Last week’s episode of When Calls the Heart, “Welcome to Hope Valley,” was chock-full of dramatic events, from the verdict in Nathan’s investigation to Elizabeth and Lucas’ great moment at the end of the episode. It was a lot to take in, and luckily the Hallmark Channel is offering some breathing space on March 21st. There’s still a lot going on in Hope Valley, but not as many rollercoaster moments as we’ve seen in recent episodes.
Love is in the air in this episode of ‘When Calls the Heart’
The love triangle Elizabeth-Nathan-Lucas has been the big story so far this season of When Calls the Heart. But Elizabeth is not the only resident of Hope Valley with a vibrant love life.
In ‘What the Heart Wants’, we had some flirtatious moments with two of the show’s non-couples. First, Florence (Loretta Walsh) and Ned (Hrothgar Mathews) shared a sweet exchange – until they were interrupted by Carson (Paul Greene) and Faith (Andrea Brooks). Meanwhile, Molly (Johannah Newmarch) and Bill (Jack Wagner) had an awkward interaction in the barbershop. Molly’s attempt to impress Bill with her new dress last week does not work quite as planned, but there is still a lot of tension between the two.
Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum) also has Fiona (Kayla Wallace)’s eye, although we do not yet know if the feeling is mutual. This is not exactly an unexpected pairing, based on what we’ve seen in previous episodes. However, this complicates the theory of some fans that whoever does not win Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) will end up with Fiona.
Jesse’s big betrayal
Unfortunately, things were not so romantic in the Flynn household. Dottie’s Dress Shop is for sale, which worries Clara (Eva Bourne) that she will soon be unemployed. Bill offers to extend her hours at the cafe, and even suggests that Clara and Jesse (Aren Buchholz) join him as partners in the business. But Jesse hesitates to Clara’s disappointment. (Apart from that, Bill’s multiple references to Abigail in this scene may be a sign When Calls the Heart sets Lori Loughlin’s return?)
Later we find out why Jesse did not take the opportunity to buy a successful business. He has already invested their savings somewhere else. Worse, the money is gone now. The result is a painful scene between him and Clara, with Bourne hurting her and furious over her husband’s actions. She’s already working two jobs to try to bring it into a safer financial situation, but he seems willing to take shortcuts to get there and hide the shortcuts for his wife. This is a disturbing step, especially considering his forbidden past. Jesse’s heart was probably in the right place – he probably wants to give Clara everything he thinks she deserves – but he missed out a lot, and getting things right with Clara is going to work.
At Team Infirmary, things are rocky too. Since Faith returned from Chicago, neither she nor Carson have been sure how – or if – to continue their romance. Now there is another wrinkle. Carson is a surgical fellowship hosted at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore. It’s a dream come true, but to accept it means you leave Hope Valley – and Faith. He suggests that she come with him, but she points out that they are not married. On top of that, she does not want to leave Hope Valley. It’s a great choice for Carson, who may have to decide between his career and the woman he loves.
Grade Day in Hope Valley
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Meanwhile, Elizabeth is preparing for the school’s graduation ceremony. Robert (Jaiven Natt) gives the introductory speech with the help of other students. They sing a song they composed in honor of their teacher. This is the kind of moment that seems hooked in almost any other TV show. Yet it somehow works in the idyllic world of When Calls the Heart.
The celebration goes without a hitch, and Minnie Canfield (Natasha Burnett) is even impressed enough to consider sending Angela (Vienna Leacock) to school next year, much to Elizabeth’s delight. But there is a hint of trouble in the air. Mr. Landis (Todd Thompson) arrives “in an unofficial capacity” to observe the ceremony. He wants to bring Hope Valley’s school to the greater regional district, but Elizabeth shuts him down. ‘That will not happen. I will not allow it, ”she says.
Lucas and Elizabeth go on a real date
The preview for this week’s episode teased some major events. One of them – Rachel (Jennifer Laporte)’s disappearance – seems to be pretty unimportant. It turns out she went for a walk and got lost. Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) and Lee (Kavan Smith) find her walking in a dark path. Even though she was shaken, no damage was done. But the other two – Lucas (Chris McNally) and Elizabeth’s date and Nathan (Kevin McGarry)’s nocturnal visit to Elizabeth – left a little more to unpack.
Let’s first pack the mysterious letter Elizabeth sent to Nathan. This seems to have had something to do with the fact that he switched to parent-teacher conferences. He avoids Elizabeth for obvious reasons, but they talk about Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller). Her academic performance suffered because she was concerned about the investigation.
Elizabeth then reminds Nathan how much he means to Allie. “You will always be the measure of the quality she will seek in a man while choosing whom to marry,” she says. It’s weird to say during a parent-teacher conference, and it seems like this conversation is more about Elizabeth and Nathan than his relationship with Allie. Is Elizabeth saying that she is considering Nathan marriage material (though perhaps not for herself)? That’s hard to say. There’s a lot left unsaid in this scene – especially when Elizabeth educates Fort Clay and Nathan repulses her. It seems like both are holding something back.
Elizabeth’s interaction with Lucas in this episode could not be different from that with Nathan. She burns every time he’s in the area, or he shows up to invite her on horseback early in the morning or asks her out on a ‘real date’. Their natural chemistry makes it easy to see why so many viewers are invested in this pairing. “It feels like for the first time in eternity I have nothing on my weight,” Elizabeth told him during their Christmas dinner. But she also does not want to rush anything. If he takes her hand across the table, she does not pull away. But she warns him that she must take things slowly. “We have all the time in the world,” he replies.
The next episode of When Calls the Heart will be broadcast on Hallmark Channel on Sunday 28 March at 21:00.