First Impression: When Calls the Heart (2014)
Welcome back to First Impression, our brand-new Girls Gone Hallmark series where we’re revisiting Hallmark Channel pilot episodes and sharing our hot takes! This week, Megan and Wendy are back with a brand new episode, bringing their signature commentary – from cast chemistry and cozy vibes to whether the show passes the all-important Hallmark Test. Here’s our First Impression: When Calls the Heart.
Listen to Girls Gone Hallmark’s First Impression of When Calls the Heart
Who Stars in When Calls the Heart?
- Brian Bird and Michael Landon Jr. created When Calls the heart.
- Brian is credited as both a writer and producer for When Calls the Heart. He was also a producer on the series Touched by an Angel and Step By Step.
- Michael Landon Jr. is the son of the one and only Michael Landon of Little House on the Prairie fame. Michael has worked as a writer, producer and director throughout his career contributing to series like When Hope Calls and Highway to Heaven.
- Erin Krakow stars as Elizabeth Thatcher. Erin has appeared in all 12 seasons of When Calls the Heart which keeps her busy. Among her 17 other acting credits are the movies: Santa Tell Me, The Wedding Cottage and It Was Always You.
- Lori Loughlin plays Abigail Stanton and was in the series through season 6. We know Lori from her iconic role as Aunt Becky in Full House as well as the series Summerland and the reboot of 90210.
- Daniel Lissing plays Constable Jack Thornton. Daniel appeared on the series until season 5. After seeing just one episode we can understand why fans were thrilled to see Daniel and Erin back on screen together in Santa Tell Me.
- Martin Cummings plays Henry Gowen. Martin has remained on this series through all 12 seasons. He has 90 acting credits including a rolling running role on the series Riverdale and a six episode run on UnREAL.
- When Calls the Heart premiered on the Hallmark Channel in the United States on January 11, 2014. The series is inspired by Janette Oke’s book of the same name from her Canadian West series.
- As the series progresses, the cast expands to include notable Hallmark actors such as Kevin McGarry, Chris McNally, Pascale Hutton, Kavan Smith, Jack Wagner, and Andrea Brooks, among others.
What is When Calls the Heart About?
When Calls the Heart follows Elizabeth Thatcher, a young, well-educated teacher from a wealthy city family who accepts a teaching position in the small coal mining town of Coal Valley (later renamed Hope Valley). As Elizabeth adjusts to frontier life, she learns to embrace the challenges of a simpler, more rugged way of living – and in the process, discovers love, friendship, and a sense of purpose she never expected.
The early seasons focused heavily on Elizabeth’s romance with Jack Thornton, played by Daniel Lissing. Their relationship was a central storyline until a dramatic and emotional shift in Season 5 altered the course of the show and opened the door for new love interests and directions. As the show moved forward, it introduced a wider ensemble cast and leaned more into the heartwarming – and often dramatic – stories of Hope Valley’s residents.
Now in its 12th season, When Calls the Heart has become one of Hallmark’s most enduring franchises. Over the years, the series has shifted from a romance-driven narrative to more of a multi-character ensemble drama, giving viewers a deeper look into the lives of characters like Rosemary and Lee Coulter, Nathan Grant, Lucas Bouchard, and many more.
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Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
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