Season 11 Episode 7: Facing the Music
Season 11 Episode 7 Recap and Review.
Episode 7 kicks off the second half of the season! It seems like the season just started so it is hard to believe we are more than halfway through Season 11!
Synopsis: Elizabeth hopes for the best when Tom Thornton visits with an exciting opportunity for the town’s choir. Rosemary and Bill interview a source. Lucas considers his options.
Episode 7 opens with a journal entry from Elizabeth regarding Jack Sr. It is his birthday in this episode so LJ and Elizabeth are visiting his grave. I thought it was only fitting to talk about the journal entry first since it leads to the main storyline of the episode.
Elizabeth’s Journal Entry
“At what point did I stop feeling only grief when I thought about you? And begin feeling gratitude. Gratitude for the time we had together, for our wonderful Son, and for the sense that you are always with me. Today of all days I feel you near. I know Jack Jr. does too, and I hope you know you’ll always have a special place in my heart no matter what the future brings.” -Elizabeth Thornton
I resonate so much with what Elizabeth saying. Healing in a way that grief turns to gratitude takes time. A lot of time. It has taken 5, almost 6, years for Elizabeth to heal and get to a point where she feels gratitude instead of grief when thinking about Jack. In retrospect, I feel like this is what happened to me after Season 5. I was riddled with grief and shock that a character so beloved to me, and everyone else, was killed off suddenly. At that time, I was not following the show closely on social media so if there were any indication he might be leaving I would not have known. It took me 2 years to watch the show again. Every single time I sat down to watch I couldn’t do it. It hurt too much. It hurt so much that I didn’t watch the last 2 episodes until Spring of 2021. After some time I mustered up the courage to watch those two episodes. I was in tears and my heart broke all over again but I was grateful to have seen some moments because it helped me understand Elizabeth’s grief more.
Flash forward to the present day I am so grateful I gave the show a second chance and stuck around when things got tough. It makes the journey all the more worthwhile. Jack will always have a special place in my heart but I am so excited that Nathan & Elizabeth get to explore their feelings.
Tom Thornton Returns
Elizabeth and LJ arrive at Jack’s grave and a surprise visitor, Tom Thornton, is also there. Tom is Jack’s brother with a notorious history of run-ins with the law or walking the line. Nevertheless, that was years ago Tom appears to have matured since then. Elizabeth is certainly happy to see him! Also, this is Tom’s first time coming out to Jack’s grave. I had forgotten his family did not attend the funeral service. Although, I like to believe they did but were out of frame since the actors were not there.
When Tom put flowers on Jack’s grave and took a flower for his buttonhole I almost cried! Tom always looked up to Jack and I could see the emotion in his eyes.
We learn Tom sells happiness also known as sheet music. Tom goes from town to town selling sheet music and scouting local choirs for a festival in Salt Lake City. Tom sings and plays the piano in the Saloon when Rosemary and Lee walk in. Lee says he did not know Tom was a good singer. Rosemary chimes in that he is good and gives some history on Tom’s singing career since they grew up together.
Tom meets Angela and Allie behind the mercantile when they are singing “By the Beautiful Sea.” Allie and Angela suggest Tom scout the Hope Valley choir. At that moment Scout runs around the corner with Nathan in close pursuit. He is formally introduced to Tom before having a conversation with Elizabeth.
Tom goes to see Faith but she is tending to Lily who has a scratched-up knee. Tom assumes Lily is Faith’s daughter and says he figured she would make a good mother. She politely corrects him and they agree to lunch together at The Cafe, of course, Lily tags along. Minnie, Florence, and Molly interrupted their lunch by asking Tom to scout the Hope Valley Choir. Tom informs them that Mr. Sweeney has very high standards and that they should not get their hopes up during the audition.
Tom learns of the scam but does not have the heart to tell the townspeople. Instead, he rashly decides to leave town. He has a change of heart and does not get on the train. Nathan & Elizabeth meet him at the train station and tell him they will support him.
Nathan & Elizabeth
Nathan & Elizabeth have a brief chance to talk after everyone runs off from meeting Tom. Elizabeth tells Nathan that today is Jack’s birthday. She shares with Nathan this is Tom’s first time visiting Jack’s grave and the complicated history between Tom and Jack. Tom has always felt like he has been in Jack’s shadow and Elizabeth shares this with Nathan. He says he can sympathize with that sentiment. Elizabeth tells Nathan she does not see him in anyone’s shadow. Remember that conversation in jail during the Season 8 finale where Elizabeth says she was trying to find Jack in Nathan? It seems we have circled back to it.
Admittedly, I wanted and needed more from that conversation. Post-episode interviews reveal the conversation around the “finding Jack in you” comment is not over. In hindsight that does help but it still feels glossed over and incomplete in that moment. Perhaps it was the wrong time and place for that conversation. Hopefully, Episode 8 will have some much-needed resolution around that topic with Tom in town. Until then, I will keep my thoughts on that topic close to the vest until it’s resolved.
Nathan & Elizabeth both still have concerns about this whole ordeal and decide to talk to Tom. He is offended but Nathan, following Elizabeth’s lead, gives him the benefit of the doubt. I think he still has some questions and concerns though. Later in the episode, Elizabeth & Nathan ride to the train station to catch up with Tom. He feels disappointed because Sweeney turned him into a con man. They tell Tom they are here for him and will help him find a way out of it.
I have concluded the main point of the Tom and Choir Festival storyline is to push Nathan & Elizabeth together. They are working more as a team to help bring them closer together as a couple. I am curious to see what other obstacles they will face. I know some have been mentioned in interviews but it will be interesting to see how they are introduced and carried out in the show.
Hope Valley Crime Wall
This was a huge episode for Rosemary and Bill’s investigation into the shooting. I consider this the point in which Rosemary and Bill officially start including Nathan consistently in their investigation. They loop in Nathan on the fact Clayton Pike worked for Union City Holdings, owned by Bernhardt Montague. Rosemary and Bill’s lead suspect is Montague but Nathan, from an official Mountie standpoint, points out Montague has been cleared and has an alibi. Nathan asks where the proof is for Montague because that is his job as a Mountie. Then Rosemary hands him a transcript of an interview with Clayton Pike’s mother, Hazel Pike. Nathan said the investigators considered the alibi in Hazel’s interview. But with Clayton’s confession and the concerns that Mrs. Pike may not have all her faculties they started to doubt the reliability of Clayton’s alibi. Nathan reveals she lives in Union City giving Rosemary and Bill an idea.
Rosemary and Bill were going to meet Mrs. Pike in Union City but she arrived in Hope Valley. Remember when Nathan said the Mounties were concerned she did not have all her faculties? The Mounties may have a valid concern here. Exhibit A is Hazel’s confusion about the plan for Rosemary to meet her in Union City, not the other way around. Exhibit B is when Hazel mentions her poor memory. But Rosemary and Bill still interview with Hazel Pike.
Hazel explains Clayton was with her the entire night of the election. She had recently had a bad fall and severely injured her hip. Hazel believes the Mounties forced Clayton to confess and used him as a scapegoat. She tells Rosemary she is certain Clayton voted for Lucas Bouchard. She also revealed a generous friend of Clayton’s paid for the surgery. The money was donated 1 week before Clayton was arrested. Interestingly enough, Clayton has never worked directly with Montague yet he sent flowers to Mrs. Pike after her surgery.
Rosemary and Bill tell Nathan what they learned during the interview. The pieces are falling into place and it is likely Montague. Nathan offers to call in a favor and have Clayton re-rerouted to Hope Valley for the night before going to Granville.
Some light was shed on the half-truths and secrets surrounding the shooting. Mrs. Pike may appear to have some memory loss but that does not negate her testimony. There are too many coincidences pointing to Montague’s involvement in the shooting. Montague employing Clayton Pike and paying for Mrs. Pike’s surgery are not coincidences. Paying for Mrs. Pike’s surgery looks like an unsuspecting way for Montague to pay off Clayton to confess to the attempted murder of Governor Bouchard.
The Resort
The prospect of the resort happening gets slimmer each episode as does my interest in the storyline. Before we proceed, I would like to explain how I viewed these three in this scene and subsequent scenes. We have Lucas, the Governor with a lot of weight riding on the resort and big decisions to be made. Edwin, the Governor’s political advisor with an eye for money, not the people. Henry, the recently redeemed corrupt business owner with the experience, and wisdom to guide Lucas in the right direction. In short, Edwin is the devil on his right shoulder and Henry is the angel on his left shoulder. So who will Lucaas decide to take advice from?
Lucas, Henry, and Edwin meet to discuss the slanderous rumors and lack of acceptable bids for the resort. Below is a quote from Henry sharing some of that sage advice. I gleaned from this quote that Henry thinks focusing on the rumors are a waste of time. Once the rumor mill starts it keeps churning. The only way to “stop” those rumors is to show everyone the truth through actions.
“Rumors are like mushrooms. You think you got ‘em all ferreted out and then they just pop up somewhere else.” - Henry Gowen
It’s almost like Edwin intentionally did not hear or listen to Henry’s advice because he chimes in that Montague might still be interested or the substantial bid from Jeaanette Aucoin. I understand Lucas not wanting to accept Montague’s bid. But I cannot think of a reason other than she is a former love interest for Lucas to be so adamant about rejecting Jeanette’s bid. There is certainly more to this story and it’s been insinuated in interviews with those involved that Jeanette will return this season. I am anxiously awaiting to find out more. Before that happens, I would like Lucas to be upfront with Henry and Edwin about the REAL reason he does not want to accept Jeanette’s bid. They cannot give him accurate advice if parts of the story are being kept a secret.
Lucas asks Lee for help scrounging up bidders. Lee gives it a go but his contacts also reject the proposal to bid for the resort. The only people that can bid locally are Lee, Lucas, and Henry but they all have conflicts of interest. So what happens now? That is yet to be unearthed and maybe we will find out in an upcoming episode.
Edwin has perhaps the most absurd idea of the century; use emergency funds to finance the resort. Lucas even considering this as an option has me facepalming and shaking my head. The mysterious, darker side of Lucas is emerging. Henry questions this idea and calls out the concerns and downfalls of this option. The most satisfying moment of the scene is Lucas kicking Edwin out of the meeting. To me, this demonstrates his willingness to listen and I think deep down he knows Edwin’s idea is not morally right.
Edwin informs Lucas Benson Hills Oil Company plans to file for bankruptcy meaning hundreds of people would be out of work. Edwin states that the resort would be a good job source. He then tells Lucas the unemployed would not vote for him. Which is silly considering he has already been elected. Lucas finally has had enough and tells him this about families not being able to put food on the table NOT getting people to vote for him. Bravo Lucas! He is starting to develop a backbone where Edwin is concerned.
They are out of options according to Edwin. So it’s Aucoin vs. Montague. Which one is the lesser evil of the two? If you asked Lucas, it would appear Montague is his choice of the two. I am perplexed by this decision if I am being honest. Of course, the episode ended here so there is probably more to the story or phone call. Based on what we know so far, Lucas must not be able to predict Jeanette’s next move compared to Montague. Otherwise, I cannot think of another reason he won’t even consider Jeanette but calls Montague.
The Chior Fesitival Audition
Minnie calls an emergency choir meeting to discuss the audition. Some feel ill-prepared and others feel they are prepared enough to audition over the phone. They agree to do the audition and sing “Let It Shine” to Mr. Sweeney over the phone. Tom informs them it will be $5 per person totaling $65 plus fare for the train and accomadations is not included. All the children seem so excited but I chalk that up to their innocence and immaturity. The adults on the other hand have doubt written on their faces but decide to do it anyway.
I have some qualms with the choir storyline and I feel it would be a disservice to leave my critiques out of my review to avoid offending people. So, I apologize in advance if this strikes a cord. Feel free to skip over this section if you wish. I did enjoy this episode but is not without its flaws or shortcomings.
Overall, I feel the choir storyline did little to move the storylines forward. Surely, there could have been a crisis bigger than this one to bring the town together? It felt like a waste of precious screentime because I knew the moment he mentioned the Choir Festival it was a hoax and Hope Valley would fall right into the trap. Now, I figured Tom wouldn’t knowingly be involved in this type of business which was a correct assumption. I am glad because it shows growth and maturity which I would expect after 6 years of not seeing him.
Another thing that bothered me about it was how naive everyone seemed to be regarding this opportunity. Sure, concerning looks were shared and they even asked questions but the answers were vague. Nathan was the only one inquiring about WHO Mr. Sweeney is and WHY there was a rush on sending the money off. In my opinion, Tom and Choir Member’s answers were unsatisfactory and vague at best. Elizabeth inquired too but still fell in line and followed the crowd.
I am sure the purpose of this episode is to set up Episode 8 which would make sense given this seems like a 2-part story arc. Leaving me to wonder why so much time was spent on the details of going to a festival that was never going to happen. I know they put on a Hope Valley Music Festival based on the promos. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to a more community-based storyline and seeing how this affects everyone in Hope Valley. We only have 5 MORE Episodes!
The Canfield’s Family Drama
Joseph is still waiting for a letter from Jacob. Welp. I was hoping for some more about this in Episode 7 but it looks like the answers will be coming to town in Episode 8. More on that next week!
Hope Valley Community Board
Recent happenings in Hope Valley and a question to ponder!
North West Royal Canadian Mounted Police (NWRCMP) has officially become the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Well here is Hope Valley’s Train Station! Where was that last season when Lucas went to Capitol City?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Nathan mentions Clayton Pike being transferred to Granville. That got me thinking about Allie’s father, Dylan. Remember when Nathan arrested him? Well, I wonder if he is in Granville Prison. So could Clayton Pike being transferred to Granville open the door for Allie to search for her father and figure out he is in Granville? If Nathan transfers Clayton, does Allie go with him to meet her father, against his better judgment and wishes?
THANK YOU, for reading my Episode 7 Recap and Review! Please share your thoughts on the episode below!