When Calls the Heart Season 13 Spoilers Ahead
When Calls the Heart Season 13 isn’t the strongest, but it still works as a relatively enjoyable season, with the last three episodes picking up the pace. In large part, the tragedy that befalls Hope Valley and its neighboring areas with the fires could’ve been the foundation for a really devastating story, but it’s what I found to be the most underwhelming. The emotions were all there, marinated properly with everything present, but it’s almost like someone forgot the salt, so the obvious missing piece played into the arc.
The strange imbalance of character journeys also didn’t do anyone any favors, but still, when it was good, it was great. And when a show reaches its thirteenth season, it isn’t surprising that it could be somewhat of an unsteady spot. It’s normal, and it happens. We aren’t playing with anything new exactly, even when we are, yet that newness feels almost necessarily.
For the most part, credit where it’s due, Erin Krakow continues to carry the show for me, and everything she delivers to ensure familiar narratives feel refreshing is no small treat. She’s always the one I’m consistently impressed with. When Calls the Heart Season 13 also gives Pascale Hutton and Kavan Smith ample room to deliver some of their best work as the narrative shifts focus on them considerably. (They’re the ones who made me cry the most, especially in the finale.)
The kids are sweeter than ever, with Little Jack/LJ’s health thankfully on the mend. The show can pull a lot of plot twists and deliver plenty of trauma, but it’s comforting to know that they’d kill off a child. We’re all too fragile for that, and imaginably, the writers know that’s something they could never come back from. Some of the kids are tested, as we see in the earlier episodes, but thankfully, all is well with them, leading to the kind of arc that feels akin to old ’80s movies.
And as for the romances, big changes are in store, making the season a treat in every way. Elizabeth and Nathan’s engagement is a long time coming, and the execution of it is lovely throughout, as we also see Brooke Shields return as Charlotte Thornton to give Nathan her blessing. How the show continues to honor Jack in every decision remains a beautiful detail that’s undoubtedly comforting to see. Simultaneously, it’s incredible that Lucas is finally putting love above his career, which will hopefully mean more of him and Edie in Season 14.
And then, of course, there’s the ending. The return of Abigail Stanton is a mixed bag of sorts, but wholly expected when we learned that Lori Loughlin would be returning to the show. It’s been so long without her that we’ve gotten used to it, but it’s easy to hope that maybe this time, finally, the show can do something about Abigail and Henry? (I can’t be the only one who’s still rooting for these two.)
When Calls the Heart has first and foremost always been a show about community, and that much continues to be true in Season 13. The way each of these characters shows up for one another in moments that are seemingly small and big continues to be a welcome reprieve from some of the darker narratives we typically see on TV. They’re also what make the show special, and why viewers keep tuning in. None of that changes in Season 13, so even when some parts don’t work as well as others, it never once loses its heart.
Now streaming on Hallmark+: What are your thoughts on When Calls the Heart Season 13? Let us know in the comments below.
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