Review: Season 11 Episode 4
I share my thoughts about Season 11, Episode 4 of When Calls the Heart
Hello, Hearties! We are already a quarter of the way through Season 11, and I have so many thoughts I want to share! This episode gave us something different; a closer look into Lucas’ mysterious past. I have been begging to see this for years now (go read my old posts for proof). Thankfully, this episode opened the door for further exploration into Lucas’ time before Hope Valley. I think there is more to come later on as we dive deeper into the mystery of Lucas’ shooting.
Overall, the beginning of this season has been a bit slow and anti-climatic. Season 10 followed a similar pattern, with the first 4 episodes or so focusing on “feel-good” stories, while the rest of the season was a bit more plot-heavy. I have a feeling Season 11 will start to pick up in Episode 5 (tomorrow). Big questions will be asked and hopefully answered. Hopefully, some progress will be made, and the potential of the storylines will start to come to fruition.
I do find it a bit frustrating that, in recent years, the first few episodes of each season tend to be slow. I wish that the writers of the show would make good use of every episode and give us plot-heavy episodes every week. Shows like Heartland, or even Chesapeake Shores are/were better at making use of their allotted screen time than When Calls the Heart is. I want to be engaged and excited to come back week after week. I want intrigue and mystery, as well as romance and tension. So far, Season 11 has been keeping it very “safe” story-wise. I want to see some bolder choices and some riskier twists and turns. Right now, Season 11 is hanging out in the kiddy pool when I need it to dive into the deep end.
Despite my frustrations, however, I will say that I have enjoyed the overall season so far, and things could be much worse. A slow first half of the season is not nearly as bad as the snail’s pace of the entire Season 9. That season was so boring that I stopped reviewing it completely by Episode 6. To this day, I have not reviewed Episodes 7-12 of Season 9. In other words, Season 11 could be better, but it could also be worse.
Episode 4: Is It Any Good?
Episode 4 is pretty good. It’s not as mysterious or intriguing as I was hoping it would be, but it certainly had its moments. There are also a few scenes in this episode that are my favorite of the season so far (more on that later). As I stated before, I think it could have been bolder. I would have liked a bit more nuance and explanation for the Lucas/Jeanette as well as for the Nathan/Elizabeth story. A lot goes unaddressed or unexplained, though I am hopeful that more is to come.
Thankfully, the show did a fantastic job of bringing things “full circle” by the end of Season 10, and I have faith it will do the same in Season 11. I think we are at a point right now where we can’t quite see a clear path of where all of the storylines are heading. The potential is certainly there. It just hasn’t fully played out yet.
I would say that my biggest issue with the episode is that it tries too hard to be “feel-good”. With Jeanette in town, the grand resort plan on the rocks, and Nathan feeling conflicted about where he and Elizabeth stand, it felt like this episode needed more gravitas. Instead, all of the tension was side-lined by the sugary sweet Easter celebration. I didn’t need the Easter element of this episode. It was unnecessary and shallow compared to what was actually happening. Hopefully, the tension and the stakes will rise as the season progresses.
The Latest: Nathan and Elizabeth
I really enjoyed Nathan and Elizabeth's scene in this episode. They had some fun moments of witty banter as well as some sweet, real-life moments, like the one on Elizabeth's front porch. Their scenes together don't need to be lavish or over the top to be romantic. In fact, I find the everyday moments between them to be even better.
If this episode showed me anything, it is that Elizabeth is still afraid of letting Nathan in. Throughout the entire episode, she is happy, carefree, and at times, a bit shallow. There is, however, one scene that made me realize that her attitude is a facade hiding her fear. Watching her face as Nathan challenged her to take a risk, I saw nothing short of panic and fear. She is still holding back and keeping things on a surface level. She is still guarding her heart from the possibility of losing Nathan. And the more she dances around her true feelings, the more the tension continues to build. I think eventually, we will see it all boil over.
Meanwhile, Nathan is trying to get a read on where Elizabeth stands. Personally, I can see why he would be confused. Elizabeth is cozying up to Lucas while keeping Nathan at an arm's length away. They aren’t sharing the deep conversations they used to, and every time they share a romantic moment, they are interrupted. Nathan even tried to bring up the issue with Elizabeth while they were preparing for the egg hunt, but she quickly shut him down. It makes perfect sense for him to be confused.
Surprisingly though, Nathan's predicament also shows his growth as a character. He may be struggling with the uncertainty and is facing the possibility of getting hurt over and over again, but so far, he has put on a brave face and preserved. Per usual, Season 11 has not been an easy road for him, but he has been upfront about his feelings and has challenged Elizabeth to let go of her fear. I have a feeling that all of the built-up fear and frustration will eventually be too much for him to hide.
Politics with Lucas (and Lee)
I enjoyed the intrigue that came with Jeanette’s arrival in this episode. I have a feeling that this is not the last we've heard of her, nor the last of what we'll hear about Lucas' mysterious past. Jeanette is an interesting character, as well as an interesting contrast to who Lucas has become. Back in Season 6, I think Lucas and Jeanette would have had more in common than they do now, which shows just how much living in Hope Valley has changed. I wish Jeanette’s arrival had unveiled a bit more about Lucas’ past, but I am hopeful that there is more to come.
This might be a hot take, but I do not think Lucas is “untrustworthy” or “shady” the way some fans do. I also do not think that this episode divulged from the canon of Season 6 and made Lucas a “worse” character. On the contrary, I think this episode gave him some interesting layers. Lucas’ “shady” past arrives from his association with Jeanette, and his constant effort to bail her out of trouble. She is the shady one, not him. It was because of her that he got pulled into circles with the likes of Amos Dixon and later, Wyman Walden. And if I’m completely honest, I don’t think Jeanette is the villain she seems to be either.
While Lucas should have told Elizabeth about his former fiancé, we can’t forget that Jack also had a former fiancé that he didn’t tell Elizabeth about. Bill had an ex-wife, Nathan had Fort Clay, Frank had a criminal past, Henry had a son, etc. Everyone has a secret that eventually comes out, and I don’t see the secret of Jeanette as being any worse than the others. Personally, I like this story for Lucas, because it gives us a clearer understanding of who he used to be versus who he is now. It also explains why he was so evasive when he first moved to town, or even why he was drawn to Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is sweet, wholesome, and appreciates the small life. Jeanette is none of those things. It makes sense for Lucas to be attracted to someone so different from his ex-fiancé. We don’t know how much time passed between Lucas’ breakup with Jeanette and his first meeting with Elizabeth. Given what we know, it could not have been too long. However, after his experiences with Jeanette, it makes sense why Lucas would look to embrace life in a small town. And while neither Jeanette nor Elizabeth ended up being that person for Lucas, I am excited to see who he shares that life with.
About the Resort…
Speaking of Lucas (and Lee), I am really struggling with the idea of this resort. Of course, I want to see Lucas succeeding as Governor, but when it comes to the success of the resort, I could not care less. I would infinitely prefer to see Lucas processing the shooting as well as examining his past rather than focusing his energy on this project. The same goes for Lee. I’ll just come out and say it; I am 100% with Mayor Maisie at this point. She was spitting facts, while Lee, Hickam, and Edwin had no refute to the arguments she was making. The resort is a bad idea, and I don’t see how it would make Hope Valley a better place to live.
The only thing Lucas, Edwin, and Lee seem to be thinking about in terms of the resort is the profits that it would yield. They are businessmen after all, so it does make some sense. They are failing, however, to take into account the big picture. How will it affect the people living in Hope Valley? How will they prevent shady characters from infiltrating it? This is already happening with Montague and Jeanette trying to get a piece of the action. There is nothing wrong with bringing in a profit for the town, but at what cost?
All around, the resort storyline seems to be highlighting the flaws and shortcomings of those involved… And that’s not a bad thing. I don’t dislike this storyline as much as it might seem. In fact, I think it might be leading to some very real character development. Lee and Lucas have always been very business-focused individuals. Lee has always seemed to make business a priority in his life (with a few exceptions). This might be a chance for him to realize that family and community come first. As for Lucas, he has always tried to face his demons on his own, without asking for help. The bids of Montague and Jeanette might force him to seek out other options and ask for some political guidance from Henry. For Hickam, this may be a chance for him to stand up for himself and his town.
As I’ve said before, this storyline is not bringing out the best in those involved, but I believe it will lead to some great character growth and heroic moments. Hopefully, we’ll start to see more of that soon.
When Calls the Community
Hickam and Mei shared their first kiss! And Mei used the “L” word! That was a sweet moment. I am glad we are getting more romantic scenes between these two. They have a very innocent, cute relationship that is pretty unique to the show. Mei does most of the initiating, which works, especially considering her history. After everything Geoffrey put her through, I like that she is given the chance to define the boundaries and milestones of her and Mike’s relationship. There are still two things that are bothering me about these two, however… Firstly, if they are the ones getting married this season, I just don’t think they are ready. They are still getting to know each other, and we, the audience are still getting to know them both as characters. I can’t picture a marriage between them anytime soon. Secondly, why do we live in a world where Hickam gets a first kiss before Nathan Grant? WHY?
Hickam and Mei aside, I liked seeing Faith blossom in her role as Lily’s caregiver. In her conversation with Elizabeth, the idea of being a single parent was broached. Could this be a set-up for Faith officially adopting Lily? I sure as heck hope so! They are a sweet duo, and we have never seen Faith so happy before! This is what gives her fulfillment, and I would love to see that continue.
We also saw the Canfield children take matters into their own hands regarding their estranged uncle. With Allie’s help, they sent him a letter asking him to make things right. My question is, how soon will we meet Joseph’s brother, and what exactly came between him and Joseph? Also, will this whole storyline lead Allie to start thinking about her birth father, Dylan? It’s a great storyline, and I can’t wait to find out!
Coming Next Week
When I saw the preview for Episode 5, I immediately knew, THIS is what I have been waiting for! For the first time all season, Elizabeth is being forced to face reality and the fear that has held her back. In typical fashion, Nathan poses the ultimate question, “What am I to you? Are we just friends?” At this point, he and Elizabeth cannot make any progress in their relationship until this question is answered. It is time for the truth to be told. It is time for Elizabeth to put it all on the line for Nathan. Nathan has done it for her time and again. It’s her turn now.
Now, in the scene pictured, I doubt we will get an answer from Elizabeth. She looks like she has been caught off guard and isn’t ready to respond. I think the answer will come later in the episode. This is the emotional intensity and tension I have been asking for! This is the direction I was hoping the show would go! Things are about to get real Hearties! I hope you will join me tomorrow night for this episode! You won’t want to miss it!
