my expectations for the film. However, I still wanted to watch the movie, especially since I am a fan of the show. Because I also re-cap When Calls the Heart in my “Sunset Over Hope Valley” series, reviewing this movie would keep up with 18 Cinema Lane’s continuity. Thank you for joining me for this review, as you’re about to discover my thoughts on When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing!

When Calls the Heart -- The Greatest Christmas Blessing posters — *When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=When+Calls+the+Heart+The+Greatest+Christmas+Blessing.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: One of the best components of When Calls the Heart has always been the strength of the cast! Just like on the show, the cast in When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing was one of the strongest parts of the film! Everyone in this cast portrayed their specific character very well, providing enough natural emotions and reactions to bring a sense of believability to their particular role. A pleasant surprise within this movie was Morgan Kohan and Jocelyn Hudon’s performance! While I’ve never seen any of Morgan’s acting performances before, I remember watching Jocelyn’s performances in The Christmas Cure and Hallmark Hall of Fame’s Love Locks. Their portrayals of Grace and Lillian were so believable, it felt like their characters had a good familial bond.

The humor: More often than not, Hallmark has done a pretty good job at incorporating humor into their films. In When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing, all of the humor felt good-natured and genuine. One of the funniest scenes in this movie was when Bill and Abigail were taste-testing the figgy pudding that he had made. Because Lori and Jack provided reactions that seemed very natural for that particular situation, it made the scene that much funnier. Another funny scene was when Bill accidently counted Robert while he was trying to figure out how many orphans arrived in Hope Valley. Similar to what I said about Lori and Jack, Jaiven’s reaction was so genuine that it helped that scene to be humorous in a good-natured way.

The character interactions: As I have already mentioned, one of the strongest parts of this movie was the cast! What is wonderful about this cast is witnessing how strong the on-screen chemistry is amongst the characters. Seeing the various characters interact with one another was a very great highlight of When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing. Like I’ve said before, Morgan and Jocelyn both pulled off such a believable performance, the familial bond that they portrayed felt very real. This is also the case when it comes to the connections between the other characters. What helps is the film’s cast is also the cast on the show, having those relationships already established in previous stories.

1033 — Group of Christmas figures image created by Pikisuperstar at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by Pikisuperstar – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-cute-christmas-character_3188970.htm’>Designed by Pikisuperstar</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A two-hour commercial for “When Hope Calls”: When I talked about the trailer for When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing, I mentioned that the main plot of the movie was how a group of orphans are stranded in Hope Valley during Christmas-time. While I thought this plot was the best one in the movie, I feel it should have been a subplot. During the commercials in-between this film, it was revealed that the main plot of When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing would serve as the premise for the new show on Hallmark Movies Now, “When Hope Calls”. It was also revealed that “When Hope Calls” would premiere on Hallmark’s streaming service next summer. Going back to why I think the main plot from When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing should have been a subplot, it doesn’t seem like any aspect of this main plot will be transferred over to When Calls the Heart’s sixth season. Also, because the story for “When Hope Calls” was introduced about six to eight months before its premiere, the creative team behind When Calls the Heart/ “When Hope Calls” could run the risk of making any hype for this new show quickly disappear before it has a chance to receive any amount of anticipation from a potential audience. Because of how much attention this main plot received, it felt like the characters from When Calls the Heart were placed on the side-lines. I, honestly, think that the creative team behind this movie should have waited to introduce “When Hope Calls” in a two-part episode on When Calls the Heart.

The subplots: Like I previously mentioned, the best plot in When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing was the one involving the orphans and their care-givers. However, I found all of the subplots to be weak and uninteresting. For example, throughout the movie, Jesse and his friends are trying to find a suit so Jesse can take Clara to a special performance of The Nutcracker. This subplot feels like a step backward compared with the subplot Jesse was given in When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree. Even his subplot in the ninth episode of the fifth season was stronger than his subplot in this film. To me, these subplots lacked depth and intrigue, causing me to not feel invested in any of these stories.

Tom Thornton’s absence: In my season finale post from the “Sunset Over Hope Valley” series, I said that Tom’s incorporation into When Calls the Heart’s Christmas movie would make up for Tom’s absence in the season finale of the show. Unfortunately, not only was Tom nowhere to be found, but he was never referenced in any part of the movie. Of course, I was disappointed by this. I think he could have been given a really well-written story arc where he has to deal with becoming an uncle and spending his first Christmas without his brother. This story arc could have shown the two different sides of Christmas: the joyous side and the emotional side. Because this was Hope Valley’s first Christmas without Jack, but there were also good things to acknowledge about the Christmas season, Tom’s story arc could have shown a nice balance between these two ideas.

OI2OV30 — Necessary Christmas items image created by Moonstarer at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-elements-collection_994916.htm’>Designed by Moonstarer</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmas vector created by Moonstarer – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

While I thought that When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing was a good film, I honestly thought it could have been better. If I had the choice, I would choose last year’s Christmas movie, When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree, over this one. This is because all of the plots in last year’s film were stronger and equally well-told. The screen-writing was the biggest flaw of this year’s movie, causing me to lower my expectations for When Calls the Heart’s sixth season. Even though I’m still looking forward to this show’s return, I have my concerns about the overall story for the upcoming season. During the commercials in-between When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing, there was an advertisement for the new season. The biggest plot-point in this trailer was how Hope Valley will be receiving a telephone. While there could be an interesting story associated with this idea, the commercial didn’t give me a reason to get excited about a telephone coming to Hope Valley. However, in this same commercial, it was mentioned that Clara and Jesse are planning on building a barn. This part of the advertisement excited me the most, as this detail left me with several unanswered questions. Hopefully, When Calls the Heart’s next season can be filled with more intriguing stories. This show, in my opinion, has a pretty good track record when it comes to story-telling, so I will be optimistic about what’s to come for this show.

Overall score: 7.8 out of 10

Are you looking forward to When Calls the Heart’s sixth season? What is your favorite When Calls the Heart Christmas movie? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Word on the Street: Official trailers released for Disney Channel’s ‘Kim Possible’ and Hallmark Channel’s ‘When Calls the Heart’

On December 9, 2018 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

While preparing to publish my Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List, two more new movie trailers were released over the past two days. Because these trailers are for films or series that I have talked about before, I have decided to discuss these pieces of movie news first. My Movie Blogger’s Christmas Wish-List will be published sometime this coming week. As the title says, the trailers that were recently released are the ones for Disney Channel’s live-action movie, Kim Possible, and Hallmark Channel’s anticipated When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing. Similar to my Word on the Street post about the Avengers: Endgame trailer, I will be sharing my opinion on both of these trailers. Without further delay, let’s start talking about these pieces of movie news!

Christmas Party Ticket Card Template — Christmas themed movie tickets created Kraphix at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/movie-tickets-christmas_971544.htm’>Designed by Kraphix</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/christmas”>Christmasvector created by Kraphix – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Ever since I started 18 Cinema Lane, I have been writing about movie news relating to the upcoming Kim Possible movie. In fact, my very first Word on the Street post was about the official announcement for the Kim Possible film. Yesterday, Disney Channel released the trailer for this movie, giving their audience a glimpse into the adventure our titular hero will soon embark on. After having seen this trailer, I thought it was, at best, fine. However, there were two things about it that stood out to me. The first is how funky the special effects looked. The first time I ever talked about this movie on my blog, I shared how disappointed I was that Kim Possible wasn’t a theatrical film. After looking at the trailer’s special effects, I kind of wished that this movie had been released in theaters. While the special effects don’t look bad, it looks somewhat distracting. The second thing that stood out to me is how this trailer relied too much on showing scenes just for the sake of showing them. These scenes did not help tell their respective audience what the movie is about. As someone who is familiar with the Kim Possible series, I have an idea of what this film’s premise will be. But for people who are not familiar with Kim Possible, they might be confused by what is going on within that trailer. For me, the Kim Possible trailer did not heighten my expectations for the film. However, I still plan on watching this film with an open mind. Along with the trailer, it was announced that the release date for the Kim Possible movie will be February 15^th. Because this date is around the same time when I first started talking about Kim Possible on my blog, it almost feels like this movie news subject is coming full circle.

Kim Possible A Sitch in Time poster — *Kim Possible: A Sitch in Time* poster created by The Walt Disney Company and Disney Channel © Disney•Pixar. All rights reserved. Disney XD© Disney Enterprises, Inc. Image found at http://movies.disney.com/kim-possible-a-sitch-in-time

One of the shows that I re-cap on 18 Cinema Lane is When Calls the Heart. Ever since it was first announced, I have been looking forward to the upcoming Christmas movie, When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing. Recently, Hallmark Channel released a trailer for this movie and, honestly, I thought it was just fine. To me, I think this trailer put too much emphasis on Elizabeth and her baby. While this is an important event within this film, it is not the movie’s main focus. According to the film’s synopsis, the story is about a group of orphans getting stranded in Hope Valley. This trailer not only doesn’t feature any of the orphans, it also doesn’t acknowledge this story-line. Another thing I noticed about this trailer is how almost every character, except Elizabeth, gets a “don’t blink or you’ll miss them” moment. Because there are a lot of people within this movie’s cast, it was inevitable that some cast members were going to have more screen-time than others. However, this trailer makes the movie feel like it will be “The Elizabeth Thornton Show” with all the other characters being presented as extras. This kind of concerns me because When Calls the Heart isn’t a show that focuses on just one person. It is about an entire town and the community that inhabits it. Like the Kim Possible trailer, the trailer for When Calls the Heart: The Greatest Christmas Blessing did not heighten my expectations for the film. However, I still plan on watching this movie and, hopefully, reviewing in on 18 Cinema Lane.

211460-OZXMWS-906 — Christmas Tree with boxes image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/christmas-tree-out-of-gift-boxes_1448089.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Backgroundvector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com

Have you seen these trailers? Are you looking forward to any of these films? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

If you want to watch these trailers, visit these links:

https://ohmy.disney.com/news/2018/12/07/disney-channel-live-action-kim-possible-trailer-premiere-date/

http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/when-calls-the-heart/videos/preview-when-calls-the-heart-the-greatest-christmas-blessing

http://www.hallmarkchannel.com/christmas/2018-holiday-movies-preview/21#listheader

Take 3: The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells Review

On June 10, 2018July 17, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

With all this talk of wedding themed movies, I realized that the only wedding themed movie I’ve reviewed so far is Wedding March 3: Here Comes the Bride. This gave me a good excuse to watch The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells and review it for my blog! The Perfect Bride was one of my favorite movies from Hallmark’s “June Weddings” line-up last year! So, when it was announced that Hallmark would be giving this movie a sequel, I couldn’t have been more excited. Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton have quickly become popular within the realm of Hallmark, especially after their characters, Rosemary and Lee, became an official couple on When Calls the Heart. With fantastic on-screen chemistry on one of Hallmark’s popular shows, it seemed like a good idea to cast both Kavan and Pascale as the lead protagonists in a Hallmark production. Though I can only speak for myself, I feel that having Kavan and Pascale lead a Hallmark movie together was one of the best decisions in Hallmark movie history! After reading all these great things about the first Perfect Bride movie, you’re probably wondering how I felt about the sequel. You’ll just have to keep reading my review of The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells in order to find out!

The Perfect Bride Wedding Bells poster — *The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells* poster created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel. Image found at https://www.crownmediapress.com/Shows/PRShowDetail?SiteID=142&FeedBoxID=845&NodeID=302&ShowType=&ShowTitle=The+Perfect+Bride+Wedding+Bells.

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells had a good cast. I liked seeing the various character interactions, especially since the majority of the characters in this movie are from the first movie. Speaking of which, Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton’s performances were the highlight of this film, just like they were in the first movie! Both of their talents are so well-rounded and versatile, with each actor complimenting the other.

The on-screen chemistry: Last month, I said that Torrance Coombs and Fiona Gubelmann had the best on-screen chemistry in any Hallmark movie this year. However, Kavan and Pascale’s on-screen chemistry takes the number one spot for best on-screen chemistry among the Hallmark movies in 2018! Like in the first movie, Kavan and Pascale came across like they truly got along with each other. Their on-screen chemistry was believable and enjoyable to watch!

The humor: The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells had the right amount of humor. I felt like it really complimented the romantic elements the film had to offer. I also think that Kavan Smith had such great comedic timing!

152398-OUS8J8-399 — Wedding couple image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/hand-drawn-wedding-invitation-with-happy-couple_1259848.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/wedding”>Wedding vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

What I didn’t like about the film:

A slower pace: The pace in The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells was slower than in the first movie. It picked up when Nick and Molly started planning their wedding, but only by a little bit.

Too many conflicts: There were three major conflicts in this movie: Nick and Molly preparing for their wedding, Molly having to work with her ex, and Nick organizing his first art show. It like these conflicts were competing between each other for the attention of the audience. Because of this, things that made the first movie so memorable, like the Bridal Boot Camp itself, ended up getting overshadowed.

The planning-a-wedding-in-an-unrealistic-time-period cliché: This movie, unfortunately, adopted one of my least favorite Hallmark movie clichés. What’s worse about this cliché in The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells is that almost all the supporting characters remind the protagonists that they don’t have to plan a wedding in an unrealistic time period. There are even times when the protagonists remind each other about this dilemma. At first, this was funny because I felt like these characters were representing my opinions as an audience member. As the movie goes on, this became annoying because anyone who has seen enough wedding themed Hallmark movies would know how this cliché plays out.

61555-OB5ZO0-824 — Wedding couple with cameras image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/original-cards-for-wedding-photography_913021.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells was a good movie, but not as good as the first one. It felt like a step backward, kind of reminding me of how I felt after watching All of My Heart: Inn Love. After watching the sequel, I ended up feeling more disappointed that I had hoped. Kavan and Pascale deserve to lead a really good to great Hallmark movie, especially because of how talented they are individually and as a pair. Both of them shine so bright in their own movies on Hallmark as well as on When Calls the Heart! Hopefully, Kavan and Pascale can continue to be cast together in more Hallmark productions as the years go on.

Overall score: 7.6 out of 10

Have you seen The Perfect Bride: Wedding Bells? Do you want to see Kavan Smith and Pascale Hutton star in more Hallmark movies? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Take 3: Flicka: Country Pride Review

On June 1, 2018June 2, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Anyone who has read my Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts would know that my favorite character on When Calls the Heart is Tom Thornton. And anyone who has read the Season 5 finale re-cap post would know how disappointed I was by Tom’s absence in that episode. As a fan, I have found a way to make up for the dissappointment. According to his IMDB Filmography, Max Lloyd-Jones (the actor who portrays Tom Thornton) starred in the film, Flicka: Country Pride. It just so happened that this movie was airing on television recently, making this movie reviewing experience too good to pass up. Before watching this movie, I:

Have never read My Friend Flicka by Mary O’Hara.
Have never watched the My Friend Flicka television show.
Have never seen any of the previous Flicka films.
Did not watch a trailer or read reviews for Flicka: Country Pride.

I had no idea what to expect from this film. This was the second straight-to-DVD and third/final film in the Flicka trilogy, so my expectations were set low. How did Flicka: Country Pride turn out to be? Keep reading to find out!

Flicka Country Pride poster — *Flicka: Country Pride* poster created by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. Poster image found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flicka_3_Country_Pride_movie_poster.jpg

Things I liked about the film:

The acting: While the cast of Flicka: Country Pride was good, the three stand-out performers were Kacey Rohl, Teryl Rothery, and Max Lloyd-Jones! I had never seen any of Kacey’s acting performances before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect of her performance in this movie. However, Kacey’s performance in Flicka: Country Pride blew me away as she successfully helped carry this film alongside Clint Black and Lisa Hartman! I’ve seen Teryl perform in five Hallmark movies, as well as Cedar Cove, and she was a great addition to this film’s cast! Besides When Calls the Heart, I’ve seen Max in six movies and several episodes/video clips of Switched at Birth. What I’ve noticed after watching these projects, including Flicka: Country Pride, is that Max has always appeared to put in a 100% effort and all the talent he has into the roles he is given.

The cinematography: For a straight-to-DVD film, and just as a film in general, there was good cinematography! Some of the best scenes in Flicka: Country Pride were the scenes that involved any of the characters riding horses. The camera angles and editing that was used for these scenes helped add a sense of excitement and intrigue.

The incorporation of grief: In most movies featuring a young, grieving protagonist, the focus on grief appears self-contained for the young protagonist. In Flicka: Country Pride, however, we get to see how grief affects the other characters surrounding the young protagonist. What’s also interesting is how grief influences the choices and ways of seeing the world for some of these characters in the film. I felt this was a great choice for the creative team behind this movie as this concept is not always explored in family/children’s films.

The on-screen chemistry: When I was watching Flicka: Country Pride, I felt that Max Lloyd-Jones and Kacey Rohl had good on-screen chemistry! Their relationship on-screen appeared so believable, that it looked and felt like they truly cared about each other. The friendship that both Max and Kacey displayed in this movie came across as very life-like, with both of them acting like they really got along with each other.

Tom Thornton Flicka 3 screenshot — Max Lloyd-Jones: The star of this review. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.

What I didn’t like about this film:

Some predictability: During my viewing of Flicka: Country Pride, I noticed there were some moments in the film that felt predictable. It wasn’t like a typical Hallmark Channel movie, where you, more often than not, know most of the movie before even watching it. However, there were some story points that I was able to correctly guess before it happened.

An insufferable bully: While Siobhan Williams did a really good job portraying the character of Kacey’s bully, I really did not like Siobhan’s character. Not only was she annoying, but she could easily get under someone’s skin. Also, I can’t believe Siobhan’s character was named Stephanie Meyers (I’m not making this up). Either that was pure coincidence or someone really didn’t like the Twilight series.

Lindy and Toby’s relationship: Clint Black and Lisa Hartman had good on-screen chemistry in Flicka: Country Pride, but I felt like their relationship was not highlighted to the level that it could have been. In the movie, Lindy and Toby try to pursue a romantic relationship. However, compared to the other storylines and subplots, this particular story element didn’t feel like it went anywhere. It seemed like it just got lost in the shuffle.

The ending: To me, the ending of Flicka: Country Pride was too much of a cliffhanger. Toby tells Lindy that he has a surprise for her, but we never get to find out what that surprise is. The fact that this movie is the last in the Flicka trilogy makes this ending even worse. Based on the ending, my guess is the creative team behind Flicka: Country Pride planned on making a fourth movie, but they never got around to it.

horse saddle - soft focus with film filter — Horse with saddle photo created by Topntp26 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/stallion-black-equine-race-sky_1104246.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Topntp26 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

My overall impression:

Flicka: Country Pride is a good movie! In fact, this movie surpassed my expectations! What’s great about this movie is if you watch it without ever having seen the other Flicka films preceding it (like I did), you won’t have a difficult time following along with the story. I’m actually glad I saw Flicka: Country Pride because now it raises an interesting question: how come we, the Hearties, have never seen Tom Thornton ride a horse on When Calls the Heart? In all the seriousness I can give as a movie blogger, I think Tom being able to ride a horse would make a lot of sense. I feel this way because:

I would be willing to guess that Max Lloyd-Jones gained some horse riding experience while working on Flicka: Country Pride.
In Season 2, Tom did mention his family had a farm.
Not only have we seen Jack and Charlotte (Tom and Jack’s mom) Thornton ride a horse on When Calls the Heart, but Tom and Jack’s dad/Charlotte’s husband was a Mountie.

Hopefully, if Max Lloyd-Jones returns to When Calls the Heart to reprise his role as Tom Thornton, maybe we’ll see him finally ride a horse. As for Flicka: Country Pride, I would definitely recommend this film!

Overall score: 8 out of 10

So, what did you think of this review? Are you encouraged to give Flicka: Country Pride a chance? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun at the movies!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Where There is Hope…

On April 25, 2018April 25, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Well, this is it. My Season 5 finale re-cap has finally come. Thank you so much for joining me as I wrap up the Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap series for the fifth season. There has definitely been much speculation leading up to this episode, with Hallmark Channel keeping the details of it under-wraps. There were debates on social media, Hearties everywhere trying to guess what would happen in the finale. Some were preparing themselves for the worst, while others held out hope. Now that the episode has finally aired, let’s talk about the much-anticipated Season 5 finale.

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

Season: 5

Episode: 10

Name: Close to My Heart

Major Stories:

Three weeks after Jack’s death, Elizabeth is still reeling from his passing. Her appetite has been reduced and she purposefully avoids places and things that remind her of what she has lost. To provide support, Abigail invites Elizabeth to join her friends, all of whom are widows. During their time together, the widows share their advice for how to move forward after such a loss. When Clara shares her story of how short her marriage to Peter was, Elizabeth gets upset because she feels she was cheated out of a happily ever after. Abigail reminds Elizabeth that when she came along to Hope Valley, all of the widows in their group felt broken. However, Elizabeth’s presence in Hope Valley gave them the hope that they needed to move forward from their grief. Later in the episode, the widows also share their favorite memories about their fallen spouses. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is informed by Rosemary that Opal hasn’t spoken as much as she usually does. Elizabeth meets up with Opal at Dottie’s Dress Shop and asks her what’s wrong. Opal reveals that she is upset that she didn’t get the chance to thank Jack for saving her life. To make her feel better, Elizabeth shares that Jack also saved her life, giving both her and Opal something in common. After this talk, Elizabeth shares with Abigail and Rosemary that she will go back to teaching. She feels that teaching in Hope Valley is where she belongs. The next day, the widows give her a blanket with hearts on it, reminding her that she will be wrapped up in love, no matter what happens. Shortly after this, Elizabeth becomes nauseous after smelling coffee. At the end of the episode, it is revealed that Elizabeth is pregnant.

While Elizabeth is taking a leave of absence, Rosemary substitutes as the teacher of the school. During her time as a teacher, Rosemary not only deals with a very sad Opal, but she feels overwhelmed with her temporary responsibilities. At the lumber mill, Rosemary shares her feelings about her slipping self-esteem to Lee. While Lee suggests that the students need a break from dealing with school and Jack’s death, this gives Rosemary an idea of bringing the students to the lumber mill to make wooden crafts. On the day of the “field trip” to the lumber mill, Rosemary discusses ideas with the students of what they want to build. All of the students agree that they want to build something for Elizabeth. While Henry is teaching the students about wood carving safety, Rosemary notices that Opal is still upset. She immediately goes to Elizabeth and tells her what’s up. Rosemary decides to organize a meeting for Elizabeth and Opal to have a heart-to-heart discussion.

The students of Elizabeth’s class are still affected by the loss of Jack. While Rosemary is still their substitute teacher, they are taken to the lumber mill on a “field trip” to get their minds off of the recent events. While talking with Rosemary about what they should build, the students agree that they want to build something for Elizabeth. During the students’ break, Cody gets an idea and rallies the other students into agreeing with the idea. When Elizabeth comes back to school, the whole class surprises her with a sign that they made. The class also decides that they want the school to be renamed the Jack Thornton School, since Jack helped build the school. Because all of the adults who were present at the school agree with this name change, the school officially becomes the Jack Thornton School.

Mountie face image created by Bakar015 at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/a-set-of-canada-icons_1050671.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/food”>Food vector created by Bakar015 – Freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Because everything was centered around the death of Jack Thornton, there were no minor stories in this episode.

Painted Cup of Coffee with Natural Coffee Beans on a Chalkboard. — Coffee cup drawing image created by Valeria_aksakova at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/background”>Background image created by Valeria_aksakova – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/painted-cup-of-coffee-with-natural-coffee-beans-on-a-chalkboard_1013935.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

Though this was a good episode, the only thing that disappointed me about it was Tom Thornton’s absence, especially in the funeral scene. First, Tom loses his dad because he was a fallen Mountie and now Tom loses Jack almost the same way. I would be willing to bet that Tom would be traumatized by what happened. What frustrates me as a fan is that the creative team behind When Calls the Heart went through all that trouble to bring Max Lloyd-Jones back on the show as Tom Thornton for the wedding episode, but couldn’t keep him on the show for, at least, the funeral scene. To make up for the lack of Tom’s presence in this episode, I really hope that the creative team behind When Calls the Heart decide to feature Tom in the Christmas movie and give him a good-sized story arc. Also, did anyone else notice that on Jack’s headstone, it didn’t say “brother” and “son” on it?

This episode has really divided fans, with some of them claiming that they are never watching the show again. I can only speak for myself, but I still plan on watching When Calls the Heart and the upcoming Christmas movie. I also will review the Christmas movie and continue with the Sunset Over Hope Valley re-cap posts.

If Elizabeth ends up having a daughter, I hope she names her either Hope (because Elizabeth’s, as well as Jack’s, story started in Hope Valley) or Joy (because Elizabeth finding out about her pregnancy was her moment of joy in a time of grief).

As I’ve mentioned earlier, I thought this was a good episode. I liked how it explored the different ways people can grieve. Everything about this episode was really well-made, the quality being on-par with the wedding episode.

What did you think about the Season 5 finale? Are you continuing to watch the show? Please share your thoughts in the comment section.

See you in Hope Valley.

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Worth All the Talk

On April 19, 2018September 14, 2023 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

This episode has got to be one of the most talked about episodes in When Calls the Heart history. It definitely has brought the Hearties together, being active as ever on social media. Because of this, people like Brain Bird (the executive producer of When Calls the Heart), Bill Abbott (the President and Chief Executive Officer of Crown Media Family Networks), and Hallmark Channel themselves have responded to as many fans as possible about some of the events of this episode. When you read this re-cap, you will understand why this episode has gotten so much attention. Since you’ve been waiting so patiently, let’s talk about the pre-season finale 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: 9

Name: In My Dreams

Major Stories:

With Carson’s birthday fast approaching, Faith decides to plan a surprise party for him. She lets everyone in on the secret and recruits them to help her plan the party. On the day of Carson’s birthday, Faith gets him a birthday gift, which is a harmonica. Carson appears to truly enjoy his birthday gift. Suddenly, Laura and Elizabeth come to Dr. Carson’s office to tell him that a foal is about to be born. This concerns Faith because she doesn’t want Carson to miss his own birthday party. Several hours pass and the guests at Carson’s birthday party wonder if the guest of honor will end up coming after all. Ultimately, Faith suggests they end the party early and pack things up. Just as the guests decide to take her advice, Carson shows up just in time. Everyone at the party is thrilled about Carson’s arrival, with Rosemary telling Carson that the whole event was Faith’s idea. The party seems to be a hit when Elizabeth remembers that her gift for Carson was left at school. On her way out of the Saloon, Abigail volunteers to go with her back to school. During their journey, a Mountie meets up with them, trying to seek out Elizabeth. After she identifies herself, Elizabeth asks if Jack has been hurt. When the Mountie says no, she demands to know if he is alive. She becomes emotionally distraught after the Mountie tells her he is sorry.

A woman named Eleanor comes to Hope Valley to visit Lee. She is the widow of one of Lee’s former business partners. During her stay, she meets Henry and shares her plans of wanting to hire him for her growing business. He agrees to Eleanor’s plan, excited about the possibility of owning a business again. However, his inability to share details about his new job causes other members of Hope Valley’s community to be concerned, including Rosemary. Several days later, Henry finds out during dinner that Eleanor wants him to steal Lee’s customer records because she wants to build a saw mill in a neighboring town. Henry does steal the customer records from Lee’s office. Right as Henry hands Eleanor the files, Bill shows up to arrest Eleanor, also revealing that Henry was helping Bill catch Eleanor in the act. Impressed with Henry’s honesty, Lee offers him a promotion in which Lee accepts.

168714-OVJRD7-558 — 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:

Jesse goes to Dr. Carson’s office with a hurt arm. Carson discovers that Jesse injured his rotator cuff and would need a few weeks to recover. When Jesse explains his situation to Lee, he is understanding to Jesse and gives him a temporary office job. This requires him to figure out the measurements of lumber and its financial factors. Though Jesse wants to do a good job, he struggles with the mathematics behind the work. Overwhelmed, Jesse asks Elizabeth if she will provide math tutoring for him, with Elizabeth agreeing. During the tutoring session, Jesse reveals that he didn’t finish the 8^th grade and he is embarrassed to tell Clara this. Elizabeth encourages him to share this with Clara as she explains that honesty is an important component to any relationship. A few days later, Jesse tells Clara the truth about his limited education, but Clara cares more about the fact that Jesse is willing to work hard and be a better person than he was the day before. Days after this conversation, Jesse finishes the work that Lee gave him. Lee is more than impressed with Jesse’s work and is happy everything worked out for the better.

Because Robert’s parents are out of town, he is invited to Cody’s house to spend the night. Both Robert and Cody wake up in the middle of the night to get a midnight snack. They decide to eat a piece of cake, the same cake that Abigail made for Carson’s upcoming birthday party. While cutting the cake, Robert tries out a trick of only removing the middle part of the cake and putting the two halves together. This trick does not go according to plan, especially when the entire cake falls on the floor. They try to put the cake back together, hoping that no one will notice. Abigail does notice the cake the next day and eventually questions Cody and Robert about it. Both Cody and Robert confess that they destroyed Abigail’s cake, even though they had no intention to do so. To make up for their mistake, Cody and Robert decide to bake a new cake. They even pay for all of the ingredients with their own allowances, which means that Robert will be unable to purchase the kite that he was saving up for. Though they struggle with the directions of how to bake a cake, they pull through and finish baking the cake. It doesn’t look exactly like the first cake, but their efforts are appreciated. To recognize their selflessness, Abigail gives them the kite that Robert had wanted.

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.

Some thoughts to consider:

There has been a lot of speculation of Jack’s possible fate, especially on Twitter. For several reasons, I think Jack has passed away. However, I could be totally wrong and Jack may be fine. Just remember, anything is possible.

I just want to say that both Jesse and Henry have come such a long way since their introductions on the show! As a Heartie, I couldn’t be prouder of these two characters!

What did you think of this episode? Do you think Jack is still alive? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: A Town Like No Other

On April 11, 2018July 17, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Family: it’s the most common theme in many Hallmark productions. This is no exception for When Calls the Heart. The theme of family has been written into every season, including their movies. While this important theme has found a way to weave itself into the heart (no pun intended) of this beloved show, there appears that there is a good reason for it. Family and loved ones are what keep our favorite characters going, especially when the going gets tough. They support and look out for one another. The town of Hope Valley is basically a family in itself, where everyone truly knows their neighbors as well as keep their best interests in mind. This sense of family has even inspired the Hearties themselves to create their own family, even helping each other out by creating re-cap posts like this one. Speaking of re-caps, why don’t we talk about the fifth season’s eighth 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: 8

Name: Weather the Storm

Major Stories:

After the spoken agreement between Mr. Jenkins and Joshua Baxter, Abigail discusses her concerns to Mr. Jenkins about the possibility of Joshua led town. To ease her fears, Mr. Jenkins agrees to delay the deal in order for Abigail to persuade Greta to become Hope Valley’s investor. After this conversation, Abigail and Henry visit Greta at the saloon to tell her the news. Greta feels like she is being taken advantage of, even though Abigail does to best to explain the situation. Feeling defeated, Abigail talks with Elizabeth at her café about what she should do next. Elizabeth reveals that she has contacted Duncan in the hopes that he and his mom can settle their differences. Abigail thinks that reuniting Duncan and Greta is a great idea and supports Elizabeth’s plan. Several days later, Elizabeth and Abigail meet with Greta at the saloon. Greta feels that she is being pestered by others, especially when she sees Duncan. He explains how sorry he is for being negative toward Greta after his father passed away. To help Greta take a step toward forgiveness, Abigail shares how things were not perfect between her and her son, seeing no importance to all the negativity looking back on it. As a last attempt to reunite with his mother, Duncan introduces her to his wife and children, who are named after Duncan’s parents. Moved by this encounter, Greta chooses to forgive Duncan and accept his family as her own. This reunion takes place at the right time, as it helps Abigail to not only persuade Mr. Jenkins to sign the contract with Greta, but also to secure an investor in order to reopen the bank.

Bill and A.J. prepare to their journey so that A.J. can go to jail. When Abigail comes to the prison to wish them both farewell, A.J. gives her the dress from her undercover “mission”, hoping it will go back to Dottie. When they do eventually go on their journey, both Bill and A.J. are stopped by a sudden onset of rain. As they hide from the rain with a makeshift shelter, A.J. tries to learn more about Bill, where she finds out that he has had an unsuccessful marriage. After the rain stops Bill discovers that A.J.’s horse is missing. Trying to make the best out of the situation, A.J. suggests that they both ride the rest of the journey on Bill’s horse. While removing a rock from his horse’s shoe, A.J. warns him of a rattlesnake close by. Bill steps in front of A.J. in order to protect her. This causes Bill to not only get bit by the snake, but also for his horse to run away. Throughout the day and into the night, A.J. tries whatever she can to save Bill’s life. The next morning, Bill wakes up, in a bad state of health, to find that A.J. has disappeared. When he calls her name several times, he discovers that A.J. left him in order to find help for him. Shortly after her arrival, Bill is given the anti-venom in the nick of time. Before he is transported by the Mounties, he shares with A.J. that he found a way to help her get a reduced jail sentence, giving her hope of a second chance.

193221-OY4DUC-214 — Sheriff badge image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/brown-cowboy-label-set_1543252.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/vintage”>Vintage vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

One day in class, Elizabeth assigns her class a project where each group has to explain a specific part of weather. Harper and Emily are assigned to discuss wind. Toward the beginning of the project, Harper convinces Emily to build an anemometer not only because he claims she and Hattie are the best students when it comes to science, but also because Emily seems enthusiastic about this part of their project. Emily agrees to make the anemometer and ends up putting together the whole project. Several days later, Emily and Harper present their project to the entire class. When Abigail asks Harper about the project during the presentation, he appears to not comprehend the material. After class, Harper admits to Elizabeth that he let Emily do all the work on the project because he feels he isn’t good at science. Elizabeth believes that Harper’s actions cost him a valuable opportunity to learn. To give Harper a second chance, Elizabeth gives Harper an incomplete but lets him work on the project again. She even allows Emily to tutor him on the material.

Carson’s sister-in-law, Rhonda, pays Carson a visit. While catching up, Rhonda reveals that she has a tumor in her brain. She tells him that she has heard that a surgery is available to remove the tumor, but very few doctors actually perform the surgery because of how risky it is. Rhonda shares that she came to Hope Valley in the hopes that Carson can perform the surgery, but Carson refuses because of how he lost his wife performing the same surgery. He writes to a doctor in a neighboring town, hoping that Rhonda will receive the surgery. Unfortunately, that doctor sends a reply to Carson, rejecting the opportunity to operate on Rhonda. Both Rhonda and Faith continue to encourage Carson to perform the surgery, despite his fears of losing his sister-in-law. When Rhonda develops a very bad headache, a symptom of the tumor, Carson realizes its now or never when it comes to performing the much-needed surgery. After several hours, Carson and Faith reveal that not only was the surgery a success, but Rhonda’s life was saved as well.

Heartbeat image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/medical-logo_763775.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/logo”>Logo vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

I really like how the writers of When Calls the Heart have developed storylines for some of the students in Elizabeth’s class. Ever since When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree, these stories have helped the Hearties to learn more about these precious characters. I wonder if another student will get their story told in the When Calls the Heart Christmas movie later this year?

I noticed that Sarah Grey, the actress who portrayed Mick’s daughter in the Wedding March series, also portrayed Rhonda in this episode. She is now the second Wedding March actress to appear on When Calls the Heart. Do you think more actors from the show could appear in future Wedding March movies? So far, Aren Buchholz starred in Wedding March 2: Resorting to Love, making it a possibility for other actors on the show to make appearances in this movie series.

Like I mentioned in my very first Sunset Over Hope Valley post, this episode really made an effort to bring up references to earlier seasons. When Abigail mentioned her deceased son, it felt like such a blast from the past. I also felt this way when Bill talked with A.J about his past marriage.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Are you looking forward to the next episode? Share your thoughts in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Possibilities and Pitfalls for Hallmark’s little Canadian town

On April 4, 2018April 6, 2018 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

Even though Jack is, temporarily, not on When Calls the Heart, there were still exciting and concerning things that happened in Hope Valley. The business side of our favorite small town was the focus of this episode, whether it was determining the financial future of Hope Valley or introducing children to the fundamentals of business. I think this season-long story has been a very interesting approach that the creative team behind the show has taken. Come to think of it, I don’t believe When Calls the Heart has ever had a story like this that was not only told over the course of several episodes, but also affected the lives of the majority of Hope Valley’s residents (unless another Heartie knows something I don’t). Since we’ve gotten introductions out of the way, let’s talk about the fifth season’s seventh 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: 7

Name: Heart of the Matter

Major Stories:

One day, Mr. Jenkins tells Abigail that after an investor is chosen, the bank will be able to re-open. Two possible investors come to Hope Valley and meet with Abigail. The first investor is Joshua Baxter. He tells Abigail about the other towns he has invested in, giving Abigail a promising picture. When Joshua makes vague statements about the specific types of investments, however, Abigail starts to show concern. The second investor is Greta Preston. A resident of Hamilton, she has a good relationship with Elizabeth and her family. She also explores Hope Valley’s opportunities with an open mind. As the days progress, Abigail starts to wonder more about Joshua and his motives. She learns through Bill and A.J. Foster that Joshua has a shady history of negatively transforming small towns. Right before Bill and Abigail tell Mr. Jenkins the news, Mr. Jenkins agrees to give Joshua a majority share of the bank.

When Bill walks into the prison one day, he discovers that A.J. Foster has decided to turn herself in. While trying to figure out A.J.’s motives, Bill realizes that A.J. thinks that they could start a relationship where she can begin a new life. Bill discourages any of A.J.’s ideas and focuses on justice being served. When Abigail visits Bill and talks about Joshua Baxter, A.J. Foster overhears this conversation and believes that she knows more information about Joshua than Bill and Abigail. After negotiating with both Abigail and Bill, A.J. agrees to go undercover in order to find out more information about Joshua. After A.J. pretends to be cordial toward Joshua, she shares with Bill that Joshua does not have Hope Valley’s best interests in mind.

101994-OM0XMB-226 — Money image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/bills-and-coins-in-isometric-design_1065328.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/business”>Business vector created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

After Elizabeth returns from her honeymoon, she decides to create a class project where each student has to observe a leader from Hope Valley’s businesses during a single school day. This project was inspired by the students overhearing their parents talking about the circumstances surrounding Hope Valley’s financial situation. During the day of the observations, Elizabeth checks up on her students as well as catch up with Greta Preston, who is an investor and a family friend of the Thatchers. During their conversation, Greta reveals that she and her son, Duncan, haven’t spoken in years. When Elizabeth shares this news with Abigail, she also shares that Greta’s husband passed away several years ago. While trying to keep up to date with the events surrounding the investors, Elizabeth starts thinking of ways to help Greta and her son.

In class, every student gets excited about Elizabeth’s project. Each student enthusiastically chooses which business leader they want to observe. On the day of the project, all of the students spend their school time with Hope Valley’s respective business owners. Though the students learn valuable lessons throughout the day, Cody seems to enjoy his experience of spending time with Lee at the lumber mill the most. He even spends time with Lee after the project is finished. When Lee takes Cody to school, he explains that Cody was late for school because he wanted to hang out at the lumber mill and understand how a lumber mill operates. Lee tells Elizabeth that he can relate to how Cody feels because he had a father that was a traveling salesman, which meant they didn’t spend much time together. When Elizabeth talks to Abigail after school, she tells Abigail that Cody was late for school because he was spending time with Lee. Abigail comes to terms with the fact that Cody needs an important male figure in his life. After school, Lee asks Cody if he’d like to play a game of catch with him, with Cody and Abigail agreeing.

ON40S80 — Money plant image created by Dooder at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/infographic”>Infographic vector created by Dooder – Freepik.com</a>. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/watering-the-coin-plant_1076121.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Some thoughts to consider:

As grateful as I am that Tom Thornton came back to the show, it’s too bad that he wasn’t on this episode, especially since he’s a businessman now. It would have been interesting to see one of Elizabeth’s students spending a day with Tom as a tires salesperson. I’m guessing that it was not easy for the creators of When Calls the Heart to bring back the actors from the earlier seasons, including Max Lloyd-Jones (the actor who portrays Tom Thornton). I also think the creators probably put a good amount of focus on bringing these actors back specifically for the wedding episode.

Where is this ice cream parlor Hattie and Opal talked about? When Calls the Heart has been on TV for five seasons and I don’t ever recall hearing about any ice cream parlors. I do hope that it can be featured either in the Christmas movie later this year or in Season 6 next year!

Do you think that Greta’s son, Duncan, could become a new character on the show? With the amount of times that he was brought up in this episode, I think it could be a possibility. It will be interesting to see where this story goes and how it will affect Elizabeth.

What did you think of this episode? Do you have any predictions of what could happen? Let me know in the comments section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen