Luck, Legends & Legacies--

What's not to LOVE about Season 12's first episode?

If I had to pick just one sentence from the show to summarize the Season 12 premiere of When Calls the Heart it would be: “It’s funny how we can feel two things at once, isn’t it?”

Because while I was smiling wide enough throughout the show that my cheeks hurt by closing credits, my heart also felt a little bit too full. Even a bit tight, causing my eyes to fill with unshed tears. Kinda like Elizabeth and Allie sinking into that hug in the schoolhouse with full hearts and suspiciously wet eyes! I was glad too, but found my heart hurting yet again for this good man, Nathan.

Like many others have said, I found the pacing and storytelling of this premiere ] just right. More please! It felt like seamlessly sliding right back into this familiar world and not feeling like the visit was rushed at all. That it picked right back up where we left off, like the best of friendships do, no matter how long has passed. Laughing and crying together like old friends would when they get together.

Reflective was the perfect word, not just for Little Jack, but the show’s overall arc. I love how Elizabeth defined it as taking a moment to look back on all the good things in your life and the bad, but mostly the good. And then later on Nathan adds this other layer to take it even further saying softly “kinda happy and sad”. He’s so right– we can feel two things at once. And he definitely was– having lots of feelings. It was written all over his well-acted face. Such nuance.

From the mouths of babes— think of the trust shown by Little Jack to tell Mountie Nathan in the stable that he thinks the medal makes his mom sad. To continue processing this with someone else. Someone else his little boy soul trusts and knows also cares about his mom and can help her if needed. This man who is taking time with Little Jack, getting on his level, going his speed, to teach him, hand over hand, encourage him, about horses and so much more.

That’s the heart of it all. Nathan is there. He’s right there. He’s real.

And in contrast, Jack is gone. He’s a ghost now. He’s been gone for years, but they want to keep his memory alive. To keep it in a place of honor. To show that he is and always will be a special part of their lives.

The medal was a stroke of genius, WCTH creatives and writers. Really. A living embodiment. A way to connect the past with the present. I saw some complaining about there being too much Jack, but after watching again, I actually think this works wonderfully to further tie all the seasons together. To reinforce what has always been at the center of this show.

Having Elizabeth pin the medal on Little Jack to encourage his own bravery for his milestone first day of school (who will I eat lunch with is such a relatable fear) and then LJ asking if he can share it with a scared Lilly on the front steps of the school… these scenes were incredible. And then later, when Faith helps Lilly give it back to Little Jack, it all goes a step further.

Elizabeth hesitates and looks to Nathan when Little Jack wants to keep it on as they go for his riding lesson. She’s already asked if they are good to go ride just the two of them while she gets some more done at school for the next day (more trust! A huge step for her). Nathan assures her, his voice dropping lower, that he will help keep it safe. Subtext at its finest. He will do his part. He’s not a threat. He’s a protector. He has been since the beginning. That hasn’t changed.

Which is why Superintendent Hargraves’ words in the opening scene are so hard. “It’s no exaggeration to say Jack Thornton has become quite a legend. Not one so easily replaced.” Excuse me, sir… easily?? You have to be joking. We have been waiting for this couple to find happiness together for six seasons. Six! That’s a lot of time, even in TV land. There’s been nothing easy about it. But to Nathan this is a direct hit to where it will hurt most. His deepest fear.

And there’s more as he stands there alone in the street— Hargraves’ parting, piercing shot from his horse as he rode away, “You were meant to be leading that training mission, weren’t you? …. Take care of her.”

“Meant to be.” Interesting choice of words, aren’t they? Luckily, I think there’s more to come on all this.

On my second detailed rewatch, I was mesmerized by Nathan’s scenes and also Rosemary’s.

I kept flashing back in my mind to other conversations. Remember when Elizabeth was angry at Rosemary– feeling like she was taking Nathan’s side. The schoolteacher was furious that Nathan hadn’t told her about his part in Ft. Clay and that he had come to Hope Valley out of duty– knowing Jack left behind a wife and son. Whereas Rosemary said quietly that she thought it was “selfless”.

Trust Rosemary to go straight to the heart of the matter even if she ruffles some feathers. She tried warning Nathan off back in the library. Comparing Rosie’s own situation years before with Jack and Elizabeth, unintentionally causing them pain, to Nathan’s own love triangle with Lucas and Elizabeth. Thoughtfully, Nathan said he just couldn’t let her go that easily. He just couldn’t. Their honesty with each other, even back then, made their scene this past week even sweeter.

Rosemary is out for a walk, trying to work something out and Nathan easily falls into step with her. She asks, “Am I being selfish, wanting Lee to stay home?” He reassures her that it’s totally understandable, then gently helps her see another side. “Although…” “Although?!?” Their banter and timing was awesome here– emulating what she and Lee do so naturally on screen.

Nathan quietly asks her, “How badly does Lee want to go?”

Rosemary, sighing, admits “I haven’t seen him this excited since Goldie was born.” Woah!

So Nathan suggests, “Goldie might miss him now, but when she gets older, she’ll be really proud of her father. He’s building a legacy.”

This is what good friends do for each other. They cut to the core of things. This is also what great writers do. They create characters that want things, often seemingly impossible things, that will cost them something and put obstacles in their path to get through to test their courage.

This is why Nathan asked Elizabeth that night before she left with Lucas on a train what she really wanted. To be honest with herself. And because she changed course (with the help of Rosemary who saw her light on), she’s experiencing happiness that the whole town can see.

I love after 12 seasons the writers and characters are still being true to themselves. Rosemary is self aware enough (just like Lee, Henry and Lucas are) to know that the National Park being named after Goldie could sway her so that she lets Lee go away to Capital City. They will appeal a bit to her ego. Years ago, it would have needed to be Rosemary’s name. What growth! What tongue in cheek humor that can only be said with love and a smile after years of developing a character on the page and in production. They know each other and themselves so well, on and off the screen.

But then in their late night talk, Rosemary flips the script back to Nathan. “I guess you know a little something about legacies…I imagine Jack casts a long shadow.” This directness stops them both in their tracks.

Finally Nathan gets a chance to say it. To say his truth. Out loud to someone. “I’m not trying to replace Jack. Not for Elizabeth, not for Little Jack.”

And I love Rosemary a little later for pushing in just a little harder. “I don’t think you’re giving yourself enough credit. I can see how happy you make her. How happy you make them both.”

You’ve heard it said before that there aren’t really any bad guys in When Calls the Heart. At least in the regular cast. They import them in, just for an episode or two. Or it’s a vague threat (a shadow over the hill) against the whole town so they can band together to fight it and win.

Now we could argue Superintendent Hargraves isn’t a great guy. But I think he sets up a different dynamic here. He’s pushing, but it’s really Nathan trying to fight his own inner demons or a ghost. The villain in the story is his own lack of confidence in certain areas, not just the new recruit, Oliver.

My hot take that some might disagree with or even be angry about– It feels like this premiere sets up that it’s Nathan's inner story we will see a lot of this season, since Elizabeth has already been doing this hard work the last six. She’s further down the road in this regard. Even though this is what he wanted, hoped and longed for, he can hardly believe it’s true. Like maybe he’s pinching himself. And that leads to a real problem for him to face. Does he deserve it? Her? Little Jack? Can he let go of the guilt and fear to enjoy his own happily ever after?

Thinking back, wasn’t Jack’s father also a Mountie legend that he felt like he had to live up to? But Nathan’s story is really the opposite. His father was a crook and Nathan wanted to choose a different path. To find another way. I don’t know that in his backstory we’ve ever seen him aspire to be a “legend”.

And salt in the wound after Hargraves sends him another stray to train– the new recruit, Oliver, just can’t stop gushing about Jack when meeting “Mrs. Thornton” for the first time in the office. How Jack was the best example of the Mountie Way who ever lived. It gets a little awkward. And then Oliver does the same thing when Bill pulls up a chair at lunch after learning he’s Inspector Avery who wrote his favorite, the top book on forensics. So many comparisons. So much to live up to for Nathan who’s supposed to be this kid’s mentor.

Remember that infamous cabin scene when Nathan tells Elizabeth he can sum up his life in just two things– raising Allie and taking care of the town. He really is a simple man who tries to do his job. If he wanted more, he would have taken that promotion. In fact, he admitted to Elizabeth on the couch last season that he wanted to, just to get away from her and the tension he felt loving her. But he didn’t. Because he’s a man that does hard things. Fights through fear.

Speaking of fear– how absolutely perfect to make the next thing Nathan made with his own two hands for Elizabeth be a box to hold and protect Jack’s medal. Seriously. So perfect. To give it a place of honor in her house. Something to see and remember Jack every day. Talk about powerful symbolism.

Jack has become a legend. It’s a story that’s grown even bigger with every retelling. He was a good man for sure. More than a uniform. But he was gone too soon. He didn’t have a lifetime to make mistakes and try to make things right again. So how do you compete against that?

That’s why I’ve been reflecting that it’s much harder to build a legacy. To do the messy work. Jack didn’t get a chance to do that with Little Jack. He didn’t even know he was a father. But Elizabeth and Nathan can. They show up every day in small ways to sacrifice and try to make the world a better place for the next generation. Like Lee is doing for Goldie.

Did you catch all that when Lee was leaving about missing him, not forgetting or breaking promises? And Lee’s last words to Elizabeth are to “take care of them”. The mirror of what Hargraves says at the beginning to Nathan and Elizabeth. It’s intentional. They are a unit. Chosen family. Mounties and Hope Valley. There’s a certain way they do things.

I think we’re supposed to see all these threads and overlaps. To see the heart of parents and partners that care deeply. A town that celebrates and grieves together. To be reminded to worry less about image and reputation on the front page (I loved Rosemary going off in the booth to Lucas about why he needs Lee so badly) in the public and out in the world. To think more about how we make the people right in front of us feel– to make the time we are together count.

A few predictions. I’m wondering if this season we will continue to see a shift from more general feelings to more personal ones between the Grants and the Thorntons. All four of them.

*Elizabeth said she’ll always be Allie’s teacher, but leaves it open ended for their relationship to become whatever Allie wants or needs. Maybe Elizabeth will get to offer some motherly advice as Allie starts a real romantic relationship.

*Little Jack reassures Nathan that he’s a hero too because all Mounties are. Nathan says “Thanks, kid.” Will something happen that sets Nathan up to be a real life hero or dad to Little Jack? Maybe something with school or his safety?

I also think there were several echoes of pride– parents in their kids and kids in their parents. I wonder if that’s part of Oliver, the new Mountie recruits, big secret. There seems to be something off– Hargreaves is definitely not proud of him and Oliver didn’t seem convinced that his mom was either. How will all this play into the dynamics this season? I can’t wait to find out.

And finally another “L” word besides Legend and Legacy stood out to me too. Lucky. Another student said Little Jack was “lucky” that Mrs. Thornton was his mom, not just his teacher. Little Jack beamed with pride. Later after Lee leaves, Little Jack realizes he doesn’t miss his dad because he’s right there with them AND they have Mountie Nathan too. Two things at once can be true. Just like feelings. One doesn’t have to replace the other. To which Elizabeth beams with happiness and replies that they are lucky to have him in their lives.

Elizabeth later tells Nathan in private, in another couch conversation, that if Little Jack ever wants to know more about his dad and why Nathan is in Hope Valley (and Jack isn’t) that they will find a way to tell him… together. Finally some resolution after Oliver interrupted that discussion in true Hallmark style.

And if that wasn’t enough reassurance, Elizabeth goes on to say, “And until then– he gets to have you in his life which I suspect he wouldn’t give up for the world. And neither would I.”

We are lucky indeed to get to see this love story play out for another season. It’s true that Nathan and Elizabeth’s connection marches to the beat of its own drum and continues to find a way to keep beating. I’m glad to be back in Hope Valley!

Please comment. I love to discuss WCTH with other Hearties! Talk soon— Cara