From The [Start], An Unexpected Retrospective - Part 1

One film, one comprehensive homage to an ever-growing canon.

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I don't know you about you, but while watching From The Heart, I kept getting a distinct feeling of nostalgia for films and episodes past. I wanted to ignore it, but after I successfully tied some element of From The Heart to every other installment in the canon, it became clear something was afoot.

Here are just some of the callbacks that caught my attention.

Pilot
The last time I saw this stock shot meant to reflect the skyline of downtown Denver was the Pilot. While clearly serving as a transition, the visual callbacks are just as important as any others might be!

The Pilot was also the first time we got introduced to Oliver and his Yoo Hoo's, and his need for them in times of distress. As you saw, Oliver was in need of one in From The Heart on similar grounds.

Time To Start Livin'

From The Heart wasn't the first time Norman was gifted a rare artifact of postal history. The first episode of the series found Norman coming into possession of his now infamous stamp collection.

To Whom It May Concern

When Oliver found it difficult to finish Samila's letter, Shane was right there to pick up where he left off. In From The Heart, the situation reversed.

Soulmates

This was perhaps the realization that started it all. Anyone think Dale looked familiar? Maybe it's because she is the same actress (Emilie Ullerup) who played Marie in Soulmates---her hair color changed from blonde to red!

The Masterpiece

It really had been a long time since they danced [Three films---but who is counting?] and it was The Masterpiece that really cemented dancing as a thing between Shane and Oliver.

The Edge of Forever

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches me."

Where a verse closed The Edge of Forever, so Oliver's recitation of a verse from Bob Dylan's "The Water Is Wide" closed this film for the almost-couple.

The Future Me

"With friends like you, I feel like I won already."

"Just being there together, I felt like I already won."

One of these is the line Rita spoke to Norman, Shane and Oliver right before she took the stage for the local branch competition of the Miss Special Delivery pageant. The other are actually Ryan's sentiments about Maddie and joining the debate team in From The Heart! Interesting how they seem to mirror each other both in context and content.

Pretty incredible---and this is only HALF! What other canon callbacks to these first few installments can you identify in From The Heart? Trust me, there are definitely more!

See you tomorrow for Part II!

Head Still Spinning,
~C

Unexpected Retrospective: Part I | Part II