It's the first Easter episode for When Calls the Heart, but you wouldn't know it by the episode title "Along Came a Spider."
The Spider, Jeanette Aucoin, immediately made the character of Lucas Bouchard a whole lot more interesting. I don't think I'll spoil anything if I say that she is a shady and untrustworthy character and Lucas is not happy to see her and wants nothing to do with her.
When Lucas arrived in season 6, there were a lot of things mentioned that indicated he had a colorful past. And some of that past came to make problems for Elizabeth and others. Jeanette was (mentioned but never seen) was part of that -- so fans have always been curious about her. In subsequent seasons, Lucas' character was increasingly white-washed which just didn't make sense being that he was a saloon owner and we KNEW he had secrets and things he wished to hide.
Now the arrival of Jeanette answered a lot of questions, and has given us an idea of how much Lucas has overcome and how much he changed. His past with Jeanette is something he clearly wants to leave behind, however he has to face it and be honest about it. Lucas is having an amazing season this year, and these revelations about him do not diminish his character at all. Rather they ADD to his AUTHENTICITY and make him more congruent with the threads of his character that have been present since the beginning.
In other stories,
Nathan and Elizabeth had several scenes together that brought their romance along by baby steps, but there were also two scenes that show us how far they still have to come.
Elizabeth reflects a little bit on her for relationship with Lucas, but she's staying surface level.
Mike and Mei had a couple big milestones, and we also met a member of Mike's family -- and she's got the strength of 5 characters in one!
Rosemary and Bill discuss a clue.
The Canfield kids initiate an intervention.
Toby learns to compute fractions while connecting with his ethnic heritage.
All the little kids are adorable.
A very well written and enjoyable episode!