The Way Home has officially arrived, and we’re here for every second of it. In the pilot episode, “Mothers and Daughters,” we meet the Landry women, and right away, it’s clear this family has secrets, scars, and maybe even a little magic running through their veins.

This episode sets the tone for Hallmark’s most ambitious original series to date, mixing heartfelt family drama with a surprising time-travel twist that caught even the most seasoned Hallmark fans off guard. If you’re watching (or rewatching now that the series is on Netflix), let’s break it all down.

Listen To Girls Gone Hallmark’s Recap of The Way Home Season 1 Episode 1

The Way Home Season 1, Episode 1 “Mothers and Daughter” Recap

After a haunting prologue set in 1814, we fast-forward to present-day Minnesota, where Kat (Chyler Leigh) is struggling—recently fired from her job and clashing with her teenage daughter Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow). When Alice gets expelled from school, Kat makes the tough decision to return to her estranged mother, Del (Andie MacDowell), in small-town Port Haven, Canada.

Moving back to the family farm reopens old wounds: the loss of Kat’s brother Jacob, Del’s strained relationship with her daughter, and the mystery of why their family fell apart twenty years ago. But the real twist comes when Alice discovers the farm’s pond isn’t just water—it’s a portal. One leap in, and she finds herself face-to-face with her mom as a teenager in 1999.

What We Loved

• Andie MacDowell as Del: Stern, complicated, and absolutely perfect for the role.
• Alice’s teenage angst: Spot-on, eye-rolls and all.
• That eerie opening scene: Salem Witch Trial vibes with a Hallmark twist.
• The nineties nostalgia: Baby-doll dresses, Crowded House sing-alongs, and glow-in-the-dark stars on the bedroom ceiling.

Themes to Watch

This pilot lays the groundwork for some big questions:

• What really happened to Jacob?
• Who sent the mysterious letter that brought Kat home?
• And how will Alice’s journey into the past change the future for the Landry women?

Why This Episode Works

Pilots are tough, but The Way Home nails it. Between the emotional family drama, the small-town charm, and the promise of time-travel secrets waiting to unfold, episode one hooks you in and makes it impossible not to keep watching.

Find our full library of recaps of The Way Home here!

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