Prompted by the discovery of a disposable camera from the '80's, sent by a little boy whose cry for help took the form of photographs taken only a few weeks prior, the POstables set out on a road trip that produced as much hope and healing for them as that which they ultimately delivered. After the imprisonment of her husband, Jack, Rachel is left to cope with the aftermath. The struggle to pick up the pieces directly impacted her son, Danny, who knew only how much he missed his dad and wanted to see him, attempting to send the pictures as a trail of breadcrumbs for his dad to find him, and leading the POstables to believe he might have been kidnapped. The POstables pursuit of the little boy's safety and security mirrored emerging question of safety and security among Norman and Rita, and Oliver and Shane, in their respective relationships, as they arose throughout the course of their road trip. A still recently engaged Rita got panicked when Hazel, in her infinite helpfulness, presented her with a list of things that must be done before her wedding. The pressure on, she tried to enlist Norman, whose insecurities over what happens after they say "I do" caused some hilariously bizarre behavior before he gathered the courage to tell the truth. |
As a result, it was up to both Rita and Oliver to navigate the insecurities of their significant others without becoming absorbed by their own insecurities in response.
Jarred by Norman's avoidance of the subject of children, Rita began to question their compatibility in Norman's eyes, and how well she really knew him, only to discover that he wanted to adopt. But Norman's reason for wanting to adopt is tied to his insecurities about being bullied and rejected as a child, and his desire to prevent the same fate for his children. His vulnerability opened a space where the depth of Rita's understanding and love for Norman was on full display. Her love covered his current concerns and his past pain, reconciling and healing them in the process. |
Nothing could have prepared him---or, quite frankly, us---for the revelation of an older, estranged sister with a gambling problem, nor for the reality that Shane thought Alex's existence somehow had bearing on her relationship with Oliver. Committed to helping Shane keep her promise of reconnecting with Alex, Oliver, in a reversed Truth Be Told moment, not only chose to be by her side as she "made the call," but reaffirmed and defined his relationship to Shane as her "boyfriend," choosing whom he "belonged to." |
To Jamie-Lynn Sigler, thank you for embracing this story about trust, family, forgiveness and finding our way in such a compelling and beautiful way. Christian Convery---what a sweet, talented actor you are! You certainly have quite the career ahead of you. Thank you for being the heart of this story in so many ways. Jason Cermak, your appearance was limited, but your impact was great---thank you for helping tell this story. Jill Morrison, once again "hazardous Hazel" strikes in record time---so fun to see you back in this role, even if it was brief. Zak, it's always a highlight to have Ramon enter the fold, the caramel and coconut on top of an already delicious treat! |
And if you're wondering what all that means then you're in the right place---A&D will be "putting down some serious miles" to unlock all the wit and wisdom this most recent installment had to offer.
My sincerest congratulations to Brandi Harkonen, the brilliant mind of which is responsible for this unique and eventful addition to the Signed, Sealed, Delivered canon. It was truly exciting to see the characters and their relationships through your eyes, their journey infused with an incredible amount of wisdom and subtle, as well as outright, humor. Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
To Eric, Kristin, Crystal and Geoff---still trying to figure out how you filmed this BEFORE Home Again?! What an incredible credit to your talents, as well as your commitment to each other and your craft. I'm emotionally wrecked watching---I don't know how you switched gears from fun and flirty, to deep and profound and back. The longer you play your characters, the more completely you manage to bring them to life, and the harder it becomes to separate the fiction from the reality---and that's where the magic is, because it makes it so much easier to see pieces of ourselves reflected in your characters. If we can see ourselves, we can see ways to navigate and heal in our own lives---and that's truly a privilege to watch. |
Want more Signed, Sealed, Delivered beyond movie 10? Write a letter and join your fellow POstables on social media as we continue to rally for the future of this beloved series. But also don't forget to keep tuning in to re-airs of The Road Less Traveled. Your next chance to see it is Thursday, February 15 at 9pm!
Mapping It Out,
~C