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When Calls the Heart: Tomorrow Never Knows (2024)
So many things to love!
Thank you creators, cast, and crew for another amazing episode. I just can't say it enough: Hope Valley is back and better than ever!
Kavan Smith (who plays Lee) recently stated (in an interview) that if he had to describe Season 11 in only one word, he'd use the word "Unexpected". And I have to say, he's right! So far, Season 11 is knocking my expectations clear out of the park!
Highlights:
- Lucas is really coming into his own. I just adore his style of governing: leading by empowering others. He's so great at this, as evidenced by that phone call we got to witness. Go, Lucas!
- Nathan's comedic side is just so funny. Why did we not tap into this before? And he and Allie are a gold mine of funny.
- Thank you for mentioning Abigail. I just love that acknowledgment as we all miss her!
- Henry's line, "Happiness is where I'm headed." Oh, such a great nugget of wisdom there. And, can I just say, for Henry's sake: It's about time!
- Poor Mike - he's also a comedic gold mine, Ben Rosenbaum is so adorable and plays both awkward and sweet so well. More, please!
- Joseph and Minnie are wonderful as usual, the wisdom moment of the episode, yet again. Maybe someone should quote them each episode and put it up somewhere on the HM website?
- Lee and Rosemary just get better and better. They are a joy to watch, and I love the tough topics they tackle. Couples goals!
- Faith and Lily are such a beautiful picture of Found Family. I hope you are going where I think you are going with this, because its just fantastic and exhibits the heart of Hope Valley. It's one of the reasons we love this little town so much! Everybody has a home here!
- Speaking of Found Family, I love that Allie is asking about her mom. And I love how Nathan shares about Allie's mother in a way that leaves us all uplifted. Sure, there is sadness there, but remembering can bring healing too.
- Love that birthday card, Little Jack. You get it, little buddy. What a wonderful foreshadowing (I hope), of what's to come. I mean, if little man gets it, what's taking Nathan and Elizabeth so long? Guess that romantic tension, that "will-they/won't-they" tug-of-war, is what's kept us all on the edge of our seats this long (; So, f.i.n.e. Take your time, you two. I guess. Slow-burn it all you want, just know that we're dying over here, burning right up with you...because your chemistry is absolutely off-the-charts. So absolutely off-the-charts that I don't even know how much hotter it can get.
And this is only episode 2!!
When Calls the Heart: When Stars Align (2024)
Wow, what a great start! And so much HOPE right out of the gate!
I absolutely LOVE all the change that's in the air. It is as if Hope Valley has been reborn, and is even better than ever! I just love so many things about this Season Premiere, and that bodes well for ALL that is to come this season. Seriously, there is so much to be excited for!
Okay, let me get my one sadness out of the way: I miss Fiona! Please tell me her absence is not permanent???
Okay, now here's my list of the many many things that were amazing:
- Love Mike and Mei. Whoever thought this coupling up is a genius, they put the A in awkward, but they are sooo awkward, they are so so adorable. Mike has met his match! Yay!
- Love the dynamic between Nathan and Allie, it's so wonderful to have a great single dad example on the show (for however long it lasts). Their I love you's and Nathan trying to figure out their changing dynamic as she grows up is not only comedic gold but also heart-warming. And these two actors are just SOOOO good together. Also, whoever came up with this coupling, kudos! It's just what we never knew we needed!
- Bill and Nathan are back together again! Yes! I just love their bro-mance. I saw somewhere that they were given the nickname "Team Gravery" and Yes, that's a great mash-up! They make a great team, please give us more of them! They are amazing as a crime-fighting team and if you add in a little "Rosemary" (which I foresee we might get), what a trio that would be (and funny too!) (Sidenote: I absolutely LOVE "Investigative Rosie". Nobody can put their nose in like she can, all while look so good doing, and (sometimes) (more-than-not) coming up with the right answer!)
- Joseph and Minnie are the heart of the show, so many wonderful nuggets of wisdom, just when we need it. Love them.
- Also, please give us more Rosemary and Nathan! Can they become good friends please? I always thought they could have a special bond as she's the daughter of a Mountie, and he could use some advice on Allie from time to time. Wouldn't that be a great friendship?
- Also, what a great duo you have in Lucas and Henry! I always thought they were wonderful together, please give us more! (And this is difficult to ask for as I really really love Henry with the kids and just milling around Hope Valley, and of course, with Goldie). But surely once Lucas is back in HV, Henry could be his right hand man?
- Lily and Faith are adorable. Faith is so much better on her own (sans romantic interest), she's single and strong (and some fans need her example)! Please let her grow as she is; I can't wait to see her blossom even more this season!
- That ending scene!!!! HELLO!!! Wow, just perfect. Nathan and Elizabeth realizing what's been RIGHT THERE in each other, all this time. There is so much chemistry between them, and now, so many mature feelings. It just feels so perfect, and exactly the perfect time! I absolutely can not wait to see where this will go.
So, to answer your question at the end of the episode: "Ready to take the plunge?" YES! Yes I am! Hope Valley Season 11, you are right on point, so I'm jumping in!
When Calls the Heart: Starry Nights (2023)
Best finale ever
So well written, so well acted, everything was wonderful! Thank you, Lindsay Sturman, for bringing back the show to rights. This is the Hope Valley we know and love, and finally, our beloved heroine has come back to herself.
I love the storyline with Henry and where they took it. Redemption at its finest.
I love Lucas and the new exciting storyline they gave him. On to bigger and better things, but I'm sure he'll keep one foot in Hope Valley to spice it up. He's a great character, and best when he's mysterious and adding that spice he's so good at.
The Coulters were wonderful this season too, and the dedication was just too good. Loved Henry and Joseph there, too. Words we could all learn from.
And wow, Little Jack sitting with Nathan and Allie. Is there anything more beautiful?
Okay, maybe only that scene between Nathan and Elizabeth. Because. Holy. Cow. They only have to look at each other, from six feet away, and we are all swooning. And it was enough. Absolutely. Enough. To get us all on the hook for next season.
Not one touch, not a kiss, not even a single word of devotion. Just the way he says her name. Lizbeth. And the way they look at each other. Her sigh. Their gaze. And we are all onboard. Hearts aflame for S11. Bring it on!
Natebeth for the win.
When Calls the Heart: Smoke on the Water (2022)
Train wreck continues
Anyone who's watched all seasons of this show must be flabbergasted by how bad it has become. Who can follow this storyline about the mine? What is going on?
The only good thing about this episode is Henry Gowen blowing up the mine. That we understood, and we cheered him on. But, as to the details and the storyline, we couldn't follow anything.
Oh, there was a second good thing about this episode: Lucas leaves town. Hope he stays away, but I'm sure he won't. But, a girl can wish can't she? He was so much better when he was the villain - He was so good at being mysterious and shady! Now that the writers have white-washed him, he's just so boring. And still, zero chemistry with the heroine, who, quite frankly we can't stand anymore either.
Unless next week's finale is a blow out, I'm giving up on this train wreck, along with thousands of fans, who just can't support the steady decline of this once beloved show.
When Calls the Heart: Never Say Never (2022)
Steady decline
Henry Gowen was the only good thing about this episode. Kudos to Martin Cummins who plays him so well. But, haven't we beat this storyline to a pulp? When will he ever get his redemption? And when can we move on from this, to something happy for Henry?
And, better yet, when will Elizabeth get her redemption? She just keeps getting worse and worse. What kind of heroine is she? Are we supposed to dislike her and think that the Mountie dodged a bullet? How does Lucas put up with her? How does Rosemary?
Overall, steady decline in the writing. I don't even know how to compare this to previous seasons. This show used to be good (you can see previous season reviews and ratings). But now, it's just not anymore (evidenced by the low ratings and reviews since S8). Avoid at all costs.
When Calls the Heart: Rock, A Bye, Baby (2022)
Let's be honest
A lot of Lucas fans are on here trashing Nathan fans. But how would you honestly feel about the season, if the roles were reversed?
If Nathan had been chosen, and Lucas was only given a measly back up role, that only consisted of propping up the golden couple?
Nathan had next to nothing with Allie (except for that swing scene), and was relegated to a few scenes with other women only to barely hint at anything with either of them.
The Mountie action was severely limited, except for the rifle flip (even if it was darn good), that was only one scene in 12 episodes.
Instead Nathan was saving Lucas' behind, and then fetching him when he ran away from his problems, as he always does. Nathan was even made to apologize to Lucas, when it was E and L that were snots to him. You wonder why we are complaining about the writing? Think about it one hard time. You'll see. It's ridiculous.
If you aren't a Lucabeth fan (and I mean a die-hard one) this season is unsatisfying and even insulting.
So no, I can't give it more than a 1. And if you were honest, you wouldn't give it all tens either. There was plenty to complain about even for Lucas fans: his spineless running away, the way they didn't even give Nathan the chance to clear Lucas' name completely, E's second guessing and then whiny attitude toward Lucas? You all just take that and have nothing to say about, and can't be honest about it, just because you are so scared it will be cancelled? How will the writers ever hear anyone about the bad writing unless even you are honest?
Was this season really that satisfying for you? With so many storylines choppy and so many holes? That the show runner has to hold an hour long interview after each episode to explain everything that no one understood (because of all the holes and inconsistencies in his writing)? What other show has to do that? It's insane!
So don't get on her and chide Nathan fans for being honest, when you yourself can't be. This season was horrible for all fans, no matter the team, and it's time to let them know.
When Calls the Heart: Recent Memory (2022)
Don't watch with your kids.
Thank you to IMDB for letting me post this review. How important it is, in this day and age, to know beforehand when something is inappropriate. Especially for families, who might watch, since this show claims to be "Faith-based Family Friendly Entertainment".
Let me just tell you, parents, this episode is not family friendly for your children.
And, here's why: The main couple, who are not married nor engaged, have a sleep over. And while only kissing is shown, they are laying on the floor with each other. And, the next morning the so-called "heroine" of the show, the school teacher, who all of the town's children look up to, comes down in her nightgown.
I think the writers have gotten horribly off track in this story. If Lucas was really in trouble, there are plenty of other places he could have "hid out" than at his girlfriends house. And plenty of other people who could have "protected" her (like someone IN law enforcement for example!) Like BILL (he is Little Jack's godfather after all!)
This is a poor choice for a show that prides itself on wholesome storylines. This was far from wholesome.
And don't forget, the show takes place in 1919. Elizabeth would have been fired from her job long ago for even dating a saloon owner, let alone spending the night with him. Come on, Hallmark, where are your values?
You should change the labelling on this show altogether, remove the family friendly label, please. Especially with the story you are choosing to tell.
When Calls the Heart: Hope Valley Days: Part 2 (2022)
Nathan stole the show
Bill was hilarious. Jack Wagner was awesome this episode. Love the cough syrup, and the Christmas tree. Of course, it was him who put the tree as an April fool's joke!
Lucas was not so bad this episode. The teaching was nice, though this would never be allowed in real life. Substitutes would need to be upstanding citizens approved by the school board (or town council if they have direction over the school) and a self professed gambler who doles out cash for poker chips in the saloon, would not make the cut. But, this is fiction, and definitely not historically accurate, so why not? Maybe he could come back again and teach the kids something more in his wheelhouse- like card tricks, gambling, maybe even how to calculate gambling odds (that is math, is it not?), next time?
The talks between Nathan and Mei were great. Finally we know her story, and of course, the Mounties always get their man. So, of course, he saved the day. And his great acting and expressions made it all believable. We were all so happy to finally see him smile, after he's been beaten down by the writers for so long.
Loved the Canfields and the Coulters. And, Mike Hickam taking his place, finally. This episode had some good moments (thus the 2).
I have to leave a review about that kiss in the saloon. "What the heck" is exactly right. This is hallmark channel and kids watch this show. So, please, can you get a room? And, just in case you forgot, (as evidenced by the recent ask on the When Calls the Heart FB page), way more than half of your viewers don't "ship" the Elizabeth and Lucas pairing, so the writers might do better not to shove it down our throats, or to make it so cringey. Yuck!
Thank you for giving a little more care to your writing this week. We hope the good feels continue.
When Calls the Heart: Out Like a Lamb (2022)
The writing is lacking
I mean the episode was not all bad. Its just sad all the chemistry is still between the Mountie and the teacher. I mean she has zero chemistry with her supposed boyfriend. When are the writers going to wake up and turn this ship around before it goes down?
If you want to know the truth, dont believe these reviews that are all tens. I mean thats unrealistic. Go back and do your own investigation. The truth will be evident. The first 7 seasons garnered praise, star ratings between 8 to 9, and consistently.
Then fast forward to seasons 8 and 9. Ratings in the toilet, (6 is being generous) and rightly so. With a new show runner, every episode became full of angst and anxiety. No longer the heart warming show we all had come to love. Its bad and only getting worse. The more they beat up the Mountie, and the more they try and shove the relationship between Lucas and Elizabeth, a relationship devoid of any chemistry, nor any real depth, down our throats. Its dead in the water. Dont believe the hype. Look it up for yourself. Youll see.
Watch the first 7 seasons and enjoy, but do yourself a favor and dont go any further. Its one disappointment after another.
When Calls the Heart: Hope Valley Days: Part 1 (2022)
Done with this show
The storylines are lacking and left hanging with no conclusion.
When did the Mountie ride his horse again? He was in a huge accident and that was a storyline for 6 episodes (his recovery and PTSD and his horse not cleared for duty). And now he's just suddenly riding again without any explanation? Do the writers even talk to each other?
And the sad part is that the best part of this episode is Elizabeth and Nathan. They still sparkle onscreen in every scene, even if they are just sitting in a car next to each other. When she's with the other guy, you throw up in your mouth a little bit. Why watch this anymore?
And, who can make heads of tails of the truth with this show with all the 10s that the Lucabeth fans keep posting. If we want better writing for this amazing, ensemble cast, we need to tell the writers, instead of settling for this mess. Why can't you all be honest? You can still love the show, but be honest and tell them about the lacking storylines. If you continue to fluff their feathers, it will never improve. The ridiculousness will continue. And it's saddest for the amazing actors and crew who have put their blood, sweat, and tears into this show.
When Calls the Heart: Straight From the Heart (2022)
Storylines lacking
The little boy was cute. But Elizabeth and Lucas are still a snooze fest, and cringe fest all at the same time. How are we supposed to believe that she picked this gambler over the Mountie?
Its easy to see, though, the truth about this sinking ship. All you have to do is look at the ratings. Compare Seasons 1 thru 7 ratings (all between 8 and 9 by the way), to those of Season 8 (average of 6.475 and thats being generous), and those of Season 9 (so far 6.3). Its all going downhill. Why?
Because the head writer didn't even watch the previous 7 seasons for the show he's writing for. Nothing is cohesive nor does it make sense. And his writing style is either all shallow and superficial, or angst and discord. He doesn't know any other way to make a story interesting. So what you got here is a love story all fake shallow and superficial (L & E) and the Mountie who's the best part of the show, but he gets all the angst and discord.
Its sad what this show has become. It used to be full of beautiful life lessons and heart warming storylines. Now its just disjointed.
So, my advice: watch Seasons 1 - 7 when it was still good. Skip season 8 and 9. Trust me.
When Calls the Heart: Past, Present, Future (2022)
Wonderful job from Jaeda Lily Miller
Jaeda stole the show! She is an amazing actress and had us laughing, and then crying! She was funny, smart, witty, and then touched our hearts. Why couldn't the writers give her the family she wants, and so deeply deserves? Don't they see the blended family that would make such a beautiful story? They even gave us a glimpse with this cute scene with Nathan, Elizabeth, and Little Jack at the end. They are really missing the boat on this one!
As usual, Lizzie and Lucas were boring.
The Canfield's were cute and uplifting. I love them.
Please give Rosemary and Lee a decent storyline. Do they really have nothing to do but let Lee get in a fight with some guy in a ditch? There is so much potential there and they are such great actors. Please give them something to do, it's such a waste!
Also, give Bill and Hickam something to do. While I love the mentoring, it was silly and amounted to nothing in the end. When will they get a real storyline?
Elizabeth and Nathan are still the best part of this show. The scene in the jail - their laughter together shows their diversity together. They can laugh one minute and then go deep the next. And their co-parenting shows how wonderful their blended family would have been. The writers really missed the boat. They are so much more interesting together than lucabeth.
I like Elizabeth's idea for the book wagon. So cool. But, why didn't she just mention it to Lucas. He would have surely paid someone to build it for her. And then, it could have been one of his grand gestures!
When Calls the Heart: Journey into the Light (2022)
Great Scene with Nathan and Allie
Well the Mountie saved the episode again. He and Allie are adorable and the absolute best part of this show.
And when Nathan shaves, I'm pretty sure it was right then and there that Mei realized just how undiscerning the teacher truly is.
Could have done without the scene with Elizabeth and Lucas at home. Total brother and sister vibes. And that pillow fight? Why does she talk in that voice with him? Like she's 5 years old? Funny how they try to drop lines like they know anything about each other, though we've still yet to see any conversation with depth onscreen. They would have been better off to delete this scene to make room for some of the more robust scenes because there was a lot going on this episode. Too much, in fact.
Maybe they could have shortened last week's episode when the casino owner was with the little boy. I still can't believe his mother allowed her son to stay with a guy who was paying out someone's gambling just before. Not to mention that he lied to her about the black eye, and she seems to know it but doesn't care.
But the Canfields were wonderful and I just loved this story about changing someone's mind. The scene with the duet with Angela at the piano gave me old wcth vibes, just lovely. I love those old redemption feels.
The race was cute and loved when the horse bowed. And it was wonderful that they acknowledged Jack. How much more depth there is between the Mountie and the teacher. I still don't understand why she is with the other guy.
And Rosemary and Lee. Their little "fight" was so unrealistic for them, and completely out of character, but it was wonderful what he did for her. The chairs and the poem. Don't know how she ever thought he could have been cheating on her, that was a ridiculous suspicion, and didn't fit at all with what we know about Lee and Rosemary (the writing here seemed cheap and thrown together - the tiring of one another worked and was conceivable, but the thought that Lee would ever cheat on her in such a small town was ridiculous). But I loved Lee's gesture and the poem, and how they sat together at the end. Also have me old wcth vibes.
Again some of the E and L scenes could have been left out to make room for some of these other wonderful scenes, to round them out a little more, add a little more depth. I would have loved to see the actual dinner with Mr Landis and the Canfields, or the conversation between Lucas and Nathan that prompted the race, or more about Fiona and where she was. There was just a lot going on in one episode. And last week was so boring, maybe they could have spread it out a little ( put some of this one last week) to allow for more depth in certain places.
When Calls the Heart: Turn of the Page (2022)
Don't believe the hype.
The best part of this episode was once again, the Mountie and his horse (big surprise). I don't know why they insist with the unrealistic, superficial love story between the teacher and the gambler. Its not working and nobody buys it. Maybe its so they can do a shock factor at the end of the season, and shes going to go back to the Mountie? At least she and the Mountie have chemistry together.
Read between the lines, or in this case, between all the Lucas fans trying to skew ratings with their ratings of ten. No show deserves so many tens. And why have all the other reviews (with less than a ten) been removed?
If you want to know the truth, a simple research will suffice. Look back at the ratings of seasons 1 to 7. Those episodes all garnered 8 to 9 stars, consistently. And rightly so, because the show was good. The writers knew what they were doing and understood how to tell a good story. And the fan base fell in love with this show.
Now look at the ratings for Seasons 8 and 9. The proof is in the stars. Consistently in the 6 at best, and thats in my opinion, generous. The season 8 finale, they went for shock factor, and got a 5. I think it should be lower. It was horrible.
The current show runner took over at the beginning of season 8 and its been downhill ever since. Hes been writing this show into the ground. And the proof is right there in the ratings and the reviews.
Its sad because this show used to be so good. If you are interested in watching, stick to seasons 1 to 7. You will be glad you did.
When Calls the Heart: In Like a Lion (2022)
Disappointing
After such a tumultuous S8, I would have thought the writers would have taken this premier of S9 more serious. But, it was still disjointed and off.
I have watched since S1 E1, and while I understand shows need to evolve, this one has gotten completely off course. It is no longer family friendly entertainment (they blew that last season when they broke the heart of the Mountie's daughter). And, they have completely thrown the very premise of the show by the wayside.
Janette One should ask to have her name disassociated with this one! It has become a soap opera now, and it's sad!
Steer clear if you care about good writing, and heartwarming stories! This one has neither!
When Calls the Heart: The Kiss (2021)
Don't watch with your kids!
I made the mistake of watching this show with my children. The messages it sent are completely wrong and horrible, if they claim to be "fun family friendly" entertainment.
Lucas basically "tricks" Elizabeth into going on dates with him, even after she tells him she's not ready, selling it to her that they are going only as "friends". But then when she shows up for the "friend date" it looks just like a real date, candles, champagne, the whole 9 yards. Not a message for my teenage daughters!
And then, Elizabeth completely devastates Nathan's teenage daughter, over and over again, throughout the season! If they were going to go this route in the end, why write him with a daughter at all? Or better yet, why not just sit down and talk to her and tell her that you don't like her uncle/dad? Why just leave it all hanging and let her suffer, for so long? You should have seen Allie's face, in E1 of S8, when Elizabeth backed out of the date. No one wants to see a devastated, sad face like that! My children were devastated and were crying for days over this one storyline! Horrible story telling!!!
I mean, come on, the self-professed gambling saloon owner, the smooth talker, actually got the girl? What kind of alternate universe are we living in? If I wanted my kids to watch questionable content on TV, I would let them watch game of thrones! At least they are honest about what they are selling!
Avoid this one at all costs, if you care what your children watch.
But, I must say that it's really sad, because there are some wonderful actors on the show, and the content was wonderful up until S7. Just don't watch S8 or any further!!!
Feeling Butterflies (2022)
Best Hallmark movie in a long time.
This was the best Hallmark movie I have seen in a long time. The chemistry was great. And I loved all the added info on butterflies.
It was fun, but also had scenes of depth, like when the lead actress interacted with the daughter who had lost her mother. This was so sweet.
And, even though the male lead character took forever to get his act together and dump the old girlfriend, it was believable, as yes, his character had some baggage. But, it was sweet the way their feelings overcame those obstacles, and they took that step to be together. It was a believable story in a world where people sometimes have baggage.
Thank you for such a sweet, real, and genuine story. It's been a long time since I've seen anything at Hallmark go to those depths.
Thank you to all the actors and the director for making it so real! We loved it!