The long-awaited second season of the heartwarming When Calls the Heart spinoff finally arrives
It’s been a while since viewers last checked in with orphaned siblings Lillian Walsh (Morgan Kohan) and Grace Bennett (Jocelyn Hudon), introduced in the first season of When Hope Calls. A spinoff of Hallmark Channel hit When Calls the Heart, the series is also based on the beloved books of Janette Oke, and first premiered way back in 2019.
As fans will recall, the sisters were separated as children after their parents died of tuberculosis, with both entering different orphanages. Lillian was adopted, while Grace was not; as an adult, Lillian embarked on a mission to find her missing sister. When they finally reunited in 1916, Grace joined Lillian in her adopted family’s home of Brookfield, where they started their own orphanage.
“The family drama centres around the town’s orphanage and residents who meet tremendous challenges while creating a hopeful, faith-filled community on the cusp of change while nurturing the children in their care,” notes the logline. “In the second season, viewers will follow the romance of Lillian and Mountie Gabriel (Ryan-James Hatanaka) and meet new characters who are important for the orphanage and children, the sprawling farmlands, and of Brookfield. Plus, a new constable from the RCMP, Mountie Michael Fletcher (Christopher Russell), comes to town.”
In the first season’s finale, Grace left town for London. The second season begins with Lillian preparing to leave for London in order to help her sister through a difficult pregnancy. However, everything changes when lawyer Nora (new cast member Cindy Busby) arrives in Brookfield with a game-changing secret to reveal.
Also joining the second season of When Hope Calls is Nick Bateman as Wyatt Parker, a foreman who oversees the operations on a ranch inherited by Hannah Lawrence, a new character played by Sarah Fisher. Meanwhile, Wendy Crewson returns as rancher Tess Stewart, and Hanneke Talbot is also back as local nurse Maggie Parsons.
While the show’s fans embraced the series when it first arrived, they’ve also had to contend with a great deal of uncertainty about the show’s future. That’s clear in the nickname they’ve given themselves: Hopefuls.
The long delay stems from a management shakeup at Hallmark Channel, where the first season aired in the U.S. When CEO Bill Abbott was ousted in 2020, he went on to take the reins at Great American Family, reshaping that network as a rival to his former employer and poaching many of its top stars. When Hallmark opted not to proceed with a second season of When Hope Calls, Abbott was happy to pick it up, providing the show with a new home. A pair of Christmas specials were produced, airing in 2021, featuring original When Calls the Heart star Lori Loughlin reprising her role as Abigail Stanton. Fans have been waiting patiently ever since.
“We were fortunate early on to understand that Janette Oke’s faith-filled characters had such rich origins that building entertainment universes from this world would present themselves over and over,” said Abbott in a statement.
Here in Canada, the show premiered on Super Channel Heart & Home, where it continues to air. “Fans have been eagerly awaiting the return of When Hope Calls, and we’re thrilled to transport them back to Brookfield,” said Super Channel president and CEO Don McDonald, “This season promises to deliver even more of the heartwarming drama, romance, and resilience that have made the series so special.”
For new cast member Busby, joining When Hope Calls was pure delight. “I’ve gotta say, it was such a dream getting to shoot that show and to be part of a period piece,” she said in an interview with People. “Genuinely, every single person in the cast and the crew was unbelievably talented and just gave it their all and their hearts.”
Fellow newbie Russell offered a hint of what fans can expect to see in the new season. “There’s gonna be a little bit of family-oriented fun, there’s gonna be a lot of heart, and let me tell you, there’s gonna be some romance,” he said. “Some people are gonna fall in love, they might even kiss, I don’t know.”
When Hope Calls premieres Sunday, April 6, on Super Channel Heart & Home.