Sometimes a show is so special and you don’t realize it. You don’t realize it until it returns and you get that feeling of coming home. You get that feeling of amazement. You understand that you are invested in the characters, the storyline, and every little nuance.
Because there is always something to learn.
Because there is always something to see.
And the show makes you feel.
The Way Home is that show. It’s the special show that we don’t always see these days. It’s about family, but it’s mixed with mystery and time travel and so many things that you know that you may not see.
But you’re looking and wondering where all the easter eggs are.
The return of The Way Home was all over the place in the absolute best way possible. It left more questions then answers and that was absolutely necessary for this show. I am definitely not complaining, rather applauding that this show has managed to find that perfect mix of questions and answers.
WHERE IS JACOB?
In the first season of The Way Home, we learned so many things about the Landry family and Jacob’s disappearance. Kat has long been obsessed with where her brother disappeared to (as any person would be) and believes that she knows where her brother is.
We all think we know where Jacob is – he’s in the past.
As simple as that sounds, right now I am not so sure that it’s that simple. Del doesn’t want to talk about Jacob and TBH, as much as I believe that Del misses her son, hear me out…
I am beginning to believe that she’s always known where he is.
Yes, I said what I said.
While we don’t see much of Jacob this episode, we see enough to raise questions. We see Jacob by the pond, with a woman who is obviously from the past telling him about the pond and that it will take him where he needs to go when he needs to go.
Who the hell is she? Why does she want Jacob? Why is someone teaching Jacob about the pond?
I have to wonder why it is that Del doesn’t want to talk about Jacob. I do know the obvious – she’s in pain and her son is missing. However, if you’ve noticed the way that she acts when Jacob’s name comes up it’s a mixture of pain and regret, but also secrets. She just feels like she’s hiding something and I believe that it has to do with the pond.
The Landry kids must get their time traveling powers from somewhere and I am not sure where it comes from. Maybe it does come from their Dad. That is a possibility. But the more time passes, I do believe that it comes from Del.
KAT AND ELLIOTT
Look, I really love Elliot. I really do. Evan Williams brings him to life in a way that you can’t help but love him, even though he really needs to get his s*** together. As a viewer, you understand why he needs space. You get it.
But me, personally, I don’t agree with it.
Elliot has know what is coming – to a point – because of Alice’s time travel. But he also has a chance to change things. No one ever told him that he can’t follow his heart and find some sort of joy in life. No one told him that life would be limited.
So I am not sure of what it is that he’s running from. Maybe it’s finding himself. Maybe it’s finding a way to come to terms with his life. But, when you do these things in life, you are no supposed to forget others. You aren’t supposed to leave people behind.
That’s not right and that is what he did to Alice. He left her and abandoned her. She’s a kid and he left without a goodbye. It’s something that I get her being angry for. It’s something I think that most of us would feel. There is no letter or postcard that will heal that.
I can understand wanting to see the world and find yourself. I can understand the need to see the world. It’s just that I don’t really trust Elliot because of it. I know, I know – you’re rolling your eyes at me. But it is possible to love a character and not trust them at the same time.
Elliot knows something but I am not sure what it is.
I do think that Elliot leaving will give him perspective and maybe even that he’s found some. Him returning, he seemed like a different person, but I am weary of that. I knew that he would return and I believed that when he did he would realize his feelings for Kat.
I think that even though Kat and Ethan fall back into each others arms, one of the strongest things that they did for that characters was not let them stay there. Kat is angry, even if she won’t admit it. But Kat also needs to find her way and stay her path. She needs to separate the feelings of love from the anger and it may take a bit.
Her telling Ethan that she’s not his problem anymore was a boss move. She’s protecting herself, even though it was passive aggressive.
THE POND DEAL
Kat wants to go to the past to find Jacob, but when she dives into the pond, she doesn’t go anywhere. The pond is somewhat iced over, so when Alice jumps in to try and find her Mom, and gets stuck under the ice, well… I panicked. I screamed. I wanted Kat to get to her.
And she does.
I can, to a point, understand Elliot’s misgivings with the pond, because of this part only. Who knows what the pond will bring? Who knows what it will take away? No one. What I also didn’t count on watching the show was feeling physical anxiety when Kat and Alice make a deal to stop jumping into the pond.
If you’re an avid watcher of this show, you know that is a deal that won’t last. It won’t last, because we’ve seen Kat in the past (well at least an outfit from one). In this episode, it’s confirmed she went back when she finds a painting of her from the past in a lady from towns home. There is something that we are missing.
Yet, like I said, if you’re an avid watcher of this show, you know that it’s a pact that is not going anywhere. Travel is of the utmost importance to figuring out where Jacob is.
But what I don’t understand yet is why it is that when the two agree to one more trip in the pond before Alice is due to leave for the summer, Alice and Kat don’t end up in the same place.
Kat goes to the past – the like 1800 olden days – where she’s shot and falls back into the pond.
Alice goes to where she has been – to her Mom’s childhood – where the first person she sees is Elliot.
What is happening?
OTHER THOUGHTS
- Who is the woman that is with Jacob by the pond? What is she up to?
- Why does Elliot think that Kat and him are just gonna pick up and have a relationship?
- Who was watching Kat’s Dad from behind the bush at the party?
- What does Del know?
- I loved when all of the Landry women were getting along and dancing
- Elliot has some explaining to do
- Loved that the lady left Kat’s paper all those boxes
- I wonder if Kat and Alice feel bad hiding their hunt for Jacob. Not that Del would ever listen.
- How is this gonna work with Alice going to her Dads?
The Way Home airs Sunday nights on Hallmark.