A Good Show That Could Have Been So Much Better

Heartland can basically be called, "A show of spoiled, insecure women and the men who are too good for them."

Lou, for me, is the most unlikable character on the show. She is one of the most insecure characters I've seen on over 40 years of television. She constantly has to be the center of attention, and she pouts and whines when she doesn't get it. She likes to be helpful, but only when she's in control and getting something from it (attention). I feel bad for Peter who is a good guy.

Amy is definitely more likable than Lou, but can be just as irritating. She is someone who connects more with horses than people. She is very moody, naive, as well as incredibly hypocritical and unappreciative. She makes similar mistakes, but when others do, she holds it against them, as she's done countless times with Ty. She demands to talk things out when SHE'S ready, but more often than not, she walks away. I know it will never happen, but I'd hoped that Ty would just dump her and find someone more mature, compassionate, and understanding. Amy is another character that I just don't care very much about what happens to her.

The show also seems to enjoy allowing the "kids" to say and do whatever they want without any consequences or discipline. Right from the outset, Amy could say anything she wanted to her grandfather to get her way. I guess the show mirrors a generation of spoiled children who just need to pout, throw a tantrum, or give a cold shoulder in order to get what they want.

I don't mind characters having faults. It's largely what makes them interesting, but when they come across as too annoying and unlikable without making any changes (these characters don't change at all, and they aren't motivated to because of the lack of communication and conversation), then you become less interested in what happens to them.

I've watched many family shows over the past 40 years, and aside from some unlikable characters (except for Ty and Jack), these characters don't have real, meaningful conversations. Nobody really talks things out. Again, this must be a reflection of a generation where conversation just isn't a part of the mix. It's a real shame because it prevents Heartland from being a much deeper and more heart-felt show than it is. Shows, such as "Life Goes On," "When Calls the Heart," "Road to Avonlea" and others demonstrate that you can do this without being too melodramatic. It's as if this show is afraid to take that step, and instead, you have a show that mostly just skims the surface of feelings and rarely takes the plunge. The writers also make a number of glaring mistakes as well for the sake of the plot. Jack going to Arizona ALONE to recover?!? As if any member of that family would have let him go alone just to get a surprise reaction from the audience after Season 6's cliffhanger.

I have to say that Heartland, of all the family shows I've seen, is probably my least favorite one of the genre. It's a good show that could be, and should have been, so much more. I love the scenery and the scenes with the horses, but ultimately, it's not enough to keep me vested in this show. I've tolerated 7 seasons, and frankly, I've already given this show much more time than it deserves. I'll stick to "When Calls The Heart" and the older shows that truly have heart."