Sometimes even good people make mistakes, and when you’re isolated on the frontier, it’s even more dangerous.
Constable Vaughn predicted that more trouble and crime would arrive as more people settled, looking for gold, as greed breeds crime.
I appreciated how Hope Valley: 1874 balanced impending danger with lighter romance, so the episode didn’t feel weighed down.
While I was disappointed that Hope Valley:1874 Season 1 Episode 7 didn’t address the previous cliffhanger with Rebecca’s mother-in-law, I think her experience was linked to helping the young man on the man.
Rebecca believed he needed help more than judgment because she related to being misunderstood. It showed her grace under pressure.
While I enjoyed that arc, I also appreciated that the series expanded on Olivia’s dreams and romance with Alexander.
Rebecca Finds Herself in Danger
While I didn’t want Rebecca to be hurt, I’m still relieved she was alone in the stable, not with the children. I don’t want to think about that.
Rebecca is strong and handled the crisis well. I could never be that calm with a gun to my head, but she cared about keeping the gunman calm.
He didn’t care about his wound, only about getting supplies and getting on his way before someone caught him.
Maybe Rebecca should have done that, but she had too many maternal and medical instincts to let him go.
I felt for her as she fed him with that gun pointed at her. Rebecca only wanted to get out of there safely, but things went south when Tom came home and found her still at his ranch.
Rebecca and Tom Disagree on Whether to Help Who Took Them Hostage
Can we agree that Rebecca sucks at lying, and Tom knew something was wrong immediately?
I get it. Rebecca was still ingrained in acting like a doctor’s wife and treating anyone who was injured, no matter the circumstances.
However, Tom was more worried about their safety and would have preferred to give the injured gunman a horse and supplies and take his chances with the vigilantes.
Neither one was wrong, but Rebecca related to the young man, calling him a scared kid. She knew what it felt like to be on the run, always looking behind you.
I didn’t like that Tom initially wanted to pretend to gain his trust and help him, because Rebecca wasn’t that kind of person and wouldn’t want to put herself in more danger.
It was much better for Rebecca actually to treat his wound, which was worsening. It really felt like this arc set up Tom to understand Rebecca’s predicament better, since it showed how people turned on her, too.
She was the only one who got Eli to trust her. It was difficult to discern if his story was true.
If he took back his horse if he hadn’t been paid, that was within his right, but stealing horses was a serious crime.
I understood why getting that bullet out was the priority, but Eli still couldn’t run forever. Rebecca and Tom agreed they needed help and that Constable Vaughn was their best bet.
It’s Been Entertaining Watching Tom Moore Evolve
Tom Moore is a good man, but he generally doesn’t want to stick his nose in other people’s problems.
Rebecca’s courage and protectiveness had rubbed off on him since he went to bat to help Eli, even after he threatened them.
While Tom and Rebecca don’t have a romantic relationship yet, the tide turned when he promised he would never let anyone hurt her in Hope Valley: 1874 Season 1 Episode 5.
He further proved his devotion when he taunted that he might lie to Eli, but he’d never betray Rebecca, so that he would help him for her. That was a real switch to them being on the same side.
It worked in Eli’s favor that Cal Fitzgerald and his men showed up at Tom’s because nothing angers Tom more than trespassers on his land.
He’s versed in these sorts of stand-offs, but Cal Fitzgerald was just as stubborn, refusing to leave without Eli and trying to forge a bond with Tom over being hardworking ranchers and thieves.
I loved that Tom acknowledged that times had changed and they no longer handled the law themselves, but left it up to the new fair Mountie in town. That meant he respected Constable Vaughn.
I also appreciated that the series allowed Rebecca to take charge, and Tom knew she meant business when she announced they were taking Eli to Alexander, and the other men could follow them.
She’s used to managing things and knew that he deserved a fair trial, not to be killed on site.
It was amusing that Eli assumed Tom and Rebecca were married by the way they handled things together.
This experience showed their growth, not only in each other but in the system. I loved that Constable Vaughn magically appeared when they needed him, and how he sensed something was off by how happy they were to see him.
Even then, Rebecca and Tom disagreed about how harshly Eli should be dealt with, but Eli recognized he’d be safer in jail. Sometimes, that’s sad, but true.
Olivia’s Dreams and Relationships Balanced Out Hope Valley: 1874 Season 1 Episode 7
Olivia has grown since the beginning of Hope Valley: 1874, when all she wanted to do was escape. Now she recognized that she’d miss the people there and wanted to be a part of the changes.
I’m sure some of that included designing part of the boarding house and two potential romances.
Olivia has such different relationships with both men. During Hope Valley: 1874, we saw how she bonded with Clayton over art and creativity.
This time, she and Alexander bonded over nature again. Olivia didn’t fully understand how he could enjoy the outdoors more than city life, yet she also lit up when teaching him how to fish.
I can’t decide who I like Olivia with more. Both men are good catches, but she lights up and smiles so bright around Alexander, and we know I love Lachlan Quarmby.
While I love Rebecca and Sarah’s relationship, I adore Hattie and Olivia’s for other reasons, mainly because they can both admit they love and respect each other, even though they’re different.
There is something beautiful about an adult mother-daughter bond like that. Hattie knew she might have to let Olivia fly from home, but she would miss her fearless daughter.
Other Hope Valley 1874 Happenings
That cliffhanger made me think the new prospector, Mr. Maxwell, was up to something, but unless he’s connected to Rebecca’s past, I don’t care.
Hope Valley:1874 is already beginning to have a bloated cast like When Calls the Heart, and it’s only the first season.
The series needs to focus on its core cast. It started off making the Clayton, Olivia, and Alexander love triangle angsty and exciting, but we’ve barely seen Clayton in the last few weeks.
I thought we would see more of him and Clayton’s intentions for Olivia, but we haven’t.
The Yosts pop up now and then, but I’d rather see more of Lars and how he’s feeling about running the mess tent than this new guy.
I’m glad they’ve explored Rachel struggling with baby Ned. I’m curious if it’s new mom jitters or post-partum depression, but I’m glad Hattie calmed her down. More of that, please.
Give stories to the people we care about.
Over to you, Hearties. Were you impressed by how Rebecca handled Eli? Should Olivia stay in town or choose art school? What do you think of the new prospector?
Let us know in the comments.
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