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Exciting news for When Calls the Heart enthusiasts! Hallmark has officially released the poster for Season 11, and the premiere date is set for April 7th – make sure to mark your calendars! The announcement stirred up a social media frenzy, with both #hearties and #mcgarries trending across platforms. Entertainment Tonight shared the news, not only revealing the premiere date but also showcasing an intriguing poster and details of the upcoming season.

Fans can anticipate a fresh start for Elizabeth, including a budding romance with Nathan, a new style, and parenting challenges on the horizon. For more insights into what Season 11 has in store, check out the updated whiteboard. Get ready for another captivating chapter in Hope Valley on April 7th!

January 21, 2024

What’s in Store for Nathan Grant?

There's still an air of mystery surrounding Nathan Grant's fate in the upcoming season of When Calls the Heart. As Season 10 concluded, #mcgarries witnessed the pivotal moment when Nathan approached Elizabeth at "their log," only to be thwarted by the unexpected interruption from Bill, who urgently summoned them both due to something that was up with Lucas. Since that cliffhanger, insights have trickled in from those intimately involved with the show, shedding light on what lies ahead for Nathan in Season 11. Let's delve into some of what we do know.

Kevin McGarry, the talented actor portraying Nathan Grant, assures #mcgarries that Nathan's storyline with Elizabeth will continue on a bigger level, bringing resolution to the Season 10 cliffhanger. McGarry also teased at least one musical moment in Nathan's future, a promise backed by his recent ADR session where he had the opportunity to sing. Furthermore, there's an intriguing storyline for Allie, portrayed by Jaeda Lily Miller, that has McGarry buzzing with excitement. Given Nathan's connection with Allie, it's safe to assume he'll be involved. But that's not all; Nathan will also connect with at least one other youngster in Season 11, by impacting Little Jack's life significantly, and strengthening their bond. And, fans can rejoice as Nathan's newest friend, Scout, is set to make a return. When probed about the possibility of fans being introduced to Nathan’s mom, McGarry hinted at her presence in Allie's storyline, but noted the fans wouldn’t actually meet Nathan’s mom in the upcoming season.

As we inch closer to the Season 11 premiere, the anticipation grows. Keep an eye on The WCTH Whiteboard for an organized compilation of insights I’ll be gathering from the cast and crew, unraveling the layers of Nathan's storyline and the much-anticipated season ahead.

PHOTO: HALLMARK MEDIA

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January 21, 2024

Will the Real Elizabeth Please Step Forward?

I'm sure many of you are screaming right now, "She never left!" But hear me out as I share my perspective on Elizabeth’s absence from When Calls the Heart over the last couple of seasons.

It's no surprise that #mcgarries were devastated after the Season 8 finale. As Elizabeth explained to Nathan that she loved him but wasn't "in love" with him, many fans, myself included, found it challenging to process anything beyond that moment. We experienced not only the loss of their love story but also the loss of the authentic Elizabeth.

Why do I say that? Let me provide a few examples. Going back to her earlier rejection of Nathan’s declaration of love in Episode Two, we witnessed her riding away on Sergeant, avoiding a further conversation with Nathan about the status of their relationship. Brian Bird shared on Twitter, “That horse ride took her right back to where she was in the moments after Jack’s death.” In that moment, Elizabeth not only distanced herself from the situation but also consciously began rejecting any feelings towards Nathan, unveiling a different Elizabeth. This transformation was evident in the strain on Elizabeth and Rosemary’s relationship. Fighting against her reality to protect herself, Elizabeth failed to respond appropriately to those who mattered most in her life. Her Hamiltonesque habits resurfaced, with her love for shiny things and extravagant gifts reappearing—elements that drove her from Hamilton to Hope Valley. Her extreme responses, like using muffins to mend damaged relationships, showcased the disconnect.

(skip Season 9...)

Entering Season 10, many were still dealing with this unfamiliar version of Elizabeth. To some, that statement might seem extreme, but watching our beloved Hope Valley teacher give Nathan the cold shoulder when he didn’t immediately drop charges against the person who hit him, all for the sake of saving Lucas, was hard to swallow for some in Season 9. The real Elizabeth was resourceful enough to find a solution that could save them both or at least understand Nathan’s side of the story and show empathy.

Thank goodness for Aunt Agatha’s arrival in Hope Valley. This served as a wake-up call for Elizabeth to realize how far she had drifted from what truly mattered. She wasn't being true to herself. Aunt Agatha’s invitation for Elizabeth, along with Lucas, to return to Hamilton forced Elizabeth to consider where she truly wanted to be and what she wanted to be doing. It was the first time in Season 10 that she had to acknowledge there was uncertainty about whether she and Lucas were on the same page.

It took the entire duration of Season 10 for the real Elizabeth to find her way back. I plan on exploring this further, but as we head into Season 11, Elizabeth has admitted she ran in fear and wasn’t listening to her heart. Not only did she admit it, but she also began to deal with it, and I imagine we will see and hear more of dealing with it in Season 11. There may be more to overcome, but at least we enter Season 11 knowing she is ready to confront any lingering trauma after Jack’s death. Welcome back, Elizabeth!

PHOTO: HALLMARK MEDIA

there, i said it

January 21, 2024

There’s a wedding coming to Hope Valley...

Producers thrive on tossing out these tantalizing nuggets of information, creating a buzz among viewers and sparking lively discussions. Brian Bird, in particular, revels in stirring the pot, and wasted no time after Season 10 in revealing to James Lott Jr. and in subsequent interviews, "There will be a wedding. I’m just not going to say who." So, let's unravel the possibilities and consider the potential candidates we know about.

First on the list are Mike and Mei. This duo appears to be a plausible option, especially since they confessed their feelings for each other at the end of Season 10. We've witnessed weddings for couples who haven't courted for long, like Ned and Florence, but even they have more history than Mike and Mei. According to Julie K. from Suspenders Unbuttoned, it's a plausible wedding, although she believes there hasn't been enough time yet.

Then there's the prospect of Henry and Abigail. This pairing makes sense, and many fans would likely welcome it. However, one crucial thing must happen first—Lori Loughlin has to return to the show, and currently, that seems uncertain given her current involvement with Hallmark.

Another "Ned and Florence" scenario might involve Bill and Molly. However, any potential love story between them fizzled at the end of Season 9 or occurred in the mysterious off-season. Molly could reappear in Bill's life as he recovers from his broken heart over Madeline, adding a delightful banter, but it feels too early, even for them, for a wedding. Speaking of Bill, there's a possibility that things aren't over with Madeline. However, it's unclear if she has any interest in returning to Hope Valley now that she's not searching for land. Personally, I'd root for Bill and Molly over him and Madeline any day. My favorite part of their relationship was the butter churner moment. Oh wait, that was Elizabeth and Nathan’s moment.

So, which relationship is "wedding-worthy" in Season 11? Elizabeth and Nathan, though they haven't officially courted (Faith's opinion notwithstanding), have developed a connection over five seasons. They know each other deeply, emotionally and they can't seem to stay away from each other. The unofficial poster release hints largely that their relationship will be the focus for Season 11. My only hesitation lies in When Calls the Heart's tendency to take big storylines slow and in Erin Erin Krakow's remarks to Deidre Behar (Entertainment Tonight) she mentions that they take their time with this storyline. But, perhaps a wedding between Elizabeth and Nathan resolves any debate about Elizabeth's love life and the writers feel confident that they can keep the sparks flying between the two, even after the wedding--no one wants to see the fizzle instead of the sizzle. I can’t imagine Kevin McGarry or Erin being okay with that happening to their characters at all.

There's also the possibility of a wedding between two characters we don't even know yet or between characters with no current relationship. Brian Bird may be orchestrating a buzz for something that amounts to nothing, but could this be one of those rare occasions where we get exactly what we're hoping for, especially for the #mcgarries? Only time will tell. I guess we will have to stay tuned to find out.

PHOTO: HALLMARK MEDIA

throwing it out there

The WCTH WhiteboarD

Everything We Know About Season 11 of

When Calls the Heart (more to come...)

What did Kevin McGarry reveal to Sarah and Julie at Suspenders Unbuttoned about Season 11?

• We will see Scout again. Nathan is becoming a dog dad.
• You still get to see some Nathan and Bill stuff, but Bill has his hands full with a partnership that is not one you would expect. It works, but it is surprising.
• There is no cowboy hat.
• Starting to take action and starting to move forward (running away from fear or leaving fear behind) could be a theme for the season.
• Lucas is not flattened by a car.
• You might see a bit more of life circumstances that bring Elizabeth and Nathan together.
• There is Mountie stuff in 11. Particularly, a pretty great Mountie climactic thing. (Nathan’s kind of got his own storyline going on in 11, but there is an event.)
• There is a whole new story other than the hotsprings, but they don’t go anywhere.
• There are a lot of treats and Easter eggs in the season for those who have been with the show for so long.
• We get to put some faces to people we haven’t seen yet.
• Remember Easter eggs.
• We will see in 11 where Nathan’s headspace is.
• There is more to Nathan’s story regarding singing that comes up in 11.
• Maybe: Hargrave and Fort Clay MAY come back up.
  

What did Erin Krakow reveal to Deidre Behar at ET about Season 11?

• “There’s just maybe something else happening in Elizabeth’s heart that she can’t quite deny as much as she once tried.”
• Lucas’ political route will be explored more, but he will also be involved in Hope Valley.
• We should still hold out hope that Nathan and Elizabeth might give it a go. They take their time at this, but it is really important that Elizabeth have love in her life and they are on this journey.
• EK does see a world where Elizabeth and Nathan end up together.
• We find out early on what happened to Lucas.
• The Nathan and Elizabeth journey is a bit slower, but they’ll be dropping hints as much as they can.
  

What did Brian Bird reveal to James Lott Jr. at JLJ Media about Season 11?

• If we are happy with the Mei and Hickam pairing, then we will love S11.
• There will be some surprises for Fiona in S11. Never bet against the ladies.
• There is no path forward if Elizabeth leaves Hope Valley. It’s her whole purpose to be there. She has become what Abigail was to Hope Valley.
• There are more weddings to come, for sure. (speaking past S11)
• Brian describes S11 as “resolution, romance, less gravitas.
• There is a wedding in S11.
• There’s more levity.
• **At that time, we believed it was the right, but later on we realized, maybe it wasn’t the right thing. Especially in matters of the heart. Once you put a ring on the finger it is til death do us part. If you’re going to make that commitment it neds to be the right thing.
  

What did Lindsay Sturman reveal to Sarah and Julie at Suspenders Unbuttoned about Season 11?

• Lucas becomes this person of such substance in taking on so much for the town and being a leader.
• Scout shows up again.
  

What did Brian Bird reveal to Love and Lattes about Season 10? (just so we know where these two stand going into S11)

• Lucas and Elizabeth had to go through what they did to realize they aren’t right for each other.
• We really feel like all roads point to this conclusion.
  

What did Entertainment Tonight reveal?

• The upcoming season, which will explore renewal and redemption, will follow Elizabeth as she gets a fresh start, complete with romance, challenges and new style. Elizabeth and Nathan's storyline will continue, as they'll navigate their growing romantic feelings while also leaning on each other amid parenting obstacles.
• Lucas must confront his past in order to lead Hope Valley into the future, while Bill and Rosemary team up to unravel a mystery putting their entire community at risk.
  

What did Brian Bird have to say to Kristyn Burtt Soaps She Knows about Season 11?

• There won’t be a love triangle. It doesn’t mean there won’t be residue from the awkwardness and challenges of what happened in Season 10. The decision points are very clear from Season 10.
• People should look for clues from the past regarding the cliffhanger for Lucas. There are echoes from the past in his storyline.
• The Bill and Madeline storyline opened Bill up to a lot more possibility in his life, in a good way.
• Brian is not going to say that Mike and Mei are the couple with the wedding we have been hearing about, but there is a future with these two. The sparks in Season 10 bode nicely in Season 11 for these two.
• His response about Abigail came purely from his hope and dreams. It’s been his hope for her to be back on the show. We’ve opened doors for that story and Hallmark has allowed that in that past. There are no conversations that are happening about it now.
• There are conversations about Season 12.
  

What did Kevin McGarry have to say on Heart to Hearties about Season 11?

• There is a bit more singing in Nathan’s future. (A very Edelweiss scene, Captain Von Trapp). It is secret. He doesn’t know he’s being watched.
• There is a music heavy episode in 11. It has some fun callbacks.
• We do see more of Bill and Nathan in 11, but Nathan has his hands full with another storyline.
• There is a new dynamic with Bill. A person you wouldn’t think would team up with him. (Rosemary - we learn in another article.)
• There is a very emotional scene in 11.
• Nathan’s heart gets bigger in season 11.
• Moving forward, Nathan is going to have a big part in Elizabeth’s life.
• Elizabeth and Nathan are going to come to terms with some feelings that weren’t fully thought about or dealt with in the past.
• There will be BIG growth between Nathan and Allie’s relationship in 11. Allie has a great story in 11 and it brings Nathan and Allie closer together.
• Nathan has a big impact, along with a couple others, on Little Jack in 11. The town comes to help Elizabeth with him. Nathan and LJ’s bond strengthens in 11, but so does a lot of the town’s people.
• There’s a couple of surprising moments that Nathan gets in 11.
• Nathan’s mom does come up in conversation in Season 11. We won’t see her in Season 11, but she is involved a bit with the Allie storyline.
• There will some characters return that we’ve seen before but have changed now.
  

What did Ben Rosenbaum and Amanda Wong have to say on Heart to Hearties about Season 11?

• Mike and Mei will continue their musical talent in Season 11, not necessarily the big duet though.
• They couldn’t answer regarding Mike’s family visiting and Ben said, “maybe that’s a hint.”
• Mei and Hickham continue together. Again, maybe that’s a hint.
• Some months have passed between Season 10 and Season 11.
• They did go on that date in the off season.
• There’s a moment in S11 where everything feels very right for one moment. (Amanda’s perspective)
  

Keep checking back in. The whiteboard is always growing.

HEART OF THE MATTER | 2024