Although Season 8 of When Calls the Heart has been longer than most, it still passed by quickly. And now that the season finale has aired, Hearties are left wanting more — more of Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) and Lee’s (Kavan Smith) adorable antics, Elizabeth’s (Erin Krakow) wistful glances, Nathan (Kevin McGarry), and Lucas’ (Chris McNally) unmatched devotion to the woman they love, all of it. A lot of people watch the show When Calls the Heart. They are asking when it will be on again.
Right after the season 8 finale wrapped, Erin Krakow appeared onscreen to announce some great news: “Who knew even an extra-long season would fly by so quickly, but don’t worry, When Calls the Heart will return next year for an all-new season,” she said, delighting Hearties everywhere.
The show When Calls the Heart has been renewed for season 9! We don’t know what will happen next in Hope Valley, but we know that Abigail might return.
When will When Calls the Heart season 9 release?
Given the show’s record season 8 ratings and passionate fanbase, it’s no surprise that Hallmark Channel renewed When Calls the Heart for another season. “We are proud to have When Calls the Heart as a central part of our programming, it continues to captivate audiences with its amazing cast and storylines of love, community, and optimism and we are excited to continue the journey in Hope Valley for season nine,” Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President of Programming at Crown Media Family Networks wrote in the official announcement.
In the 15-second video announcement, Erin mentioned that the show would return in 2022, but didn’t give an exact date. At this point, it’s safe to assume that the new season will drop in February 2022, similar to past seasons.
Who will be starring in When Calls the Heart season 9?
Erin has been very vocal about her desire to return to Hope Valley. “There would be an awful lot to look forward to, so hopefully we have that opportunity,” she said in a recent interview with Good Housekeeping. Specifically, she wants to see Little Jack’s personality blossom, spend more time with the students and explore uncharted territory with her new beau. “I’m really excited to explore the courtship. Now that Elizabeth has decided on the man of her dreams, it’ll be really nice to see them explore that connection together,” she continued.
By the sound of it, Erin is hopeful that the show will continue for future seasons — yes, plural. When discussing Elizabeth’s love triangle with Good Housekeeping, she confirmed that both suitors will continue on with the show, no matter who she picks. “This also isn’t a situation where only one guy gets the girl and the other one leaves town. We are so lucky to have both Kevin McGarry [plays Nathan] and Chris McNally [plays Lucas] on the show and intend to keep both of them, assuming that we get to have future seasons.”
The rest of the cast has stayed fairly quiet about the impending season, but the show’s creator Brian Bird has been rallying for a season 9 renewal for months, even using #Season9WouldBeDivine on Twitter.
Are there any spoilers related to When Calls the Heart season 9?
Season 9 would presumably pick up right where the season 8 finale left off: We’ll finally get to see Elizabeth commit to a relationship, Rosemary explores a new business venture, the Canfields settle into Hope Valley and so much more. There’s also a possibility that Abigail and/or Cody (Carter Ryan Evancic) will return — or at least, it’s wishful thinking. All season long, fans have been questioning if Abigail would return to Hope Valley, especially since Bill and Henry mention her quite often.
The show’s creator hasn’t ruled out the idea, telling From the Desk that some fans “shared their opinion that Hope Valley should be an example of forgiveness and grace. As Lori’s friend, I could not agree more.” Erin, who often refers to Lori as her “forever friend,” also supports this possible reunion: “I love Lori and would be so happy to see her back in Hope Valley sooner than later. She’s obviously always in my heart, so that would bring me a lot of joy.”
What are the reviews from critics on When Calls the Heart?
When Calls the Heart season nine, which is set to air in 2019, has yet to be reviewed by professional critics. When it does come out, reviews will likely cover topics like the show’s quality and plot twists from When Calls the Heart Season Eight or how viewers feel about Lori returning for When Calls the Heart season nine