Sunday, February 14, 2021

When Calls the Heart '21 || Underrated Characters



Happy Valentines Day, lovely humans! And welcome back to the final day of the party. It's been fun and a nice way to unwind at the close of a long week...whilst contemplate other people's lives... xD 

So today I'm going to talk about characters that are, in my option, underrated. I'm choosing one from each season. These are characters who a lot of others (fellow characters and viewers alike) didn't really like, and/or characters who didn't get much screentime, whose stories were never finished, who I would have liked to see more of... you get the picture. 


|| Underrated Characters from Each Season


• Season One - Wyatt Weaver • 

Anyone else remember him? The smart kid who walked his brothers to school and then went to work in the coal mine? He's only credited in two episodes of season 1 and one episode of season 2. I wish he would've been a recurring character. Plus Wyatt and Gem's relationship, like?! 


• Season Two - Luke McCoy • 

Ahh, yes, the fellow who's just moved to town and seen hanging around the mercantile discussing rolling pins with Clara. I thought they were really cute together and we don't even see him again after she goes out with him like once (he's credited in two episodes). I'm a fan of her with Jesse, but... what happened to Luke?!


• Season Three - Edith & Roy Sampson • 

The estranged couple (with a baby) that were reconciled with a little help from Jack. There story was, technically, not left hanging, but do we ever find out what happened to them after the silver mine closed and the flood? Not that I remember. And, c'mon, they're cute. 


• Season Four - Shane & Phillip Cantrell • 

Again, they're cute. Phillip appears in 13 episodes and is often seen only as one of the school children. His father, Shane, appears in only 5 episodes and at some point is "away for work." Like...who's raising his son while he's gallivanting off to goodness knows where? Shane and Nurse Faith Carter were briefly/almost an item and that was never finished either. After Phillip left for eye surgery in the city, they're never heard from again! 


• Season Five - Sofia Connelly • 

Anyone remember the architect friend of Rosemary's who had a thing with Carson briefly in season 5? Yeah, me too. And I actually really liked seeing their whirlwind romance. While I understand why it couldn't have worked long time without Carson leaving the show, I would like to see a reappearance of her character. 


• Season Six - Mike Hickam • 

I was struggling to find someone for this season, so I decided to throw in this guy that could really have been listed on any season. Yes, Hickam. The actor's IMDb page credits him for 43 episodes of WCTH, yet what do we really know about him? He works for Lee and will do anything Rosemary asks him. Beyond that? #MoreHickamPlotsPlease


• Season Seven - Fiona Miller • 

Not necessarily an underrated character... but a really fun one that I haven't got to talk about much. And I can't think of anyone else I want to talk about for season 7. xD  She arrived with the telephone in Hope Valley and has been a fun part of the show ever since. Looking forward to seeing her story continue in season 8! 



*Images and collages are not mine. 

And the giveaway winners are... Abby Elissa (first place) and Sawyer (second place)! Congratulations, lovelies, we'll be in touch! <3 


who's your favorite underrated character? 

Saturday, February 13, 2021

When Calls the Heart '21 || Guest Post: Pros & Cons of Lucas & Nathan



Yo fam! 

Today we have a guest post from my When Calls the Heart buddy... talking about the elephant in the room, the lingering love triangle. 


!! Disclaimer: The following article contains opinions that are not necessarily approved or endorsed by this blog. Stories by Firefly cannot and does not recommend joining #TeamLucas but leaves the final decision in the capable mind of the reader. Proceed with caution. !!


You can click over to Rebekah's blog here to read my pros and cons for each guy. ;) 


|| Guest post w/ RebekahAshleigh


If you’re keeping up with When Calls the Heart you know that there is a love triangle going on. Who will Elizabeth fall in love with? Lucas the saloon owner or Nathan the Mountie??

I’m Team Lucas all the way! Before I ever “met” either guy I was not wanting Lucas actually. I mean he’s a saloon owner and I thought Nathan was better looking. I don’t think that anymore! You can’t tell that kind of thing from a picture, you have to see them in action to decide for yourself. ;)

Okay, here are my pros and cons for each guy!



Nathan Grant 

-pros-

1. He is caring. 

2. He is good with little Jack. (I mean there hasn’t been that many interactions, but one specifically stands out.) He also really cares for his niece.

3. He does a good job of protecting the people of Hope Valley.


-cons-

1. Nathan is slightly boring. He likes Elizabeth but won’t make any moves, but he gets mad when Lucas asks her out? Like, don’t be mad Nathan, if you want Elizabeth you have to try.

2 .Nathan has a very obnoxious niece named Allie. I am sorry, I really like the story of Nathan raising his niece I just can’t stand Allie... (I can only hope she gets better in this new season)

3. I just don’t think he’s good for Elizabeth. I mean Nathan is caring but yeah, I don’t think Elizabeth should go for another Mountie…



Lucas Bouchard 

-pros-

1.Lucas is very romantic. (and good looking. ;))

2. He is supportive of Elizabeth’s writing.

3. He is helping bring progress to Hope Valley. 


-cons-

1. Lucas does have a bit of a past, and it did catch up with him and put Elizabeth in danger. But it all worked out. Just because someone doesn’t have a great past doesn’t mean they are a bad person.

2. Some people think he’s trying to buy Elizabeth’s love. He’s not he is just like me and has the gift of giving. Anyways, Jack was also really romantic and I like that Lucas is too.

3. At one point he was a bit too supportive of Elizabeth’s writing and did something he should’ve had Elizabeth’s permission for, but it all worked out and she forgave him.



*

giveaway details are here + leave your comments today to get extra entries! 


okay, so... are you #TeamLucas or #TeamNathan? 

Friday, February 12, 2021

When Calls the Heart '21 || Season Eight Collaboration

Happy Friday, lovelies! 

And welcome to the unofficial fifth annual When Calls the Heart blog party, hosted by yours truly and my friend, Rebekah. It's a fun thing we do every Valentines week/weekend, as much for our own enjoyment as sharing with y'all. :)

For day one, we wrote a collab/convo about our speculations for the new season, which premieres in just over a week! 


|| Collab w/ RebekahAshleigh


Rebekah: Welcome to the When Calls the Heart blog party! 


Faith: Woot, woot! Fifth year in a row :D


R: I can’t believe this is our fifth year doing this!


F: Me either! We must be getting old… 


R: Haha, I know right?


F: But you know what the best part about another year of this party is? Another season of our beloved series. ;) 


R: Yes! I am so excited to see where season 8 goes! 

Only a week left until it premiers! 


F: *tosses confetti* I was thinking about this last night and trying to remember if the new season was season 7 or 8. (I always combine 6 and 7 in my mind for some reason… :P)  But wow, 8 years of Hope Valley!


R: Yeah, 8 years! It’s hard to believe there’s been that many seasons already. 


F: What would you say you are most looking forward to about season 8? Or do I have to ask? ;)


R: I am really looking forward to Elizabeth picking a guy. ;) A certain saloon owner would be nice. ;) 



F: Saloon owner, you say? I’m sorry, my dear, you must be mistaken about the fellow’s occupation… He’s a mountie. ;)


R: No, no...he is definitely not a Mountie. ;) I do like Nathan, but not for Elizabeth! 


F: *laughing* okay, I tried… We’ll never agree on this one… I guess we’ll have to wait and see!


R: Haha! I think the only Hope Valley couple we actually have agreed on is Lee and Rosemary. 


F: Yes, true… And Jesse and Clara. But we never did agree on a suitor for Abigail. 


R: How could I forget Jesse and Clara! They’re a cute couple.

Yes, we never could agree on Abigail’s love life…. (although Frank was great!) 


F: I hope to see more of their relationship growth and such in season 8! Wait… who’s Frank again? .... Okay, okay, I’m kidding. xD 


R: I do too!! 

Faith, you’re killing me here! ;D But Abigail’s not around anymore so I suppose it doesn’t matter too much anymore… 


F: Hehehe… Okay, since Abigail is no longer on the show, I guess I can drop the Frank thing… Bill is still around, so I’m pleased with that. ;)


R: Well, since Frank and Abigail are gone I don’t really mind Bill being around still. ;)


F: I’ve always thought Bill was an interesting character. Shady enough to keep me guessing (and wondering if he was actually a bad guy sometimes), but I always end up liking him. I especially liked his relationship with Jack. 


R: Exactly! Like I always go between liking Bill and disliking him!

But yes! I really liked his relationship with Jack too.

I really like how Bill looks out for Elizabeth and baby Jack. <3



F: Yes! And I’ve liked what I’ve seen so far of his relationship with Nathan, how especially in most recent episode they were teasing each other a bit and such. 

Awwww, yes. <3 Proof that Bill does have a heart. 


R: Oh yeah, I had kinda forgotten about Bill’s relationship with Nathan… 

Bill doesn’t seem to really be a fan of Lucas though…


F: I don’t remember a lot from season 7 (I need to re-watch next week before the new season starts airing!) but I’m specifically remembering the scene before Bill and Nathan leave for the *spoiler* prisoner transfer that ended in that other Mountie getting killed *spoiler* and Bill was like “yes, we’re leaving now. Get your stuff, let’s go!” And Nathan’s just like, “okay, fine.” xD 

Hmmm… maybe Bill knows something about Lucas that we don’t…? ;)


R: (I should do that too!) 

Oh right, I do remember that. (I mean how could I forget with that leading to the whole ending of the season?!)

Yeah, I don’t know about that. ;) 


F: Right?! (That hug though… *heart eyes*)

Hehehe… Maybe he’s just being cautious because he’s looking out for Elizabeth… we’ll see. :P

Okay, now that we’re thoroughly sidetracked… any other expectations/speculations about season 8??



R: Yes...the hug...I feel like the hug though was just because of the situation... because I mean there was that sweet scene with Lucas shortly before… ;)

Haha, right?! Well, I really hope Lee and Rosemary have a baby or adopt a kid. Since about season 6 I think it’s sort of briefly been in there but nothing has happened. 


F: Maybe… but it was still super sweet. Ahh, yes, Lucas the charmer… how could I forget? ;)

Oh, I’d forgotten about that! Yes, I would definitely like to see some progression in that possibly-forgotten side-plot. I truly would love to see them adopt a child. I love adoption plots and I think they’d be great parents. <3


R: Okay, it was kinda sweet. ;) But the look on Lucas’s face about broke my heart when he saw Elizabeth hug Nathan! (okay, I’m being slightly dramatic. ;))

It would be so sweet for them to adopt, the two of them would be amazing parents!! 


F: Poor guy… I’m not even being sarcastic this time—either way this goes, one of the guys will get hurt… :’(

Right?! Plus I always enjoy when they bring in characters from When Hope Calls to WCTH and the other way around. (Speaking of which, did WHC ever get confirmed for a second season?)


R: I know! Like I want Elizabeth to pick a guy, but I’ll feel bad for the other guy no matter which one it is.

I love it when they do that too! When Hope Calls has such a fun cast and I love it when they show up in When Calls the Heart. (No, I never heard anything about a season 2 of WHC. I hope they decide to do one though because I was really enjoying that show!)



F: I know, right? Reason #1 that I’m typically not a fan of love triangles. All the accompanying drama being a close #2. But still, I hope the love triangle gets settled in the new season, one way or another. I don’t like lingering unanswered questions… :P

(I wish they would!)


R: Exactly! 

I feel like the love triangle will get resolved towards the end of the season, because you know how they like to draw things out… ;) 


F: Don’t I know it! ;)  Yeah, I think it probably will be. Especially after seeing the video *sorta spoiler* of Elizabeth taking off her wedding band. I’m thinking that’ll happen further into the season maybe before she actually “picks” someone. 


R: Oh my goodness! Yes! That video is both sweet and kinda sad. 

Yeah, probably…


F: It definitely shows the bittersweetness of a changing season of life… I’m excited to see what it signifies for a future/growing relationship for her. 

Another thing I’m curious to see in season 8 is how the writers take Faith and Carson’s relationship. I’m struggling to remember where they were with things when season 7 ended. I haven’t always been a total fan of their relationship (sometimes I think he’s too old for her xD), but I’m interested to see how that plays out. 


R: For sure! <3

Yes, I’m also excited to see where things go with Carson and Faith. I cannot remember where season 7 left things with them. I remember them saying how they felt about each other and kissing, but I think that was earlier on. 

I like them together, but yeah, sometimes it does seem like he’s too old for her.

Speaking of relationships, I’m excited to see where season 8 goes with Jesse and Claras as newlyweds! 


F: Yes, I remember that too, but I don’t recall whether or not anything specific happened after that. I know Carson is in that scene with the Elizabeth/Nathan hug, but I don’t remember when we last see Faith. I really do need to rewatch. ;) 

Agreed! They’re so cute. <3


R: Right, Carson was in that scene, but yeah, I cannot remember about Faith. I totally need to rewatch season 7 as well. ;)

I think it would be sweet to see Clara and Jesse have a baby, but I feel like that would be too soon for this season since they just got married in the middle of season 7. 



F: I was just thinking it would be cute for them to be pregnant in the new season! But yeah, I don’t know if the writers will want for that to happen so soon. They let Elizabeth have a baby right away though… ;P


R: That would be so cute! 

True, so there is hope! ;) 


F: As long as Jesse doesn’t have to die in order for it to happen… 


R: Right! I don’t want any more deaths to happen!! 


F: No character deaths this season, please! 

The only other expectation I have for the new season is that I hope to see storylines with Fiona! She’s a fun character. 


R: Oh yes! Fiona is a really fun character. I hope we get to know her more in the new season. :)


F: We could seriously talk about WCTH for days on end. ;)  Anything else to add?


R: We definitely could! ;)

Nothing else comes to mind at the moment, although I’m sure I’ll think of more stuff later. ;D 


F: Haha, right? I’ll think of something as soon as I sign off… xD  This has been so much fun! 


R: Same here. ;)

Yes, it has been lots of fun! 


F: Until next time, lovely friend! *waves* 


R: Goodbye! <3 


<3 



|| Giveaway

Yep, there's a giveaway too. ;)  To enter, simply comment on my post and Rebekah's today and tomorrow. Each post commented on counts as a entry, so there's a total number of four possible entries. (In other words, multiple comments per post don't gain additional entries.) Two winners will be chosen at random and announced in Sunday's post. :) 

In the prize stash we have... 

- When Calls the Heart: The Christmas Wishing Tree DVD

- When Calls the Heart: Heart of the Family DVD

- When Calls the Heart: Heart and Home DVD

- When God Calls the Heart to Love Devotional

First place winner will receive their choice of two items from the list, and the second place winner will receive the other two items. Each will also receive a few Valentines themed stationary items (journal, cards, stickers, pens, etc.). 


what's your top speculations for season 8?