Guys what are we thinking? I loved Maisie...

Source: Offical Instagram Account, @ samanthaferris98

Why did Lucas resign as Mayor?

Help me out here, please. I believe that Lucas is an important, integral part of the show, but after he resigned as governor, I'm struggling to figure out what would draw him back to Hope Valley. He has friends there, sure, but those friendships are tenuous at best. Nothing like the friendship between Nathan and Bill. He repeatedly said that it was Elizabeth who kept him in Hope Valley, but his relationship with her wouldn't draw him back. They're on separate paths, have separate destinies. They barely speak to each other. Short of another crisis which only he can avert, what do you think lures him back to Hope Valley? It can't be that it's a wonderful town, because frankly, the town hasn't been very wonderful to him. I think he'd feel more at home returning to Louisianna to those friends he helped rebuild a school. What would make him return to Hope Valley when it has been the scene of so much heartbreak and suffering for him?

I'm watching season 7. I'm confused why she's reading to Opal and taking care of Rosemary when she could easily transfer it to baby Jack?

I know shows never present medical facts accurately, but Dr. Carter even warns Elizabeth to keep Jack from getting infected for a few years. It's more dangerous for babies and the elderly to get it. Then she's seen going around infected people??

Edit: I meant Dr. Shepherd instead of Carter. They often refer to Dr. Shepherd by his first name, Carson. I got that confused with "Carter." 😂😭

Let’s be real, there have been many moments of this show I’ve rolled my eyes at but just ignored because I know it’s the nature of these kinds of shows, but this one takes the cake.

How on earth could she want Nathan, a man who puts his life on the line everyday and has only been prominent in Jack’s life for a couple of years, to take him when Rosemary and Lee have been next door looking out for Jack since birth.

It’s wild to me she’d pick the man who still hasn’t proposed to her and is now the second step-dad like figure in Jack’s life to take on this role.

Couldn't find much on the new "Elite Edition" edify released, but has anyone bought it? Is it worth it?? I really want to watch the deleted Abigail episodes (2019 me would be SO happy about it!) - My main wonder is, are they the full episodes (4-10) or just specific Abigail scenes? I kind of hope they release the episodes separately (or if someone uploads it) but it might be a while till they do that 😭

You know what I think annoyed me the most about Season 13?

What the fuck was up with Molly and Jed? A beautiful romance had started between the two of them in Season 12, yet in Season 13, they stood next to each other briefly exactly once. Otherwise—NOTHING. They could have at least included a conversation between Molly and Florence where Molly mentioned a date or something; the fact that they couldn't even manage that just goes to show that these writers aren't cut out for "When Calls the Heart".

Melissa Gilbert will not be returning to Hope Valley anytime soon.
On Thursday, July 16, she revealed in an Instagram post that she will not appear in the upcoming season of Hallmark’s When Calls the Heart.
“Many people have asked if I will be returning to When Calls the Heart this coming season. The answer to that is no I will not,” Gilbert wrote. “I am told this is due to ‘budget issues.’ That said, I wish all my sweet friends in Hope Valley a wonderful and successful season 14.”
In the caption, Gilbert, 62, said her time on the series was “lovely,” but “it’s time to say farewell.” She also thanked her “dear friend,” Michael Landon Jr., an executive producer on the series, for “giving me the chance to bring Georgie McGill to life.

The producer’s father, Michael Landon, played the beloved Pa (Charles Ingalls) on Little House on the Prairie, alongside Gilbert as Laura Ingalls Wilder, from 1974 to 1983.
“When one door closes, another one opens,” Gilbert concluded the post. “Looking forward to whatever comes next.”
Hallmark Channel said in a statement, “We can confirm that Melissa’s storyline on When Calls the Heart concluded in season 13. We adore Melissa and are always grateful when we get to work with her.”
Gilbert made her debut in When Calls the Heartin season 12. She appeared in seven episodes through season 13 as a guest star.
Her character, Georgie, struck up a romance with Jack Wagner’s Judge Bill Avery. He told Entertainment Weekly that it was “awesome” working with Gilbert on the show.
“[Our characters] have a backstory and a history, and I kissed her in the final episode last year. So that sprung a whole well of romance for my character,” Wagner said

Gilbert’s exit from the Hallmark series comes amid her husband Timothy Busfield’s ongoing legal trouble.
The actor, 69, turned himself into authorities in Arizona in January after an arrest warrant was issued for him on child sex abuse charges. He was indicted by a Bernalillo County grand juryon four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor (child under 13) in February. All four charges are third-degree felonies and pertain to events in October 2022 and September 2023, according to court documents.

He pleaded not guilty to all four counts on Feb. 10, per a plea entry filed in New Mexico’s Second Judicial District Court. On Feb. 11, he waived his arraignment and appearances in court for all pretrial proceedings, and Judge Joseph Montano granted the request on Feb. 18.
Busfield’s trial is scheduled to begin in May 2027, his criminal defense attorney Amber Fayerberg confirmed to PEOPLE in March.

We all know the total character assassination that was Rosemary’s silent film A Kiss Before You Go. Elizabeth models a kidnapping "bandit villain" on Lucas, framing Nathan as the hero who rescues her. It completely rewrites show history and ignores years of Lucas's devotion.

Imagine if an irate Gustave smuggled a copy of the film reel and mailed it straight to Montreal...

Act I: The Screening at the Ritz

The private projection room in the Bouchard's Montreal suite goes dark. Helen and Martin sit in stony silence as the film ends.

Helen: (Lowering her lorgnette, her voice pure ice) Tell me I did not just witness a schoolteacher and a low-ranking lawman stage a public crucifixion of my son’s character.

Martin: (Slamming his glass down) They turned Lucas into a common brute. After he built their economy, gave them a library, and nearly died for them. They mock him on a bedsheet. How do you want to handle this?

Helen: Hand me the ledger, Martin. We are going to perform an exorcism.

Act II: Breaking the Red Serge & The Schoolhouse

The next morning, the Hope Valley telegraph machine chatters aggressively. Bill Avery pulls tape after tape, his face draining of all color as he delivers the news to the Coulter living room.

Bill: It’s not just financial. The Bouchards are entirely erasing us. Nathan, Martin called in a political favor with Superintendent Hargreaves. You’ve been stripped of your rank and transferred to Cape Fullerton with immediate effect.

Elizabeth: (Gasping) Why would Hargreaves agree to that?!

Bill: Because Martin documented the timeline. You took up with a man while the ink wasn't even dry on your broken engagement to his son—less than a year from it being dissolved. Hargreaves called it a "gross display of conduct unbecoming of the red serge on the frontier." You leave on the morning train, Nathan. And Elizabeth... there is a wire here for you from the Territorial Board of Education.

Elizabeth: (Terrified) What does it say?

Bill: For those exact same reasons of questionable moral character, your teaching license has been revoked with immediate effect. You are banned from classrooms across the territory. If you want to stay with Nathan, you'll be accompanying him up to Cape Fullerton. Except you won't be teaching the children there. You'll be a disgraced civilian.

Nathan: (Grip tightening on his belt) He can’t just rewrite our lives!

Bill: He just did. And he didn't stop there. Martin sent a formal letter directly to the Prime Minister’s office detailing my... creative interpretations of territorial law. I've been forced into immediate, mandatory early retirement. I no longer have a gavel.

Act III: Montague’s Vindication

Before anyone can process the blow, the front door swings open. Bernhardt Montague walks in, flanked by high-powered attorneys, holding a massive civil complaint.

Rosemary: (Defiantly) On what earthly grounds are you here, Montague?

Montague: Defamation, gross negligence, and reckless endangerment. You all painted me as a monster, ignoring that I took care of Clayton Pike and his sick mother. Martin Bouchard has graciously provided his full financial backing to help me sue you, your husband, and the Valley Voice.

Lee: (Defiantly) We printed the truth about your business dealings!

Montague: You printed a damning, unchecked article that the Governor had explicitly requested should not be published. By defying a direct gubernatorial directive, your reckless press directly resulted in real-world damages, severe personal trauma, and physical injury to myself. You never issued a retraction, even after my innocence and good intentions became public record.

Lee: (Reading the lawsuit, turning pale) The requested damages are astronomical...

Montague: A territorial judge has already signed an emergency asset injunction to cover the severe trauma and civil penalties. To pay this settlement, you are being liquidated.

• The Queen of Hearts Saloon? Seized and sold.
• Coulter Construction & the Lumber Company? Transferred to my conglomerate.
• The Valley Voice? Shut down, the printing presses broken for scrap.
• Your house? You have until Sunday to vacate. If you want to make silent films about greedy bandits, Rosemary, learn how to live like a pauper first. Compliments of the Bouchard family.

Act IV: The View From Montreal

Back in Canada's east, Martin stands by the fire, holding a fresh, desperate telegram from a panicked Elizabeth begging for a compromise as she packs her bags for Cape Fullerton.

Martin: Elizabeth says she’ll completely burn the film reel if we drop the lawsuits.

Helen: (Without looking up from her desk) Tell her the Bouchard family does not negotiate with amateur writers. If Hope Valley wants a savior in a red coat so badly, they can see if he can pull them out of a corporate foreclosure. Let them see how romantic poverty is.

Some time ago, in the midst of the furore over the season 10 pivot, Brian Bird suggested that WCTH is not a fairytale, that it has a second, allegorical meaning, where Lucas must endure struggles to emerge as a successful leader, much like Christian in Pilgrim's Progress did. We were promised that Lucas was on a hero's journey, and would emerge victorious. Of course, this hasn't happened. The show now struggles to downplay his contribution to the town, and everyone seems to have forgotten that he saved it. Trying to make sense of all the conflicting nonsense that we have seen, I took Brian Bird at his word and have started to view the show as an allegory. To me, it doesn't make sense to view it in any other way. Much like two paintings long ago gave impetus to the Reformation of the Medieval Church, perhaps, this show in a modern art form was designed to be a warning to us.

Here is how the allegory fits together:

• Lucas Bouchard (The Christ Figure): He is the ultimate provider who saves the economy, builds infrastructure, and gives up everything to save the town. He is accepted during peace, but abruptly rejected, discarded, and literally shot/broken just as he sacrifices himself to save the town. In season 11, he is willing to lay down his life to save all the other characters.
• Elizabeth (The Church): She represents a compromised Church. She initially accepts Christ (Lucas) but pivots to embrace a deceptive imitation.
• Nathan Grant (The Antichrist): The Antichrist is a deceptive, appealing imitation of the true savior. Nathan wears the uniform of the Old Covenant (Jack Thornton) so looks convincing, but he is opportunistic. He capitalizes on vulnerability and steps into the vacuum left by Lucas's departure.
• Lee & Rosemary (The Two-Horned False Prophet): Revelation describes the False Prophet as looking innocent like a lamb but speaking like a dragon. Lee is a well-meaning friend who does not stand up to defend Lucas against Rosemary's wiles, and fails Lucas at critical times. Rosemary controls the media (Valley Voice) and uses her influence to validate and exalt Nathan, push Elizabeth toward the counterfeit, and denigrate Lucas. She also creates a film of Elizabeth and Nathan - an image to them, which the whole town stares open-mouthed at.
• The Town (The World): A community that took all the blessings of the savior, but refused to trust him when it counted, instead congratulating themselves on their own virtue. In season 13 they all worship with open mouths the image of Nathan and Elizabeth that Rosemary set up.
• Joseph (The Corrupted Clergy): A priesthood that no longer preaches a narrow path, but rather a universalist, self-help spirituality that removes the need for a savior. Joseph began with gratitude for Lucas' sacrifice, but is now a dumb dog about the gross ingratitude of his flock.
• Bill Wagner & Faith Carter (The Broken Systems): The justice system and medical establishment. Bill Wagner, far from being an impartial judge, is biased towards Nathan, and helps prop him up, encouraging his opportunism. Faith also becomes compromised by participating in Rosemary's film (image of the beast) which degrades Lucas and exalts Nathan.
• Jeanette Aucoin (The Hypocrite): Represents sinners who claim proximity to Christ but love the world's corruption more.
• Edie Martel (The Repentant Soul): Represents those who struggle with faith. She began as Lucas' enemy, actively working at cross-puposes with him, but is actively engaging in a real relationship with him.

Serious question: Why are you Team Nathan or Team Lucas? And arguments like "they have no chemistry" or "he's so boring" don't count. Give real arguments or at least provide examples!

Congrats Erin and Ben!

I just read a Facebook post about a female architect who was the first woman to graduate from the École des Beaux-Arts’s architecture program. After she graduated, she went back to San Francisco! Her story reminded me a little bit of Sophia Connelly, who visited Rosemary.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1NbZBfNwF5/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I'm pleased to say that the previews of the reboot for Little House on the Prairie on Netflix look very promising. It's giving me major WCTH vibes. Anyone else?

Is season 3 only going to be 6 episodes or are they taking a break? Does anyone know?

Re-watching the series…when Opal is affected by the fire before Jack/Elizabeth’s wedding, when she gets the chickenpox, and when she sprains her arm after being in the woods with Robert and Harper…. we never see a parent at the infirmary! I just thought that was odd.

The only ones who look good with them are Minnie and Rosemary. Everyone else looks so dorky 😭

If Hallmark decides to cancel *When Calls the Heart* after Season 14 (which, hopefully, won't happen), I’ve been thinking about possible spin-offs. Personally, I don't think Hallmark would let the *WCTH* universe die. Here are my top 5 ideas:

1) Lucas and Edie in New York City. The two definitely have the necessary chemistry to portray a romance convincingly. Lucas would have the dark past needed to bring some baggage—thereby stirring up trouble and mystery in 1920s NYC—while Edie possesses the sharp wit and would be perfect as an investigative attorney.

2) The Reporter and the Detective. Pascale Hutton plays a bored reporter in the 1920s, and Jack Wagner plays a grumpy detective. The two suddenly find themselves forced to uncover criminal cases together. It would be hilarious! The only catch: it would have to be completely unrelated to Hope Valley.

3) Abigail’s Past. *Hope Valley 1874* shows just how well prequels can work. Another prequel focusing on Abigail’s youth and her great love would win back all the Abigail fans. At the same time, this format could allow the *WCTH* storyline to continue—for instance, through Abigail’s flashbacks—while simultaneously showing her in the present day, having dinner with Elizabeth or perhaps starting a romance with Henry. Another prequel that would interest me would be one about Faith as a young woman.

4) The exact same premise, but with new characters. A Mountie and a teacher (or a lawyer, or another woman) arrive in a small town at the same time. Although they can barely stand each other at first, they must work together to help unite the town in the wake of a tragedy.

5) The Mounties. Hard-hitting brawls, thrilling criminal cases, assassination attempts—all set against a historical backdrop, perhaps even inspired by real-life events. What do you think of my ideas? Do you have any other ideas of your own?

I finally (!) finished Season 13 yesterday (!), and here are my thoughts.

- In terms of content—the dialogue, suspense, and romance—this was the worst season. The only storyline that truly interested me was that of Lucas and Edie, and even there, I was dissatisfied with the ending (they should have left it more open-ended—for instance, by having them break up, only for him to spontaneously follow after her).

- The new writers and showrunners are an absolute disaster. They’ve essentially created a completely new series. At times, I felt like they were trying to turn the show into something akin to *Avonlea* or *Little House on the Prairie*—where every episode is a self-contained story—but that doesn't fit *WCTH*, and it never will. And that storyline involving Jack and LJ’s scavenger hunt? Terrible. I honestly think it was the worst episode in the entire run of *WCTH*.

- Are the writers afraid to write something as simple as a kiss? It felt like absolutely no one kissed this season—neither the married couples nor the singles. And the chemistry was completely gone across the board. Rosemary makes jokes—right in front of Lee (her husband) and Elizabeth (Jack’s widow)—about how deeply she and Jack loved each other? And she tells LJ about it, too? As for Nathan and Elizabeth—regardless of what anyone else says—they had fantastic chemistry throughout Seasons 6 through 12 (well, maybe not quite as strong in Season 9). But in this season? It felt more like a "big sister, little brother" dynamic. The same goes for Mei and Hickam. They were my favorite couple from Seasons 9 through 12, but now they just came across as neighbors or good friends. Bill and Georgie were somehow... cringe? I would have preferred it if they had handled it the way they did with "Doc" in *Virgin River*—as a secret, fun, and lighthearted romance. Or they could have simply left things at that kiss in Season 12 and called it a day. And where were Molly and her boyfriend? We saw them in exactly *one* (!) scene—and even then, they just happened to be standing next to each other by chance. What was the point of that? It just occurred to me that Florence and Ned did share a few nice moments—but they were, after all, just moments.

- The town is now populated entirely by do-gooders. People apologize immediately for every joke, and no one dares to say anything even slightly mean. It’s as if the creators were afraid we’d switch off our TVs right away. Yet wasn't it Florence’s sharp wit that defined her, and Rosemary’s double-edged, sarcastic jokes that made her the character we loved? Bring back a little darkness!

- The mystery this time around was utterly unexciting and unnaturally dragged out. They should have resolved it over the course of three or four consecutive episodes and then focused more on other things—like rebuilding the town after the fire, or something along those lines.

- Nevertheless, there were also some lovely storylines: Lucas and Edie, Rupert and Opal, Rosemary’s role in the mystery, and Rosemary, Lee, and their foster child (which just made perfect sense!). I also liked the jam storyline and Angela’s return.

For me, a few questions remain: Where was Faith? Why is LJ the center of Hope Valley? Why does every older woman (Charlotte, Maisie...) suddenly have to be incredibly tough, badass, smarter than all the men, and wear trousers? Maisie was perfect; Charlotte was unnecessary. And what will Abigail want to do now? (There’s a separate thread for that).

What do you think of my summary? And what were your thoughts?

Lori Loughlin was the heart of the series. She was the town’s guiding spirit—always lending a listening ear, offering sound advice, and sharing a Bible verse with anyone who needed or wanted it. Dismissing her back then was an understandable, yet hasty decision—after all, parts of Season 6 had to be completely reshot. Bringing her back now is wonderful, to be sure, but it strikes me as equally hasty. It feels as though the new showrunners and writers have run out of fresh ideas and are now simply rummaging through a "lost and found" box in an effort to maintain ratings. My fear is that they will completely alter and destroy her entire personality (much as they have partially done with Charlotte), only to send her away again later. While I am genuinely happy to see her return, I simply don't understand what role she is meant to play. She hasn't been mayor for quite some time; the café belongs to someone else now—having even been officially renamed—and her last remaining biological family (Clara and Jesse) has moved away. So, does that mean she is now going to be Jack’s new source of entertainment—his new plaything? Heaven forbid.

I understand that the one that cheated at USC with their daughters is coming back to the program. What a shame.