The first day of school, for me at least, has historically been a nightmare. One that I don’t ever want to relive, but When Calls The Heart this week goes back to school this week. It’s definitely not only about school this week – it is about community, family, the fire, and change.
Season 13 of When Calls The Heart has been my favorite. Yes, I know that we’re only on episode three of the season, but what a good season it has been so far. It’s been about growth and community. Both of which are equally important. What I am impressed with, though, is that it feels as though this show feels like we’re not just focused on Elizabeth’s story. Instead, we are learning about every character and how the fire has affected everyone.
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STUDENTS
School is definitely going to be an adventure in Hope Valley. With the kids from Benson Hills, her classroom is also overrun with students. You can see the fear in her eyes and also in theirs. Maybe it’s the fear of what they’ve all been through with the fire.
Getting kids to bond and listen to each other isn’t going to be easy, but she’s determined to make it happen. Elizabeth is resilient, and she’s always got these deep thoughts – somehow making her students challenge each other and themselves.
Nothing is going to be easy when teaching. I have been wondering how Elizabeth will get them out of their own heads and be able to really embrace the new normal (for now). No one expected what has happened, and they are all stuck in a position now that they have to wait until everything is fixed. The kids are having a field day, and not having to think about anything but having fun is just what all of these kids needed.
Elizabeth will always be this calm, loving presence. I think that is part of why everyone in Hope Valley loves her, but also counts on her.
Especially her students.
FIRE
How the fire started is a mystery, but it will now be this season’s mystery. We know that it will not be easy, but the investigation into the fire is in full swing. The town doesn’t know. They have no idea, but Leland is out for blood.
Look, I like Leland, and I think that he’s a good man. There is a but there, and I hate that there is. Right now, he is being irrational. He wants to figure out who did it – who set the park on fire. He’s convinced that it is MacGinty, but with no proof, what is he going to do?
The mounties are investigating, and with the tip that they got about a man walking into the park with kerosene looking thing, and that makes Leland believe that it was MacGinty.
I get that Leland wants accountability – the park that was named after his daughter and the building that was about his wife. It is personal to him (as it should be). He’s a good man, but he’s also not stopping to think about the repercussions of his actions. Pushing MacGinty wasn’t the right thing to do.
He should have waited for Nathan.
MAISIE
What I love so much about Maisie is resilience. She’s not going down without a fight. Yes, the people of Benson Hills need her, but she also has to take care of herself.
The way that she is there for her community is admirable. However, her brother Mike isn’t going to let her not take care of herself. She’s saying that she can’t leave her post in the bar, because people may need her. He is doing all that he can to tell his sister that he does believe that she can rest.
Now I do think that Maisie wanting to be readily available is admirable. But she is not going to be able to be of service if she doesn’t take care of herself first. Her brother wants to help her.
So he does have his wife, Mei, help him to arrange getting people to be able to go to Benson Hills and try to salvage anything that they can. Mike wants to take some of the weight off his sister’s shoulders.
Mei doesn’t get why it is that Maisie doesn’t want to stay with them. Yet after a salvage run, she goes to Maisie and tells her that she went back to her house and salvaged a pic. It was a pic of Mike as a baby, but Mei didn’t know that.
I loved this moment because it was a moment for the two of them to bond. They needed that, but also I think Mike needed that for them and himself. He wants his sister to know that she can count on them for anything.
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ELIZABETH & NATHAN
Nathan, investigating the fire, is taking its toll on him. He has to arrest his friend; people in the community may be involved, and it’s taking him away from his family. The mounties and constables are tried, but that doesn’t mean that they are giving up.
Nathan is a man who loves his family and his community. He’s internally struggling because being there for both is next to impossible. It doesn’t mean that Elizabeth, Allie, and Little Jack aren’t going to be there for him or hold it against him that he’s not at home.
They know that he’s doing his best. Just as the rest of the town is. Nathan is a good man, and in Elizabeth, I do believe he’s found a good partner and vice versa.
Their walk at the end of this episode – I didn’t really get it. But simpler times and all. Then again, maybe it is telling me that in the chaos, I need to stop and just enjoy the moment.
Maybe that is what I need to learn.
OTHER THOUGHTS
- I love that Oliver tried to take on Julius Caesar
- I can’t even talk about the boys at the end. What they must be carrying on their shoulders – too much.
- I love Oliver and Allie together. They are too cute. They need to get on the same page.
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