When Calls the Heart (TV series)
| When Calls the Heart | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre |
Family Drama Western |
| Developed by | Michael Landon, Jr. |
| Starring | |
| Country of origin |
United States Canada |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 13 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) |
|
| Producer(s) |
Vicki Sotheran Greg Malcolm |
| Location(s) | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Running time | 42 minutes |
| Production company(s) |
Believe Pictures Brad Krevoy Television Jordan Films |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel |
Hallmark Channel (US) Super Channel (Canada) |
| Picture format |
480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV) |
| Original run | January 11, 2014 – present |
| External links | |
| Website | |
When Calls the Heart is an American-Canadian television drama series, inspired by Janette Oke's book When Calls the Heart from her Canadian West Series, and developed by Michael Landon, Jr. The series began airing on the Hallmark Channel in the United States on January 11, 2014,[1] and on April 16, 2014 on Super Channel in Canada.[2]
The series originally debuted as a two-hour television movie pilot in October 2013, starring Maggie Grace as young teacher Elizabeth Thatcher and Stephen Amell as Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer Wynn Delaney.[3] In the television series Erin Krakow is cast as her niece, whose name is also Elizabeth Thatcher, and Daniel Lissing plays a Mountie named Jack Thornton, with Lori Loughlin reprising her role as coal mine widow Abigail Stanton.[1][4] The series has been renewed for a second season.[5] Season 2 premiers Saturday, April 25, 2015.
Plot
When Calls the Heart tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teacher accustomed to her high society life, who receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coal mining town where life is simple, but often fraught with challenges. Elizabeth charms most everyone in Coal Valley, except Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing) who believes Thatcher’s wealthy father has doomed the lawman's career by insisting he be assigned in town to protect the shipping magnate’s daughter. Living in a 19th-century coal town, Elizabeth will have to learn the ways of the frontier if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own. Lori Loughlin plays Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine, and her only son, along with a dozen other miners, have just been killed in an explosion, which turns out to be a tragic accident waiting to happen as a result of the mining company's site manager's irresponsible management and lack of duty of care. The newly widowed women find their faith is tested when they must go to work in the mines to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table and compile a wage for the town's teacher.[6]
Production
The series, originally planned to be filmed in Colorado, United States of America, is filmed south of Vancouver, British Columbia, on a farm field surrounded by vineyards. The fictional frontier town of Coal Valley was erected in the fall of 2013. Some of the set trimmings and a stage coach came from the Hell on Wheels set.[7]
Filming of of the first season wrapped on February 22, 2014. Filming for season two started in November 2014. It was scheduled to premiere on The Hallmark Channel in the U.S. on April 4, 2015, but The Hallmark Channel moved the season premiere date back three weeks to April 25, 2015[8] for reasons unknown.
Cast
- Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thatcher
- Daniel Lissing as Jack Thornton
- Lori Loughlin as Abigail Stanton
- Chelah Horsdal as Cat Montgomery
- Mitchell Kummen as Gabe Montgomery
- Gracyn Shinyei as Emily Montgomery
- Martin Cummins as Henry Gowen
Characters
- Elizabeth Thatcher - Elizabeth is an independent, strong-minded, passionate and dedicated young teacher from the city. Elizabeth finds herself in Coal Valley, a small community on the Canadian frontier in need of a teacher. She quickly discovers that Coal Valley is not an easy place to live, and lacks the creature comforts and luxuries of her privileged life with her family. She soon meets the newly appointed and charismatic Mountie Jack Thornton and develops an immediate dislike for him. However, over time they become good friends, and develop an obvious attraction to one another. In the final episode of season 1, "Prelude to a Kiss," (also titled as "Final Adieu") after overcoming many obstacles throughout the season, Jack tells Elizabeth, "You're the one, you're the only one." and they share a kiss.
- Jack Thornton - Jack is a laidback country boy. As a Mountie, and a man of stout character and integrity, he often finds himself protecting and saving people. In season 1's "A Telling Silence," Jack found a basset Hound named Rip who he soon took home. A source of comfort and companion in the small town, Jack often goes to Rip (named after Rip van Winkle) when times in his life are difficult. Upon his first meeting of Elizabeth, he developed an instant dislike; it appeared she irritated him. However, he over time he grew to like and then fall madly and completely in love with her. In "Prelude to a Kiss," Jack found out that Elizabeth may be leaving Coal Valley. He took her on a walk, gave her a framed picture of them that he had sketched, and asks her not to leave Coal Valley. He tells her, "You're the one, you're the only one." She replied that she was "not going anywhere", Coal Valley was where she belonged. They share a kiss.
- Abigail Stanton - Abigail is a Coal Valley woman who tragically lost her husband and son in the mining accident. Abigail is a very kind woman, but she stands strongly for the things she believes in. She is one of the first women to welcome Elizabeth. She and Abigail quickly become friends, best friends when Elizabeth accidentally burns down the little teacherage. Abigail gladly welcomes her into her home to live. After being complimented on her cooking, Abigail decides to open a cafe in Coal Valley. Together, Abigail and Elizabeth move into the rooms above the cafe. At the end of season 1, Abigail is enjoying the company of Bill Avery, a forensic investigator and friend of Jack Thornton's.
- Cat Montgomery - Cat is a kind, encouraging woman in Coal Valley. She is a widow and mother of three: Gabe, Miles, and Emily. Cat was one of the first mothers to show kindness to Elizabeth when she first came. She desperately wants her children to remember the good memories of their father as seen by her self-sacrificing acts in "Secrets and Lies." Cat is very much a team player and encourager. She encouraged the women while working in the mines in "Cease and Desist." She is good friends with Elizabeth and Abigail. In "These Games," she also helps Jack catch a thief.
Episodes
As of April 25, 2015, 13 episodes of When Calls the Heart have aired.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Reiher, Andrea (January 11, 2014). "'When Calls the Heart' premiere: Will you return to the frontier?". Zap2It. From Inside the Box (blog). Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- ↑ "'When Calls the Heart' features Aussie Mountie". Canadian Press, April 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Hallmark Channel - The Movie Cast". Hallmarkchannel.com. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
- ↑ The Deadline Team (June 12, 2013). "Hallmark Channel's 'When Calls The Heart' Adds Cast; 'Cedar Cove' July Premiere Set". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2014-01-13.
- ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 5, 2014). "When Calls the Heart' Renewed for Second Season by Hallmark Channel". TV by the Numbers. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Hallmark Channel - About the Series". Hallmarkchannel.com. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
- ↑ Brioux, Bill (December 6, 2013). "'When Calls The Heart' TV Series Set In Fictional Town Built In B.C.". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2014.
- ↑ "When Call the Heart". The Hallmark Channel. The Hallmark Channel. Retrieved 6 March 2015.