Heartland

This was a difficult episode all around. Everyone who works on Heartland knows how beloved Spartan is to the fans of the series. Almost every visitor to the ranch set, as pleased as they are to meet Amber, Graham and the rest of the cast, is thrilled if they get to walk up and pet Stormy, the main horse that has faithfully portrayed Spartan during the 6 seasons of Heartland.

This Sunday on CBC Television, the Heartland saga continues with the 98th episode in the series and the 13th of this 18-episode season, "Waiting For Tomorrow." Written by Leila Basen and directed by Chris Potter, who also appears in the episode as Tim, the episode picks right up at the moment the last episode ended, with Spartan breaking his leg as he clears the final jump of the course at the Heartland Ranch.

Amy's horse is transported to Scott's clinic where the veterinarian confirms a fracture in Spartan's rear leg. After getting all of the facts, Amy is then forced to make the toughest decision in her life. As she searches her soul for the right path to take, Ty and Scott prepare for the possibility of major surgery on the horse.

Meanwhile Mallory, who blames herself for Spartan's injury, throws herself into her job at Maggie's, avoiding Amy and the guilt that's eating her up inside.

Georgie, who witnessed the accident, is disturbed to the point where she decides not only to quit jumping Phoenix, but she never wants Phoenix to jump again, fearful that he could suffer the same fate as Spartan.

As has happened many times in the past on Heartland, when the going gets tough it is the love and strength of the family that is needed to help everyone hold it together.

This is a touching episode which will undoubtedly affect a lot of our fans.

Here are some additional photographs from the episode.

It's an all new Heartland episode, playing across Canada at 7:00pm this Sunday (7:30pm in Newfoundland). After you've seen it I welcome you to return to this page and in the comment section let me -- and everyone else who reads this -- know what you thought of it.

This Sunday is right around the corner; you do not have long to wait!

And some good news from the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (ACCT) - The Margaret Collier Award is the lifetime achievement honour which used to be presented at the Gemini Awards to a writer for their outstanding body of work in Canadian television. The Geminis and Genie Awards have now merged into the Canadian Screen Awards.

The recipient of this award is selected upon the recommendation of the Academy's television division writer's branch with ratification from the Academy's board of directors.

Everyone connected with Heartland is proud and pleased to see that this year's recipient is none other that Heartland's Showrunner, Heather Conkie.

Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Chairman Martin Katz said, "Heather Conkie has been a major writing force in this country from the early days of the massively successful Road to Avonlea series and most recently leading the writing room on six seasons of the hit show for Heartland."

I know you will all join me in offering Heather hearty congratulations.

Have a great weekend, Heartlanders,

The Blog Whisperer

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