#plecky14

Hi Plecky! Long time no talk. :D

I think Dan is definitely the bigger surprise, here. I'm relieved that they invited Carter to join Lori again, because that's the least they can do for the kid, but I can't begin to imagine how they'll choose to weave them into the story. The best I can think of is that there's an implication that Abigail and Cody are going to Hope Valley to visit and drop in to visit Brookfield on the way there/or get snowed in there or something for a few days. That would definitely be the easiest way to include them without committing to them being in the season from start to finish. But it also feels like a cheap grab at the fans.

I really don't know what to make about Dan being cast. I think it's safe to assume he won't be playing Jack for multiple reasons, the biggest one being that the Brookfield storyline starts only after Nathan has already come to Hope Valley, which makes it impossible to retcon the storyline back to a year where Jack was alive. He must be playing a new character, which could be interesting for the show. I mean, I'm not a fan of Dan (just don't care for his acting much), but even I have to say I'm intrigued.

Which...let's be honest with ourselves here: if you're right and Chuck doesn't come back to WHC either, they've lost two leading roles. The show is dead on the vine if they don't really do something drastic. Getting Lori and Cody on the show is a pretty smart choice...but Dan is an even better one. He could play any role for five minutes and that will net viewers guaranteed.

But before his fans go crazy I'd definitely wait and see if it's hinted at how much of a role he's actually going to get. If he's Jack and it's a five minute flashback sequence...it's definitely not worth tuning in for. But if he's a new character with a new role...might be worth it if you enjoy him/his acting.

It was a nice episode.

I agree about Carson and Faith.  I don’t know how they’re going to work that.  If both of them stick around, maybe they trade off working in the infirmary and doing home visits around the area or something.  There’s no need for them both to be there all the time.  Molly’s job seems unnecessary now too so maybe she’ll move on to something else eventually.

I’m so glad Carson is gone. Finally, the evil is defeated... I was legitimately worried they’d fake us out and he’d be standing on the platform, so I almost choked when Faith said she expected him to be standing there. Me too, and I was dreading it!!!

But luckily, he took the ring and he left town. We’re not safe from Carson forever, though; Minnie’s discussion with him left things a bit open to him returning in the future, but hopefully if he does it’s not until S10 after Faith has moved on. I agree with Nathan and Faith being bad, too. I’d rather we not see them hook up; it’s too convenient and therefore weird—especially after years of feelings for other people.

Henry leaving town leaves things extremely open for Henry’s character, which I both like and hate; I like that it gives the writers options, but I don’t like being left in the dark. I’ll be shocked if that was them writing him off the show forever, so I assume he’ll be back next season...possibly with Abigail, but they’ve arranged it so that no matter what they can pull off, it’ll make sense.

I was expecting a little more info about what was going on with Henry but we’ll find out about all of that soon enough.

Yeah, Jesse and Clara will be fine eventually.  Jesse is going to have to find a way out of the mess he created for them.

I don’t want to say that it’s quantity over quality because I don’t think that’s it.  I think they just like to have scenes with everyone each episode so there’s not long waits between.  That’s good and bad, though.  It would be nice to just focus on a few things so the episodes don’t feel so packed but it is nice to see some progress made more consistently too.  It could be John Tinker’s excitement with everything he came up with this season too.  Maybe he wanted all of it to be happening at the same time.  It could be a little different next season.

With Nathan, it makes sense that Allie is the one involved.  She’s invested too.  She needs to know what’s going on and she really likes Elizabeth and wanted/wants that to happen.  Of course she’s going to question him.

I’m VERY curious about Henry’s letter and why he is so upset.  And is Ned somehow involved?  He was acting so sketchy so there has to be something there.

Yes, there’s lots of talk about it being bigger and more complicated and I’m excited about that.  I want the show to invest more in the characters and give us meaningful plots and it’s definitely been better the past few seasons.  I expect it to be amped up even more with the new showrunner putting his mark on things.  It certainly doesn’t seem as though they’re easing back at all which is good.

Everyone likes what they like.  Lucas doesn’t really do anything for me at all.  I haven’t been that excited about anything that he brings to the table.  He’s fine but I don’t think I’d like to see him and Elizabeth end up together.  It wouldn’t interest me.