Cedar Cove is a
show based on the popular series of books by Debbie
Macomber. It stars Andie McDowell as Judge Olivia
Lockhart and Dylan Neil as Jack Griffin. He's
editor of the Cedar Cove Chronicle and new in town.
In the first episode, there is an instant connection
between the two as Olivia shows Jack around town and
tells him how life is more relaxed in Cedar Cove, since
people don’t lock the doors of their car or home
(everyone knows each other). I was at a slight
disadvantage when I watched this show, since I had never
read the series of books before, and the first episode
doesn’t do a very good job of introducing the characters
to someone who has never read the books before. I
had to watch the second episode before I really got the
point of the show. It reminds me of one of my favorite
classic TV shows, "The Andy Griffith Show". Olivia is
the judge of Cedar Cove, and every week she has to solve
a problem that either affects the town itself, or a town
resident. At the end of the first two shows that I have
seen, the problem gets solved and everyone is happy.
I think you're supposed to get a warm fuzzy feeling in
your heart. I have not yet gotten the warm fuzzy
feeling, but I think the show will grow on me.
Cedar Cove is the
perfect small town, the type everyone wishes they could
live in; a town where everyone knows one another and
cares for each other. The people of Cedar Cove love the
town and always want to do what is best to preserve the
history of the town. The books are inspired by the town
of Port Orchard, Washington, so it does my heart good to
know there is a beautiful little town like Cedar Cove in
real life. This show is what I call escapist
television; a show that doesn’t have complicated plots,
where you can just relax and rest your brain and look at
the beautiful scenery of the show. For an hour,
you feel like life isn’t so bad because you have visited
Cedar Cove. The show airs on Hallmark Channel Saturdays
at 8 Eastern 7 Central time and is repeated several
times during the week, in case you missed the episode.
I think fans of the book series will love the show,
while people who have not read the books will either
have to read the books after they start watching the
show, or watch a few shows before they can get to know
the characters. Overall, I give the show 4 out of 5
stars, only because I feel that you have to watch a few
shows before you get to understand and root for all the
characters if you have not read the books.
