Will the Real Elizabeth Please Step Forward?

I’m sure many of you are screaming right now, “She never left!” But hear me out as I share my perspective on Elizabeth’s absence from When Calls the Heart over the last couple of seasons.

It’s no surprise that #mcgarries were devastated after the Season 8 finale. As Elizabeth explained to Nathan that she loved him but wasn’t “in love” with him, many fans, myself included, found it challenging to process anything beyond that moment. We experienced not only the loss of their love story but also the loss of the authentic Elizabeth.

Why do I say that? Let me provide a few examples. Going back to her earlier rejection of Nathan’s declaration of love in Episode Two, we witnessed her riding away on Sergeant, avoiding a further conversation with Nathan about the status of their relationship. Brian Bird shared on Twitter, “That horse ride took her right back to where she was in the moments after Jack’s death.” In that moment, Elizabeth not only distanced herself from the situation but also consciously began rejecting any feelings towards Nathan, unveiling a different Elizabeth. This transformation was evident in the strain on Elizabeth and Rosemary’s relationship. Fighting against her reality to protect herself, Elizabeth failed to respond appropriately to those who mattered most in her life. Her Hamiltonesque habits resurfaced, with her love for shiny things and extravagant gifts reappearing—elements that drove her from Hamilton to Hope Valley. Her extreme responses, like using muffins to mend damaged relationships, showcased the disconnect.

(skip Season 9…)

Entering Season 10, many were still dealing with this unfamiliar version of Elizabeth. For some, that assertion may appear exaggerated, yet witnessing our cherished Hope Valley educator snubbing Nathan because he didn’t promptly dismiss the charges against the individual who struck him was difficult to accept in Season 9. Especially when we knew her response was because she was solely focused on finding a way to free Lucas. The real Elizabeth was resourceful enough to find a solution that could save both Nathan and Lucas or at least work to understand Nathan’s side of the story and show empathy.

Thank goodness for Aunt Agatha’s arrival in Hope Valley. This served as a wake-up call for Elizabeth to realize how far she had drifted from what truly mattered. She wasn’t being true to herself. Aunt Agatha’s invitation for Elizabeth, along with Lucas, to return to Hamilton forced Elizabeth to consider where she truly wanted to be and what she wanted to be doing. It was the first time in Season 10 that she had to acknowledge there was uncertainty about whether she and Lucas were on the same page.

It took the entire duration of Season 10 for the real Elizabeth to find her way back. I plan on exploring this further, but as we head into Season 11, Elizabeth has admitted she ran in fear and wasn’t listening to her heart. Not only did she admit it, but she also began to deal with it, and I imagine we will see and hear more of dealing with it in Season 11. There may be more to overcome, but at least we enter Season 11 knowing she is ready to confront any lingering trauma after Jack’s death. Welcome back, Elizabeth!