Sunset Over Hope Valley: Lend a Helping Hand

On April 15, 2024 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 April 9, 2024April 15, 2024 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.

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 8^th’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.

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 October 17, 2023October 16, 2023 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.

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!

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 October 11, 2023October 9, 2023 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.

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!

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 October 2, 2023 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.

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>. 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.

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 September 28, 2023 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.

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!

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

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Whom Do You Trust?

On September 19, 2023 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

When the term, Hope Valley, is spoken, Hearties will typically think of the town itself and the people within it. They’ll also think about how, over these nine and a half seasons, Hope Valley has earned the reputation of being a safe and trustworthy place, filled with residents that can be trusted by others. But every so often, there is a character who seems suspicious. These types of characters fall into one of two categories. The first category is suspicious characters who learn the fault in their ways, seeking redemption and becoming trustworthy over time. The second category is characters who don’t have good intentions, eventually facing accountability for their actions. This season has, so far, only shown characters from the first category, with Harry becoming one of the newest faces in Hope Valley. Since season ten hasn’t aired every episode yet, it’s unknown which category characters like Madeleine and Montague are placed in.

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

Season: 10

Episode: 8

Name: What Is and What Should Never Be

Major stories:

Montague has big plans for his and Madeleine’s property. But, so far, he’s been secretive about these plans. When Nathan visits the property, after receiving a noise complaint, he learns Montague and his employees are planning to drill a new well, despite the property already having a functional well. Later in the episode, while Elizabeth rides past the property, she learns Montague’s employees are using a horse and plow. Meanwhile, Bill is having regrets over selling his land to Madeleine. He also becomes suspicious of Montague. Lucas has doubts about Montague as well. But because he is a guest of the saloon, there’s not much Lucas can do about the situation. Even Rosemary becomes suspicious, as Lee receives a large lumber order that will used to build a bridge.

Rosaleen learns she’s been accepted into a nursing program! At the beginning of the episode, she shares her good news with Elizabeth. But this joy is short-lived when Rosaleen learns Henry created the Hope Valley Scholarship. When coming face-to-face with Henry in town, Rosaleen turns down the scholarship because she feels Henry is just trying to pay people off, an action Henry did in the past. She also strongly considers leaving Hope Valley again. In a heart-to-heart conversation with her daughter, Mollie encourages Rosaleen to forgive Henry, once again pointing out how Henry has come a long way since the mining tragedy. Later in the episode, at the stables, Rosaleen confronts Henry. She admits how she isn’t afraid of Henry anymore, as he is no longer the man she used to fear. Henry uses this conversation as a chance to apologize to Rosaleen. As a peace offering, Rosaleen invites Henry to church to listen to the choir. Henry accepts this invitation by sitting next to Rosaleen at church.

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.

Minor stories:

Rosemary learns the Governor is currently on a campaign tour. Unfortunately, one of the campaign stops isn’t Hope Valley. To try and get the attention of the Governor, Rosemary brings up the idea of a grand town-wide celebration. One of her suggestions that comes to fruition is a choir. Rosemary not only joins the choir, she also recruits Minnie as the choir leader, as she led her choir in Missouri. One day, after choir practice, Mei expresses her doubts about her singing abilities. Mike disagrees, as he thinks Mei’s singing sounds nice. Minnie and Rosemary agree with Mike, giving him and Mei a duet. As they practice together, Mei begins to gain confidence in her singing abilities. The choir as a whole gain confidence as well, as their talents improve. The choir’s first performance takes place during a church service.

After learning Robert can only babysit Jack Jr. in the evenings, due to his postal service job, Ally asks Nathan if she can babysit Jack Jr. Nathan agrees, as long as Elizabeth is ok with the idea. With approval from Elizabeth, Ally officially becomes Jack Jr.’s babysitter! On her first day on the job, she and Jack Jr. agree to play Hide and Seek. Shortly after the game starts, Ally panics because she can’t find Jack Jr. She asks Nathan for help, afraid she might never be able to babysit again. Fortunately, Jack Jr. is found, hiding under the sofa. When Elizabeth returns home, Nathan is still at her house, as Jack Jr. and Ally have fallen asleep. Elizabeth suggests Ally spend the night at her house, with Nathan agreeing with her idea. Nathan and Elizabeth also have a friendly conversation, discussing topics ranging from bringing up Jack with Jack Jr. to Nathan confessing how he and Faith are just friends.

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:

I recently created a list of the top ten characters I’d love to see return to When Calls the Heart. Two characters included on that list were Laura and Tom Thornton. While making the noise complaint to Nathan, Laura’s father mentioned how Laura is currently in teaching college, which explains why she has been absent this season. While visiting Jack’s grave, Elizabeth references how Charlotte told her a story involving Jack and Tom. Even though his name wasn’t mentioned, it is a pleasant surprise to hear Tom brought up on the show! It was also nice that Laura’s story received some closure!
I know season ten isn’t over yet. But I’m disappointed how few times Harry has been included in the overall story. Out of the eight episodes that have premiered so far, he has only appeared in three of them. Plus, Harry hasn’t interacted with many characters, only sharing screen-time with Faith, Nathan, Ned, and Florence. I’d like to think Harry’s story will receive more attention in these last four episodes, especially since we may learn more about the Union City Holdings company. Though I’m starting to wonder if the show’s creative team is waiting to tell more of Harry’s story in season eleven?
Despite Lucas and Elizabeth becoming engaged, it doesn’t feel like they’ve spent much time together this season. In fact, Elizabeth seems to be spending more time with Nathan than Lucas. Based on statements made by Nathan and the shared time between him and Elizabeth, I’m wondering if Elizabeth will change her mind about getting re-married? I’ve heard comments from Lucas and Elizabeth fans expressing their disappointment about the limited time between their favorite couple, as well as the lack of a wedding this season. Could the reason for a wedding free season be because Elizabeth might end up marrying Nathan instead?

What are your thoughts on this episode? What do you think Montague’s building plans are? Please tell me in the comment section below!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

The Top Ten ‘When Calls the Heart’ Characters I’d Love to See Return

On September 15, 2023March 28, 2025 By 18cinemalane4 Comments

When I published my review for the adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath, that post became my 750^th published article! Since then, I’ve been trying to find the right topic to write about to commemorate the milestone. My most recent re-cap of When Calls the Heart has, within a 24-hour period, become the most popular article I’ve ever written on 18 Cinema Lane, garnering over 8,000 views and counting! Since my readers have an interest in When Calls the Heart related content, I decided to create a list of the top ten characters I’d love to see return to the show! With the arrival of Rosaleen Sullivan, I wondered which other characters could come back. As the show is now is in tenth season, it wasn’t difficult to think of characters to include on this list. From characters debuting in one of When Calls the Heart’s seasonal films to beloved faces who have spent years in Hope Valley, here is my list of the top ten characters I’d love to see return to the show!

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

1. Tom Thornton

I have mentioned in the past how Tom Thornton is my favorite character from When Calls the Heart. He was even included in my “Flaming Hot…5 Reasons Why” Tag post! Tom returned to the show in season five, attending Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding. But so much has changed since then, with Tom losing his brother and becoming an uncle. Since the end of season five, I have wondered how Tom has dealt with life after receiving both good and bad news. I also speculated how his life might have changed since his story was last included on the show. It would be nice to see Tom find true love again and maybe even get married on When Calls the Heart! With season ten still on television and season eleven on the horizon, only time will tell.

2. Carson Shepherd

Ever since Carson left Hope Valley, I feel like Faith’s story has been put on hold. While her career seems to be thriving, she hasn’t moved forward in the relationship department. There’s still so much left unsaid between Faith and Carson. I don’t feel like their conflict ever truly got resolved. Even though Hope Valley already has a doctor in town, it would be nice to see Carson and Faith work together again. Maybe they could rekindle their relationship as well.

3. Phillip

Phillip was one of Elizabeth’s students. He left Hope Valley in order to receive eyesight saving surgery. Since then, Phillip or his father have never returned to town. I always wondered if the surgery was a success. I also wondered what became of Phillip and his family. Did Phillip’s father remarry? Did Phillip remain an only child? Erin Krakow and Niall Matter, the actor who portrayed Phillip’s father, Shane, have worked together on several Hallmark projects. If Phillip couldn’t appear on the show, Niall could reprise his role as Shane. This way, Shane could give viewers an update on his son through dialogue.

4. Walter

Walter made his Hope Valley debut in the movie, When Calls the Heart: Home for Christmas. In that film, he was a traveling salesman, struggling to make money. Since the movie’s release in 2019, Walter hasn’t returned to Hope Valley. He hasn’t been brought up by any of the characters either. I do wonder if he is still a traveling salesman or if he found a new calling, similar to Joseph Canfield’s story. If Walter were to come back to town, the audience would receive some closure to his story.

5. Christopher and Rachel

In season eight, it was revealed Henry had a son named Christopher. That season showed father and son reconnecting. But Henry was not the only character Christopher connected with. Fans saw Christopher and Lee’s niece, Rachel, falling in love. The younger couple stayed on When Calls the Heart for one season. Early in season nine, Henry learns Rachel and Christopher plan to get married in the near future. However, these wedding plans haven’t been brought up since last season. Though Lucas and Elizabeth’s wedding will, hopefully, take place in season eleven, I hope Rachel and Christopher consider getting married in Hope Valley. Maybe they could be the first couple to host either an outdoor wedding or a Christmas wedding!

Since Tom Thornton is included in this list, I figured putting this picture of Tom and Jack in this article made sense. Image created by Crown Media Family Networks and Hallmark Channel.

6. Dottie

Dottie was one of the original residents of Coal Valley, losing her husband in the coal mining tragedy that took place prior to the show’s events. Over the course of the series, Dottie started her own business; a dress shop where Rosemary worked before creating the town’s newspaper. As the dress shop expanded outside of Hope Valley, Dottie left town to manage those stores. Because of her departure, the dress shop closed and became the ice cream parlor and pharmacy. Since Rosaleen Sullivan came back to the show, it would be nice to see Dottie return. I remember Dottie, Mollie, and Florence were good friends in When Calls the Heart’s earlier seasons, so it would be wonderful to see them reunite!

7. Hattie

Hattie is another student of Elizabeth’s that disappeared. When she and her mother moved to Hope Valley, Hattie was grieving the loss of her friend. During her time as a student of the Jack Thornton School, Hattie was one of the children who first brought up Hope Valley’s ice cream parlor. But she mentioned the ice cream parlor back in season five and since then, the story seems to have forgotten Hattie exists. I haven’t seen Hattie on the show in a long time. Plus, none of Elizabeth’s students bring Hattie up either. If Rosaleen can receive closure on her story, I think it’s only fair for Hattie to receive closure for her story too.

8. Cody and Becky

Cody and Becky were introduced to Hearties in the film, When Calls the Heart: New Year’s Wish. Since their introduction, Abigail adopted the siblings and the family lived in Abigail’s Café. Because of Lori Loughlin’s involvement in the infamous college admissions scandal, not only was Abigail written off the show, Becky and Cody were written off the show as well. Before this happened, Becky was attending college and Cody was still enrolled at the Jack Thornton School. Even if it was just for one episode, I would like to see Cody and Becky revisit Hope Valley. From what I remember, Cody and Robert were close friends. So, seeing them go on an adventure together would serve as a potential story for a future episode!

9. Laura

Besides Rosaleen Sullivan, Laura was one of Elizabeth’s first students back in season one. In recent seasons, Laura was not only attending college, but she was also babysitting Jack Jr. While watching this current season, I realized Laura hasn’t appeared in any scenes. Elizabeth didn’t mention her either. I’m curious about Laura’s whereabouts and how her story turns out. If both Laura and Rosaleen appeared on the show together, maybe the show’s fans could witness a school reunion in the future, especially since the Jack Thornton School never hosted a reunion before!

10. Charles Kensington

As I was creating this list, I thought about all the characters who could create drama in the town. The first character that came to mind was Charles Kensington. A childhood friend of Elizabeth, Charles came onto the show in season two. He only appeared in that season, never brought up or shown on screen again. I would love to see how his life turned out after Elizabeth refused his offers. An interaction between Charles and Lucas would be very interesting as well.

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Welcome Home, Rosaleen!

On September 12, 2023 By 18cinemalane2 Comments

Once upon a time, Hearties were introduced to Rosaleen Sullivan, Mollie’s daughter who attended Coal Valley’s school. In season one, the town didn’t have a school building, Elizabeth was just starting her teaching career, and Rosaleen was beginning to cope with the loss of her father. Since then, so much has changed. Coal Valley is now Hope Valley. Elizabeth is a mother and planning on getting re-married. And this episode shows Rosaleen returning to town! From a story-telling perspective, having Rosaleen come back makes sense. Since When Calls the Heart is currently in the middle of a milestone season, it provides an opportunity for reflection. Rosaleen’s arrival does make me wonder if other former Hope Valley residents will return to the show? But until that question can be answered, let’s start this re-cap 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.

Season: 10

Episode: 7

Name: Best Laid Plans

Major stories:

Rosaleen Sullivan has returned to Hope Valley. Because she is a nanny for a family moving to South Carolina, Rosaleen can only stay in town for a week. During her interactions with Elizabeth, Rosaleen shares how she’d like to become a nurse. But she feels she doesn’t have enough money to attend nursing school. While in town, Rosaleen spots Henry. She still feels resentment toward him, due to the mining tragedy that killed her father. Mollie reminds her daughter how Henry has changed since the tragedy took place. Elizabeth wants Rosaleen to reach her full potential. So, she approaches Lucas and proposes a job offer for Rosaleen at the saloon. But Elizabeth isn’t the only character looking out for Rosaleen. Henry comes to Lucas with an idea; creating the Hope Valley Scholarship. This scholarship would allow current and former students of the Jack Thornton School to achieve their academic dreams. When Rosaleen, Florence, and Mollie hear about the scholarship, they are thrilled by the news. Little do they know Henry created the scholarship, as he wished to remain anonymous.

Madeleine and Bill signed the official papers on Bill’s property, making Madeleine the owner of the cabin and its surrounding land. But Madeleine and Jaime must return to Philadelphia to take care of Sebastian’s remaining legal matters. While waiting for their return, Bill gathers house-warming presents to give to Madeleine and Jaime. This is done in an effort to make the cabin feel like their home. When he is questioned over a butter churn, Bill states how it can be used as a flowerpot. Other Hope Valley residents consider donating their items to Jaime and Madeleine. Elizabeth even thinks about donating two baking pans to the family. When Bill and Nathan go to the cabin to drop off the presents, they discover others are residing in the cabin. While there, they meet a man named Montague who claims to now own the land. He also claims to be Madeleine’s fiancé.

Lucas has recently purchased a surprise for Hope Valley. But the only people who are in on Lucas’ secret are Ned, Mike, and Fiona. The surprise is Hope Valley’s first radio. Though excited by this new piece of technology, none of the four characters can make the radio work. Mike and Ned believe the inner workings of the radio are the problem. Fiona, on the other hand, thinks the radio needs an antenna. She goes to Joseph to gather scrap copper and steel. Fiona not only wants the antenna to be functional, but also durable. After several failed attempts to make the radio work, Fiona’s antenna is put to the test. When the antenna is attached to the saloon’s balcony and the radio is turned on, music can be heard! Everyone in Hope Valley celebrates this new gift be hosting an impromptu dance at the saloon.

Library image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=’https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/stack-of-books-on-library-desk_2509490.htm’>Designed by Freepik</a>. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/school”>School image created by Freepik</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

Joseph wants to become Hope Valley’s full-time pastor. This will allow him more preaching opportunities, as well as to perform pastor related duties in Eagle Creek. When he visits Lee to tell him about his professional plans, Lee offers him a partner position at the lumber mill. Before Joseph can turn the offer down, Lee assumes Joseph has accepted the offer. Joseph is now in an awkward position because of the misunderstanding. Later in the episode, the Canfield family attends a dinner at the Coulters’ house. Joseph and Minnie see this as a chance to clear up the misunderstanding. After dinner, Joseph is honest with Lee about his full-time pastor plans. Though disappointed about losing a good employee, Lee is supportive of Joseph’s calling. Toward the end of the episode, Lee offers the partner position to Richard, who accepts.

While making his rounds near Hope Valley, Nathan comes across a man named Mr. Hunter. Mr. Hunter appears lethargic, seeming not to understand what Nathan is saying. They go immediately to Hope Valley’s infirmary, where Faith discovers Mr. Hunter is dangerously close to suffering from heatstroke. During his initial treatment, Mr. Hunter asks where the “real” doctor is. In order to get Mr. Hunter to follow medical directions, Mike pretends to be the “real” doctor of Hope Valley. Toward the end of Mr. Hunter’s treatment, Mei arrives at the infirmary to give Mr. Hunter his medication. After Mr. Hunter asks if Mei is the “real” pharmacist, Faith tells Mr. Hunter the truth. She not only confesses that she is, indeed, Hope Valley’s doctor, but she also shares how she knew what was wrong with Mr. Hunter. Both Faith and Mike stand up for Mei as well. Mr. Hunter apologizes for his statements.

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Some thoughts to consider:

Toward the end of this episode, Nathan and Faith have a heart-to-heart conversation about the state of their relationship. They both agree to just remain friends, abandoning the pursuit of a romantic relationship. I think this decision is for the best because, this season, I haven’t found Faith and Nathan’s interactions interesting. That is due to these interactions feeling forced.
Speaking of Faith, her story in this episode was so disappointing. Her patient could have been Harry’s father. Throughout the story, we could have seen at least one bonding moment between father and son. The audience could have also learned more about these two characters. Therefore, this particular story was a missed opportunity.
At the beginning of the episode, Rosemary discusses with Lee the idea of hiring a babysitter for their daughter. Rosaleen also mentioned in this episode how she is a nanny. With all that said, why don’t the Coulters hire Rosaleen to babysit Goldy? It would be a situation where everyone benefits. The Coulters would have found a trusted babysitter to look after their daughter while they are at work. And Rosaleen would earn money for nursing school while also living closer to her mother.

What are your thoughts on this episode? Which character would you like to see earn the Hope Valley scholarship? Please tell me in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen

Sunset Over Hope Valley: Finding the Right Solution

On September 5, 2023 By 18cinemalaneLeave a comment

In this episode of When Calls the Heart, Lucas told Elizabeth “a good solution is a deal that everyone wants to take”. After he said this, I took note of how several characters in this episode were searching for the right solution to their dilemmas. From the Coulters looking for the perfect name for their daughter to some of Hope Valley’s children trying to come up with a compromise for the hot springs, there are always conflicts that need to be resolved. Conflicts make a story interesting. But the solutions that are discovered can also add intrigue to the story. In the end, the resolutions made in Hope Valley have, more often than not, benefitted all parties involved. This allows Hope Valley’s residents to keep the peace. Now, let’s re-cap this episode 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.

Season: 10

Episode: 6

Name: The Heart of the Problem

Major stories:

Rosemary and Lee are still trying to find the perfect name for their daughter. They try giving her several nicknames, but none of them are a good match. While shopping with her daughter at the Mercantile, Rosemary discovers a music box. When she hears the box’s tune, Rosemary recollects on a memory from her past. Later that day, at a check-up appointment, Rosemary confides in Faith how the birth of her daughter has caused her to reminisce about her mother, who not only left her family when she was five, but also passed away when she was eighteen. Faith states to Rosemary how she is grieving her mother’s loss. After the appointment, Rosemary talks about her mother with Elizabeth. Lee even tries to cheer his wife up. In his attempt, Lee learns that Joseph has kept Rosemary’s chest, the same chest Rosemary wanted to get rid of in this season’s third episode. When Rosemary and Lee look through the chest, they discover the contents belonged to Rosemary’s mother. Through a conversation with Elizabeth, Rosemary shares her parents separated when she was younger, which explains why her mother left the family. She also states how she now feels closer to her mother. At the end of the episode, Rosemary and Lee decide to name their daughter Marigold Elizabeth Coulter, calling her “Goldy” for short, in honor of Rosemary’s mother.

Toby, Cooper, Ally, and Angela look forward to visiting the hot springs before and after school. Due to the tourists arriving in Hope Valley for the hot springs, the children are frustrated by the tourists’ inability to share. Elizabeth and Lucas encourage the students to come up with a compromise, with Elizabeth using this experience to create a lesson for her class. While brainstorming a solution, Lucas offers Angela, Ally, Cooper, and Toby some useful advice; figuring out what the tourists want before sharing what they want. Taking this advice, the children try to create a schedule for the hot springs. This plan doesn’t work, as the tourists don’t want to give up their time at the springs. However, the children discover the reason why the tourists go to the springs; they feel visiting the springs is the only way to spend their time in Hope Valley. At the community barbeque, Lucas organizes some games for all the attendants, such as corn-hole and tug-of-war. The success of these games opens the door for other activities for the tourists, like an exercise class. A new schedule has been set up for the hot springs as well, which makes everyone happy.

Pink themed image created by Freepik at freepik.com. <a href=”https://www.freepik.com/free-photos-vectors/mockup”>Mockup psd created by freepik – http://www.freepik.com</a>. Image found at freepik.com.

Minor stories:

While working at the Mercantile, the young bandit, who Nathan refers to as “Harry”, shares with Nathan the troubles at his hometown, Eagle Creek. Due to a drought that took place a year ago, a company called Union City Holdings has attempted to purchase farm land. Someone from the company even tried to purchase Harry’s family’s land, which they refused to sell. Because of the poor land, families have left Eagle Creek. Even the town’s pastor left. During one of Harry and Nathan’s conversations, Madeleine seems to be eavesdropping on what they are saying. She looks worried when Union City Holdings is brought up.

Bill gives Madeleine the official papers for his land. During this exchange, Bill invites Madeleine to Hope Valley’s community barbeque, with Madeleine accepting Bill’s invitation. However, she is reconsidering her decision to stay in Hope Valley. Madeleine shares her thoughts with her son, Jamie. Jamie doesn’t want to leave Hope Valley, as he doesn’t feel lonely in the town. At the barbeque, Madeleine sees how much fun her son is having while playing a game of football, a clear sign of what decision Madeleine should make. Meanwhile, Bill still has his suspicions about Madeleine. He shares these thoughts with Nathan one evening.

Because of how successful business has been at the café, Minnie suggests hosting another community dinner. This time, Joseph and Minnie agree to prepare barbeque, St. Louis and Kansas City style. Leading up to the barbeque, some of Hope Valley’s residents try each style of barbeque. It seems like more people like the Kansas City barbeque the best. But the Canfields put each barbeque to the test, allowing residents to vote for their favorite barbeque. At the community barbeque, Minnie and Joseph discover the vote is tied. Upon hearing this news, Bill confessed how he mixed the barbeque sauces, claiming to like this new sauce.

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Some thoughts to consider:

As I mentioned in this re-cap, the Canfields create both St. Louis and Kansas City style barbeque. When Joseph said he was from Kansas City, I understood why that detail was brought up on When Calls the Heart. Not only does Kansas City and St. Louis have a real-life rivalry, Kansas City is also the location of Hallmark’s headquarters. This was a clever way of incorporating a Hallmark related “Easter egg” on the show!
While watching this episode of When Calls the Heart, I realized how much Harry’s story is reminiscent of Jesse’s story from season three. In the commercial for the next episode, it was revealed Elizabeth’s former student, Rosaleen, is returning to Hope Valley. Because Rosaleen and Harry appear to be around the same age, I wonder if these characters will pursue a romantic relationship? The show doesn’t have a younger couple included in the story. Christopher and Rachel have been the only younger couple in recent seasons, but they only appeared in one season.
Prior to the community barbeque, Joseph invites Henry to the event. During this conversation, the plant boxes that were built in the previous episode are shown on screen. I really like how these boxes turned out! The biggest box has sunflowers painted on the side. The smaller boxes double as benches, creating a spot for residents and visitors to admire the plants. When Calls the Heart’s prop department definitely deserve credit for these plant boxes!

What are your thoughts on this episode? Do you like the name of Rosemary and Lee’s daughter? Let me know in the comment section!

Have fun in Hope Valley!

Sally Silverscreen