When Calls the Heart (TV series)

When Calls the Heart
Genre	Family Drama Western
Based on	When Calls the Heart  by Janette Oke
Developed by	Michael Landon, Jr.
Starring	Erin Krakow Daniel Lissing Lori Loughlin Chelah Horsdal Martin Cummins Jack Wagner Pascale Hutton Kavan Smith
Country of origin	United States Canada
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	3
No. of episodes	21 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	Michael Landon, Jr. Jimmy Townsend Roman Viaris Francisco Gonzalez Brian Bird Brad Krevoy
Producer(s)	Vicki Sotheran Greg Malcolm
Location(s)	Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Running time	42–84 minutes
Production company(s)	Believe Pictures Brad Krevoy Television Jordan Films
Release
Original network	Hallmark Channel (US) Super Channel (Canada)
Picture format	480i (SDTV) 1080i (HDTV)
Original release	January 11, 2014 (2014-01-11) – present (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 North West Mounted Police officer Wynn Delaney.^[3] In the television series Erin Krakow is cast as her niece, whose name is also Elizabeth Thatcher (played by Poppy Drayton in the movie^[4]), and Daniel Lissing plays a Mountie named Jack Thornton, with Lori Loughlin reprising her role as coal mine widow Abigail Stanton.^[1][5] The series was renewed for a second season,^[6] which aired from April 25 to June 13, 2015. Hallmark Channel announced in July 2015 that the series was renewed for a third season, with a scheduled airing date of February 2016 after the airing of a two-hour special on December 26, 2015.^[7]

The first season of the series was subsequently picked up by CBC Television for rebroadcast as a summer series in 2015.^[8]

Plot

When Calls the Heart tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teacher accustomed to her high-society life. She receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coal-mining town in Western Canada (most likely the Province of Alberta, as the town of Medicine Hat is mentioned as the nearest larger settlement). There, life is simple—but often fraught with challenges. Elizabeth charms most everyone in Coal Valley, except Royal North West Mounted Police Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing). He 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. The town of Coal Valley was renamed Hope Valley in Episode 2, Season 2 after the coal mine was closed.

Living in this 1910 coal town, Elizabeth must learn the ways of the Canadian frontier movement if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own. Lori Loughlin portrays Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine, and her only son—along with a dozen other miners—have recently been killed in an explosion, which turns out to have been a tragic accident waiting to happen—a result of the mining-company site manager's irresponsible management and lack of due care in his management of the mine. The newly widowed women find their faith tested when they must go to work in the mine to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and compile a wage for the town's teacher.^[9]

Episodes

As of December 26 2015, 21 episodes of When Calls the Heart have aired, premiering a 2-hour special ahead of season 3. Season 3 is scheduled to return in February 2016.^[7]

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.^[10] The Thatcher home is the University Women's Club of Vancouver.^[11]

Filming of the first season wrapped on February 22, 2014. Filming for season two started in November 2014.^[12] On July 28, 2015, Hallmark announced a third season will begin in February 2016 with a sneak peek airing during the 2015 Christmas season.^[13]

Cast

• Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thatcher, an independent, strong-minded, passionate and dedicated young teacher from the city. The middle daughter of William and Grace Thatcher, Elizabeth has two sisters, older sister Viola and younger sister Julie. Elizabeth finds herself in Coal Valley, a small community on the Canadian frontier in need of a teacher, and quickly discovers it is not an easy place to live, lacking 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. Throughout season 2, Elizabeth's feelings for Jack are high at times as well as low. Finally, in the season 2 finale, she admits that his job as a Mountie scares her. After being comforted both admitting that they love each other, Jack and Elizabeth kiss.
• Daniel Lissing as Jack Thornton, a laidback country boy. Jack is the son of a Mountie Thomas Thornton, and has a younger brother, Tom (named after his father). 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 (named after Rip Van Winkle) whom he soon took home. A source of comfort and companion in the small town, Jack often goes to Rip when times in his life are difficult. In season 2's "With All My Heart," Rip becomes lost during a storm. Jack and Elizabeth search for him; in their search, their relationship grows stronger. Upon his first meeting of Elizabeth, he developed an instant dislike and it appeared she irritated him. However, he grew to like and then fall madly and completely in love with her over time. In "Rules of Engagement" (s.1), it is revealed that Jack was briefly engaged to Rosemary LeVeaux when she comes looking for him. However, they have both changed and realize that they cannot have a relationship as they once did ever again. In "Prelude to a Kiss" (s.1), Jack found out that Elizabeth may be leaving Coal Valley. Taking her on a walk and giving her a framed picture of them that he had sketched, he asks her not to leave Coal Valley and 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 before they share a kiss. In season 2, Elizabeth and Jack share a hot-and-cold relationship until the finale, "With All My Heart." The both admit that they love each other and share another kiss. Jack's brother, Tom, is introduced season 2's "Trials of the Heart," and their rocky relationship continues until "Coming Together, Coming Apart." Jack gently reminds his younger brother how their father was so proud of him, but he wouldn't be proud of the way he was currently living. Both in tears, Jack tells his younger brother that he believes in him and that he can turn his life around. More recently, Jack has become good friends with the sawmill operator, Lee Coulter.
• Lori Loughlin as Abigail Stanton, 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 and the two women quickly become friends, especially after Elizabeth accidentally burns down the little teacherage and 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 enjoys the company of Bill Avery, a forensic investigator and friend of Jack Thornton's. In season 2, Abigail takes in her daughter-in-law, Clara, the wife of her late son Peter. Abigail sees Clara as the daughter she never had. With Bill's past being revealed, Abigail spends less time with him and more time with the new minister, Frank Hogan.
• Jack Wagner as Bill Avery, a mysterious, quiet man. He first appears in season 1's "Rules of Engagement," in order to help Jack expose Mr. Gowen's wrongdoings. Bill is immediately attracted to widow Abigail Stanton. Things are going well until Abigail discovers a picture of Bill's family and his wedding ring. He later tells her that his son died, as well as his wife. However, his wife, Nora, comes to confront him in season 2's "Heart's Desire."
• Chelah Horsdal as Cat Montgomery, 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." Possessing a great sense of teamwork and encouragement, Cat supports the women of Coal Valley 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.
• Mitchell Kummen as Gabe Montgomery, a teenager and the eldest child of Cat Montgomery. In season 1's "Lost and Found," it was shown that much his father's death has hurt him. He quickly defends his mother in "Secrets and Lies" when she is accused of church arson. Gabe has a younger brother Miles and a little sister Emily.
• Logan Williams as Miles Montgomery, the middle child of Cat Montgomery. Though his age is not revealed, he is most likely somewhere in the 4th-6th grade age range. He is a kind boy and a wonderful member of his family and the Hope Valley School.
• Gracyn Shinyei as Emily Montgomery, Cat Montgomery's youngest child and one of Elizabeth's students. A sweet little girl, Emily tends to be quiet but observant and makes humourous remarks, often pointing out the obvious attraction between Elizabeth and Jack. When her mother is arrested in "Secrets and Lies," she is frightened though relieved when Cat's innocence is proven. She is content to be a student and to live in Hope Valley.
• Martin Cummins as Henry Gowen, a cold, cynical man who formerly owned the coal mine. After the mine was shut down, Henry became the mayor of Hope Valley and still creates a cold, cynical presence whenever people are around him. Henry is highly disliked and feared in the town. He frequently uses bribery to get what he wants, which is never for the good of the town.
• Pascale Hutton as Rosemary "Rosie" LeVeaux, a flamboyant, enthusiastic actress from New York. She was briefly engaged to Jack Thornton, but they both realized that it wouldn't work out. Rosie immediately disliked Elizabeth and viewed her as "the competition," but eventually came to really care about Elizabeth, even if she has a hard time showing it. At the beginning of season 2, Rosemary began working at the cafe with Abigail and the two quickly became friends. Spending time with Abigail helped tone down some of Rosemary's enthusiasm and made her a more likable person. Rosemary even came to like Elizabeth, even if only on an acquaintance level. Truthfully, she cares about everyone in Hope Valley, especially Lee, with whom she shares an mutual attraction. When Rosie is not spending time with Lee, talking to Abigail, or dreaming about the glamorous life of an actress, she can often be found somewhere writing her weekly advice column for Hope Valley's newspaper!
• Kavan Smith as Leland "Lee" Coulter, a kind, laidback, patient man who opens a sawmill in Hope Valley. He challenges Henry and ultimately has Mr. Gowen shut down the coal mine. When timber becomes Coal Valley's major source of natural resources, the town is renamed Hope Valley. He shares a mutual attraction to Rosemary and proves to be one of the few people who can outwit her. When she declines his romantic intentions, Lee recruits his friend, Molly Sullivan, to make Rosemary jealous; the ploy succeeds and Rosemary accepts his suit, appreciating Lee's good qualities. Despite her dramatic and occasionally prickly personality, Lee's compassion and patience never fails with her. With Rosemary's help, Lee beat Mr. Gowen at his own game in "Heart and Home." When not at work, Lee enjoys being with friends, including Jack Thornton, who shares Lee's simple and laidback outlook, allowing the men to discuss their lives and exchange romantic advice.
• Charlotte Hegele as Julie Thatcher, Elizabeth's hopeless romantic younger sister. She often gets herself into sticky situations by falling head over heels for men who aren't quite what they seem.
• Loretta Walsh as Florence Blakely, a feisty gossip in Hope Valley. She often has a pessimistic perspective and always seems to find the negative, even in a very positive situation. In "Heart and Home," Abigail told Florence what she really thought about her, which causes Florence to rein in her negativity somewhat, though she remains fairly outspoken. While not always likable, Florence adds spice to life in Hope Valley.
• Johannah Newmarch as Molly Sullivan, a friend of Lee Coulter and Elizabeth Thatcher. Molly's husband was killed in the mine disaster. She has a daughter Rosaleen. In season 1's "A Telling Silence," Rosaleen has trouble in school because she misses her father so much. When she runs away, Elizabeth finds her in the mine, feeling guilty that she didn't bring her father his lunch the day of the disaster because she wanted to play with a friend instead. She fears her mother will blame her, but Elizabeth convinces her that Molly will "say that she loves her more than life itself." Molly is reunited with her daughter, to the joy of the town's people. In season 2's "With All My Heart," Lee feels it's time to "play hard to get" with Rosemary, so he enlists help from Molly. She pretends to be interested in him romantically. This ploy works and Rosemary admits that she does in fact like him. Molly is a kind woman and was among the first to welcome Elizabeth to town.
• Eva Bourne as Clara Stanton, the wife of Abigail's late son Peter, a sweet, quiet, and sensitive young woman. Abigail never knew she had a daughter-in-law until season 2's "Trials of the Heart;" with Peter having married Clara only three days before he was killed. In "Heart's Desire," Abigail invites Clara to come live with her in Hope Valley, an offer that Clara accepts. Shortly after moving to Hope Valley, Clara begins seeing a young man named Luke McCoy, with whom she attends the ice cream social. Only time will tell where their relationship goes.
• Marcus Rosner as Charles Kensington III, an old friend of Elizabeth with whom she reconnects while in Hamilton. He is interested in her, though her feelings for Jack get in the way of their relationship.

References

External links

• Official website
• When Calls the Heart at the Internet Movie Database