It’s bittersweet growing up hearing stories about a parent, but never really knowing them. I’m relieved that When Calls the Heart Season 13 Episode 9 addressed LJ’s longing to know his father as he grows up.
One of my friends lost her husband when her youngest was only an infant, so I often see so much of LJ’s story in theirs.
He’s visited his father’s gravesite for years, but Jack Thornton was always a person he carried in his heart and not one he really connected with.
When Calls the Heart Season 13 has tried to take that further by showing how important his father’s medal was to LJ and building a relationship with his Grandma Charlotte.
Losing that medal crushed him because it meant he lost a vital part of Jack, and he only possessed a few memories.
Involving so many members of the community in sharing their memories of Jack with LJ made “Lost and Found Again” one of the most heartwarming stories.
The Importance of Keeping Jack Thornton’s Memory Alive
Jack Thornton was beloved by so many. He’s been a hard act to follow.
It’s been especially hard since he died before his son ever knew him. Therefore, he’s been more of a heroic figure than a dad to LJ.
LJ has wanted to make his father proud of him and to be brave like him, which is why he kept his medal.
Losing that medal wasn’t so much about the medal itself, though he worried because it mattered to his mother.
I loved how everyone rushed out to search for it, knowing how much it mattered to a young boy now that he was old enough to miss his father.
LJ felt he had lost the main link he had to Jack, and it seemed imperative to share more of Jack with him so he could have a clearer picture of who his father was.
I Loved How the Memory Hunt Showed How Many Lives Jack Had Touched
I loved how the memory hunt showed how many lives Jack Thornton had touched, taking us down memory lane.
Jack and Elizabeth’s wedding was one of the most memorable When Calls the Heart episodes and one of the first I ever watched.
Starting the game at the saloon with trinkets like their wedding photo and the music box from the Christmas Mountie Ball made perfect sense.
I loved how Elizabeth said that LJ inherited his father’s teasing nature to drive her crazy, as she said that with pride.
Even though the scavenger hunt began with only immediate family, so many other friends chimed in. LJ was as smart as his father and couldn’t believe that Uncle Bill would ever help the bad guys.
It was entertaining to hear how Jack and Bill teamed up to catch the real culprits and became friends.
Jack touched so many lives and encouraged many to relocate to Hope Valley, including his oldest friend, Rosemary, and Faith Carter. Hope Valley would be very different without these women.
Henry’s story touched me the most, since he’s changed the most since the series began. As he told LJ, Jack’s invitation to his bachelor lunch helped encourage him to become a better person.
I loved his gardening analogy: Jack helped him blossom into a better person, and now Henry has done the same for so many of the younger generation.
LJ seems to have many of his father’s traits, and he’s surrounded by people who care about him, so I think he’ll grow up into someone Jack will be proud of.
Lucas and Edie Acted Like They Were From a Romance Novel
Lucas and Edie’s romance felt like an old-fashioned romance novel, which Florence ate up, relishing every detail.
While I don’t advocate eavesdropping, many fans also felt anticipation, hoping a reunion was around the corner.
Lucas and Edie started the conversation professionally, with Lucas asking for help since the territorial assembly reallocated the building relief funds.
He knew how to butter her up by complimenting her strengths to get her on board, and I loved that. As they began drafting a new proposal, they often came up with ideas in unison.
While Edie hopefully will return to Hope Valley, something shifted during that phone call. These two always worked best together when they had a mission.
If Edie didn’t care about Lucas, she wouldn’t have stayed up all night with him, and Lucas counted on that, so he asked for another chance, saying he wished that he could turn back time.
I think Edie wanted him to sweat a little because he’s rejected her twice, and while she looked touched by his confession, timing is everything.
Debating With Friends Made Ideas Stronger
Elizabeth thought the Benson Hills kids would be happy to return home, but Hope Valley has provided them with a safety net.
After they lost everything, you can’t blame them for being cautious and having questions about their new school.
Children often have the best ideas, so asking the kids to submit plans for their new school was an excellent idea.
Showing them the original plans was an excellent throwback and allowed LJ another insight into his father.
I appreciated that “Lost and Found Again” also allowed Rupert to grow. He’s often seemed like an intelligent loner, but he only needed to befriend another intelligent classmate.
Elizabeth worked her magic, suggesting that he and Opal work together and submit some plans. I love that Opal has been on more than this season. She’s opinionated, smart, and feisty, and was the perfect match for him.
She taught Rupert that it was all right to disagree, and they created a beautiful blueprint for a school, crafted out of cement. It included a library for some quiet time and meeting areas to discuss ideas.
Best of all, Opal crafted everything to stay on time and budget, thrilling both Lee and Lucas, who decided to present it to the rebuild committee.
It was just what he needed to cheer him and make him believe better things were coming.
Charlotte Thornton’s Return Solidified The Blended Family
I love the way that Brooke Shields portrayed Charlotte Thornton.
She embodied a loving grandmother who knew that LJ needed to hear his father’s hopes and dreams, including the hope of having a wonderful son.
If Jack had met his son, he would have been so proud of LJ, and she needed him to know he was Jack’s greatest accomplishment, not that medal.
I’ve always loved how Charlotte accepted Allie into the family. Sometimes, family was more than genetics.
She looked so proud of Allie when Allie wrote that story about Jack’s adventures, and I loved how she turned the story into a real book by collaborating on it and adding illustrations.
She considered Allie her own granddaughter and another budding writer and appreciated that Allie would help to keep her son’s memory alive.
While I appreciated the sentimental family scenes, I wonder if Nathan will propose soon and officially ask Charlotte for her blessing.
She hinted at it when she joked that he not mess things up on When Calls the Heart Season 13 Episode 1.
She adores him and Allie and only appears for one more episode this season, so a proposal in front of the family could be appreciated.
Other Happenings in Hope Valley
I loved that “Lost and Found Again” touched on the importance of nature versus nurture. Neither Allie nor Oliver remembered their parents fondly and figured no one else would either, but they were eager to help LJ remember Jack.
It illustrated how Oliver had thrived, even with bad experiences in the foster care system, thanks to a support system in Hope Valley.
The same support system helped Allie feel like she had a home. Sometimes you can recreate a home and family with different people.
Over to you, Hearties. Did you enjoy the trip down memory lane? Do you think a proposal is coming? Will Lucas and Edie reconcile soon?
Let us know in the comments.
Enjoyed this review? Help us out.
Drop a comment or share it — it’s free, painless, and helps keep independent TV coverage alive.
-
Alvina August & Nathan Witte Preview Falling Into Place — Autumnal Vibes, Bucket Lists & Cozy Romance
Alvina August and Nathan Witte preview Falling into Place and the nostalgic fun of completing the fall bucket list.
-
Haunted Harmony Mysteries: Tamera Mowry-Housley on Gethsemane’s Evolution, the Growing Love Triangle & More
Haunted Harmony Mysteries’ Tamera Mowry-Housley dished on Gethsemane’s love triangle and her evolution as an investigator.
-
How Reacher, All American & Ted Lasso Gave Us Characters Worth Rooting For
Reacher, All American, Ted Lasso and more delivered characters who still have us talking. Check out our Characters of the Week
