Good Witch Season 5 Episode 2 Review: The Forever Tree, Pt. 2
Carissa Pavlica
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So many feels!
Good Witch Season 5 Episode 2 was the perfect new start for Cassie's life with Sam.
The focus was on the future, but the past that brought Sam and Cassie together was also addressed in just the right combination.
Something that I missed when Good Witch went from a series of movies to an episodic series was getting to see Grace's relationship with Jake. She was a toddler before the series began.
I know that Chris Potter, who played Jake, couldn't commit to the Good Witch series because of his role on Heartland and that significantly altered the trajectory of the series.
While I wouldn't want to change what is so magical about the series now, I've always wished we would have known more about Grace and her dad. Her concerns leading up to Cassie tying the knot with Sam made up for it.
Grace: Look, I didn't mean for it to happen, Mom. I didn't. I just think all this negative energy I've been putting out is affecting the wedding.
Cassie: Honey, thinking about your dad is the very opposite of negative. It's about the most wonderful thing you could do. Believe me, you are not causing anything bad to happen.
It's perfect that this episode leads into the week before Father's Day. As someone who lost my father many years ago and still thinks often of his laugh, Grace's thoughts highlight both the difficulties and joys of our ever-changing lives.
There was nothing she could do to bring back Jake, but it was still OK for her to feel a little shaken by the thought her mom would be married to someone other than her dad, especially since she so admires and loves Sam.
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There isn't anything wrong with working through feelings when they arise. Grace was struggling with moving on even years after her daddy's death, but she realized she had to talk about it.
Her conversation with Cassie was beautiful, and I'm grateful their past got revisited before cementing their future.
To that end, even though Lori didn't make it for the wedding, she got mentioned in Brandon's touching toast to Cassie and Sam.
Cassie and Sam. Lori sends her love and wishes she could be here, and I'm so happy for both of you. But really, Nick is the luckiest person here because he gets to have Cassie as a stepmom, and she is the best stepmom a kid could ever ask for.
Brandon
It was a perfect toast to include Nick and how lucky he is to share the rest of his life with Cassie as his stepmom. Everything leads to something, and the loss of Jake and their commitment to family joins to young men as brothers.
Even though his return was brief, it was terrific seeing Brandon and his wife. I wish they were still a larger part of the canvas, but their inclusion meant a lot.
Sam helping Vincent with his struggles of being a part of a family that loves and accepts him despite his accomplishments proved what a beautiful match Sam is for Cassie.
Sam: You think not having a job changes the way people look at you?
Vincent: I know it does.
Sam: Not the ones who care about you.
Vincent: I just wanted to prove myself to Cassie.
Sam: Cassie's the one person you don't have to prove yourself to.
Vincent: You don't think she'll be disappointed?
Sam: Only if you're not at the wedding.
And Sam wasn't talking out of the side of his mouth, either, as Nick's proclamation about going to school for video games (just as I suggested in my review for Good Witch Season 5 Episode 1) made his father very proud. Nick found his passion!
Cassie never stops working her magic, and she not only successfully guided Nick toward his passion, but she helped Sam see the love between his parents, as well.
Marriages can get stale when partners take each other for granted, and it sure seemed like that's what was happening with Jennifer and Jonathan.
Jennifer was so excited to see the flight of the fireflies and had planned a beautiful evening complete with champagne. But at the mention of bug spray and a chill in the air, Jonathan openly shared his preference for staying inside with a hot cup of cocoa.
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If I had been Sam, Jonathan wouldn't have gotten off as easily as he did when Jennifer decided to press her dress and cancel the night. Jonathan didn't even think twice about it. But, of course, Cassie already had plans in motion to rekindle their fire.
If you don't watch Good Witch often, you might wonder why items like the guitar and the white horse are introduced seemingly out of nowhere. Nothing on Good Witch isn't planned.
Jonathan discovered the guitar and some sheet music while looking for supplies to fix something at Grey House. It's not that Jonathan doesn't love his wife dearly; he just needed the right inspiration to woo her.
That's also why Cassie wasn't too worried about all of the bad mojo afoot with her wedding. She knows that what is meant to be will present itself at the right time, just like the Forever Tree.
Why Cassie would ever bother with plans is debatable, but who doesn't envy her ability to go with the flow?
What I wouldn't give to have a positive outlook on life that matches Cassie's. Of course, drawing inspiration from Cassie is why we watch.
If it was any of us, that wedding could have been an unmitigated disaster.
Instead, what her friends and family tried so thoughtfully to pull indoors was always outside waiting for Cassie and Sam to begin their future together.
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It's either a long drive from Grey House to their wedding location or Grace used a little Merriwick magic to transport the decorations from inside to out, but either way, it worked perfectly.
The white horse that seemed so skittish to Lindsay was trying very hard to communicate with Grace. If she'd gotten a little more time to listen to him before others warned Grace away from him, she probably would have understood. But the timing worked regardless.
Hallmark weddings are lovely, and Cassie and Sam traded vows before the tree she had only heard about in family lore.
It's such a treat to get to know a character as well as we know Cassie, and attending her second wedding to the second man of her dreams is an honor.
George even walked her down the aisle. If that's not enough to squeeze out some tears, I don't know what is.
Their vows reached right into the hearts of viewers and squeezed. Sam's especially said everything I feel about getting to watch Good Witch all of these years. It's like a gift.
There's still a part of me that can't believe that I'm the one who gets to marry you. You have made me happier than I could have imagined and more loved than I thought possible. You've brought a magic to my life that makes every day an adventure and every second together better than the last. When I look into your eyes, I truly see forever. I love you, Cassie.
Sam
Cassie's response covered friendship, love, inspiration, and a neverending journey.
Oh, Sam. You are my best friend, my love, and my inspiration. Everything in my life has led me to you. I will cherish each step of our journey together, and I promise to love you more each day than I did the day before. With every beat of my heart, I will love you forever.
Cassie
I don't know what the plans are for Good Witch to continue, but the marriage of Cassie and Sam opens up a lot of new possibilities for the show going forward. I hope it's going to stick around past Good Witch Season 5.
Marriage is a lot different than dating, and Sam has barely scratched the surface with Cassie. The movie franchise was just getting started when Cassie and Jake married, and even if Sam has a lot more insight into Cassie and her charm, he'll still be in for a lot of surprises.
Similarly, with Grace and Nick aging, they'll have room for young love that can sift in with the love lives of Stephanie and Abigail who are both still in search of their one and only.
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It will also be interesting to see how Sam handles having guests a Grey House. He's familiar with the lifestyle through visiting with Cassie, but it's something else entirely for your home to be shared with guests.
He had a retreat. Now they're on cohabitating family. That's a lot of heads under one roof.
Do you think anyone will move into Sam's place? That house fit very well into the set previously, so someone settling into the home would make sense.
And I'm not forgetting that Stephanie, Abigail, and Martha had stories outside of the wedding during this hour, but their time can wait.
The Forever Tree was about joining a new family inside of Grey House.
Would you like Vincent to stick around? What about Sam's parents?
Could you have imagined a more beautiful union for Cassie and Sam?
What do you think is next for the family?
If you want to revisit the premiere, you can watch Good Witch online right here via TV Fanatic. Share the love!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a staff writer and critic for TV Fanatic. She's a member of the Critic's Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of television and film with anyone who will listen. Follow her on X and email her here at TV Fanatic.
