Did Elizabeth Choose Hamilton?

    Happy Friday Hearties! It's been awhile since I've posted on a Friday, hasn't it? I hope you all are doing well, and enjoying your summer!

    Alright now... As you've seen in the title of this post, you know by now that I plan on tackling a very... sensitive topic. But I'm going into this with my eyes opened, and know the risks. Ever since the triangle ended there have been a lot of opinions on both sides as to the outcome. Some people loved it, some didn't. And with those who didn't there has been a lot of negativity pointed at Lucas and Elizabeth.

    Now obviously Nathan took the worst of it in the show, as he did get his heart broken. However outside of the show people have cast a lot of negativity at Lucas and Elizabeth due to them being the final endgame. And truth be told Elizabeth's character has taken quite a beating. Some people have lost respect for her character, claiming that by choosing Lucas she therefore chose her old Hamilton lifestyle. They say she's changed, lost her values, and have dubbed Lucas as, "Charles 2.0."

    Now obviously everyone is perfectly entitled to their own opinion. They are completely free to think however they want. That's part of what makes us all special and unique. But I thought I'd take a swing at some of these ideas today and give my own opinion on them. Again... I know the risk. People are very passionate about this show and these characters. All I can do is give my opinion and... brace for whatever may follow. :)

    Alright! Let's get started! (Be warned. This will be a longer post. :)

Is Lucas "Charles 2.0"?

    So I'm going to start by tackling this idea first. Is Lucas really just Charles Kensington reincarnated? Now I very much get where people are coming from with this statement. Back in Season 2 Elizabeth had two men vying for her affection. One being rugged Mountie Jack, and the other very wealthy/suit wearing Charles. It definitely is reminiscent of the love triangle we just got an ending to, and I understand the comparison. And since Elizabeth didn't pick the Mountie this time around, people therefore claim that she chose Charles.

    So... is Lucas "Charles 2.0."? My answer to this question is obviously a no. (Shocker coming from me, I know. :D ) No, he is not Charles. But my reason for saying this comes down to one big deciding factor. They are two totally different people because of their mindsets and beliefs.

    Truthfully the main things that Charles and Lucas have in common are... 

1. They both wear suits

2. They both came from wealthy backgrounds

3. They both are financially well off.

    Other than that.... They are two very different people, and this all comes down to each of the men's outlooks on life and how they went about courting Elizabeth. That is where we find out just how very different they are.

    Charles was born into wealth and knows very well that he is privileged. He knows that he has a higher place in society and frankly he thinks it would be foolish to give all that up. He couldn't understand Elizabeth's need to leave her comfortable living behind and go out west. He considered it something she just had to do to prove herself and that she would come home afterward. He never supported her dreams. He never understood her desire to live in Hope Valley, and learn to do things for herself. The man couldn't even fathom Elizabeth wanting to learn how to cook, because their wealth afforded them people to do it for them. 

    In fact... Charles thought he knew better then she did and that he needed to control Elizabeth. He pressured her to come back to Hamilton. He pressured her with his feelings for her, not even allowing her to tell him that she didn't see him as a romantic suitor. And then after she's tried to explain her heart to him, and has gone back to Hope Valley... He follows her. He gets down on one knee and proposes, once again pressuring her to return his feelings. Pressuring her to leave Hope Valley and come back to Hamilton where he believes she belongs.

    After all this... I think we can see the very clear difference between the men. 

    Lucas was indeed born into wealth as well, and probably had a pretty... comfy upbringing. However... Lucas wasn't content to stay where he'd been planted. He traveled the world, moving from one place to the next. Then after meeting Elizabeth... he suddenly stopped moving. He was content to stay right where she was, even claiming that he wanted to find the perfect place to stop and raise a family. And Hope Valley was that for him. He enjoys being in Hope Valley, and knows how special the place is. He's also willing to roll up his sleeves and help out, even if it means he gets a busted thumb in the process.😂

    He also patiently pursued Elizabeth, always thinking of her happiness, and even allowing her to set the pace. He never wanted her to be uncomfortable, and was even willing to let her go if that was what made her truly happy. (Even though it broke his heart in the process.)

    Lucas understands Elizabeth, and loves and respects her enough to let her make her own decisions. Charles was not capable of doing this.

    Another difference between the two men is how they chose to court Elizabeth. Charles was more content to take Elizabeth out to dinner at some white tie restaurant, where he literally had to do nothing to make things nice. The most effort he put into one of their evenings was the little picnic they had in front of the fireplace. Now that was sweet and romantic but... again it was minimal effort when compared to Jack or Lucas and we had Elizabeth helping with the food by giving the cook a chicken recipe. AND... he had wanted to go out to a restaurant first. He just had to change their plans since she couldn't leave her mother. So it was sweet, but... not on the same level as some of Jack or Lucas' attempts.

    When we look at Lucas we can see a clear difference. He puts so much thought into everything he does for Elizabeth. Even during their Union City trip, which very much involved a more "Hamilton" type setting, Lucas put in so much effort. He had to ask a favor and track down those tickets, he planned a picnic with a bouquet of flowers to boot, and he rented a hotel suite for Elizabeth. And even though it's very easy to compare their evening to one that Elizabeth and Charles had, two things make it stand out.

    The first thing is their conversation which was so much deeper than her and Charles'. They talk of their mutual love for Hope Valley and that there was no where else they'd rather live. They talked of love, raising a family and... patience. Lucas didn't pressure her to do anything. He let her call the shots. Whether or not the evening was a date, and literally told her he would, "wait as long as he had to, to win her heart." (Aww!)

    The second thing is a more minor detail but again sets them apart, and it had to do with the autographed book he gave her. It was a smaller thing compared to the whole evening but it showed just how much thought and effort he puts toward Elizabeth. As if the whole evening wasn't enough, Lucas put in the effort to go up to Virginia Woolf, and ask her to sign the book. (Not an easy feet, mind you.) And then of course he had it bound in leather for her.

    To sum things up... Lucas enjoys being in Hope Valley. He chose to live there so he could, and I quote, "Stop and raise a family." Just about every single person we saw in Hamilton, with the exception of Julie Thatcher, couldn't fathom why on earth Elizabeth would want to live in Hope Valley. In fact they thought she was crazy. They didn't understand her.

    Lucas has done the complete opposite. He literally said that he understood her sentiments about not wanting to live anywhere but Hope Valley.

    Now, to clarify, obviously people don't mean that Lucas is literally Charles. Rather they are alluding to the fact that he is reminiscent of Charles due to his character compared to Nathan. But really I don't think it's fair to say a man loves a woman less just because of his attire, method of courting, or wealth. Lucas enjoys fine dinning, is obviously well off financially, and is a bit more... ritzy than Jack or Nathan were/are. Basically people say that Lucas represents the life Elizabeth left behind, therefore they say she chose Hamilton. However... Lucas is actually very different than any of the people in Hamilton, and actually bares similarities to Jack.

    Such similarities like...

    Lucas is always thinking of Elizabeth and how to make her happy, often by giving a lot of his time and effort.

    Lucas is very generous, always happy to pitch in and help a friend in trouble.

    Lucas creates romantic and elaborate dates for Elizabeth, often involving candles. (Please remember that Jack was the king of "grand gestures" and candles before Lucas was ever even a character.)

    Lucas works tirelessly to make Elizabeth's dreams come true.

    So all in all... Yes, Lucas has the suits and money like Charles, but aside from that... no. No, he is not Charles.

Has Elizabeth Changed?

 

    So another comment that I've seen a few times is that people feel that Elizabeth has changed. That her character and values have shifted because she chose Lucas.

    The quick and easy answer to this question is... yes. (Gasp!) Yes, Elizabeth has changed since the first day she showed up in Coal Valley. It's so interesting to look back at past seasons of WCTH as you can see just how much all the characters have changed. Take Lee and Rosemary for example.

    If you look back at them in seasons 2,3, even 4 there is such a difference in them. They really look and act like a young married couple. Rosemary was so frivolous, and extravagant. She cared about acting, and being the center of everyone's attention. And she did NOT want children. Now look at her. She's actually matured as a married woman and her focuses in life are very different.

    The same is true with Elizabeth. She came to Coal Valley as a young, single woman who had a lot to learn about life and love. She fell for Jack, the handsome and heroic Mountie and learned exactly what it was like to love a man like him and with his profession. She learned what it is to love with her whole heart, as well as what she wants in her life. She learned what she loved about Jack, and what she didn't.

    Then when Jack died she learned even more about life. What was truly important to her.

    Now I do believe people rather mean by this statement that Elizabeth's values have changed. To me this is sort of a half-true-half-not idea. To some degree, yes. Elizabeth's values have changed in life. Since losing Jack and becoming a mother the things she values have indeed changed. Now she values unconditional love, spending time with her son, as well as safety. Safety for the people she loves, and her own heart. (One reason she had such a hard time with that triangle.)

    And just to clarify real quick, no I don't think Elizabeth chose Lucas out of her fear of loving Mountie Nathan. If she truly loved him, her feelings would be too strong to ignore. Elizabeth is someone who cares deeply about the people around her, and loves with her whole heart. That love would have covered her fears and she would have chose him. That's just the kind of person she is.

    So in the end when we come down to Elizabeth's core... her values are still intact. Her love for her students, teaching, books, knowledge, fighting for what's right, loving her family, friends, and neighbors, as well as Hope Valley are all still very much a part of her. That's what makes Elizabeth, Elizabeth.

    Does she enjoy an evening out every now and then? Yes. Does she enjoy dressing up and experiencing the finer things in life sometimes? Yes. Honestly, who wouldn't? :) But inside the values she had when she first came to town are still very much there.

  

Did Elizabeth Choose Hamilton?

    Alright now. We've come to the ultimate question, and the title of this post. Did Elizabeth choose her former life in Hamilton by choosing Lucas Bouchard? The very quick and easy answer to that question is... no.

    No, Elizabeth did not choose her old life in Hamilton. The first reason I say this is quite simple. She's still in Hope Valley. Now obviously people don't mean that she literally chose to go back to Hamilton, but rather that she chose the life of fancy dinner dates, and wealth because she chose Lucas. But to me there are a few things wrong with this idea, which I'll try and break down for you.

    First off... (Like I said before) She's still in Hope Valley. If Lucas had offered to take her back to Hamilton or any other city for that matter I know for a fact she would decline. She is a Hope Valley woman now.

    Secondly... Hope Valley, just like Elizabeth, has changed since Season 1. I recently went back and started re-watching S1 and... jumping jelly beans! How that town has changed! It was so dirty and generally poor looking. (Poor as in financially.) But through the years between Lee's sawmill, the rail road, and new people showing up, the town has prospered. It is no longer the rugged pioneer town it once was. I actually consider it a bit better off than other towns may be.

    And along with prosperity comes change. The people in Hope Valley are different now. They wear finer clothing, drive cars, and go out of town to see a ballet or go to a book reading. Things are different now... for EVERYONE. And that includes Elizabeth.

    And finally... just because the man Elizabeth chose happens to have a lot of cash doesn't mean she chose her wealthy life in Hamilton. Also the fact that he sets up extravagant and romantic dates with candles, and uses his money to do thoughtful things to make her happy doesn't mean she's gone back to Hamilton either. Truth be told if Lucas didn't do that we'd probably wonder what was wrong with him, and perhaps even call him selfish or petty.

    We must remember the fact that the previous Mountie in Elizabeth's life was the absolute king of grand gestures. He set up so many romantic dates with a plethora of candles. He bought her very nice gifts like her typewriter, that crystal vase, and her leather bound book. Also... (This is the cherry on top of it all) If I recall all the way back in WCTH's very first Christmas Special, a certain Mountie asked a certain teacher on an "out of town" trip to go to a very fancy ball... 😁

    So... I believe I've made my point. 

    It doesn't feel right to say Lucas is Charles, or that Elizabeth has chosen her life in Hamilton just because she didn't pick Nathan. The truth is things have changed for both the town, and the characters. Honestly things all around have become "fancier" or everyone and all the characters are "well off" compared to Season 1. There were always candle lit dates, grand gestures, and fancy dinners when Jack was around. Things in general have just changed. Characters have grown and matured. Elizabeth's life has changed since she first came to town. She's older, wiser, and has learned so much about life and love. 

    Things are never going to be the same since she is no longer with Jack. Lucas is a different person with a different way of doing life then Jack. The way Lucas courts Elizabeth is going to be different than the way Jack did. But I know for a fact that if Lucas lost all his wealth in the snap of a finger... Elizabeth would still love him just as much. Truthfully, she would live in a tent if it meant staying in Hope Valley and being with the man she loves. That's just who she is. Yes, she enjoys the finer things in life. That was a part of her upbringing and always will be a part of her.

    But she is a Hope Valley woman now. Her goals in life are to raise her son, teach and nurture the children in her care, love on her neighbors, and, if she can, chase her dreams. Oh, and love the man she has fallen deeply for. Not because of his money or situation or all the pretty things he can buy her... but simply because she can't live without him.

    That is Elizabeth Thornton.

    And that is the end of my lecture. :D I hope I've done a somewhat decent job trying to lay all this out. (I have a tendency to ramble. :) I know everyone isn't going to agree with this post, and that's perfectly okay. Everyone is different, and has their own unique way of looking at things. I'd love to hear your thoughts on this subject whether you're Team Nathan or Team Lucas or whether you agree or disagree. All I ask is that everyone please remain kind, polite, and respectful. If things get harsh or rude I may have to step in. I want my blog to be a fun place people can enjoy, and talk about the show they love.

    Side Note: I know I've been doing a terrible job responding to comments lately, which I apologize for! Truly I do read your comments, and love to hear everyone's thoughts! Hopefully I'll do a better job this time. :)

    Thank you so much for reading through all this! Feel free to leave your thoughts below or on my Twitter page! Have an amazing weekend! God Bless!

    P.S. Feel free to stop by my shop, and check out some merch! (I mean, only if you want to... :) https://shop.spreadshirt.com/heart-and-family-mercantile