Prior to this episode, every episode this season received a 10 from me for various reasons. The first two episodes were setup episodes for the action that would take place. Episode 3 was a celebration of Elizabeth's publishing success and was a great episodes for many reasons - and the cliffhanger we were left with - oh my! Episode 4 was wonderful with the bonding it showed for Lucas and little Jack (played by newcomer scene stealer Hyland Goodrich. And Episode 5 was simply one of the best episodes the series has had, ending with an iconic scene which will go down in Heartie history. With that in mind, I went into watching this episode with very high enthusiasm and even higher expectations. When the episode was over, however, I felt disappointed.
I talked with several other Hearties who felt the same way with common words being disjointed, and confusing, too many things going on. For me, I was most disappointed with the portrayal of Lucas and Elizabeth's relationship - going from this gorgeous declaration of love in the prior episode to a short balcony scene where the couple have a brief chat, he kisses her on the temple and then leaves without saying goodbye so he can go to his office. Later, they have a decent conversation in the saloon in which Lucas tells her some but not all of the truth about his dealings with Wyman Walden, and then there's another cute short scene where he offers to drive her home. Again- after the prior episode's iconic and wonderful scenes, these did not meet expectations. Instead, we got a lot of scenes that were essentially filler (Ned and his peaches, FloMo and their etiquette lessons, Lee and his fisticuffs) that didn't progress the main story. And so, I was prepared to not rate the show at all because I don't want to drag what I believe to be the best show on the air down with a bad rating.
I'm glad I waited a couple of days to let it settle and then rewatched. On the second viewing things didn't seem as disjointed (though the editing can be choppy and leaves us feeling like we missed something we'd like to see) and I enjoyed it all better - including the "LucaBeth" scenes - though they still aren't quite back to the LucaBeth we fell in love with in terms of deeper conversations and longer romantic scenes. Episode 5 got us there but this episode felt like a retreat. Where are the romantic dates? The meetups in the library. The cozy couch deep connection? We love all the kisses (and don't want those to stop) but we want some of that depth and passion of spirit they shared where Lucas just knows her so well and she knows Lucas and steps up in the best way possible when she senses he needs her. Hopefully we get that this season. It is sorely missed.
The season began with the thought that Lucas doesn't need to do grand gestures. I feel as if that was responding to the critics who attacked the show, because so much of what Lucas did in the past was not a grand gesture but just a thoughtful one. Bringing Elizabeth tea in the library, bringing her flowers, remembering to put honey and lemon in her tea, flowers and an afternoon picnic after a hard day all show that Lucas is the king of little things in addition to big things (gifting a library or taking her to see Virginia Woolf in Union City). In season 10, the writers would do well to go back and rewatch the Lucas you created. Don't listen to those critics who won't like him no matter what you do. Listen to those whose heart he has captured and let him shine as the romantic, brave, kind, loving, vulnerable thoughtful man he is. And, again, give them some dates -just the two of them. We miss their library meetups and just taking time to be alone. We've gotten almost none of that this season but when we do get it - magic happens. MORE of the two of them alone together. It's a beautiful thing.
Lucas still seems a bit out of character given he's usually tied to his ledger and he's allowing a telephone equipment installer turned Barber with no real corporate experience be his chief negotiator in the sale of his shares to the oil company (which also means the Mineral rights to Hope Valley), but at the end of the episode, he seemed more himself - focusing again on what was right for the community and traveling with my favorite sidekick of his aside from Elizabeth, Henry Gowen. So, while I would have loved more of the episode 5 romance, depth and devotion I was left feeling good about where he stood.
Lee and Rosemary seem to be finding their way together and I enjoyed their interactions. He seems gung ho on changing the world and she keeps him grounded, which I like. Didn't like that he wrote a bad editorial on Mike (who has a great mentor in Bill) but in the end, Lee did the right thing & listened to his wife.
The mystery regarding Mei still continues and that has been intriguing. I'm someone who likes to guess what is going to happen and I haven't figured her out, which is good writing. Nathan's emotional response to her revealing his 'in confidence' fears was typical Nathan - wearing his emotion on his sleeve. But, I sensed something in Mei that may help fill her backstory (something we will know more of next week). I'm anxious to see this one opened up.
Beyond that, it was fun seeing the kids and the Ice Cream fight with Robert and Allie was cute (and silly). The talk with the two at the Mountie's office later was good in that it showed that Elizabeth is still a respected figure in Allie's life and that she and Nathan truly can be good friends. Contrary to some of the other reviews, there is no romantic chemistry going on here since Elizabeth is head over heels with Lucas and she and Nathan are moving on into a new phase of just friends. That said, we don't need so MUCH of Elizabeth and Nathan together. Every LucaBeth person thinks its too much and even some of the Nathan people aren't particularly happy. The scene between Elizabeth and Allie seemed unnecessary and could have been combined with the above mentioned scene or even better, given to Mei to deal with if Mei is to become that respected mother figure in Allie's life.
All that said, I did like the little look between Nathan and Lucas during the traffic jam. I think the two are becoming friends, with a little competitive sparring just to keep it interesting and Chris McNally and Kevin McGarry play well off of each other. The 'brotherly' affection is perfect for the two of them, and then if you want to bring Elizabeth into it, I'm for the three amigos. She and Nathan don't need to be best friends independent of that. Elizabeth's best friend is Rosemary and her lifetime love is Lucas so no need to force Nathan and her to be close with arm's length friendliness is fine.
In summary, there was a LOT packed into this episode and it feels like it will be a hinge episode tying the first part of the season to the revelation of the mysteries set forth to date. It's the first real sign of trouble in paradise for LucaBeth, though I know they will ultimately whether the storm, and it's creating the trajectory for Mei & Nathan's relationship, Lee's future purpose, Mike becoming the mayor he wants to be (and Hope Valley needs), and Bill as the strong presence guiding people through chaos. Henry & Fiona & Lucas are all finally on the same page and it's the calm before the storm.
After taking time to watch it a second time, I could see what the euphoria in the prior episode obscured and I enjoyed the episode. Marking it down only because I thought a few things didn't add a lot to the story and because a few elements seem out of place, such as Lucas's initial disinterest in overseeing the sale of his shares. But, I get it. He needed to be disinterested and distracted to set up whatever is coming - which I look forward to immensely. Still the best show on the air and I would recommend this episode.
I talked with several other Hearties who felt the same way with common words being disjointed, and confusing, too many things going on. For me, I was most disappointed with the portrayal of Lucas and Elizabeth's relationship - going from this gorgeous declaration of love in the prior episode to a short balcony scene where the couple have a brief chat, he kisses her on the temple and then leaves without saying goodbye so he can go to his office. Later, they have a decent conversation in the saloon in which Lucas tells her some but not all of the truth about his dealings with Wyman Walden, and then there's another cute short scene where he offers to drive her home. Again- after the prior episode's iconic and wonderful scenes, these did not meet expectations. Instead, we got a lot of scenes that were essentially filler (Ned and his peaches, FloMo and their etiquette lessons, Lee and his fisticuffs) that didn't progress the main story. And so, I was prepared to not rate the show at all because I don't want to drag what I believe to be the best show on the air down with a bad rating.
I'm glad I waited a couple of days to let it settle and then rewatched. On the second viewing things didn't seem as disjointed (though the editing can be choppy and leaves us feeling like we missed something we'd like to see) and I enjoyed it all better - including the "LucaBeth" scenes - though they still aren't quite back to the LucaBeth we fell in love with in terms of deeper conversations and longer romantic scenes. Episode 5 got us there but this episode felt like a retreat. Where are the romantic dates? The meetups in the library. The cozy couch deep connection? We love all the kisses (and don't want those to stop) but we want some of that depth and passion of spirit they shared where Lucas just knows her so well and she knows Lucas and steps up in the best way possible when she senses he needs her. Hopefully we get that this season. It is sorely missed.
The season began with the thought that Lucas doesn't need to do grand gestures. I feel as if that was responding to the critics who attacked the show, because so much of what Lucas did in the past was not a grand gesture but just a thoughtful one. Bringing Elizabeth tea in the library, bringing her flowers, remembering to put honey and lemon in her tea, flowers and an afternoon picnic after a hard day all show that Lucas is the king of little things in addition to big things (gifting a library or taking her to see Virginia Woolf in Union City). In season 10, the writers would do well to go back and rewatch the Lucas you created. Don't listen to those critics who won't like him no matter what you do. Listen to those whose heart he has captured and let him shine as the romantic, brave, kind, loving, vulnerable thoughtful man he is. And, again, give them some dates -just the two of them. We miss their library meetups and just taking time to be alone. We've gotten almost none of that this season but when we do get it - magic happens. MORE of the two of them alone together. It's a beautiful thing.
Lucas still seems a bit out of character given he's usually tied to his ledger and he's allowing a telephone equipment installer turned Barber with no real corporate experience be his chief negotiator in the sale of his shares to the oil company (which also means the Mineral rights to Hope Valley), but at the end of the episode, he seemed more himself - focusing again on what was right for the community and traveling with my favorite sidekick of his aside from Elizabeth, Henry Gowen. So, while I would have loved more of the episode 5 romance, depth and devotion I was left feeling good about where he stood.
Lee and Rosemary seem to be finding their way together and I enjoyed their interactions. He seems gung ho on changing the world and she keeps him grounded, which I like. Didn't like that he wrote a bad editorial on Mike (who has a great mentor in Bill) but in the end, Lee did the right thing & listened to his wife.
The mystery regarding Mei still continues and that has been intriguing. I'm someone who likes to guess what is going to happen and I haven't figured her out, which is good writing. Nathan's emotional response to her revealing his 'in confidence' fears was typical Nathan - wearing his emotion on his sleeve. But, I sensed something in Mei that may help fill her backstory (something we will know more of next week). I'm anxious to see this one opened up.
Beyond that, it was fun seeing the kids and the Ice Cream fight with Robert and Allie was cute (and silly). The talk with the two at the Mountie's office later was good in that it showed that Elizabeth is still a respected figure in Allie's life and that she and Nathan truly can be good friends. Contrary to some of the other reviews, there is no romantic chemistry going on here since Elizabeth is head over heels with Lucas and she and Nathan are moving on into a new phase of just friends. That said, we don't need so MUCH of Elizabeth and Nathan together. Every LucaBeth person thinks its too much and even some of the Nathan people aren't particularly happy. The scene between Elizabeth and Allie seemed unnecessary and could have been combined with the above mentioned scene or even better, given to Mei to deal with if Mei is to become that respected mother figure in Allie's life.
All that said, I did like the little look between Nathan and Lucas during the traffic jam. I think the two are becoming friends, with a little competitive sparring just to keep it interesting and Chris McNally and Kevin McGarry play well off of each other. The 'brotherly' affection is perfect for the two of them, and then if you want to bring Elizabeth into it, I'm for the three amigos. She and Nathan don't need to be best friends independent of that. Elizabeth's best friend is Rosemary and her lifetime love is Lucas so no need to force Nathan and her to be close with arm's length friendliness is fine.
In summary, there was a LOT packed into this episode and it feels like it will be a hinge episode tying the first part of the season to the revelation of the mysteries set forth to date. It's the first real sign of trouble in paradise for LucaBeth, though I know they will ultimately whether the storm, and it's creating the trajectory for Mei & Nathan's relationship, Lee's future purpose, Mike becoming the mayor he wants to be (and Hope Valley needs), and Bill as the strong presence guiding people through chaos. Henry & Fiona & Lucas are all finally on the same page and it's the calm before the storm.
After taking time to watch it a second time, I could see what the euphoria in the prior episode obscured and I enjoyed the episode. Marking it down only because I thought a few things didn't add a lot to the story and because a few elements seem out of place, such as Lucas's initial disinterest in overseeing the sale of his shares. But, I get it. He needed to be disinterested and distracted to set up whatever is coming - which I look forward to immensely. Still the best show on the air and I would recommend this episode.
