WCTH S8 Episode Review: Welcome to Hope Valley

 

    Welcome Hearties to another Wednesday and another blog post! I hope you're all doing splendidly today! I'm back once more to re-cap the latest WCTH episode! And what an episode it was! We got some laughs, we had some tear-jerking scenes, and some heart fluttering moments!

    This also was my favorite episode for Lucas and Elizabeth thus far. (And I think you'll know why no matter what team you're on. Lol!) I really have been enjoying the direction John Tinker has been taking the show in terms of how animated the characters feel, and some of the storylines he's added. 

    And just in case you don't know yet, I've decided that unless I have a particular topic I want to discuss, I'll just be doing one post a week every Wednesday. So this week I only have one post. Sorry!

    Well, let's get right to it!

 

Notes:

Where. Was. LITTLE JACK?!? He just vanished!

Where. Was. HENRY?!? I suppose he left town or something? 

Gustave came back! And his comment to Lucas about wearing two hats...Lol! That was good!

 

Fiona

 

    This is just me jumping to conclusions, but it would appear that Fiona might disappear for an episode. I have absolutely no evidence, but she claimed she wanted to go visit her family, and so that would lead me to believe she might not be in the next episode. I guess we'll see.

    But aside from that, her and Clara's friendship is sweet to see. Honestly there are not a whole lot of women Clara's age in town other than Fiona and Faith, and it's sweet to see them all as this little group of friends. Each woman is in a different stage of life. Clara is a newly-wed, Faith is in a serious relationship with Carson, and Fiona is still single and hasn't found her man yet. So there is always something one girl can share with another and someone who probably has advice they can give to one woman or the other. 

    While we're rabbit-trailing, I would like to bring up Fiona's single status, and the fact that Kevin has seemingly disappeared off the face of the earth. I wasn't ever sure that those two would develop into something serious, and am currently in fear that she is destined for whoever Elizabeth rejects. I do know that some Hearties would be happy if Fiona stayed single for awhile. This is perfectly fine as everyone is completely entitled to their own opinion. But I on the other hand would like to see her fall in love with one of the men in town eventually. I just don't know if I see that happening this season, which is another indicator that she very well may end up with the rejected man. 

And now is a good time to state that I still am a fan of the idea of Hickam and her becoming a couple. Hickam and Jesse are already good friends, and the four of them would make such a fun group. I can see double dates, and the men coming to each other for advice when they get put in the dog house. Lol! 

    Either way, I'm very curious to see what's next for Fiona.

The Inquiry

 

    Nathan is just down in the dumps for almost this entire episode and understandably so. The woman he claims to love (Yes, claims as until I see something concrete for either guy I will never know for certain exactly how they feel.) has rejected him and now his job and honor are on the line. This Hargraves guy is relentless, mean, cruel, and I don't like him very much. He just hammered into Nathan so bad making him start to question if he could have done more.

    Honestly it just felt like Nathan gave up this episode. He didn't even seem to care if he lost his job as a Mountie, nor did he even try at first to defend himself from Andrew's harsh reprimand. My question is, does this only have to do with his despair over Elizabeth's rejection or is there more to this? And of course I'm relating this to his big secret... (Which I will get to later.)

    I loved Bill's involvement in the inquiry, mainly when he thumped his chair trying to interject while not objecting. Lol! That was one of my favorite things he did in this episode. (I'll talk about the other thing later.) But Bill really was Nathan's cheerleader here, backing him all the way and doing everything he could to prove Nathan's innocence. He's also clearly onto Nathan's secret past, and is trying to pull it out of the man. But Nathan isn't budging. (Again I'll get to that later.) But there was one more person who stood by Nathan and cheered him on...

    I believe I found the big reason Brian Bird told us we'd be needing tissues this episode. And yes, I would be referring to the tear-jerking moment when Allie came to defend her Uncle. This young lady has been through so much in her life. She's lost her mother, been abandoned by her father, and now is watching her uncle under fire and his job being put on the line.

    It was so sweet and touching to hear Allie say that Nathan is more like her father, and he truly is. I can only imagine how big Nathan's heart swelled to hear her say that, and to his superiors no less. And of course I caught the twitch of his lips as Allie mentioned how Elizabeth thought he was "impeccable." I'm sure that lifted his spirits. Lol!

    I give kudos to Jaeda Miller for her acting in this scene.👏 She showed us Allie's sweet love and devotion to her Uncle Nathan and brought tears to the Hearties watching. And thanks to Allie's wonderful tribute to her uncle, that nasty Mountie Andrew couldn't go through with his original plan to sack Nathan. (Come on. We all knew that was his intention.) And the whole thing ended with that precious moment of Allie leaping into Nathan's arms, and being lifted off her feet as he hugged her close. The uncle/niece relationship they have is really sweet and brings such touching moments. :)

"That's Some Dress."

 

    And the Bill and Molly romance escalates. Now, I'm not going to lie... The idea of them as a couple may have grown on me just a tad. (Emphasis on tad) 

    Molly has set her sights on Bill, and isn't backing down. This woman is on a mission. Get herself a husband. (Or get Bill a wife) And she is relentless. Lol! (Does this qualify as a "Mission Impossible?")

    The whole dynamic between Bill and Molly is funny if I’m being honest. This woman has her work cut out for her though, I’ll say that much. She just had to pick the most difficult bachelor in town to catch as the man she wants as her future husband. Bill is a difficult fish to catch but if there is any woman who can do it, it’s Molly.

    As to her dress… wow. Hope Valley is moving up in the fashion world. Her dress was very 1920’s, almost bordering on “flapper.” But the style and color suited her well. And I’m not the only one who noticed….

    Lol! My favorite line of Bill’s this whole episode was his sly little comment to Molly. She thought Bill hadn’t even noticed her, yet still held her head high knowing she looked beautiful even if Bill didn’t seem to think so. Florence was so sweet, supporting her friend and telling her how beautiful she is.

    And then… old Bill comes walking along, and with barely a glance at Molly says, “Molly, that was some dress.”

    Oh, boy! I think Mr. Avery is quite intrigued. Lol! And Molly’s comment was the cherry on top of the whole thing. “Twenty-three dollars well spent.” Indeed!

 

Jesse & Clara

    Well, Jesse… I could say I told you so. Lol! These two never cease to make me laugh this season. Their little squabbles are hilarious, but I was glad to finally get a sweet moment between them this episode.

    Clara gave Jesse quite the cold shoulder, even refusing to give him a proper kiss. And she was clearly enjoying how she was punishing him. Lol! But in the end they worked everything out. Clara made a lot of sense. They're currently trying to build a house for their future family, and then Jesse just runs off and buys a motorcycle. (Places hand to forehead) But she gently let him know that she simply wants him to talk to her first before he makes decisions like that. And then they sweetly shared an ice cream! (Aww!)

    However.... I'm not sure about Clara working at the barber shop... Oh boy.... :D

The Canfields

    And Hope Valley's newest family has finally arrived! Wow! This town finally has a complete family. Not a widow/widower with their children, no this is a whole family. And it's very odd to realize they are the only "complete" family in HV. Lol!

    Anyhow, you guys already know I'm a fan of Joseph. His wife is a bit tougher to crack. That woman has some sass, guys! But she is just a loving mother looking out for her precious daughter. Her comment of how she's known cruelty hints at a potentially very sad past, and I wonder if it will be further brought to light later this season.

    And then we have the children, Angela and Cooper…. Who are both Viv Leacock's kids in real life!!! Isn’t that just the sweetest thing? And both those kids are so sweet and kind. Cooper is a sweetheart telling all the kids at school about his big sister. He’s so proud of her. As for the young lady herself….

    I had no idea one of Joseph’s kids would be blind, and it came as a complete shock. And I’m glad the writer’s added that storyline! One of the things I’ve been wanting on the show is to have some really good, and deep storylines with Elizabeth and her students. Season 1 had so many powerful, and heart melting stories, and I wanted to see more like them this season. And now it appears I got my wish.

    I’ve seen a few “blind storylines” through watching Little House on the Prairie and re-runs of Bonanza. (An oldie but a goodie for sure!) And yet the story never quite gets old. And then… (Places hand to heart) and then I discovered she could play piano! (HUGE gold star to the writers) I love that! And she plays like a boss! It was such a beautiful moment. (I’m getting emotional just thinking about it!)

    Angela climbed all the way up in the wagon to get to her beloved piano. And then her parents, and soon Elizabeth, Jesse, and Cooper all stand around listening in awe. Elizabeth was moved to tears, as I’m sure many Hearties were. 

    Afterwards Elizabeth tries to convince Minnie to allow Angela to attend school. Minnie then confesses that she's known cruelty before, but she didn't realize just how cruel people could be until she had Angela. Elizabeth assures her that Angela would never face that cruelty in her classroom and that she would never tolerate it. She then passionately assures Minnie that she will never stop trying to understand. Never stop trying to help. And while the two women have a ways to go still, I believe this is a very good start to an eventual friendship between these two ladies.

    I'm not sure when, but I truly believe Angela will one day join Elizabeth's class. Elizabeth never gives up on her students and she's not about to start now. I'm looking forward to seeing her possibly study to become certified to teach a blind student and hope to see Minnie teach her how.

 

Lee & Rosemary's New Family

    And suddenly all my questions have been answered. Or at least one of them anyway. Finally we know how Rosemary and Lee are going to have the family they've always dreamed about. They are going to be fostering their niece, Rachel! I'll confess this is not the way I saw it happening, but I am very intrigued to see what happens next! 

    First off.... Oh, Susannah... (I will now refrain from singing the rest... Lol!) She is still just as stiff and strict as ever. I mean, poor Rachel. I think the only thing her mother didn't tell her to do was how to breathe. Lee's sister is quite the character, I'll say that much. Lol! 

    As for Rachel, she is a very sweet young woman. She seems so excited to get out in the world and begin her life as an independent adult. She has such an excitement about life, and the big wide world around her. I also get the sense that she's quite the romantic. BUT I will say this.... You better not set your sights on Jesse, young lady. Lol! Oh, boy. I can picture such trouble coming in the future from her forming a crush on him. And it would be hilarious. :D

    I loved how awkward their dinner at the saloon was. "Delish....ious." :D Oh, Lee you are a riot! The thing that really made me laugh out loud was when Lucas came back to ask how they were doing not knowing they'd just had a very awkward conversation. Their response? Dead silence. Lol! Kudos to the cast and crew on that scene as it was played out perfectly!

    As for that fight between Lee, Rosemary, and Susannah.... Ouch! I say well done Rosemary, hurrah for Lee, and a great big finger wag for Susannah. I mean...wow. Rosemary is simply trying to help, clearly seeing what Susannah is doing to her daughter. But that woman wouldn't hear any of it, and began raising her voice to Rosemary. Something Lee will absolutely not have. (And this man just keeps winning the husband of the year award.) He comes and stands right beside his wife, and tells his sister that she cannot talk to Rosemary like that. And of course Susannah takes that to mean Lee is taking Rosemary's side. (Which he should!) Susannah then makes a very bold and wrong statement. 

    Basically she said she thinks she has more priority than Rosemary, Lee's own wife, and that he should be listening to her more than Rosemary. The nerve of that woman! But Rosemary handled herself very well, and decided to go for a walk to help clear the air.

    In the end.... Lee was right. He knew his sister wanted something from them, and she indeed did. (His little whisper, "I knew it," was great! Lol!)

    And she only wanted a little, teensy tiny favor. Just for Lee and Rosemary.... to foster her daughter! Whoa, now! Say that again? But it's true. Susannah believes that Bellingham isn't a good place to raise a child (Even though Rachel is far from a child) and asks if she could come and live with her Uncle and Aunt. And without a second thought Rosemary says yes.

    This is what she has been yearning for. A deeper purpose in life. A family, with a child to raise. And while Rachel is a grown young woman, I think this arrangement is going to suit everyone so well. Well.... Lee might have a hard time at first. Lol! His face was far from confident, and it was quite something that Rosemary agreed to take Rachel without consulting him first. But in the end I think this was the right choice for everyone. Rachel can now spread her wings and fly under the loving care of her uncle and aunt, and Lee and Rosemary have someone to love and care for. It may not be the family they first expected or wanted to have, but I think this is the start of so many wonderful things to come for all three of them!

 

The Most Romantic Gift 

    Guys.... I know I've given these two a hard rap in the past, but.... Oh my goodness! That was one of my favorite Team Infirmary moments ever! Guys, I was swooning! That was literally the sweetest things ever! Period. I mean, man Carson! Could you get anymore romantic?

    Things between Faith and Carson have been... rocky to say the least these past few episodes. Faith summed it up so well by saying things seem to change between them by the minute. It's so true! One moment they're fighting and bickering, and the next Carson is serenading Faith, and they almost kiss. (Thanks, Molly....)

    Carson then came back from his trip, and brought a big gift box to boot. I wasn’t sure what it was at first, and then when Faith opened it… I melted. It was a doctor’s bag with her name right on it! (Excuse me while I swoon.) And of course he’s like, “It’s not a very romantic gift.” Dude! That was one of the sweetest, and most romantic things you’ve ever done! And Faith felt the same.

    Not only was it such a sweet and thoughtful gift, but it held so much meaning. It shows Carson supporting Faith now that she’s a doctor, while showing her how much he loves her. Not to mention I think it’s really sweet that every time Faith uses that bag she’ll remember how it was a special gift from Carson.

    Well, it appears the air between these two has been cleared for the time being. But as Faith said, it tends to shift every few minutes. Who knows what next week’s episode may hold for them?

 

I Guess We'll Just Have to See...

Warning: This section turned out quite....long. :D Team Nathan be warned there is a lot of gushing down below. Lol!

    And the sparks are flying!!! (Eeeeeek!) This was my favorite episode for Lucas and Elizabeth so far! (For obvious reasons...Lol!) Alright, alright. Let me start from the beginning.

    First off.... Oh my goodness! Lucas could you get anymore pitiful. and pathetic? And I mean that in the best way, because I absolutely loved that first scene! Like LOVED it! Oh, Lucas! You poor overworked, heart broken soul! I'm also enjoying his more ruffled appearance this season. You just gotta love the floppy hair. Lol!

    And the tension! Oh, my goodness! I have never felt tension like that before between these two. And I love it! Things were so easy for these two in Seasons 6-7. It’s about time I saw some good tension between them. And it was great!

    Elizabeth comments that he’s up early, and Lucas then confesses that he is actually up late as he never made it to bed. (The poor man. Sniff!) He then comments how he was in his office “stealing from Peter so he could pay Paul.” This oil company seems to be really taking it out of Lucas. Before all he had to do was provide Henry with necessary funds to run the company, and then sit back and watch his investment roll in. But now… Now he’s in charge of it all.

    And as it turns out the oil derrick was able to be salvaged so all wasn’t lost. Again I was disappointed by the lack of a response from Elizabeth. His life was in danger. He was literally blown up, and "Thankfully no one was badly injured," is all she can say?

    Any who Lucas then comments that Elizabeth is up early. She then says that a new family has moved in and that everyone else is bringing pies and casseroles so she started to say that she was bringing the books.... And Lucas finished her sentence for her with... "Food for the soul?" (He finished her sentence! Okay, I really need to stop gushing...😊)

    She then looks back at him, soft piano music begins to play, and you can just feel the connection they share. This may sound cheesy but Lucas and Elizabeth just really seem to get each other. Elizabeth didn’t even have to explain herself, because Lucas already knew and understood without her saying anything. (Isn't it sweet? :)

    And then… (Sighs contently) And then even though you could cut the tension with a knife, and even though things are still rough between them…. Lucas goes and opens the door for her. AND as if this wasn’t the sweetest thing ever, he then helps her load the books into her saddle bag. And I melted into a big old puddle on the floor. I mean…He just… Augh! That was the most romantic and sweetest thing! The man is such a gentleman, and truly adores Elizabeth. So even though they were not on great terms, he still went and helped her. (I’m sorry, but even Team Nathan has to admit that was so sweet!)

    We then had a very brief moment between them when Elizabeth went to talk to Joseph, who was currently talking to Lucas. Elizabeth asks can she borrow Mr. Canfield for a moment, and Lucas excuses himself. Her eyes then follow him as he walks away, before she has to shake herself out of her daze, so she can talk to Joseph. Now I could totally go on and say how it's because of her deep feelings for him that she looked after him, but I'll restrain myself. The truth is that there was still so much tension between the two of them and they both could feel it. And so her feelings here could just be due to the tension she knows is there.... or it could be because of her feelings for him.... or it could be both. I really don't know.

    But I will say that I'm glad to see Lucas talking with Joseph, as I may have a dream of them becoming really good friends. (Just maybe... ;) I guess time will tell.

 

    We then come to a very interesting scene, that has me and I'm sure a lot of you asking questions. And that would be how the writers made a point to show Lucas watch the whole scene with Elizabeth, Allie, and Nathan. First off.... why is this guy just meandering outside with his teacup? It's like he just knows when something is going to happen with Elizabeth and Nathan, and stands in the perfect place to look on in despair. Lol!

    Anyhow, Elizabeth seemed caught in a cross-road at this point, as she looked from Lucas to Allie before choosing to go with Allie. Now I re-watched that scene and I don't know that was her making some kind of choice for say. It seemed more that she was taking note that Lucas was there and watching, before going off with Allie. Now she did choose to go with Allie, but that's just natural. She's the teacher and she always goes with her student, not to mention it really would have made no sense at all for her to go to Lucas in this moment. Her and Lucas weren't on good terms and she'd be abandoning Allie in her time of need. Something she never does. So if anything she was thinking about how things may look to Lucas if she went with Allie, or she was simply taking note that he was watching.

    The big question is really this. Why did the writers make a point of showing us that Lucas saw Elizabeth with Allie and Nathan? In my opinion this could be used to either man's advantage in this triangle, but I will explain what I think may have happened here.

    So far this season (And the end of last season) everything Lucas has seen points to Elizabeth having feelings for Nathan, and not him. Honestly at this point he may believe that she's already chosen Nathan with all that he's seen. And so this scene just seems to show him even more that Elizabeth is with Nathan. His face said it all. He believes Elizabeth loves Nathan, and he walked away in resignation. There was such a pain-filled look on his face. And I wonder if him seeing that moment made him do what he did next.

    The final scene for Elizabeth and Lucas.... (Sighs...) Well, it's got me asking all sorts of questions. It starts with Lucas walking out of the saloon, clearly looking for someone or something. Elizabeth then approaches him, and says that she decided to take her own advice and be the one to reach out first. (And the crowd erupts with applause.) I'm so glad she said that, and didn't wait for him to come to her. I know what Lucas said was far from nice, but she's put the man through a lot of pain. (Although she never meant to.)

    She apologizes for not being more forthright with Lucas, realizing that in trying to honor Helen's request, she hurt Lucas, something she never meant to do. I'm not sure that she needed to apologize for keeping Helen's secret, so much as she needed to for hurting Lucas' feelings. Keeping Helen's secret wasn't really her fault as Helen really thrust it upon her, and she was trying to not break Helen's trust. Not to mention I don't know that it was Elizabeth's place to tell Lucas that his parents had separated. That was for Helen to do.

    Anyhow, Lucas clearly appreciates Elizabeth's gesture and apology, and thanks her. He then says that despite all that happened it was no excuse to talk to her the way he did. He also says he had no right to question what she knew about love. And I say amen and amen to that. 

    It was no surprise to me that Lucas apologized for his actions, and to be honest it was necessary. While I totally understand why he said what he did, and believe Elizabeth needed to hear it, that doesn't give him an excuse to be mean. Also knowing she lost her husband, it was quite an insult to question what she knew about love. It's even more so since I know just how much Elizabeth loved Jack, but of course Lucas has no idea.

    Anyhow, I was very pleased to hear Lucas actually say the words, "I'm sorry." He was so humble and sincere, and I was very happy and proud of the way he thoroughly apologized. Elizabeth then becomes a bit nervous saying that she's not sure if Lucas wants anything to do with her. (Which is understandable at this point.) But then she drops the bomb and tells Lucas that she rejected Nathan, and won't be seeing him anymore.... ("Seeing him?" Did you consider yourself "seeing him" before? You didn't even go on a date with the man!) And suddenly a light turns on inside Lucas.

    His eye brows raise, and he takes a small step forward. I honestly was like, "He's walking closer! What's going to happen? What is he going to do?!?" It's funny because the whole time Elizabeth was saying, "I'm not sure if you want anything to do with me," Lucas' mouth kept working like he was trying to say something. Inside he's probably like, "Of course I want something to do with you!" Or he may have been trying to tell her he just wants her to be happy. Anyhow...

    Lucas steps toward her and asks tentatively, "What could that mean for us?" He was so hopeful in this moment, his mounting joy so evident on his face. His words then elicit this sweet, and excited smile from Elizabeth. It was like she was surprised he was still interested in her. She then shyly shrugs her shoulders and replies... "I guess we'll just have to see." And instantly Lucas' face lights up like a Christmas tree. 

    There was so much hope and joy in both of their expressions, and the music playing during the whole scene just made the moment even more monumental. And then of course Gustave had to come out and ask about those blasted mushrooms. Lol! It was so cute as his words seemed to jolt both Lucas and Elizabeth out of the trance they were in. Lucas was so focused on Elizabeth that he didn't even hear what the Frenchman had said. 

    And with the happiest school-boy grin, Lucas excuses himself to go to the mercantile. That man looked like he wanted to go run down Hope Valley's streets shouting for joy. He was so, so happy, and it was just adorable. And the whole time Elizabeth had the sweetest smile on her face. There was such excitement in her expression, like there were butterflies dancing in her chest. If that doesn't say something as to her feelings, I don't know what will.

    BUT.... (There's always a but, isn't there.) I am not convinced that this was her making her final decision. Not at all. We are only on episode 4 out of a 12 episode season. Honestly, her making that statement to Lucas only seems to follow the very predictable storyline I'm fearing this season may go. She rejected Nathan, and now is going to be pursued by Lucas. Will she realize in the end that it's really Nathan she loves, and Lucas was the safe choice? I have no idea. But I am still very hopeful that Lucas may indeed be the endgame. It would honestly make sense with all the time him and Elizabeth have spent getting to know each other these past two seasons. I could honestly go on and on about that, but I'll restrain myself. Lol!

    Anyhow, I'm most excited for this next episode! I'm sensing romance is in the air!

Nathan's Secret

 

    Oh, my..... GOODNESS!!! This guy met Jack! I know it! I just know it! For the past two seasons I've brought up the idea of Nathan having known Jack, but he always said he didn't and I didn't have any evidence to disprove him. But now... Oh boy! I am onto you Mr. Mountie! 

    Now I have two theories here. Either Nathan is a big fat liar (Excuse my bluntness, Team Nathan) or he is sort of telling the truth about "not knowing Jack." He didn't have to know Jack in order to have come in contact with him. Namely... during the landslide that killed him. Now I have no evidence to back me up, but I totally get the sense that there is something Nathan isn't telling everyone. Something he clearly doesn't want to come to light. What could have happened that he is guarding so closely? What happened at Fort Clay that changed him so?

    We already know that he got suspended for disobeying direct orders... but was that all? I don't think that that's enough to change a man so drastically. And I also think Hargraves may be involved in this as well. But just what was it that happened?

    Did Nathan find Jack in the landslide while chasing those cattle rustler? Was Nathan the Mountie Jack saved? Did he somehow cause the landslide? Did he pull Jack out of the landslide, and hear his last dying words? I HAVE to know!!!

    And then Allie tells us that Nathan asked for a transfer afterward. Could he have possibly requested Hope Valley on purpose? Did Jack make him promise to look after Elizabeth before he died, or Nathan felt like he needed to because he feels responsible for Jack's death? I have SO many questions!

    Whatever Nathan's hiding must have been something big if it changed his whole personality. And every time Nathan says he never met Jack things just get more and more mysterious. All I can say is.... not telling Elizabeth is a bad idea. Because depending on what happened, he would either get sympathy from her, or she'll become incredibly heartbroken and angry once she finds out. Either way, it's totally in his best interest to tell her. Or at least someone! But from the way Nathan is acting about it.... it must be something pretty bad. Something that possibly brought him a lot of guilt. Something that he's been keeping inside for awhile now. Something that is most definitely going to come to light soon.

    And there we have it! Overall this was once again a fun and enjoyable episode! I actually am really a fan of some of the things John Tinker has done to the show. The characters have just broken out of their molds and come to life in a way that is so fun to watch. This season also feels a bit deeper, and a little grittier, which is a very good thing in my opinion.

    Thank you all so much for reading this very long post! :D Feel free to share your thoughts about this episode below or on my Twitter page! I love hearing everyone's opinion! (Please just don't tell me any spoilers. Thank you! :) Have a wonderful week! God Bless!