Lou and Nathan?.. HEARTLAND S17 Ep 6-7 Recap and Reaction (Talking Heartland)

Rachel and Michelle are back to talk about HEARTLAND S17 Ep 6-7
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[@00TheRealTC]

Ep. 1706: Definitely enjoyed this episode from start to finish. I agree with your take that the writers should commit to "the lead" for Amy. Whether it's Nathan, Sam, or Caleb, they have to make a decision (or even Amy just deciding she's okay on her own-Jack was on his own for years before he met Lisa, for example.) In terms of fan reaction, of course there are still some areas that are fossilized in the "TAMY" mindset, and will not tolerate anyone new. I don't think Team Sam is a much of a thing, but I am not averse to the idea. Amy and Caleb already were an item in the early stages, so it would be like the second time around for them. Also not against this pairing, but I do think they're much better off as friends. And as far as I know, his divorce from Cass is final (I was not a fan of this breakup in any shape or form). Nathan Pryce is a bit of a question mark. He does come across as a genuinely nice guy. He'll help his competition just because it's the right thing to do if he sees them struggling. I don't quite know what is going on in terms of Pryce Beef vs. Heartland Beef, but it's possible he's still getting his marching orders from his dad. Is he suitable for Amy? I guess time will tell, but I suspect he still has some emotional baggage of his own...
Re: Jack and Lisa. My favourite part of the episode was discovering Lisa's pool shark proclivities. I have to admit I was initially disappointed she pushed Jack to be the one to play against Devon, but when Jack lost, and Lisa stepped up to finish the hustle, I was so glad. Lisa winning back the belt buckle and seeing the barely disguised disgust on Devon's face at losing to her was perhaps my second-favourite part of the episode. Now, as far as I know, Dan never re-married. He and Val seemed to have started something a few seasons ago, but that obviously didn't go anywhere. I get the sense his family probably really liked Lisa despite the divorce, which is why they asked her to speak. (I mean, who else besides his immediate family would know personal things about him?) Finding out it was Dan who taught Lisa how to play pool was a lovely way to close the chapter on Jack and Dan's antagonistic ways, because Jack is gracious enough to admit Dan is the reason he got back his prized belt buckle. (Trivia: Shaun Johnston is from the town of Ponoka, Alberta, so it's cute that the belt buckle was for winning at the Ponoka Stampede.) Hopefully this is not the last we see of Jack and Lisa dancing, or the last we see of Lisa's pool-playing. (Please give Lisa some actual interests on hobbies for us to see, dear writers. Please. It's been 17 years.)
I continue to like Katie's interest in dirt biking, and I like how she eventually stood up to Ellie. Brandon being a bit impotent when Ellie wanted to try some of Jack's hard liquor was disappointing to watch, but he's been pals with Ellie much longer than he's known Katie, so his loyalties are clearly going to be with Ellie. He of course redeemed himself when he came back to apologize, which was good to see.
Ep. 1707: I also _really_ enjoyed this episode. This is the one I've been hinting at in terms of Lou's arc, and making me like her much more than I ever thought possible. (Side note: Lou was not a barrel-racer. She was a showjumper, and a good one, until Tim's rodeo accident totally spooked the daylights out of her and she never went back.) I also liked that the flashbacks continue to establish Nathan's "good guy" status. Discovering that Nathan's appearance is what triggered Lou's insomnia was such a great way to explore Lou's past and all the traumas she's repressed from Tim's seeming rejection of her at that crucial time in her life. This whole treatment of Lou's past coming to a head, and how both father and daughter came to terms with it, was simply excellent. I also really liked the visuals they used when Tim and Lou embraced in the woods, how adult Lou morphed into 15-year-old Lou: the Lou who desperately wanted her father back in her life. (Yes, Rachel, I was crying, too.)
Author Elaine Collins is played by Jann Arden, a well-known Canadian musical icon (and more lately, actress). Her bitterness over the brutal reviews was so well-played. In a twisted way, I think she was probably trying to spare Katie the slings and arrows she has endured in her writing career. Loved that Jack intervened, however, and that Katie had the guts to give Elaine a piece of her mind. Yes, stubbornness does run in the family!
Re: Ellie being a horse girl... Ellie was trying to hide the fact her family is wealthy more than the horse-riding thing, I thought. She did not want Brandon to treat her any differently. Hopefully this is the end of the conflict between El and Katie, because I think they're better as friends than rivals. (Shades of Ashley and Amy, but I don't mind it since they're still very much their own characters.)
Rachel, I'm so with you. What else do you want in a _Heartland_ episode? Pretty close to being perfect. Taken with the previous episode, these two are on my personal top-tier list.
Thank you, as always, ladies, for another fun and entertaining review. I look forward to your thoughts on the rest of the season's episodes.