Season 11 Episode 1: When Stars Align
Season 11 Episode 1 Recap and Review.
The Season 11 Premiere has officially arrived and it was wonderful! It’s great to be back in Hope Valley with all my favorite characters. Without further ado, let’s get into it!
Synopsis: Elizabeth turns over a new leaf; Nathan returns home from an investigation, while Bill questions its outcome; Rosemary chases a scoop; Lucas makes a surprise announcement.
Overall Thoughts
Wow! This was the perfect premiere episode if you ask me. I appreciated the slower episode to start the season because it allowed us to pick up where Season 10 left off. We saw the aftermath of the shooting and then flashed forward 4 months to present-day Hope Valley.
Episode 1 was full of journal entries and conversations to catch up with all the happenings in the 4-month interim. I enjoyed the many heartfelt conversations as the community rallied to support one another for various reasons. Despite being in the hospital, Lucas worked diligently to bring only the best, new innovative ideas to Hope Valley and the surrounding communities. Faith started to navigate the ever-familiar feelings of loneliness and with the help of Minnie, learned the real meaning of community. Elizabeth confided in Rosemary about the changes in her heart and desire for a new haircut. She even threw in there she didn’t know if Nathan still had feelings for her! Oops, that is not what Rosemary was asking! Bill and Nathan shared their suspicions about the capture of Lucas’s shooter, and believe they haven’t caught the real perpetrator yet. Toward the end of the episode, Lilly and Faith have a sweet conversation about her Grandmother’s health. Perhaps my favorite heart-to-heart chat was the one between Nathan and Allie on their front porch. She is growing up and now prefers to hang out with her friends. Nathan realizes this but encourages Allie to spend time with her friends. Of course, Allie still loves spending time with him but she already had plans with her friend group. We also saw Allie jump into Nathan’s arms upon his return.
Nathan & Elizabeth
The opening scene is back at the ILY log when Bill interrupts Nathan and Elizabeth to tell them Lucas has been shot. They ride into town together and arrive to get an update from the Coulters. Elizabeth talks to Edwin but he quickly leaves to speak with the doctor. Elizabeth states she is going to Capitol City but before she can leave Nathan stops her and tells her to “Be Safe.” WOW! I am so happy we got another “be safe” so soon because it means “I love you. Come home to me.” They are wasting no time telling us their intended direction with Nathan and Elizabeth. In a journal entry, Elizabeth admits she “hasn’t talked to Nathan since that fateful day [the shooting].” Elizabeth sees Nathan ride toward town as she gazes into the open field. Nathan rides back and looks toward the town before panning to Elizabeth and Little Jack. But they never meet eyes. Nathan is looking for Scout but finds Rosemary Elizabeth between the row houses doing some spring cleaning. They exchange pleasant conversation and one could infer they were happy to see each other. Then, Elizabeth reveals her new hairstyle to which Nathan says, “Wow, you look great.” It almost seemed like Nathan and Elizabeth were having a private conversation here when they met eyes. The biggest moment in their journey in this episode was stargazing together. Elizabeth observes the beauty of the stars and plants aligning but Nathan is enthralled by something else…Elizabeth’s beauty.
Love & Marriage
Rosemary & Lee
Rosemary and Lee continue their lives as pillars of the community at the Valley Voice and Coulter Lumber. They are both learning to navigate the challenges of parenthood and balancing life with work. Goldie takes her first step while they are getting ready to stargaze! What a sweet moment!!
Minnie & Joseph
Minnie confides in Joseph about feeling like she disappointed Faith when she needed a friend. Joseph says, “Sometimes it’s alright just to be with someone in tough times.” What a profound statement and sage advice!
Ned & Florence
Not much on the Ned and Florence front. They continue to manage Yosts Mercantile and attend community gatherings.
Mike & Mei
Mike and Mei are still in the flirty stage or as Faith says “the sharing food” stage. Later, Mei is in the middle of giving a client a facial but is called away by Faith to administer medication to Mrs. Waston. Hickam takes over for her. Hickam gifts her a bike to help with transportation to and from the pond for the mud. She is thankful and kisses him on the cheek before riding off. It’s a cute relationship but still barely scratching the surface.
Hope Valley Crime Wall
Hearties, put on your sleuthing hat because we’ve got a crime to solve! “Who Dunnit?” Well, let’s find out!
Nathan is assigned to an investigative team to solve Lucas’s shooting. Bill and Nathan both suspect the arrested individual is not Lucas’s shooter. Determined to get the scoop, and not be scooped, Rosemary attempts to pry information from Nathan and Bill. With some success, she determines they’re suspicious about the capture of Lucas’s suspected shooter. Bill informs Nathan of Madeline’s warning before leaving saying Montague would never accept defeat and he would never give up. Nathan tells Bill his hands are tied because Hargreaves denied his formal request to keep the investigation open because of the arrest. He suggests Bill could request the file and out of professional courtesy they would grant him access.
Governor Lucas Bouchard
Lucas is hard at work for the people despite being shot. He has transformed his dull hospital room into an office. He also has some memory loss and does not recall the actual accident. Edwin is there serving as his right-hand man. Lucas asks Henry Gown to join his team. However, his offer is declined because Henry thought Lucas wouldn’t want a felon on his team. Lucas makes a radio announcement about his plans to expand the Valley. He plans to build a resort to attract tourists to the Valleys with Hope Valley being the first.
Hope Valley Happenings
The Hope Valley kids are expanding! We have some new faces in Elizabeth’s classroom! The kids are learning about the solar system. Elizabeth teaches them about the Jupiter-Venus alignment and that they will be at their brightest at twilight.
Heartstrings & Heartbreak Moments
Heartstring Moment #1: Nathan and Allie’s porch chat. Heads up, I might talk or post about this scene too much! I adore this scene and the realness it brings to Nathan and Allie’s relationship as Father/Daughter.
Heartstring Moment #2: Faith and Lilly’s conversation. Faith informs Lilly her grandmother is sick. She tells her everything will be alright and tells her a bedtime story. Once asleep, we learn via telegram Dora Waston wants Faith to care for Lilly until she gets better.
Heartbreak Moment #1: Finding out Fiona has left Hope Valley indefinitely. Like Faith, I was devastated to hear she would not return to Hope Valley. I anticipated this given the amazing opportunities the actress, Kayla Wallace, received outside When Calls the Heart.
Previews & Predictions
It appears next week is Nathan's “surprise” birthday party! The town sneaks around to surprise Nathan because he suspects Allie is planning one. This will be a fun episode and perhaps provide some levity before more serious ones.
One of my main theories is that Lucas knows more about the shooting than he is telling. I think Janette witnessed the crime but to protect her Lucas isn’t speaking up. My wish is that Joseph will utilize his role as the pastor and give advice to the community. I am crossing my fingers we dive deeper into Mei and Mike’s relationship as the season progresses. Nathan and Elizabeth are at a slow burn but I am content. I think things will get better then worse then better between them. They still haven’t talked about everything yet and that needs to happen before they can fully move forward with each other.
Well, you have made it to the end of my Episode 1 Recap and Review! I would love to hear your thoughts too. Please share your thoughts in the comments or if I missed something share it there too. Don’t forget to subscribe to be notified of new posts and episode recaps. See you in Hope Valley in a few short hours for Episode 2!
Great recap. Yes, I think Nathan and Elizabeth will hit a bump in the road upon Lucas's arrival in town. We know that Nathan witlessness them talking and struggles. Maybe that will be the beginning of something more open and a lot more conversation. Nathan may think twice and Elizabeth will have some persuading to do. We knew this was coming. Good this is Nathan and Elizabeth are on a crash course and headed straight towards love. They will have to live by their words " True love is worth fighting for ". I so wish that Elizabeth would be more open to either talk with Rosemary or Pastor. She needs help but maybe so does Nathan. Tonight's episode will be fantastic and we are looking for a baby step forward for our two favorite love birds!