Nathan and Elizabeth: My Unpopular Opinion
I share my unpopular opinions about Nathan and Elizabeth and there Season 11 journey.
Most of you already know I am a huge fan of Nathan and Elizabeth together. Their story has captured my heart in ways that even Jack and Elizabeth’s story did not. The elements of fear, grief, and single-parenthood have always resonated with me in storytelling, and their journey is no exception. Seeing them overcome their complicated past and reach the point where they finally are now has been so gratifying for me and many other fans like me. As we approach Season 11 however, there is one opinion about their future that I hold that might be considered unpopular. This opinion has to do with the idea of scene “redo’s”.
For anyone who doesn’t know, a scene redo is a call-back or a parallel version to a scene that has already happened. We saw this happen a few times with Jack and Elizabeth as well as with Lee and Rosemary. Dinner dates and significant moments were “redone” or heavily referenced in callbacks. Now, I love continuity more than anyone else, and nothing hits me in the feels like a well-executed easter egg. However, I do not like scene redo’s.
To me, scene redo’s often feel cheesy or forced, and they take me out of the story being told. As a lover of fiction, I prefer to focus on the story itself rather than what went on behind the scenes in the writer’s room. Unfortunately, a scene redo can often feel like a not-so-subtle nod to the audience, and draw focus from the story that is unfolding. In my opinion, it can even feel like a cop-out; any easy way to hook the audience without coming up with creative, new ways to do so.
I have seen many comments on social media asking for recreations of Nathan and Elizabeth’s iconic moments, and I get it. Callbacks and references to the past are always nostalgic, in the best way. For me, however, I would prefer to see new, creative scenes unfolding for Nathan and Elizabeth. I want to see them creating new experiences and iconic moments for themselves, rather than recreating old ones. I want to see their relationship play out in a way that is completely different from any other couple in town.
Thankfully, Nathan and Elizabeth have a complexity and intensity that sets them apart from the other couples who have come before. Their dynamic and situation is unique to them. They have been through a lot over the years, and have a complicated history. They both have children they are raising on their own. The fact that Nathan is a Mountie like Jack throws an added element of adversity into the mix. In other words, there are a lot of layers between these two that factor into their relationship.
Because of this, I want to see their relationship play out uniquely and creatively. I don’t simply want to see recreations of all of their past moments together. I want to see new, exciting ones that highlight the complexity and depth that is already present in their relationship. I want to see new situations and scenarios that we haven’t seen before. I want to see them navigating waters that Elizabeth may not have navigated yet, even with Jack.
Callbacks and easter eggs are fun, and I will always enjoy them. But when it comes to romantic and impactful moments between Nathan and Elizabeth, I want to see fresh, creative additions rather than recreations of the past.
Since we’re talking about this, here are a few examples of some things we haven’t seen yet that could be very interesting for Nathan and Elizabeth. Firstly, we know that Elizabeth lives in fear that she could lose Nathan; what if the roles were reversed? What if Nathan was forced to face a similar fear if Elizabeth were injured or sick? How would have reacted to that scenario? This is something we only saw briefly with Jack and Elizabeth in the mine in Season 2. Seeing it play out in much greater length between Nathan and Elizabeth could be very interesting.
Another storyline that could be explored is the concept of a blended family. Nathan and Elizabeth are both single parents. How would things look if they parented together? How would their busy work lives factor into raising their children? How would Allie react to finally having a mother again? There are endless possibilities for this storyline, and I hope that they explore all of them!
We’ve heard a bit about what’s to come for Season 11, and so far, it sounds as though there are some creative possibilities in store, which excites me! For one thing, we know that Allie will be facing the truth about her horrible birth father and that Nathan (and Elizabeth) will be by her side when her heart gets broken. It seems like a nice follow-up story to Allie’s experience with Archie. Since Allie was younger and more vulnerable then, it was a relief that Archie proved to be a good person. This time, however, Allie is older and likely more rebellious, which means that she will be able to learn more from the experience. It also is an opportunity for Nathan to allow her to make her own choices and face the consequences of those choices. All-in-all, it’s a storyline that I’ve wanted to see for a while, and I am glad they are finally doing it! It’s fresh and different and will give Nathan and Allie the chance to bond even more.
We also know that Elizabeth will be planning a surprise party for Nathan, even before they are in an official courtship. It’s a big gesture for Elizabeth, especially since it involves the whole town. I am excited to see her pursuing Nathan in a pretty big way, something she hasn’t really done before. It is also a nice callback to when Faith did the same thing for Carson in Season 5. And most importantly, it is not a redo for Nathan and Elizabeth. It’s a new scenario for them, and it will be interesting to see how Nathan reacts, both to the party and to the fact that Elizabeth planned it for him. It is new territory for them that I am eager to explore.
Based on what we know so far, Season 11 looks promising and full of interesting possibilities. And while we still don’t know much yet about what is to come, I am optimistic that Nathan and Elizabeth’s story will have plenty of new, iconic moments that will take our breath away. The show is on the verge of a rebirth, and while I do think Nathan and Elizabeth should revisit the past from time to time, I am more interested in seeing what their future holds as they navigate a romantic relationship for the first time.
What new scenarios/scenes would you like to see for Nathan and Elizabeth in Season 11? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
I enjoyed your thoughts (unpopular or otherwise) and share your excitement about how their story will unfold in season 11. Mostly, I was elated when Erin expressed how the new season would be wonderful for Kevin/Nathan fans who had to endure poor storylines under the former showrunner.
Beautifully articulated…and I agree. A new beginning means instilling freshness into this love story for Elizabeth. Nathan’s prior history with her was already one of emotional connectivity,…but this is his only love story arc so I want to see their couple relationship blossom in a fresh way, not just revamping scenarios that came before. With the kids we will get insights into their admiration for each other’s dedication to their children. I hope to hear Elizabeth console Allie and speak about her love of Nathan’s courageous parenting journey as Allie comes to understand and reconcile with her complex family history. It will be wonderful to hear it and see it. Alone as a couple, Nathan and Elizabeth should have fun together so any opportunity to be free of scrutiny and laugh will be marvelous. I’m still hoping for a Mountie ball….but these two are wonderful alone together just talking so a walk in the woods, cooking, or sitting on a porch can be their thing too.