I think I’ve made my love for Hallmark love stories pretty clear over the past few years here on this blog. Recently, I just got hooked on Hallmark’s Sunday night series-

I remember seeing commercials for it here and there and always wondering about it. It wasn’t until my Titi Patricia told me she watched it on Netflix and loved it, that I was like- uh oh time to binge. And binge I did. Just in time for the 4th season premiere this February 19th!

Funny thing is Netflix only has 2 seasons available so I had to search my but off and watch the third season on YouTube- audio edited and small screen. But hey when your obsession grows, you do what you gotta do. Hats off YouTube. #InternetLoopHoles

Let me hit you with a little Wiki info to catch you up to speed:

When Calls the Heart is a Canadian-American television drama series, inspired by Janette Oke’s book When Calls the Heart from her Canadian West Series.

It tells the story of Elizabeth Thatcher (Erin Krakow), a young teacher accustomed to her high-society life. She receives her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley, a small coal-mining town in Western Canada which is located just south of Robb, Alberta. There, life is simple—but often fraught with challenges. Elizabeth charms mostly everyone in Coal Valley, except Royal North West Mounted Police Constable Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing). He believes Thatcher’s wealthy father has doomed the lawman’s career by insisting he be assigned in town to protect the shipping magnate’s daughter. The town of Coal Valley was renamed Hope Valley in Season 2 after the coal mine was closed.

Living in this 1910 coal town, Elizabeth must learn the ways of the Canadian frontier movement if she wishes to thrive in the rural west on her own. Lori Loughlin portrays Abigail Stanton, a wife and mother whose husband, the foreman of the mine, and her only son—along with 44 other miners—have recently been killed in an explosion. The newly widowed women find their faith tested when they must go to work in the mine to keep a roof over their heads, food on the table, and compile a wage for the town’s teacher. -Wikipedia.

Needless to say I watched the first episode and fell in love with it’s heart. No pun intended. It’s a show about a small town, so immediately  I was invested. It’s set in 1910 and you know my love for older generations is strong. Aunt Becky…is in it…and she is a total badass, so um there’s that!

And don’t even get me started on the clothing….I am three seconds away from hosting a corset wearing party! I am obsessed!

However, my favorite part of this show…as you know, has to be… the love story between Elizabeth and Jack. It starts off as a rocky relationship, there is clearly an attraction but they have a love/hate thing going on for a bit. This is when I realize that I may have been born in the wrong decade. Although I am a proud 90’s baby forever and always, the old ways of courtship is something that just warms my heart.

The days of waiting and taking time to get to know someone’s heart. Not rushing. Simple dates. Simple glances. Simple touches. Oh the moments. The small looks and sayings make me swoon.

My sister in law always makes fun of me, “what do you expect a guy to do, come up to you and ask for your hand?”

Yes. Yes I do. When did that go out of style? 😉

Jack Thornton doesn’t always get it perfect, he stumbles like every guy, but there are times he shines brighter than the sun.

Let me count the ways:

Can we talk about how cute she is fanning herself after watching him chop wood?

“Elizabeth please do consider this a sign of courtship.” And he kisses her hand. OMG *swooning all over the place*

“That was just a guess.” #SLICKRICK

The first kiss-

“We can go as slow as you like.” -Horse riding lesson

He painted a hidden message within the backdrop he painted for her class play, he also never told her he was the one who painted it.  

“And I’ve been told no one messes with Ms. Thatcher.”-Pastor Frank talks to townsfolk about sharing the church with the school children. Everyone knows how protective Jack is over her.

The I love you exchange.

The little arm rub @3:00 mark of the season 2 video. I’m obsessed!

The Mountie Christmas Ball he put together for her after they had to cancel their plans to go to the real one.

He built her a church/school.

 

 

“May I…”- he is always so polite.

He’s also made a few subtle innuendos to a more “physical” relationship.

After she gets trapped under some beams in the coal mine, Jack asks to take a look at her knee and later says something like- “Well now that I’ve seen your knees…” Sooo scandalous!  I love it! haha 😉

He also makes mention to having  to sleep in the barn, and Elizabeth apologizes for the uncomfortable conditions, while he asks “Was there another option?” and she just looks at him stunned and says “No.” It cracks me up how cute he is, he’s not disrespectful, he never tries to push the issue, but it’s clear he loves her and is interested in being with her. She flusters easily which makes it all the more sweeter. Their playfulness is adorable.

He gets jealous of any other man who is in her life-Billy Hamilton, or Charles, her “friendly” neighbor. If looks could kill.

“Keep your man busy, so he won’t be in a tizzy, I read Rosemary’s column too!” -Jack basically wants to help Elizabeth repair her new road house and she wants to be able to do it all herself, so she seeks some advice from Rosemary, who tells her to keep Jack busy with menial tasks this way he won’t bother her to help. YOUR MAN. I love it! 

He bought land for them to build a house on as a surprise. He was a bit thrown when she bought her own road house, and wanted to come help her every chance he got.

“Are you going to marry Constable Thornton?” Oh that smirk he has when he hears her answer! SO CUTE!

“You are going to make a terrific mother one day.”

They have many conversations about convincing/encouraging each other through kissing or keeping each other warm. –

“I think you have enough fire wood for two years.”

“Well at least we’ll be nice and warm.”

“You know there are other ways to stay warm.”

He is HER Mounty.

My favorite episode is when Elizabeth agrees to watch a neighbor’s kids while he is away and they get a chance to experience what life would be like if they got married and had children. There’s scene where he teaches her how to pump water which is adorable and there’s a scene where he watches her help the little boy go to sleep, and this scene below where he mentions starting a family one day and curling up by the fire with someone he loves.

They are very close to getting engaged I think. He has a ring already, and I think he is just waiting for the right time. She certainly expects it. And I love how he kind of has this sweet joking charm. He likes to mess with her. But I have every hope that when he does propose it will be very special and a dream come true for Elizabeth. I just hope her high society snooty family will get on board.

I wonder if they will let them have a proper love scene. We have seen their courtship grow and blossom into a love that’s pure, safe and true. And I know that the show is very family friendly, but I for one believe that the fans deserve to see their love reach a new level. I can’t wait to see how they handle the proposal, the wedding and their new love life together.

Another thing I adore is the comradery between the people of this little town, especially the women. They are so strong and really rally in times of joy and in times of need and tragedy. All the women have lost so much and have really  risen above and shown such grace and strength and hope in the face of such pain. Each woman is a force to be reckoned with. Abigail is truly the source of the town hope. She is such a total badass. She even leads them into the coal mine to help the women keep to help pay off their homes.

Elizabeth is taking on that nature as well, as she is proving to herself that she can step outside her comfort zone of wealthy privileged city life and do for herself. She is constantly telling Jack not to “check in on her.” But he does anyway, which I kind of love anyway, because he knows she’s capable but he just loves her so much that he needs to check in on her anyway.

Elizabeth is such a beautiful spirit. She is a teacher and a writer, which I relate to and find a comfort in. And she believes women can do anything, which I am all for. She cares and loves deeply and is a character I truly admire. She teaches that girls can do anything!

I also love how female empowerment is being implemented throughout the show. Girls in the city life are taught to be wed by a certain age and take on a certain lifestyle of “taking care of their man.” Studying and becoming lawyers or holding their own titles are heard of seldom. There’s a woman lawyer who kicks ass!

And Rosemary a theater Mongol serves as an advice columnist in town who really throws the women for a loop when she urges them to expect things from their men instead of allowing their men to expect from them. One of her quotes were “There are so many things in this world that are taboo, a love between a woman and her husband, should not be one of them.” Yea girl. Preach.

In a nutshell. I love this show. Season 4, I’m ready for ya! I am officially a fan. Can I join the #hearties? I can #partylikeaheartie

Season 4 of Hallmark’s Series  When Calls The Heart premieres

This Sunday, February 19th @9 pm

*I do not take credit for the images, gifs, videos used.*

-<3-