VC Andrews’ Web of Dreams (2019 Lifetime)
Cast: Eileen Barrett, Lizzie Boys, Peter Bundic
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Synopsis (via Lifetime)
Based on the fifth and final novel of the Casteel series the prequel, “Web of Dreams” finally unlocks the mysteries of the family. Heaven’s mother Leigh (Jennifer LaPorte) had to escape from Farthinggale Manor and the secrets she harbored. Falling into the arms of Luke Casteel Sr. (Tom Donadt), his devotion promised her hope as only Luke knew her deepest of secrets. Bravely she bore the suspicions of the hill folk, as she tried to grasp the happiness that long eluded her. With a baby girl, Heaven, on the way, she hoped for a chance at happy ever after.
Thoughts
Annie and Luke are coming from Troy’s funeral. They go back to Farthinggale and look around at paintings of Annie’s grandmother Leigh and creepy dolls. Annie has flashbacks to when she was held captive. She also gets a diary of Leigh’s, and us (the viewers) are transported back in time to Leigh’s birthday.
Cindy Busby plays Jillian (Leigh’s mother), and that may be the one redeeming aspect of this series. She is one of my favorite TV movie actresses. Jillian is obsessed with Leigh becoming a proper lady and find a husband. She tells Leigh that she is to be an accessory to a man, a RICH man. Jillian takes Leigh to Farthinggale to meet Tony and Troy Tatterton. (Also to have an affair with Tony, and gets caught by Leigh.)
Leigh’s parents get divorced, and now Jillian and Leigh are left to their own devices. The women are taken in by Tony after he proposes to Jillian at her art show. Leigh is upset with the partnering and wants her parents to get back together. She is not upset with her new digs, well that is until she gets lost in the hedge maze with Troy. Tony saves them and then draws Leigh a bath and gets a little too handsy with her naked body. Jillian catches them and is territorial over Tony, telling her daughter to back up off her man. (But, in 1950’s speak.)
The wedding happens, Christmas happens, and Leigh being forced to pose nude for a replica doll happens. The toy is going to generate a lot of income for the family, so Jillian sees nothing inappropriate with her new husband and daughter’s relationship. Tony keeps pushing the boundaries with Leigh and eventually rapes her. Leigh goes to her mother and tells her what happened. Jillian tells Leigh that she dreamt it and is jealous???
Tony goes away for two months, and at that time, Leigh learns that she is pregnant. When she goes to her mother, Jillian refuses to accept it. She schedules an abortion and blames Leigh for seducing her husband. Leigh runs away and has nowhere to go. At the train station, she meets a handsome young man named Luke, who works in the circus. He is a country boy from West Virginia, and he renames her Angel and wants to marry Leigh immediately.
In West Virginia, the country folk welcome Angel with open arms. Next, they get married in a barn and plan their lives together. While walking in the woods, Angel/Leigh goes into labor.
The diary entries stop, and we are flashed back to the present day. Annie finds a letter from Luke that says her grandmother died in childbirth. She smiles at the painting of her grandmother and says she was a remarkable woman……….
Good riddance to this series.
Side Note
Minority Report: Rye Whiskey
Max Lloyd-Jones plays a young Tony (played by Jason Priestley.) He also played Jason Priestley in Lifetime’s The Unauthorized Beverly Hills, 90210 Story
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Overall rating
🔪 (1 Knife)
🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 (5 glasses of wine required)
*Photo Credit: © 2019 Lifetime
