O'Toole & Son
It's Shane's (Kristin Booth - Foolproof) birthday and things are going well for her and Oliver (Eric Mabius - Reading, Writing & Romance) as well as Rita (Crystal Lowe) and Norman (Geoff Gustafson) having finally shared their first kiss. But as always at the Dead Letter Office things get shaken up firstly by the arrival of Oliver's father (Gregory Harrison - My Christmas Love) as Oliver blames him for losing touch with his mum. But it seems Mr. O'Toole has something important to say if only Oliver would listen. Whilst Shane supports Oliver as he deals with some family revelations Rita and Norman return a burnt letter to a little girl called Phoebe Amidon (Megan Charpentier - Grumpy Cat's Worst Christmas Ever) whose mother is missing in action in the Middle East.
I have to admit that I have ended up watching the "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" out of order having watched the 5th and 6th movie before the 3rd and 4th. It didn't ruin them but it has to be said that movies 3, 4 and 5 all sort of lead on from each other. As such "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told" starts with Shane all glowing and sitting on the porch swing which Oliver built late one night as a surprise early birthday present. And as such the continuation of their slow growing romance is expectedly as big a part of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told" as is the comical romance of Rita and Norman.
But of course "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told" is not just about the love lives of Oliver, Shane, Rita, and Norman and as is normal we have a couple of other things going on. One of those is the Dead Letter Office trying to deliver a burnt letter which turns out is connected to a soldier who has gone missing in the Middle East. Not only does this storyline provide the connection for the next movie in the "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" series but it also allows Norman to have his moment in the sun as he helps the soldier's daughter who is struggling with being teased at school, something he knows well as he was teased as a child, he also has a lot of cousins.
But alongside this we have some drama for Oliver who we learn a bit more about and his own childhood as his estranged father shows up which leads to a series of revelations. But what this all does is allow for some of the series' most beautiful and tender scenes as Shane comforts Oliver who wants comforting but is being Oliver, stoic. It is one of the things they have gotten right in every episode of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" because when they go for touching they get it from the big moments of Shane looking wistful to Norman's compassion for a little girl who he knows what she is going through.
Now I could say everyone delivers there usual top notch performance but whilst that would mean I could go on about Kristin Booth's wonderful facial expressions I have to mention Eric Mabius as Oliver. "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told" brings Oliver back in to touch with a father who he has become estranged from and who he has issues with and the looks that Eric Mabius gives Oliver, the initial sickened and shaken look on seeing his dad to those of emotional anger are stunning. Plus as we meet Oliver's dad it is worth mentioning that Gregory Harrison brings his looks and charm to the role of Mr. O'Toole and adds drama, sensitivity and humour to this movie.
What this all boils down to is that "Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Truth Be Told" keeps up the constantly high standard which has been set out in this series and beautifully draws you in to everything be it the drama of the burnt letter to the drama of Oliver's childhood and the beautiful friendship/relationship which is forming between Oliver and Shane.
Tags: TV Mystery Movie Crime Solvers, Signed, Sealed, Delivered Movies
