WCTH: Fort Clay

A bit of backstory to this topic and my thoughts on what could come in S12!

Call of Duty: Jack (Season 1-5) & Nathan (6-11)

To give premise let’s talk about Jack’s calling as a Mountie.

Jack became a Mountie just like his father. His father was a great role model for him and he wanted to honor his father’s legacy in continuing the work as a Mountie. Jack’s brother Tom, even spoke highly of his brother’s choice in that his dad favored Jack because of this.

Jack also felt it was his duty and a God given call to serve and to protect. He “was an excellent Mountie by all accounts” as he protected the town from various gangs and saved Elizabeth’s life numerous times.

He made his intentions clear to Elizabeth that this was who he was, just as much as her teaching embodied her. Ultimately, that is why he went to the northern territories to fight even after wrestling with his choice. He knew in his heart it was the right thing to do. He was right but it came at a cost. PTSD. But with Elizabeth by his side as his wife he could face it. Then he was given one last assignment.

Fort Clay: no war means no risk? prestigious honor taken away by disobeyed orders!

Now let’s talk about Nathan’s calling as a Mountie.

Nathan on the other hand, became a Mountie in spite of his father. Having a father that was a thief, drove Nathan to make things right in his own strength. He had to watch his family struggle. So he took a path that was completely different from his father. To serve and to protect. He also took on the responsibility of raising Allie. This probably propelled him to be the very best so she could have a good role model.

He obviously was a very good Mountie. He was the one who was originally given orders at Fort Clay. He was the one that was supposed to train young Mounties not Jack.

It was considered a “prestigious honor” so this tells me his role as a Mountie was respected by his commanding officers. But he took risks. He had disobeyed previous orders so he could capture gang members on his own. By himself. Again he did things in own strength to make things right. Remember this was Hargraves’ offense towards Nathan in season 8.

I believe because of his father, Nathan was a bit rough and solace in his behavior when he came to Hope Valley. He didn’t trust easily. He also had many emotions bottled up inside of him as he came to Hope Valley. He came to replace a beloved Mountie and to look after Elizabeth and little Jack.

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Now back to my original statement below:

Fort Clay: no war means no risk? prestigious honor taken away by disobeyed orders!

One statement represents Jack and one represents Nathan.

Jack chose to take the position at Fort Clay because he was in belief that there was no risk involved because there was no war. He chose to go to Fort Clay. He chose to save the other Mounties.

Nathan was disciplined before he could take this prestigious honor as he disobeyed orders. His choice led him on a different path away from Fort Clay.

Our choices and actions can lead us down paths that either harm us or do us good.

These two men took paths that led them to their future. Now there is no one to blame. Nathan didn’t kill Jack or had a hand in it. His choice led him away from that opportunity to lead the training mission. Jack was given a choice to take it and he ultimately sacrificed his life to save others.

*side note Jack was killed because Daniel Lissing didn’t want to continue his contract with WCTH. But still the paths they chose brought them here. “Here we are”.

I think the writers have made it very clear that Nathan was not responsible. The news from the season 11 cliffhanger was not involving him but rather Elizabeth and her late husband Jack.

But maybe Nathan knows more details about Fort Clay and the people who were involved. He was stationed there before Jack was offered the training mission (S8 revealed this) so I’m sure he might have insight. Regardless he will be there to help Elizabeth.

But this topic “Fort Clay” still has many hearties feeling like it is unfinished (apparently the writers too). Probably because it involves Elizabeth, Jack and Nathan.

What do we really know about the events? Are we missing pieces?

So, let’s dive into the accident at Fort Clay and the facts revolving around it.

The accident: Season 5

The biggest outcome to this accident was that Jack Thornton lost his life. Elizabeth lost her husband and little Jack will never know his father. Six seasons later of healing and growth we still talk about that day.

So what did happen? The story goes like this, during a training mission there was a landslide. A situation beyond anyone’s control. Jack pushed two men out of the way sacrificing his own life to save the other two Mounties.

He died a hero.

I think since we may be re-visiting the storyline in season 12 (with the season 11 cliffhanger tease) we can ask some questions revolving Jack’s death.

At this point, was it an accident? That might be hard to swallow. Not trying to upset anyone but just trying to think of what the season 12 storyline could be. The cliffhanger at the end of season 11 had me questioning this.

Did someone want Jack killed?

Did Jack know something he wasn’t supposed too? Was he going to confront and expose another Mountie about their actions before he died? Maybe he knew something and he was killed.

Will we ever get to meet the two Mounties he saved ? Why didn’t they thank Elizabeth or look after her? A responsibility that Nathan took on himself. It was because of Jack that their lives were spared.

Do they have more information regarding that day? Maybe of what really happened? Maybe Jack’s death wasn’t an accident.

What is the news from Hargraves?

Hargraves. We all don’t like him. We all sense that he is dirty. He came back to specifically take Nathan’s job away from him in season 8 and didn’t succeed. He also was the one who closed the case concerning who shot Lucas. Could he have been the “Mountie” who Randall Rockwell cooperated His source through. Maybe Shaw (Jeanette) had dirt on him and he was scared.

He was the one to take the Fort Clay assignment away from Nathan as well and offer it to Jack. Why Jack? He was recently married. Just came back from a long post at the Northern Territories. But maybe because he was the right man to do the job.

But maybe Jack knew too much during his stay. Jack was a great investigator. He sensed that Bill was involved in the counterfeit case years ago and saved his live as a result of it. He also helped expose a fellow Mountie.

So Jack would have sensed if something wasn’t right during his stay at Fort Clay. Interesting enough Bill knows Andrew Hargraves personally so he may get involved with the new storyline as well.

Thus the question remains, what information does Hargraves have? Did Jack keep anything from Elizabeth? Maybe Hargraves is trying to blacken his name and cover up his own corrupt behavior. Shaw is locked up and his reputation is on the line.

*Just to note, these are my predictions. Nothing more so don’t let my words upset you. I will always uphold Jack and Nathan as honorable men!

Overall, Fort Clay is a complex storyline and a lot can be discussed. There really are some many possibilities that the writers can take. I wonder what is in store for season 12!

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