Season 12 of “When Calls the Heart” premieres this Sunday, January 5, at 9 p.m. Eastern. The cast and producers have dropped a lot of hints about what to expect: from sizzling moments between Nathan and Elizabeth to a new character with an interesting story to tell. While some interviews have been careful not to call Hope Valley’s new power couple “end game,” they will reach some big milestones. But there will also be trials and troubles to face, including a new mystery that Rosemary and Bill will investigate.
The season 11 finale spent a lot of time celebrating Nathan and Elizabeth’s new relationship. But things took an unexpected turn when they were sharing a kiss after Mike and Mei’s wedding, and Superintendent Hargraves interrupted them. Hargraves was Nathan’s superior officer at Fort Clay, where Jack was also stationed. After Nathan was temporarily suspended for disobeying orders, Jack was sent on a mission in his place and died. Hargarves, who was last seen in season 8, said he needed to speak to Elizabeth privately.
“Mrs. Thornton,” Hargraves said. “It’s about your late husband.”
Those words sent fandom reeling. Here’s a look at the hints we’ve gotten about what to expect in the new season.
The Synopsis for the Premiere Episode May Give a Big Hint About the Cliffhanger
HallmarkIn an interview with TV Insider after season 11 ended, Krakow promised that season 12 will pick up right where season 11 left off.
“Our scripts are still in flux as we’re moving toward filming,” she said. “I will leave it at that. It’s a juicy enough cliffhanger on its own.”
A synopsis for the first episode of season 12, however, may reveal a big hint about what the cliffhanger means.
The first part of the synopsis for the episode, called “The Mountie Way,” reads: “Change is in the air in Hope Valley. As Elizabeth starts the new school year, she receives a sentimental surprise, just in time to welcome her newest students – her son, Little Jack (Hyland Goodrich), and Dr. Faith Carter’s (Andrea Brooks) daughter, Lily Watson (Chloe McKinnon, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever).”
Does this mean that Hargraves’ news for Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) about Jack might be that “sentimental surprise”? If so, then it’s not bad news at all, but rather something sweet and possibly heartwarming.
It might, but comments from Kevin McGarry (Nathan) seem to indicate otherwise. McGarry told TV Insider about the cliffhanger: “what does become a concern is news they receive at the end of episode 12.”
He continued, saying: “I hope they’re able to deal with that news and move forward. And then if they are, I think it would be really fun to see the blended family start to really happen.”
In an interview with JLJ Media last season, executive producer Brian Bird teased about the cliffhanger: “For Nathan and Elizabeth to truly move on with their relationship, they must unpack everything… Season 12, get ready. Get ready for something important to talk about. That’s what I’ll say.”
The Showrunner Revealed if Jack Is Returning or Not
After the season 11 finale aired, showrunner Lindsay Sturman revealed definitively whether or not Jack would be coming back.
In an interview with TV Guide, Sturman said: “Jack is not coming back, but we did want to keep his memory alive.”
She said there’s a “complexity” about keeping Jack alive for Little Jack, even while Elizabeth starts her new relationship.
“It was a way to complicate [Elizabeth and Nathan’s] new situation, which ends on a sweet note and then, oh no, there’s this new complexity,” Sturman said. “It can’t always be simple.”
Sturman added that season 12 will focus on Nathan and Elizabeth’s romance, hinting that they’re going to get through whatever’s next.
“The themes of Season 12 will focus on romance as we follow Elizabeth and Nathan’s relationship that has been years in the making,” Sturman said.
A New Mountie Will Join the Show
The synopsis for episode one also reveals that a new mountie will be joining the show.
The relevant part reads: “Nathan (McGarry) trains Oliver Garrett (Jacob Shoemay, A Million Little
Things), a new-to-town Mountie cadet.”
Jacob Shoemay is newer to acting. He played Colby in one episode of “A Million Little Things.” He also starred in one episode of “The Irrational” and “Under the Bridge,” along with a short film called “ZIP” in 2023.
Lucas & Lee Will Work Together
The synopsis for the first episode also reveals: “When Lucas (McNally) enlists Lee (Smith) to work on an important project, Lee and Rosemary (Hutton) must make a landmark decision.” And the synopsis for the entire season includes this nugget: “Governor Lucas Bouchard and Mayor Lee Coulter quite literally find common ground.”
Rosemary & Bill Will Investigate a New Mystery
If you enjoyed Rosemary and Bill’s sleuthing last season, there’s more of that to come. Hallmark’s synopsis for the full season includes this fun tidbit: “Reporter Rosemary Coulter and retired Mountie Bill Avery team up once again to investigate a train robbery.”
Nathan & Elizabeth Will Have Sweet Moments & Tough Times, But the Showrunner Isn’t Promising What Their Future Will Look Like
HallmarkNathan and Elizabeth will be dating and exploring their relationship this season, and they’ll experience highs and lows together.
During a Hallmark Christmas Experience panel, Krakow was asked what fans can expect from Nathan and Elizabeth in season 12. She shared that the couple will encounter some tough times this season.
“We get to see a few different chapters for Elizabeth and Nathan,” she said. “We get to see them lean into this blended family. We get to see them really lean on each other through some really difficult, emotional stories.”
In a different panel at the Hallmark Christmas Experience, McGarry said about Nathan and Elizabeth’s journey in season 12: “It’s very sweet; it’s dangerous at some points. We get into a very deep, emotional storyline that we really have to lean on each other.”
In a separate panel interview, McGarry said about Nathan’s future: “He’s strong. We find out in season 12.”
When season 11 was ending, both McGarry and Sturman were careful not to promise that Elizabeth and Nathan will be together forever. However, other cast members are hinting that this is it for them.
McGarry caused some concern among fans last season when he said he was “leery” of labeling Elizabeth and Nathan as endgame. In an interview with TV Guide, he hedged a bit about the couple’s future.
“I think that’s a safe thing to say [that they are endgame], but you never know what will change,” he said. “I think it’s safe to say we’re going to see them move forward as a couple. I’m leery of throwing around ‘endgame,’ I know it’s out there. I think they are, but you never know.”
And in her interview with TV Guide after the season 11 finale, Sturman said something similar about whether Nathan was “the one.”
“One can never say, but I think that they are,” Sturman said, being careful not to make any promises. “They have found each other. And now we’re excited to see what that looks like and unfold that going forward.”
However, last season Krakow told Us Weekly: “I do think Elizabeth and Nathan are soulmates.” And in the same interview, McGarry assured fans that Nathan and Elizabeth will persevere in season 12.
“We’re not going to destroy anything that has been built in season 11,” he said. ” think we’re only going to strengthen it. It’s a TV show and the characters are going to be tested. But Nathan and Elizabeth are … going to go through a lot of these trials together and it’s only going to strengthen this newfound relationship.”
And more recent hints about the couple have been much more positive.
Krakow told Swooon: “We spend a lot more time together this season, and I think you get to see some real romantic moments between us, as well as some really heartfelt co-parenting in this blended family. Those scenes are some of my favorites. They’re really special this season.”
Will Nathan & Elizabeth Get Married This Season?
In an interview with Heart to Hearties just before the finale last season, Bird said fans should have patience when it comes to Nathan and Elizabeth’s future and when (or if) they get married.
“It took us five years to get to Elizabeth and Jack getting married,” Bird said. “…I’m not saying people are going to have to wait five years for Nathan and Elizabeth if that’s where the relationship is headed… But the pursuit is sometimes more powerful than the destination… There’s more to unpack…”
Bird had similar comments in his interview with JLJ Media that took place at the end of last season.
“I still adhere to the idea that the journey is more important than the destination,” he said after revealing that Nathan and Elizabeth’s relationship might go slower than some fans want. “…They’re just now starting and they need to get it right.”
However, it does look like they’ll hit one big milestone: a sleepover.
Krakow hinted that a deeper overnight connection will develop between the two during a panel at the Hallmark Christmas Experience event.
“We get to see kind of this very romantic honeymoon phase, that’s full of adventure and mischief,” she said. “Maybe there’s a little sleepover situation.”
Hope Valley Will Enjoy More Fun & Trying Times
But even this isn’t all we know about the new season.
The episode one synopsis also tells us the Canfields will have a big storyline.
“As Angela (Vienna Leacock, Time for Us to Come Home for Christmas) begins to look at colleges, the Canfields (Viv Leacock and Natasha Burnett, Legend of the Lost Locket) face the possibility that she may soon be leaving home.”
And there will be lots of stories involving the children, including a new comic book that takes Hope Valley by storm.
Melissa Gilbert Is Joining the Show
Another big piece of news about season 12 is that Melissa Gilbert of “Little House on the Prairie” will be joining the show. However, she’s not listed in the lineup for episode one.
Hallmark announced Gilbert’s role during the 2024 Hearties Family Reunion. She’ll play Georgie McGill, a character who shares a “surprising past” with one of the residents of Hope Valley, Hallmark’s press release shared.
During her panel interview at the Hearties reunion event, Gilbert gave a big hint about her character’s role on the show.
“The majority of my scenes are with Jack,” she said, referring to Bill Avery, portrayed by Jack Wagner.
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Inside ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 12: Every Clue Teasing Surprises & Milestones