Heartland: Ep. 1211–Rant/Review
(In response to the Facebook Heartland Page’s Admin asking if we loved the finale; cross-posted on FB. People there overwhelmingly “loved” it.)
I guess I’m the only dissenting voice. I can’t say I “loved” it. This season fell short of my expectations, and the finale felt crammed with too many competing plot lines. Maybe this was due to the shortened season; we’ll never know. Too many plots that deserved deeper exploration, in my opinion.
Long rant (with some minor positives) ahead, so if you loved this season, there is no need to read further.
I continue to beg for an explanation for what Mitch sees in Lou, and have yet to receive a satisfactory answer. Call me completely exasperated at that forced pairing. I like Mitch quite a bit, but I still see the same Lou whose marriage to Peter fell apart. I’m supposed to believe that by virtue of her returning to Hudson means she’s magically transformed into someone less neurotic and self-centered? Not buying it. The fact she couldn’t even be honest with Maya about bringing Fred Garland as her “plus one” shows me she’s still thoroughly incapable of showing even a drop of humility. After 12 seasons, this is beyond irritating. I have zero interest in watching a Season 13 that would set its focus on this couple. Zero. I also assume the whole “Shooting Star” debacle is resolved, though everything about the race the horse won was illegal—and Lisa still has no clue. At least none that we know of. I mean, so much happens off-camera with this character, she might have been told, but...?
Speaking of which, it was a complete travesty that she was absent for so long, especially when a whole plot line was dedicated to *her* business. I like Jack and Lisa heaps, but if she’s going to continue to be written out for chunks of a season for no good reason other than a plot contrivance, what’s the point anymore of having had her marry him and move to Heartland? Their reunion at the fishing cabin in 1210 was brilliant, but after that? What? Zip. Back on the shelf and shoved to the background. Frustrating, to say the least.
Enough has been said about how Amy and Ty fostering Luke is a carbon copy of Lou and Peter fostering Georgie; we can only hope the “faking our marriage is good” doesn’t also follow for this couple. I like Luke and I’m happy someone stepped up to help him; I just think the couple should have been Caleb and Cassandra, who (we assume) aren’t living in a cramped loft with no living space to spare.
And speaking of Georgie, I’m relieved she’s finding a way out of her nightmare of a training regimen that could have certainly had a much worse outcome. Her story—for me—was the most compelling of the season, and I’m glad she had the humility and courage to apologize to Wyatt, and to make a good case for their relationship to continue. They’re a fun couple to follow.
The other positive for me this season was indeed seeing Ty and Amy working together, with all the ups and downs and arguments and reconciliations that came along. More of that, please.
Tim being insufferable was predictable, so I think I’m rather over that; just highly disappointed there was zero Casey. I kept hoping for all Tim’s poking at Lou to pursue Mitch he would take his own advice, or that Casey would come wanting to make up. But that didn’t happen. I’m guessing she’s out of the picture for good, despite her “I’m not goin’ anywhere” assertion in Season 11.
Not really sure if any of my “grievances” will be remedied for Season 13. The way things look now, I don’t see what upcoming creative decisions could alter my view of the direction the show is taking in terms of plot and character focus.
