The Saloon: Gambling Den or Social Gathering

    Happy Wednesday Hearties! You may be wondering to yourself, where's the next When Hope Calls Review? Don't worry it's coming, but it's been awhile since I posted something for the name sake of this blog, When Calls the Heart. Now I do have a post planned about Lucas and Nathan, but this is not that post. (Sorry!) That post will take a bit more research and work. I also have a new video that I've been working on in my spare time that I hope to share with you soon. It's the most complicated one I've ever attempted.

    Anyhow, if you've read the title then you have a pretty good idea of what today's post is about. Awhile ago I was asked to write a post about different jobs Lucas could do instead of owning the saloon. This is totally understandable since being a saloon owner doesn't exactly scream upstanding citizen, and a lot of people cannot picture Elizabeth marrying one. The thing is that Lucas has such a confident showman-like flair that I'm not sure he's the kind to sit behind a desk. I will be discussing my thoughts on his job at the end, but the majority of this post is about the saloon in general.
    Is it a sinful place full of drinking and gambling, or simply a place for the whole town to gather?

 

Back to the Beginning

    To answer this I'm going to start back at its debut in Season 1. Back then everything was a bit different. The whole town was dirtier and rougher, including some of the citizens. This was the closest the saloon was to the classic western ones you'd imagine. We had crude miners drinking, gambling, and rough housing. Once Jack even had to break up a fight. We also had the appearance of Coal Valley's one and only drunk, Wendell Backus. (But he turned a new leaf thankfully!)
    Needless to say, back then the saloon wasn't always the best or safest place to be. Yet, at the same time it was still used as the town's place for everyone to gather.
    Elizabeth was interviewed by the women in the saloon, and they even agreed for their children to be taught in it. The ball for the miners was held in the saloon, so was the cake auction, and it was even used as Elizabeth's personal study. She actually fell asleep there, and nobody considered it improper. (Then again, only Jack, the children, and I'm assuming Tom the bartender knew.)

    Throughout the show's history the saloon has been used for many occasions including town meetings, parties, ice cream socials, a court room, a play, a workshop, wedding preparations, a wedding, two receptions, and of course Jack's Mountie Ball. Now I'm in no way saying that a saloon is a good thing. I just think that just as Hope Valley is such a nice and friendly place compared to the rest of the world, some of that goes for the saloon there too. It tends to change from scene to scene. Sometimes it's a gambling den for cheaters and thieves, and other times it's a happy and fun place to share Christmas dinner with everyone.
    Since Lucas has renovated the place it has become more fancy and like a restaurant. He now serves quality food, and the place isn't so dirty and rough. Granted it's still a saloon, but now it's not that darker place where only the tough miners will come for a drink. Whether it's for a nice meal, or a fun game of darts, nearly everyone goes there, which brings me to my next topic.

 

If You Build it They Will Come

    Another thing I'm going to mention is despite the fact that it's a saloon, EVERYONE goes there. I can't think of a person in Hope Valley who has not gone there for one reason or another. Lee goes there to drink and play poker, as does Bill, and Jack would go there to eat and actually gambled there once with his own mother! Even the Hearties' beloved Pastor Frank would go there, and now Clara works there. (Even though her fiancé is less than thrilled about it.)
    Once again, I don't think that a saloon is a great place, and it's probably not a good place for a girl like Clara to work. Lots of bad and scary events have happened there, like with Faith and Ray Wyatt. If Faith hadn't been there, she wouldn't have had to deal with the shady man's advances. Then again if the man wasn't such a scoundrel she wouldn't have had a problem...
    Overall, I'm just saying that, when you think about everyone who has gone there, it sort of helps put the idea of Lucas owning it into perspective. If even the pastor can go there to drink, and everyone still  thinks very highly of him, why not the man who owns the establishment? (I don't personally agree with Pastor Frank's decision to drink there or drink in general, but you get the point.) And let's not forget the old bartender, Tom. Lots of people liked him and thought of him as a good man.

 

 

What's in a Job?

    If the writers so desired it, they could definitely give Lucas a new job. My personal thought is that he could keep the saloon, but stop being such a gambler. I wonder if that has something to do with his past. Maybe it's something the love of a good woman could fix? (A certain school teacher maybe...)

    For me, I really think that Lucas could run the saloon, and also fit into the ranch life Elizabeth had originally planned on with Jack. I can see him chasing chickens, wearing a button down shirt with suspenders, (which we've already seen) and definitely chopping wood. He would never be Jack, because nobody can, but that's okay with me. Lucas isn't total frontier material, but that's what makes him different. We would get to watch him grow like Elizabeth did, and learn to love Hope Valley life. And who knows? Maybe he's got more experience with frontier life than we know.
    Now for anyone not sold on that idea, there are a few others. He could team up with Henry and run his oil business. After all he does own 30% of it, and it would kind of go with his risk taking ways. Or he could always work for Lee. I'm sure at this point Lee could use some extra help, although it would be a little weird seeing that Lucas is a part of Henry's oil company. (The sole reason Lee needs some help.)
    I'm sure there are other job options besides these, and I love to read any you have in the comments here or on my Twitter page. The thing is that I just don't know that he's suited for a company job, and I'd prefer it if he didn't have one. He's really an entertainer, and so hosting his patrons at the saloon works well for him.



    In conclusion to the main question, I believe that a saloon isn't the best place. There's drinking, gambling, and sometimes danger associated there. But when it comes to Hope Valley, that changes things a little. The people there are kind and caring, and the saloon has become a place for them to gather. A place where family and friends can come together to support each other, and celebrate love and friendship. A place to remember the past, and where new beginnings have started.

    As for Lucas I think we need to keep an open mind about him. There's more beneath the surface with him, and I believe that under everything he's a good man. Is he the man for Elizabeth? Only time will tell, and I will be discussing it more in the future!

    Thanks for reading! Feel free to leave a comment below or on my Twitter page! God Bless!



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