When Calls the Heart Season Premiere: “A Moving Picture”

The 7th season premiere of When Calls the Heart aired on the Hallmark Channel last weekend, finding Elizabeth Thorton ready to embrace change; and that change just might include opening her heart to someone new.

While she clearly cares about new Mountie Nathan Grant and local bar owner Lucas Bouchard, and has something in common with both men: Lucas has been helping Elizabeth with the creation of the town’s new library and he also offered to give her advice on the book of short stories she wrote; and Nathan, who not only shares the same profession as her late husband Jack, but is also the guardian of Allie, one of Elizabeth’s students, making them both single parents.

Throughout the episode, Nathan obviously had more to say to Elizabeth but he hesitated, and Elizabeth was hesitant about telling him about her book; and they both shared the comment, “you let me know when you figure it out,” in terms of each telling the other what was actually on their minds.

The main plot point for the episode was the anniversary trip that Lee and Rosemary were planning to take to Los Angeles that was going to include sun and sand – that had Rosemary getting the latest fashion statement: sunglasses – as well as getting to see a moving picture while they were there. Unfortunately, with their trip imminent, Lee had to postpone their big trip because of an important customer was coming to Hope Valley a week earlier than expected. He couldn’t risk losing that customer so Rosemary reluctantly agreed that they wait.

In order to make amends, Lee made special arrangements for the whole town to come together to celebrate their anniversary and for everyone in Hope Valley see “a moving picture” – just like what he and Rosemary would have seen in Los Angeles.

Elsewhere, Carson was surprised by a returning Faith, who had to leave town at the end of last season to tend to her ailing father. Faith also had a surprise for Carson, she was offered the job of head nurse at the hospital near where her father lives. At first it seemed that Carson was willing to let her go so she could be happy, but at the end he told her those three letters: ”I love you.”

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There was also a reporter in town to interview Henry Gowen about his business, or at least he thought it was all about his business, but it seemed the reporter’s editor wanted to dredge up details about Henry’s past (he did serve time in prison after all). As it turns out, the reporter ended up writing about Fiona, the town’s phone operator.

Other storylines included Clara and Jesse making plans for their upcoming wedding; Allie and Opal working on a book report and Lucas dealing with a new cook – or rather a French chef – at the bar. The episode ended with Elizabeth saying she’s going to write a novel that we see will be entitled “A Single Mother on the Frontier,” which Elizabeth is feverishly typing as the episode closes.

Did you watch the season premiere of When Calls the Heart? What did you think of it? Please share your thoughts below. The next new episode will air on Hallmark Channel tomorrow, Sunday, March 1 at 8/7c.

[Photo Credit: Crown Media/Ricardo Hubbs, Sven Boecker and David Dolsen]