I’ve been sitting here staring at this screen for about twenty minutes, trying to figure out the words that I want to say about The Way Home Season 3, Episode 4. It feels weird to have all of these emotions about a television show and know, that no matter what you write, you’ll never be able to do an episode justice. The Way Home is that show for me. This may only be a 42-minute episode, and I should be able to tie up a review in 500 words or less.
I just can’t do that.
The thing is – I know that The Way Home is television. I know that the pond isn’t real and these characters aren’t real. But they feel real and every time I turn on an episode, I wonder where The Way Home is going to take me this time.
Because yes, it takes me somewhere each and every week.
This week the show took me to a place that I didn’t know that I could journey to and that is disliking the Goodwins even more than I did. I assure you though, I am right there, on the edge, being grossed out by the Goodwins and their actions even more.
Apparently, it doesn’t matter the period. The Goodwins are horrible and are looking for the Landrys to take their s***. The Goodwins seem to look back on their history with pride when they have spent the majority of their time trying to make themselves out to be better than everyone else.
Not here for that, but I am here for this episode and the way that Jacob finally went to his Mom for help.
THE NIGHTMARES
While last episode I raged about how we don’t get enough of Jacob, in this episode I won’t rage so hard. Part of what I loved about this episode was that we got more of Jacob and we got to see just how broken he feels.
Even though he’s existing in 2025 right now, for him. Cyrus torturing him was not even a year ago. He’s trying to be the “man of the house” and keep himself busy, but it’s not working. He’s overtaken by memories – wondering how his father is doing, wondering about the 1800s, trying to adapt to a new time period, and trying to bond with his family. Jacob is going through a lot and no one really knows how to reach him.
One of the things that bothers me about Del is that she hears his nightmares and she doesn’t try to comfort him. Instead, she doesn’t want to pry, not even thinking that her son needs support and her doing that isn’t prying. It’s being there for your son.
Jacobs’s nightmares – in my opinion – are survivor’s guilt. He’s torn between two worlds and the time that was taken from him. It doesn’t matter the time period, he’s the one that is losing.
SCHOOL SHOPPING
Summer is almost over and it’s almost time for Alice and Elliott to go back to school.
It’s weird to see that Kat has already moved in with Elliott and also that she doesn’t seem to know how to put anything away. He wants things clean and Kat is an agent of chaos. She wants to be somewhat irresponsible and he wants a schedule and things clean.
You would think that with how long Elliott has loved Kat he would know these parts of her, but I also think that you never know someone until you live with them. These two have a road to travel and it’s not going to be easy.
They promised to have breakfast at Del’s and honestly, I wish that they all sat down for breakfast. Life is chaotic and who knows how much time they have. Instead, though, Elliott is running off to set up his classroom and Kat is asking Alice if she wants to go back to school shopping.
I am with Alice though – I would have thought that meant a trip in the pond. Who would have known that Kat actually meant back-to-school shopping?
Watching this show and all of the times that they’ve had to lie to each other, I love that Kat and Alice no longer have to do that. They can tell each other the truth and even make plans to divide and conquer. These two have built a relationship that is very special and one that is calming and meaningful to each one of them.
As they are about to jump, Alice’s phone rings. She is going to have that work/life balance if it kills her. Work being the pond and life being Noah and well, school when it comes. Alice makes her plans, but then has to go and tells Noah it’s to bond with her Mom.
1974 TO FIGURE OUT 1965
The thing about a good time jump is that you don’t know how time is moving on the other side. Kat and Alice make their way back and decide to divide and conquer. Kat is going to go talk to Fern and see what she can find out about 1965. Alice is going to go and check on her friends and see how they are doing after Ricks’s death.
Yes, they were supposed to bond, but bonding doesn’t mean that they have to hang out. It means taking time apart so they can figure out what the pond wants from them. Because it always wants something.
The two split off and Kat heads off and runs into the guy who owns Coyles. He’s got a job keeping track of the history of the town and so Kat asks him if he knew what happened in 1965 at the town hall meeting. He has a tape.
Yes, it’s one of those really old tapes, but it’s one of those really old ones. The point is he has one and he’s willing to play it for Kat.
There will never be any part of me that will understand how everyone in Port Haven is so trusting. I guess that crime is basically nonexistent, but it is still there. However, I will take this one because I need Kat to get some answers – even if I know that answers will lead to more questions.
On the tape, a young Evelyn is heard in the background. She’s telling Colton she knows he saw it too. But what did he see? This doesn’t tell anything, but for Kat, it means that her Dad may have not known about the pond.
Kat has this way of seeing things through Rose-colored glasses, but I also get that she may not want to see her father any other way than him remaining her hero. Colton Landry means everything to Kat and she had a better relationship with him than she’s ever had with her Mom.
That being said though, I just think that Colton didn’t want to tell anyone what he saw or knows because he’s been told his whole life that he’s not allowed to do that. The stories have been told, but he can’t confirm they are true.
That would go against the family and Landry’s don’t do that.
THE DELILAH OF IT ALL
When Alice is walking past the water she sees Evelyn giving some sort of performance. Evelyn notices her and says she’s been looking for her for weeks. I really wish that these things were dated, because I need to know exacts and not just hey, here’s a possibility.
I am trying to figure out all the clues.
The two head back to Lingermore – which is a place I would never go – as Evelyn wants to show Alice all the things. I don’t know why she would want to go back there, as it is not a place that holds good memories for Alice either. She does understand though that the pond wants her there for a reason and so she goes where it takes her.
When they get to Lingermore, Evelyn talks about the White Witch and the murals on the walls. They talk about Delilah outside and how all she does is sit outside and get a tan.
Colton shows up and he takes life by the horns and talks to Delilah. The two trade some comments again and there is just this connection that the viewer can’t deny. He’s so excited when he talks Delilah into letting him show her around.
There is something about a young and innocent Colton that I can’t get over. I am not sure how I feel about a young Delilah, because she seems so closed off and so much like she’s a victim at every turn. She also tries too hard. It doesn’t matter how someone is though, what matters is that when you know, you know.
And these two just know.
I am hoping that she’s Evelyn is destroyed when he chooses to go out with Delilah over her, but she won’t say it. She instead tells Alice that they are going to spy on the date. It’s what a good best friend would do, I guess.
JACOB AND THE GOODWINS
The person who should never set foot at Lingermore is Jacob. That house destroyed him and no one should have to relive that.
The Goodwins want Jacob to help with the winery they want to open. Jacob has done amazing things at the Landry farm and they need someone to help them work the fields.
At every turn, Jacob is faced with memories of what Cyrus did to him. He also sees Cyrus at every turn. The things that Jacob went through at that house – no one should have ever gone through.
I loved that Del was willing to go with him and be there for him to get out when it was needed. It’s even better when they are home and Jacob tries to explain how he’s feeling and what happened to him. Del remains strong in the face of her son. She reminds him that he’s not broken, but rather than that – he’s survived. He’s made it through.
When Jacob was a kid he left his Mom notes. It was called ‘mom mail’. She showed him that she saved everything and that all those things mattered. That he matters. That yes, he’s been through so much – and hey who do you tell that to – your Mom. She doesn’t know the extent of Jacob’s past but she does believe that the job at the Goodwins would be good.
I don’t agree with Del.
I don’t believe that Jacob is broken – nothing could be further from the truth. He’s strong, talented, and a survivor. Jacob has been and always will be loved. He’s always going to have people who will fight for him and get him out the other side.
It just means that he’s going to have to let go of the past and I do think that is a little unfair to ask of him. I also think, again, Kat is selfish because she should be at home guiding her brother. She’s the only person that he trusts.
I believe that Jacob is going to be strong, no matter the time. He’s going to learn that being strong doesn’t mean that he can’t show his emotions – part of what strong means is a willingness to be vulnerable, letting people in, and also being true to oneself.
Whatever Jacob decides, I will support it. But if the Goodwin’s screw with him, I will be the first to riot.
DEL AND COLTON AND A BOAT
Delilah doesn’t like water. She doesn’t like boats, but she goes with Colton out on one. Evelyn and Alice are sitting and waiting for them to return.
I actually feel bad for Evelyn, because she’s experiencing heartbreak. The boy that she’s loved is now out of reach. She’s never seen Colton fight for anyone the way that he’s fighting for Del. Just seeing the look of sadness across Evelyn’s face, I want to hug her.
It is in Evelyn’s heartbreak that Alice realizes that she’s there to help Evelyn through it. Everyone needs friends, especially when they are hurting. Evelyn loves Colton and always has. She just thought that she had time.
Del is mortified because she puked in the boat. Colton though, didn’t care. He didn’t care what happened, because he knew that all her wanted was Del. He sings to her to get her to come back. The whole thing is super sweet.
Until he kisses her with throw-up breath. I gagged. Sincerely, I love you The Way Home, but that made me want to hurl.
Granted it got Colton another date with her and he was excited. He runs into Alice on the way home and she’s heading towards the pond. She tells Colton that Evelyn has said it was magical – the pond. While Colton tells her more about the pond, I wonder why it is that he’s never told Delilah any of this information in the future.
IS ALICE HOME
Kat makes her way back to 2025 and is excited to tell Elliott all the things that she’s learned. Elliott seems to have had enough of her dripping water on the floor, as he puts a towel underneath her so she doesn’t ruin anything.
Time and place Elliott.
I do think that Elliott wants to be adaptable. I’m sure that he’s a nice guy (somewhere under there), but I don’t think Elliott knows who Elliott is. He’s so stuck in his ways and doesn’t see how he needs to compromise. I also think that Elliott is so guarded because of his upbringing. He doesn’t know how to believe in the good of everything, because the bad is always what comes for him.
Alice isn’t home when Kat arrives at Del’s, but this gives Kat some time to speak to her Mom. The two need each other – even if they don’t see it. When Kat lets down her walls around Del, it’s endearing. These two need to build a stronger relationship.
I believe that Del is hiding something from Kat and I am not just talking about the letters. I think she’s remained distant from Kat because of something time hasn’t shown us just yet. The Way Home gives bits and pieces and leaves a carrot dangling for us to come back to. I can’t quit this show, because I love it and I love trying to figure things out.
ALICE IS HOME
When Alice arrives home, Del is making pottery. She tells her Grandma that she was back in 1974 and saw the moment that Del and Colton fell in love. She was there with Evelyn.
Delilah wasn’t aware that anyone had seen these moments. Alice loved seeing the moment and loved that she was a part of their story in the littlest way.
Kat comes over and goes upstairs with Alice so that she can get ready for her date with Noah. These two are like besties and I applaud that. We don’t get to see them talk, but the next five minutes do go really fast.
Kat and Elliott are creating a mess to “be adults” in the kitchen. As they are starting to make out, Kat looks over and sees her father’s sweater. Elliott has had it since the day that Alice was pushed in.
This creates a problem. You see that was Colton’s sweater in 1999. How did that sweater get there? Was Colton the one who pushed her in? Kat hurries to go talk to her Mom, who is just as confused. Kat keeps pressuring for answers, and Del doesn’t have them.
The person I am feeling the worst for is Del. At first I am convinced that she’s lying to Kat. It’s when she goes to her room and she sees Colton and asks him why didn’t he tell her. Colton just sits there and there are no words. I think no words come because he can’t answer and this is something that she doesn’t know if she’ll ever get an answer to.
Or be able to give Kat an answer.
Then there is Alice, who is supposed to be out just experiencing life when Noah introduces her to a Goodwin. The Goodwin who is supposed to be Casey’s brother. Only he’d never heard of Casey. There is no Casey Goodwin.
And now, I have a theory. Casey is Alice’s daughter. Alice marries this dude bro she was just introduced to and Casey is her daughter. Something is set to happen to Alice and well, Casey wants to meet her Landry side of the family. She wants to leave them the clues to fix the present.
Yes, I am so confused, so I have to try to come up with things in my mind. I need answers and I know I will not be getting any.
The Way Home airs on Fridays on Hallmark.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I want Jacob to have a love interest
- I still need to know why that clock was in the wall Elliott knocked down
- Kat doesn’t seem to be good at folding shirts
- Jacob seeing Cyrus everywhere is pretty damn scary
- Cyrus is trash and we (me) hate him
- Seriously, I need answers about Casey
- Is young Delilah pregnant? Is she in Port Haven to not be around people who know her cause she’s pregnant?
- Does Kat and Jacob have a sibling somewhere?
