When Words Fail- Lean In Close

With More Trauma Tomorrow-- My thoughts on E&N Sticking Together

Paul Redford, WCTH writer, said something in his latest interview with Heart to Hearties that I keep thinking about. This isn’t an exact quote, but it was basically that Elizabeth and Nathan have an almost comedic romance. COMEDIC ROMANCE. Hmmm. 

You should totally go listen for yourself, but this is my interpretation of what Paul was saying. 

It’s “Comedic” in the sense that both of them were so bad at naming and acting on their romantic feelings along the way. Their timing with each other and self-awareness created a lot of scenes and even drama. Which made it funny not funny to watch. Interesting thought.

And you can totally feel that from pro-Lucas fans even now. All they can seem to focus on is Poor Nathan and his bumbling, stumbling ways. His inability to find his words. To speak up. 

But hasn’t that been true for both of them along the way? And I think getting focused on that is missing the point and all the other layers. WHY was he hesitating is the bigger question. We see Nathan and Elizabeth fans talk about subtext a lot. We could probably make that hashtag trend!

And he’s definitely found his words when it mattered most— “Who am I to you” anyone?  

I mentioned at the start of my last blog how Kevin was sharing about working with new women directors in S10. He mentioned the Apple Juice scene as an example and so many of us loved it that I’ve wanted to write and talk about it ever since. I love these sneak peeks behind the scenes into the real process that leads to what we see on the screen months later. 

Alysse Leite-Rogers was a first time director on the show for that episode and boy, did she deliver! Kevin told us that the script for the Apple Juice scene was 3 pages long, when most scenes are 1 to 1.5 pages long. Double! So even though it was twice as long as normal, here’s the part I loved the most: Kevin said that Alysse “let us kind of go. She gave us space. She let us just sit in the moment and explore it.” I think the end result speaks for itself.

The characters were clearly trying to find the “right” words in this scene for their feelings. There were a lot of pauses. Deliberation. Processing. Nathan followed up on Little Jack and the questions he’d been asking about his dad. Elizabeth commented on his dancing and looking happy with Faith. Nathan shared about her breaking up with him right before that. Elizabeth teasing that he was giving up on love based on all this. Nathan wondering if he should. Beat after Beat.

You could tell how much this side of things means to him as an actor. This new director trusted Kevin and Erin. She proved it by giving them time and space to work it out at their pace. And Kevin has said before how much he enjoys Erin as a scene partner. They trust each other to be in the moment and to respond to what the other is doing. 

Screenwriter Paul, who’s worked on other incredible TV shows like The West Wing and Suits, talked about how Erin and Kevin have a “particular kind of chemistry” different from anyone else. I’m guessing this was evident from their first screen test. And I wonder if it comes down to being present and trusting not only yourself but the other person? What gives them this magical spark? 

Kevin talked about how they wanted to do this Apple Juice scene “justice”-- not just for the writers, but for the fans. They knew the stakes were bigger and where things were headed. They wanted to get it just right. So many of the people I talk about this show with whole-heartedly agree with Kevin’s comment that “Any scene when there is more going on than just what they are saying is best.” He and Erin do this talking with their eyes, “the looks”, so well. That’s why fans have believed in them for so long, even when the words didn’t match.

The actor shared that it “comes organically if you’re listening to the other person. It’s the BEATS in between” that matter most. The Beats in between. The pauses. The space. The trust. I think that’s when the magic we all respond to happens. This happens not just between Erin and Kevin, but Erin and Pascale too. This staying still and leaning in to listen well– this innate responsiveness– fine tuned to what the other person is really communicating. The person is there with you- in the moment. They are feeling what you feel. They are hurting because you’re hurting. They aren’t just thinking about what they will say next. They are with you.

I think that’s why Episode 6 is going to bring up old trauma, not related to Elizabeth and Nathan’s own history, to really bring them together in an even more intense way. 

We are going to get more of these amazing scenes– like the “I’m so glad you saw my light on” one too. In promos, we’ve seen a glimpse of another nighttime chat where the BFF’s bravely bring truth into the light (Elizabeth, did he proposition you today?) so that it can be dealt with. 

All this reminds me of the storyline we were all so excited to be brought back in Season Ten and redeemed even further from Season One– Rosaleen. It was episode 3 and Molly shared with the young schoolteacher that Rosaleen hadn’t spoken since the day of the mine accident when her father died. Molly practically begged her, “You’re a teacher. You must know some way to reach her.” No pressure. 

There was even some suspicion for a time that an old miner had somehow scared or abused her since Rosaleen reacted so strongly whenever he was around. I actually cried during the lesson when Elizbeth leaned down to Rosaleen and said gently, “If you can’t find the out-loud words, that’s all right. Maybe you can draw a picture of how you’re feeling.” 

When words fail us, we need patient people to give us space and other ways to share the truth. 

And you know what– Elizabeth uses that picture as a clue to find Rosaleen after she ran away. She hears her in the mine and goes into the dark to sit with her. That’s when Rosaleen gasps out the truth of what happened before. And then Elizabeth helps her climb out of the mine- after airing out some of those painful, deep feelings– to the waiting arms of her mother and the rest of the town that had been helping to search for her. Then the healing really begins. That episode ended with this incredible line, “The light of love restores every lost voice.”

I’m really curious about this next episode and how Elizabeth will find her voice. I think it will take more than one person to help her name the trauma and to speak up. Not just for herself, but for Anna (another student that has been brought back this season like Rosaleen was) and for other women and girls in the future. 

Listen to what Elizabeth wrote in her journal back in Season One:

“So much of our life depends on TRUST… to trust God and discern which people are worthy of our trust. For when we place our hearts, our lives, in someone else’s hands, it’s an act of faith. It requires courage and hope, but it’s worth the risk. For it’s trust, that brings us love.”

What’s the most important thing in life? 

Some might think I’m going to say “Love”.

But now that I’m midway through life, still married and adopted a child, I’d actually say “Trust”.

Trust has to come before Love. 

I know many fans are frustrated– they want that first kiss and those “I love you’s”.

Here’s the funny thing though. The romantic stuff is actually the easy part for these two. They are literally holding themselves back. They can’t talk about banana bread without getting flirty! Elizabeth has already said she loved him. How could she not? But for Elizabeth and for Nathan, trust doesn’t come easy. And who could blame them?

• We know why Elizabeth didn’t want to love a Mountie again. She didn’t feel brave enough the first time. As much as Elizabeth is the heart of the town, and many easily confide in her, it actually takes her a long time to share deep and hard things with others. To depend on others. To ask for help. She trusts Nathan, but is she willing to put her whole heart in his hands?

• Nathan growing up had to protect his mom and sister as his dad made wrong choices. He couldn’t trust him. It led him to be a Mountie and he’s always checking people’s true intentions. He doesn’t trust easily because of all this. He also had to figure out how to raise Allie alone until Elizabeth entered their lives. But then she put him in the friend zone out of fear, leaving him alone again to deal with his own rejection and Allie’s. 

But as of last week, that is over. Hooray! Elizabeth circled back to that moment of telling Nathan she couldn’t give him more. That he wanted too much from her. And instead, now, she’s showing him her heart in her eyes. That his instincts were right. She’s always felt the same. They are more than friends.

Do you know my favorite lines that create such a word picture from Jack back in Season One– that actually makes me think of Nathan– showing up at her door and her stoop over and over? Constantly checking in on her and stopping to listen for as long as she needs. Jack told a young Elizabeth:

“I want you to know if you ever need anything… if you have even the smallest care in the world… you can count on me.” Jack took her hands and brought her closer. This was midway through the season, similar to where we are now. He went on, “Knock on my door, day or night.”

Do you know why I can’t wait for Sunday, even though my stomach actually clenches over the Higgins storyline– this is where Nathan as a character shines. This is no small care that Elizabeth will share with him. This upsets her deeply on multiple levels– as a woman, as a teacher, as a mentor, and as a human deserving basic respect. 

I don’t know how it will all play out–

• Will Nathan because of how well he knows her realize she’s upset and stay after to check on her?

• Will Elizabeth reach out to him for help, knowing he is there for her and can be trusted with the old hurt and this new one?

• I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if Nathan’s plan– that trick up his sleeve- to take down Higgins and make sure Elizabeth gets what she wants (that he can never to do this to anyone else ever again) involves Lucas using his role of governor to take away this man’s power for good. 

I think I’ve shared before how we’ve adopted our youngest. There was an amazing Christian woman by the name of Dr. Karyn Purvis who did so much to help kids from hard places that had experienced trauma that changed them. Her research has helped me and countless other families, teachers and ministers. Her goals have always been to help kids securely attach to people that can be trusted or counted on. To empower them to make strong connections. 

To do this, the people that care about them have to help disarm their fear, gain their trust and meet their needs. This allows them to feel truly safe, protected and loved, even after others have hurt them or let them down. She had three sayings on how to bond best: “Stick together, no hurts and have fun.”

I love that the beginning of this season built on lighter things– like how Nathan and Elizabeth do have fun together. There’s flirtiness, joking and laughter. Yes, they have hurt each other, but I think them “sticking together” through the challenging stuff the next few episodes will solidify them as a team to be reckoned with. They’ve gone to each other through the years off and on, but this will be different. It will be an important shift that it’s safe and good to look for and rely on the other person when they “have a care”, day or night. That they can’t imagine facing the next day without that person by their side, for all the good and the bad.

Ultimately this kind of trust will lead us to not just a kiss, but the leap of faith to marry each other, so that like Mr. Darcy said to his Elizabeth even after all their misunderstandings and hurt that they never have to be parted again.