That last line last night was worth the wait. Elizabeth was pretty direct and dove right in– “I didn’t get to answer you before.” Nathan started to give her an out like she didn’t have to, but she cut him off and stepped closer. “Nathan…. Friends don’t look at friends like this.” And after a long second, she said “goodnight” before turning with a small smile to walk back to her own house.
Mic drop is right. I didn’t have that pegged at all. And I’m glad. So much growth.
My face hurt from smiling so much after. I know some fans are keeping track of minutes and feeling like there aren’t enough with Nathan and Elizabeth. But I’m all for the quality of that time and for me what’s in those few minutes are storytelling and cinematic gold. Totally worth it. And some of the Lucas scenes were amazing and they actually concerned the Granton couple too.
Fans of this couple have been sure of their feelings for each other because of these “looks” for years. Remember back in Season 1, Episode 9 when Elizabeth’s sister, Julie, first came to town? She was super aware of the way Elizabeth was eyeballing Jack too. “I saw the way you were looking at him.” There’s just no hiding it from anyone paying attention. Then or now.
Her next line also applies directly to this new couple since the stars are finally aligning! Julie said, “... it’s as if there is gravity between the two of you like the earth pulling on the moon.” I’ve seen this over and over in S11 (and through other seasons)– Nathan and Elizabeth are constantly checking in with each other to see how the other is reacting and feeling. They just can’t seem to help it. Lucas saw it too when they had their emergency town meeting about merging the two towns. Nathan stood back from the group, but was listening closely and reacted to things he knew mattered to Elizabeth– like the school not being independent anymore.
I think the tension we are headed toward in episode 6 will be intense. The sneak peek with Nathan walking with Elizabeth and LJ to school/daycare sets up his (and Allie’s) concern although he quickly tries to cover and be encouraging. So the man from her past showing up at the schoolhouse will be anything but a “technicality” like Lucas suggested and Elizabeth believed. With her love life a little more settled, Elizabeth, like Lucas’, past is finding her too.
A couple of other coincidences if we look at where we are in S11 compared with the episode when Elizabeth’s little sister, Julie, first comes to town. Jack and Elizabeth officially start courting– they have their first date and first dance. After last night, I believe that we will see Nathan start to court the schoolteacher, like carrying her books and walking her to school. I’m wondering when they will find time to squeeze in a date with just the two of them?
Similar to what Jack said back then, “The life of a Mountie doesn’t leave too much time for courting.” Both Nathan and Elizabeth have pretty consuming jobs that they love and they have kids to make dinner for plus take care of at night and on the weekends. No wonder Lucas planned many of their dates– in comparison, he probably had more free time even as a businessman!
And now this new episode 6 hints at a different kind of interruption. According to the preview, Thomas Higgin’s appearance will threaten Elizabeth and upset her newly found peace and excitement, resurfacing a different kind of trauma from her past.
In that Season One episode, Elizabeth also said, “I can’t” to Jack. She couldn’t let him give up a transfer for her. She compares this to the way “that I could never forgive my parents if they’d kept me from coming out west in pursuit of my dreams.”
This man coming back was a threat to something she held dear– her calling to teach. And to make it even more upsetting, it looks like he’s in a mentorship role to Anna, her previous students and now student teacher. That will make Elizabeth upset not just about what happened to her, but what could have happened or could happen to Anna if he’s involved.
Julie back in Season One had this innocent and naive view of Elizabeth’s life in the West. I remember Elizabeth saying to Abigail that “Julie sees all of life as a romance novel.” Abigail replied with her dry wit, “She’s young. She’ll learn.”
And boy did she. Julie gullibly ended up helping one of the guys from the Tolliver gang– believing everything he told her. She covered for him into Episode 10 when Elizabeth figured out what was going on. She had recently been taken in by Billy Hamilton herself and so she tried to warn Julie off, “I don’t want you to get taken advantage of like I was.” I thought of this line immediately when I saw Elizabeth looking at Mr. Higgins in the street from far off, touching Anna’s hand.
When the Tolliver gang showed up, Elizabeth immediately tried to get them to take her instead of Julie, willing to sacrifice herself. WIth Nathan’s support, I think Elizabeth is going to try and confront the superintendent as she adamantly doesn’t want this to happen to anyone else.
Back then in her frustration with Julia, Elizabeth snapped at her, “It’s time to grow up and see the world as it really is.” Julia kept saying, “This isn’t happening” like she was in full denial of how bad the situation they were in really was. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is like it really is. She said at one point, this is “not a story. It’s real life. It’s real life with consequences and heartbreak.”
I think Elizabeth’s first instinct with Anna is to protect her innocence. She knows what this man is capable of and what he tried to do to her. To keep Anna from figuring out just how wrong and unfair life can be, especially as a young woman, she will do whatever she can to stop him. I’ll be honest. This preview and episode has me feeling emotional before it even airs. I’m a teacher and I have a young adult daughter, so it’s entirely too realistic even in this day and age.
But here’s why I think this show is so meaningful even though I know I will be upset in some ways next week. It highlights not just community and romance, but tackles tougher topics like grief and discrimination. And now it looks like this next week, we will watch our leading lady relive a horrible experience of sexual harassment and possibly endure new threats as well.
But do you know what’s different this time around? Not just is she more confident and a single mother with years of teaching experience and a cherished leader in her small town. Now she has a very protective Mountie literally in her corner while dealing with him and her memories. And it’s not only Nathan’s job, but his self appointed mission in life to make sure she is safe and happy. The man doesn’t stand a chance.
From the different clips, it’s clear that Elizabeth will be very upset next week about all this and Nathan will step up to help her. We wanted vulnerable scenes between these two and this never occurred to me as an option. But once again, I have to give the writing staff credit for thinking of something so unfortunately real for Elizabeth to work through and to share with Nathan. They will get even closer through these circumstances and like Nathan volunteers to carry the books, Elizabeth will be able to finally share the load with someone else. Something she hasn’t had in awhile even though she’s quick to help others in this way.
Episode 10 in Season 1 also had this nostalgic scene with the two sisters getting ready for bed after all the drama was done. Julie reminded Elizabeth of how when they were little, she was afraid of the monsters under the bed. Julie emotionally thanked Elizabeth and said, “The only reason I felt safe was because I trusted you to take care of me.”
Elizabeth journaled back then about how her fear didn’t compare to how safe she felt in Jack’s arms. I wonder if this is the scene we’ve seen briefly in a promotion for Hallmark Movies where we will see an emotional Elizabeth lean against Nathan– possibly for support after confiding in him and asking for help fighting her own monster come back again? I think Nathan is going to stay up and watch out for monsters with her. Sappy little sigh.
And here’s another thing– I think taking this on individually and together could be a parallel to the Cabin Scene with a different ending. This time it’s established that they care for each other and that they matter. As more than friends. Nathan will want to protect her, but I also don’t think he’ll try to fight her battle for her. He’ll help her face it and fight it head on so she can heal and to prevent other young women like Allie and her friend Anna from going through the same thing.
Some fans are upset that we didn’t “get more” from Nathan and Elizabeth. But honestly to me, that feels like skipping steps. In that OG season 1 episode, there were two lines that seem ironic to me looking back on a young Elizabeth and her giggling sister. They wondered if Jack was going to propose– but they were right, it was much too early for that! I’d argue the same in S11.
And in that same episode, it’s said that “A kiss is something that comes after a courtship.” But there hasn’t been a courtship yet for our two. They finally after all these years got on the same page at the same time that they both want to be more than friends. I know it’s hard to wait after so many years, but wanting a kiss is putting the buggy before the horse.
I do think “courtship” will look different with these two than before with Jack and Lucas. I kinda think Mei and Mike are getting the more traditional, two single young people dating storyline. Instead, this is like Erin said in an interview, “A mature and grown up love.”
This next week it seems Nathan and Elizabeth will have to take on this unsavory character from the school board and her past. Then Tom, Jack’s brother, will be back for two weeks and get in trouble so they bail him out according to the episode descriptions. And finally we know from interviews that Allie will want to meet her biological dad and this will play out over an episode or two. There’s a lot of drama and teamwork coming up! Unlike back in Season One when Elizabeth was still protesting “This isn’t a fairy tale and I’m not a princess.” We are way past that. And there are a lot more people involved. (BTW- I love how many people are returning!)
Remember how Bill once told Nathan that Elizabeth had learned to look before she leaps? This is hard earned wisdom. Well she’s done a lot of looking (at Nathan) and that promise to Lucas to jump in with both feet if she had a chance to be happy seemed like an easy one to make, like maybe she’d already been planning on it, so watch out WCTH world!
If we get this much chemistry with a non-kiss and lip staring before getting interrupted, the actual kiss a little later on might set off the fire alarms. I really do think it will be worth the wait. For them and us.
YOUR TURN TO TALK: What did you think? What are you wondering about? How do you feel about the previews for next week?
Thanks for sharing these thoughts, Cara. I really really loved this episode. I’m enjoying this slow burn. And after a rewatch I thought the council meeting scene was also pretty significant. His concern for her was so evident and that over the shoulder look seemed like she was looking for his reassurance that all would be well. And he gave it. Along with a look of pride in her for being so unselfish. Felt like they are being set up to meet this challenge together which is one of the things I am hoping for most in their relationship. Seeing them meet challenges together as a team. I’m hoping for some conversations about previous events (ie, Fort Clay, and “looking for Jack”) but not sure we will get them and maybe we don’t really need them. But I’m super curious about whether or not we will get them.
Hey there. Thanks! I totally agree that things may heat up quickly between Nathan and Elizabeth because they know each other well. But there’s still things for them to unpack too. Like others have been saying- gotta get to some deeper conversations like they do so well. I was just listening to an interview about Nathan n Allie scenes coming up too n how amazing they are. Can’t wait for that either.