Lastly, season 18 of Heartland is right here! The much-anticipated new season opens with the Bartlett-Fleming household going through new challenges, previous rivalries, and tensions that foreshadow an thrilling season to return stuffed with emotional depth, household drama, and the relentless willpower that has at all times outlined the Bartlett-Fleming clan.

On this episode, Amy navigates a budding romance with Nathan whereas Lou, Jack, and Tim really feel the stress of a water scarcity and competitors from Pryce Beef. In the meantime, Logan faces a dilemma that assessments his loyalty to the ranch, and Katie embarks on a artistic new journey.

Wish to know extra? Then carry on studying this recap of Heartland season 18 episode 1!

Lou steps as much as the problem

The episode picked up only one week after the occasions of season 17, as Heartland Beef started to really feel the pressure of their previous choices.

In the event you keep in mind, within the Heartland season 17 finale, we noticed Lou, Jack and Tim go to the Garland Meals HQ to pitch a brand new concept however the entire partnership with Garland Meals collapsed after the brand new CEO of the corporate dismissed them earlier than Lou may even begin her pitch and Lou declared that Heartland Beef doesn’t want Garland Meals to outlive.

So, now they’re left with out their essential distributor spurring Lou to work tougher than ever to maintain the enterprise afloat and defend Heartland’s legacy.

All through the episode, we noticed Lou in her factor, in search of new methods to market and promote their product. Which was particularly essential to her, Jack, and Tim after they discovered that Pryce Beef had managed to steal Garland Meals proper out from below them and is now Garland’s essential provider.

This was a giant blow to Heartland Beef, however it made Lou all of the extra decided to make it work. And she or he managed to give you two main alternatives for his or her enterprise.

Firstly, Lou acquired in contact with Dawn Calgary, a well-liked morning present that was all in favour of doing a section on the Heartland Cookbook and even wished them to make Jack’s well-known beef stew stay on air. However the catch was that they wished Jack to be the one doing it since they thought {that a} cowboy making the stew would look extra fascinating and, due to this fact, would go over higher with their viewers.

In fact, Jack initially refused, preferring to remain out of the highlight. However Lou did handle to get Jack to vow to consider it.

Secondly, Lou had a gathering with a supervisor of a hospitality group that owns eating places throughout Canada and managed to get them all in favour of making Heartland their unique beef supplier. The one factor was that they would want Heartland to supply bison in addition to beef, which is an issue since Heartland Beef doesn’t elevate bison.

Lou was optimistic about them with the ability to begin elevating bison. She even put collectively an in depth define of how a lot every little thing would price. Nonetheless, Jack and Tim vetoed the bison concept immediately, which meant that the take care of the hospitality group was lifeless, too.

That acquired Lou actually upset. Nonetheless, what she didn’t know was the true motive Jack and Tim refused to even take into consideration elevating bison – Heartland was going through a critical water scarcity.

Jack refused to inform Lou about their dwindling water provides as a result of he didn’t need to fear her. However, finally, the 2 cowboys got here clear to Lou about their low groundwater ranges and Lou lastly understood why they have been so in opposition to her bison concept.

Fortunately, it was additionally the catalyst for some much-needed actual speak between the three enterprise companions. Jack and Tim lastly understood that Lou was critical about being a part of the cattle enterprise and that they need to deal with her accordingly. And, by the tip of the episode, Jack even agreed to do the section on the morning present.

On the finish of the episode, the household gathered across the TV to observe Jack’s TV look. Jack had just a few stumbles on air, however his pure appeal gained over, and the section ended up being successful.

One among my favourite elements of this episode was seeing Lou put her entire coronary heart into Heartland Beef. From rounding cattle and doing chores with Jack and Tim to discovering new advertising and marketing alternatives and markets for his or her beef, Lou’d willpower paid off.

Nonetheless, with the drought, the ranch may be going through considered one of its hardest seasons but, so it will likely be actually fascinating to see to what lengths Lou, Jack, and Tim are prepared to go for the survival of their enterprise.

The right ranch horse

As with each Heartland episode,  we noticed Amy working with a consumer horse. This time round, it was Tim’s rodeo faculty horse, Stetson, a once-great roping horse who’s struggling to carry out within the area.

After Amy and Logan had a while to check Stetson and work with him, Amy rapidly realized that Stetson would do higher with a change of occupation – he is probably not match for rodeo life anymore, however he nonetheless has a lot to supply as a working ranch horse.

Nonetheless, convincing Tim to just accept this was no straightforward job.

In truth, Tim flat out refused to just accept that Stetson’s greatest days within the area have been behind him, telling Amy that he can’t afford to retire the horse from the rodeo circuit.

However by the tip of the episode, Tim got here round to Amy’s concept and located the right new position for Stetson – to be Lou’s new ranch horse.

All through Heartland season 18 episode 1, we noticed Lou borrow horses from Amy and even Lyndy to do her ranch chores, which, frankly, wasn’t sustainable. So, now Lou could have her personal ranch horse to experience each time she wants.

It was a win-win for all of the concerned events.

And this, together with Jack agreeing to go on the morning present, have been such good gestures from the 2 cowboys, not solely displaying their progress, but additionally seemingly symbolizing that Lou is lastly a full-fledged member of Heartland Beef.

Relationship problems

Now, onto the subject that loads of you have been most likely questioning about (I do know I used to be!) – Amy’s relationship with Nathan.

In truth, Amy spent various time within the episode with Nathan. Their chemistry actually is simple, but it wasn’t with out its problems – and there have been a pair large ones that have been highlighted on this episode.

Just one week had handed since we final noticed them in episode 1710, cloud gazing collectively, and their relationship was just about on the identical level because it was on the finish of season 17 – slowly rising. So, it was no shock that Nathan requested Amy out on a correct date.

Nonetheless, issues rapidly acquired sophisticated.

After Tim, Jack, and Lou discovered about Pryce Beef taking their spot with Garland Meals, Amy thought that it was now not a good suggestion for Nathan to choose her up for his or her date on the ranch. That is the place the primary complication got here in – the rivalry between the 2 household companies.

Then, their date fell by as a result of Nathan’s canine Molly acquired kicked by a cow, and he needed to rush her to the vet. However when Amy went to Nathan’s home that evening to see how he and Molly have been doing, she once more acquired a style of how guarded Nathan is. Therefore, the second complication – Amy’s wariness of Nathan’s closed-off nature, particularly after her expertise with Finn.

All through the episode, we noticed Amy being open to the concept of getting nearer to Nathan, just for Nathan to drag again each time Amy tried to get him to open up. So when Nathan modified the topic as an alternative of confiding in Amy about what was actually bothering him when she went to see him that evening, it annoyed Amy to no finish.

They nonetheless had some candy moments collectively, like when Amy made it potential for Nathan to work with Molly on sheep when Molly refused to herd cattle after her accident. Or when Amy instructed that Nathan do a sheepdog competitors to construct Molly’s confidence again up after which helped him overcome his nervousness earlier than his flip.

However Nathan’s emotional unavailability was turning into to be a purple flag for Amy, making her second-guess their budding connection. Which solely grew to become extra clear when Nathan’s ex-wife, Tristian (the identical ex-wife who cheated on him and acquired him swear off relationships altogether earlier than he met Amy), confirmed up on the identical competitors along with her new husband.

It not solely visibly shook Nathan because it introduced previous wounds to the floor, however Tristian’s transient dialog with Amy solely confirmed Amy’s suspicions about Nathan’s emotional partitions.

By the tip of the episode, after a dialog with Lou throughout which Lou suggested Amy to belief her intestine about Nathan, Amy turned Nathan down when he requested her on one other date.

So, it seems like, no less than for now, Amy has determined to not pursue a relationship with Nathan. Whereas, certain, there’s potential for love, Nathan’s incapacity to share his emotions would possibly simply be a dealbreaker for Amy.

Are you rooting for Amy and Nathan? Or would you fairly see her with anyone else? Let me know within the feedback under! I need to hear all of your ideas and theories on Amy’s love life!

Logan’s dilemma

On this episode, Logan had a extremely fascinating storyline, as nicely.

After final season’s uncertainty, in Heartland season 18 episode 1, Logan was firmly again on the ranch and serving to Amy with consumer horses. Nonetheless, he confronted a brand new dilemma.

Logan’s truck had damaged down, and to repair it, he wanted some further money. Amy, after all, provided to pay his advance early, however when Logan instructed her that he would want 5 of these to cowl the price of the repairs, he had no alternative however to hunt part-time employment elsewhere. That elsewhere, sadly, being at Pryce Beef.

And, as you may think, Tim was not completely happy about this.

When Tim discovered, he confronted Logan about his new job and made Logan a proposal: spy on Pryce Beef and collect intel, and in return, Tim gained’t inform Jack about Logan working for his or her essential competitors.

Logan, after all, had no alternative however to agree since, regardless of being uncomfortable with the concept of spying, he didn’t need Jack to seek out out about his gig at Pryce Beef extra. But Tim’s hopeful scheme was short-lived as a result of Logan was rapidly fired.

Why, you ask?

Properly, it seems Logan was so nervous about the entire spying factor that he ended up backing a tractor right into a fence, which acquired him canned.

However all ended up nicely and even gave us a touching second between Tim and Logan. When Logan instructed Tim about what occurred, Tim not solely provided to assist Logan out by fixing his truck but additionally instructed him to maintain it within the household and are available work on the rodeo faculty the following time Logan wanted some extra cash.

It seems like cash struggles are plaguing multiple Heartland character this season. I’m wondering if this was a one-off storyline for Logan or if we are going to see extra of him and his struggles this season. I certain would like to see Logan develop even additional in season 18!

Katie’s new artistic journey

Lastly, let’s discuss Katie’s arc on this episode.

Over the previous couple of seasons, we’ve seen Katie uncover her ardour for writing, so it’s no marvel that on this episode, we noticed her embark on a brand new journey of artistic self-discovery.

At first of the episode, we noticed a lady come into Maggie’s to put up a flier for a artistic writing class that she’s providing on the native library. Katie was all in favour of it proper off the bat.

Nonetheless, when the time got here to attend the category, she realized that the category was meant for adults aged 18 and over. So, Katie rapidly exited the library earlier than the category may even start.

Nevertheless it looks like Katie actually caught the eye of the girl instructing the category – she even gave Katie Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier to learn after she noticed Katie studying Brontë’s Wuthering Heights when she first walked into Maggie’s to put up a flier for her writing class.

So, with that as encouragement, on the finish of the episode, we noticed Katie going again to the library and, this time, she caught round for the category, even answering the trainer’s query appropriately when no person else volunteered a solution.

The one factor is, the trainer appears to assume that Katie is over 18 since when she first visited Maggie’s, Katie instructed her that she’s the assistant supervisor of the diner, after which the trainer assumed that Katie is in school.

I favored this storyline for Katie as a result of it showcases her rising independence and want to discover new pursuits. I simply hope that her not being 18 (and the trainer not understanding it but) gained’t influence her probability of absolutely exploring her artistic skills.

Final ideas on Heartland season 18 episode 1

One of many cutest scenes on this episode got here when Nathan requested Lyndy about Amy’s favourite meals when Amy needed to step away to take a name.

At that stage, they hadn’t met Nathan’s ex-wife but, so their relationship was nonetheless stuffed with promise.

However the true blow was seeing Nathan sit by a picnic with waffles and clementines laid out on the picnic blanket and asking Amy out on one other date, just for Amy to show him down.

Plainly regardless of Nathan maintaining his feelings near the vest, he actually likes Amy and is all in favour of pursuing one thing along with her.

Now, all that’s left is to see if Nathan can overcome his emotionally guarded nature and really divulge heart’s contents to Amy or if their relationship actually is doomed.

What did you consider this episode?

This season premiere actually set the stage for an additional thrilling and emotionally charged season of Heartland. With the ranch going through competitors, drought, monetary pressure, and your fair proportion of private dilemmas, the Bartlett-Fleming household must come collectively as soon as once more to climate the storm. And I can’t wait to see the way it all unfolds!

Synopsis for Heartland season 18 episode 2

The following episode of Heartland shall be referred to as “Chook’s Eye View.”

It is going to see Caleb return to assist Amy with a mysterious Icelandic horse, whereas the worsening drought will pressure Lou to construct a firebreak with the enemy.