Talkie Tuesday: When Calls the Heart

Hello everyone!

Back to series this week, and I think I'm going to be doing a lot of those as the show seasons race towards their final episodes; I may actually dedicate a whole week-blog session to the finales to the series I watch, but I'm still debating on that. What do you think? In any event, this show season has seen some others come and go with being shorter in production sense (only eight or ten episodes, which is definitely a far cry from the usual twenty-two or twenty-three episode orders the shows normally get), but the one that premiered this Sunday on Hallmark channel has come close to my heart during its first season last year when I accidentally stumbled upon it: When Call the Heart. 

Now, you may remember a blog post I did way back when I first started this, and I talked about a book series of the same name, written by author Janette Oke. I liked the books and was quite happy to hear they were developing a TV series, especially since Hallmark had already produced the movies of Love Comes Softly and other titles of the same sequence, which they did beautifully (I do admire Hallmark for the family-oriented productions). I was confused with the season one premiere episode, however, since it was heavily based on the first novel, but didn't give us much of a conclusion (or Stephen Amell in a Mountie uniform, dang it!). The continuation, however, was worth the watch.

In season one of When Calls the Heart, we meet budding schoolteacher Elizabeth Thatcher who comes to a small mining community called Coal Valley, where she will teach the children of the miners and their wives. Prior to her arrival, there was an incident in the mine which unfortunately killed off many of the workmen and sons, and there is a pending investigation conducted by handsome Mountie Jack Thornton. Obviously, we can see where this is going, and meet other characters such as Abigail (one of the widows), McGowan (the mine company owner) and Rosemary (Jack's ex-fiancée) along the way. By the end of season one, Elizabeth and Jack have kissed (you have to remember, this is the beginning fo the twentieth century on the frontier of Canada) and they are now slowly developing a relationship.

So, on to season two: we are now nearing the trial where it should be determined whether or not Abigail's husband is the one responsible for the collapse in one of the shafts, or whether it's the company. The widows have contracted a lawyer, but to their intense surprise, a woman gets out of the post carriage. A female lawyer? A prosecutor, nonetheless? Shocking! But at the time, that was how things worked: men had more influence. However, Sam isn't deterred, and manages to bring them all together during her case, even if her key witness flees the scene initially. But they're all rescued when another takes his place, and Abigail learns she has a daughter-in-law (and that the man she thought was married is actually very single).

On a second storyline, Elizabeth is being wooed by Jack in teaching her how to ride a horse, and getting him caught between two women (this includes Rosemary) which is comical since the poor guy just wants to eat! But then comes a telegramme about Elizabeth's mother being ill, and our teacher needs to rush off. Jack, ever the gentleman, insists on accompanying her to the big city, where he meets her family. Thatchers, however, are almost considered royalty there, and it's easy to see that our Mountie feels more than a little out of place, especially with Elizabeth's old friend (potential old flame?) in the picture as well. He does meet up with his younger brother, which is a bright side, but ends up leaving the morning after a celebratory evening at the Thatcher's. Of course, the father figure plays a role as well in 'what's best for my daughter', but surprisingly, it's an old aunt who counsels Elizabeth not to let Jack leave without telling him she cares. And with a sweet kiss to the cheek, she sends him off.

This show is probably quite cheesy; some lines I could honestly not believe! But it's entertaining and I like the main couple, so I'll be watching. I was distracted some by the clothing and the loose hair, though, because of how strict society was back then, but I suppose I can overlook it. There are much worse things out there, after all (Reign, I'm looking at you).

Has anyone watched the premiere? What did you think?

xx
*none of the images are mine