The episode of March 28, When you call the heart it ended in a moment of anguish, when Ned (Hrothgar Mathews) collapsed on the steps of the Mercantile. A teaser of the April 4 episode of the Hallmark Channel series made it clear that Ned’s condition was serious, and even hinted that he might not survive. So, did Ned survive? Fortunately, we got an answer in “Before My Very Eyes”.
[Spoilers ahead for the April 4 episode of When Calls the Heart]
Hope Valley prays for Ned in this episode of ‘When Calls the Heart’
Ned’s attack took him to the infirmary, and Carson and Faith (Andrea Brooks) are seriously concerned. While Hope Valley doctors are considering what to do, desperate Florence keeps watch by Ned’s bed.
Joseph (Viv Leacock) ventures in the pouring rain to offer a prayer vigil for Ned. He is no longer a preacher, says Lucas (Chris McNally), who is helping him prepare the school for the meeting, but he still feels called to help.
As was the case last week, there is a bit of talk about faith and God tonight – suitable for an episode that aired on Easter Sunday. While Joseph resists the idea of becoming a pastor of Hope Valley (he has “other plans”), his wife Minnie (Natasha Burnett) thinks he may have no choice, telling him that he is the family’s “calling”. Pastor or not, Joseph is on hand to offer some conjugal advice to Clara (Eva Bourne), telling her that if she lets Jesse (Aren Buchholz) return home, they will find a way to solve their problems.
Christopher raises suspicions
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While the city nervously awaits news of Ned’s fate, Christopher (James Drew Dean) seems more interested in flirting with Rachel (Jennifer Laporte). Neither Lee (Kavan Smith) nor Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) is thrilled that the newcomer has eyes for his niece. But are they judging him unfairly because he is Gowen’s son?
Lee and Rosemary are not the only ones who don’t trust Christopher. All of Christopher’s conversations about making a lot of money in the oil business, in addition to his complaints about his very small accommodations in the saloon, also angered Lucas. When Lee’s watch disappears, Lucas has a hunch of whoever took it. He does not hesitate to tell Christopher that he will expel him from the city if he is stealing pockets. After Lucas leaves his room, we see Christopher playing with his watch, confirming that he is the thief.
Hickam (Ben Rosenbaum) doesn’t like Christopher either. Gowen wants to give his son an edge in business, but Hickam seems concerned that he might be pushed aside. (Speaking of Hickam, is Fiona going back to the city? She has been noticeably absent in the past few episodes.)
It seems that the only person enchanted by Christopher is Rachel. She is so in love that she passes out when he gives her some discarded flowers. But will Christopher stop here? It turns out that he drove into town in a stolen car and his crime is about to be discovered. He may break up, but there is also a good chance that this is just the beginning of an arc of redemption for your character.
A great time for Nathan and Allie
Meanwhile, Nathan (Kevin McGarry) is preparing to finalize his adoption of Allie (Jaeda Lily Miller). It is a great time for both of them, and Nathan invites Elizabeth (Erin Kraków) to attend the ceremony. She is happy to accept.
Allie is not giving up on her wedding schemes. She doesn’t understand why Elizabeth likes Lucas and not Nathan. What Allie wants is for Elizabeth to be part of a family with her and her uncle; Nathan tries to explain that Elizabeth’s interest in Lucas doesn’t mean that she doesn’t care about them. It is a moving conversation. Many of Nathan’s best moments are with Allie, when he drops some of his Mountie reserve and shows more of his true feelings and personality.
We see more of this side of Nathan when he finds Elizabeth sitting outside the infirmary. He wraps a blanket around her shoulders. As they talk, he tells her that adopting Allie is the best thing he’s ever done. This catches Elizabeth’s eye – is she thinking of Nathan as a possible father for her son Jack? Nathan does not understand how Allie’s father, Dylan, may have abandoned her after her mother’s death, but Elizabeth suggests that Dylan may have been unable to cope with the loss.
“Have you never lost someone so close to your heart that it destroys you?” she asks.
“Not yet,” he replies.
Ned and Florence are engaged
Ned is in serious condition throughout the episode, and there seems to be a real chance that he will not recover. At some point, he wakes up, possibly delirious, and asks Florence to marry him. She says yes, but we can’t help but wonder if a wedding will ever happen, given the way things are going. Later, she sings softly to Ned while he sleeps.
Walsh really delivers in this episode. We see her fear of losing another person she loves (remember, her husband died in the mine explosion), and the way that fear manifests itself as anger when she briefly attacks Elizabeth. That’s why it’s such a relief when Ned finally survives. He even remembers your proposal. After your health scare, it is likely that we will not have to wait long for a wedding. It’s lovely that these two longtime characters – both of whom have been around since the first season – ended up together.
Lucas and his ‘secret hurts’
And the other couple from Hope Valley? After last week’s almost kiss, Elizabeth seems to be moving away from Lucas. He’s doing his best to be patient and make space for Elizabeth, but he can’t be hurt. “Every man has his secret sorrows, which the world does not know,” he says. He is talking about Gowen, but also about himself. The quote, he explains, “comes from a novel about a man who falls in love with a woman who ends up rejecting him.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?” Elizabeth asks. She doesn’t seem to know very well what to do with this conversation. Lucas wants something that she is not able to give him, at least not now? But after taking some time to reflect on things, she changed her mind. “I don’t want you to have secret hurts,” she says. She offers her hand and asks him to accompany her home.
Elizabeth took another small step in her romance with Lucas, but Nathan’s question remains. When she shows up for the adoption ceremony, she is the only guest Allie has invited. Allie has brought the family she wants together – at least for the moment – but can this be a reality? Elizabeth’s smile at the end suggests that there may be some hope.
The next episode of When you call the heart airs on Sunday, April 11 at 9:00 pm ET on the Hallmark Channel.