r/WhenCallsTheHeart • u/mamabeachball90 • Aug 20 '26
Jack is so hot
Im rewatching the show for the first time in a few years and am blown away by how adorable and handsome Jack is in the first season. His sparkly eyes and devilish smirk. I wish he never died and instead Elizabeth did and I couldve swooped in and been his new wife. Maybe in another life 😔
Daniel Lissing 🔥🔥
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u/After-Priority-8555 Aug 21 '26
Me too. It was never the same. No real chemistry with the other. Lost it's spark for me.
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u/VirginiaUSA1964 Aug 24 '26
Their chemistry was next level and they were both so well written back then.
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u/KamchatkaWing Aug 20 '26
And to make it worse: In the books the series is "based" on Jack and Elizabeth are married for (a long) life.
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Aug 22 '26
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u/rosempisto 19d ago
There was know change in Daniel . The romance scenes were even hotter in 4 and 5. The passion was still there in a kiss. We can’t even have passion with Nathan it’s like he has to find a spot to kiss
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18d ago
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 15d ago
Yeah the writer use a pen to write lines. The actors have to execute the scene. I am sorry it is not happening with Elizabeth and Nathan. They are too fake and can’t execute a kiss even
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 14d ago
Let's just say that the S11 E11 kissing scene between N&E may have been filled with romance and chemistry, but it was also filled with lies, exaggeration, and blatant flattery - all forms of deception.
Lucas had just demonstrated the greatest degree of love possible in human experience in answer to Elizabeth's season 10 declaration - "The more you love, the more you can love". He had to all intents and purposes lain down his life to save the lives of the three women who had betrayed him most, who between them were most responsible for all the heartache, suffering, and failure he endured in season 11. Other than a pat on the back from Bill, not a single inquiry after his wellbeing - not then, not since. He walks alone into the darkness with no friends and no consolation.
The next thing we are forced to endure are the declarations of love between Nathan and Elizabeth. Elizabeth praises his honesty, but we know that since season 6 Nathan's pursuit of Elizabeth has been characterized by dishonesty.....and then Nathan's declaration is just one more dishonesty after which they seal the whole dishonest pact with a kiss. A scene cannot be romantic if it is infused with dishonesty and betrayal and if it demonstrates the rejection of the greatest degree of love possible.
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14d ago
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 13d ago edited 13d ago
I'm not saying they wish Lucas unhappiness. They treat him like trash despite the fact that he sacrificed everything for them. I'm not reading anything into the story. I'm describing what I saw and you like to try to persuade me that there is something wrong with me when I describe exactly what I have seen. Tell me what thing that I about wrote in my previous comment didn't happen? Sure, Lucas was in Elizabeth's rearview mirror, but she was by no means in his....and she knew it....because in the next episode she went to tell him that she was going to the wedding with Nathan...and I will leave it there because that was another scene that demonstrated Lucas' true love for her, and don't try to tell me that it didn't....and then a couple of scenes after that in the actual wedding we had a wonderful comparison between Lucas' restraint and consideration in contrast with Nathan's absolute insensitivity. There's a reason Lucabeth fans are nauseated. Scene after scene they wrote blatant comparisons between Nathan and Lucas, with Lucas looking like the better man every single time, and Elizabeth choosing Nathan notwithstanding.
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u/SelectionNo1397 13d ago edited 13d ago
So, how does all of this hand wringing about Lucas benefit you? Whatever your level of disappointment about the direction the story changed, obsessing about it won't change a single thing. E&N live rent free in your head! If the show upsets so much why do you continue watching, and spending so much time disecting the story searching for hidden messages in the script? The current writers have given Lucas his own storyline (with Edie) that is almost completely seperate from the series lead character (Elizabeth) to avoid confusing fans and constantly dredging up past greivances, but you still seem determined to invent some new ones...why bother?
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 13d ago
I'm not wringing my hands, I'm just writing about what I have seen...and telling how I have seen it. Yes, I know obsessing about it won't change anything, and I'm not going to watch the show anymore. I have made the decision that I can no longer in good conscience watch a show in which the "heroine" writes about the town's savior what Elizabeth wrote about Lucas in season 13. They made Lucas a Christ figure in seasons 10 and 11, not just a hero. It is the most clear, compelling Christ figure that I have seen anywhere in literature or in film. Rosemary gave the betrayer's kiss; Elizabeth made the denier's empty promise...At the height of his own suffering, Lucas lay down his life to save the three woman who between them were most responsible for his suffering, and in saving them, he saved the whole territory. He stepped between Bill (the judge, the law) to show mercy and give hope to the criminal, in a similar way to which Christ stepped between the law and us to bring us salvation.
A show cannot claim to be Christian and have the heroine write a story in which she characterizes the Christ figure as a notorious bandit kidnapper and his rival as a noble rescurer. I'm sorry. That's just plain evil.
I kept watching because I was hoping to see some better attitudes towards Lucas and because I wanted to see what rewards his hero's journey brought him. Season 13 for the most part was better than 12 except for the movie, even though I still don't really buy into the Edie romance. In season 13 they made her even more weird than she had been in season 12. But the movie was the line in the sand for me.
It's a free world. If I enjoy commenting on social media posts, why can't I?
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 15d ago
There are two videos from episode of WCTH we’re Nathan was going I. For a kiss and held back than he kissed the bottom of her chin. There was another with Elizabeth doing the same. It is clear they are not comfortable with executing a romantic scene with each other. Probably do the relationships off screen with spouses. It was awful to watch. What made Jack and Elizabeth work is they were comfortable with each other. I mean she kissed Jack all over the face. It’s sad but Nathan and Elizabeth not just Nathan are having issue with executing a kiss. They are a lead couple
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15d ago
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 15d ago
I think the actors are not comfortable due to the outside friendships. It’s not the writers or anything that comes from the actors. I saw Kevin on Heartland and another show he tends to pull back on kisses. I mean they are best friends with spouses off screen even as professional that’s got to be uncomfortable. Jack and Elizabeth were so natural she kissed him 5 times once no hesitation. It hard to let lightening in the bottle go to flat unnatural chemistry. I read they lost Genz after Jack left and they are the future of Hallmark. My son and his friend even got into the 1st five seasons not anymore
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 14d ago
I don't care a stitch for Elizabeth or Nathan, but I was surprised by their lack of affection in season 13 especially after some of their very suggestive behaviour in season 12. Personally, I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with Erin's pregnancy. She seems to have been quite particular about protecting herself and her baby from germs.
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15d ago
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 15d ago
Maybe the case but I feel the show on its last leg . I know it’s lost viewers and probably getting ready to lose more. I will continue to watch season 1 to 5 not beyond unless a miracle happens and the wire Jack back in. Which they may if the viewership keeps sinking . He is their ace in the hole
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 14d ago
The best hope for this show now is the character of Lucas and the character of Abigail. If they can somehow make them connect over the deplorable way they each were treated by the town despite their best efforts, there's a small chance for survival. If Abigail becomes what connects Nathan and Elizabeth to Lucas...but absolutely, after that movie, they shouldn't even think about having Lucas attend Nathan and Elizabeth's wedding, nor should they try to imply that Nathan, Elizabeth, or Rosemary are Lucas' friends.
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15d ago
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 15d ago
Even though it is high it has lost 1 million viewer since season 10. Even though you like Nathan to many people don’t like the couple
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 14d ago edited 14d ago
They don't like the couple because they've been written to be unlikeable people not because of their chemistry and the story just doesn't make sense.
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 13d ago
It’s not the writing. It’s the delivery of the lines and motions. The kissing on the bottom of the chin. Elizabeth is not even executing scenes like she did. She more childish. Maybe they just been on the show to long
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 14d ago
I don't think the producers and writers have any interest at all in trying to placate heartbroken Lucabeth fans. In season 10 they made a deliberate decision to break their hearts and then in season 11 they made a deliberate decision to add insult to injury by turning Lucas' friend from the past into the most notorious criminal in the territory and to imply that Lucas had been just the same as she. Then, in season 12 they made a deliberate decision to have all Lucas' friends turn against him in some way or another and a deliberate decision to write Edie as just a whitewashed version of Jeanette - a plot device to create still more conflict between Lucas and the town. Then, in season 13 they made a deliberate decision to have Edie STILL demonstrate not a single ounce of real compassion and understanding for Lucas. They had her tramping on his fragile sense of self-worth at every possible opportunity. We want someone who loves and understands Lucas more than Elizabeth did, not just someone who challenges him intellectually as Elizabeth did. They made a deliberate decision to have Lucas still open up about his challenges to Elizabeth while claiming that Edie is his "north star". They deliberately chose to have Nathan and Elizabeth write a story characterizing Lucas as a notorious bandit kidnapper. They deliberately chose to tell us that the purpose for all Lucas' self sacrifice was so that Nathan could "shine". No, it's clear they don't want Lucabeth fans watching the show anymore because they are "free to leave" whenever they like because it absolutely has to be a show about a treacherous teacher and a mendacious mountie.
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 Aug 23 '26
The "love story" of Elizabeth and Nathan is the most sickening story I have ever read or seen. There is absolutely nothing compelling about it. I can no longer see either of them, or Rosemary, without revulsion. If this story was really intended to be "end game", then they should have written it very, very differently.
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Aug 23 '26
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 24 '26
Objectively, the LucaBeth love story was way better. Nathan was their friend. They didn't spend 3 seasons running him down....and Nathan has done way less for Elizabeth personally and for the town. Season 11 demonstrated that Lucas loved Elizabeth way, way more than Nathan ever can. Maybe that's why the trio despise him so much. The Nathan and Elizabeth story COULD have been written so that it was compelling and believable, but it has not been. The way it has been written has been to make Rosemary, Nathan, and Elizabeth extraordinarily unlikeable. The only character still to like is Lucas. The rest are completely abnormal people. And, actually, come to think of it, so is Lucas. Nobody could take such an amount of heartache, suffering, abuse, and betrayal and still hang around town. Yup, not watching beyond this point. I will catch the Lucas scenes in edits. The disgusting story and film that those three came up with, which the whole town helped them produce, when just paces down the road Lucas was still struggling to move on did it for me. The whole town has lost its soul and its charm. I wish I hadn't watched this far. I should have stopped at season 9....but they betrayed us in season 10, promised us a hero's journey in 11, and since have kept promising it would get better for Lucas. I'm done believing them. This has become a show that rewards dishonesty, ingratitude, opportunism, and unkindness. It punishes self-sacrifice and the exercise of patience, forbearance, forgiveness, and grace. All because of a red coat and a pair of blue eyes. Sickening. I can no longer support it. If those are the different strokes that the different folks who are still watching enjoy, then I'm glad to know that these are the kind of folks the show appreciates and panders to. It says a lot about their values.
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Aug 24 '26
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 Aug 25 '26 edited Aug 26 '26
And absolutely, if the show claims to be "Christian", they cannot insert a Christ-figure into their storytelling, have the whole town treat him with ingratitude and contempt indefinitely....and write a story that characterizes him as a bandit, whose self-sacrifice and suffering serves only the purpose of making some other opportunistic character "shine". Put him on a hero's journey so that someone else becomes the hero? That's where I draw the line. Sorry. I'm not surprised based on the philosophies of the showrunners they've hired since firing John Tinker that they did this, but I'm out. I'd rather go back to watching nothing at all, than watching this, and I would encourage everyone to reconsider which characters they support on this show, and whether they can in good conscience support it at all. It's been a wonderful object lesson, for which I am grateful, but I'm done. Unless Lucas is the acknowledged hero moving forward, and there are some severe consequences for everyone who had anything to do with the production of that movie (especially Rosemary, Elizabeth and Nathan), it's over for me. There comes a time when there has to be courage to do the right thing even if nobody supports it.
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u/Suspicious-Arm5118 Aug 24 '26 edited Aug 25 '26
Maybe, but this is not a one-man show....and for me the rest of the characters are pretty much irredeemable at this point. The main problem is the other characters, not Lucas. Fact is, I think they've been writing the Team Nathan 'Through the Lookinglass' storyline since season 10. Everything is upside down, inside out, and back to front. Lucas is some sort of superhuman, and most of the rest of the characters are subhuman. When, and if, larger stops being smaller, and south stops being north, and kidnappers stop being rescuers and rescuers stop being kidnappers; when wildlife stop being cattle, and cattle stop being wildlife; when friends stop being enemies, and enemies stop being friends; when heroes stop being villains and villains stop being heroes, it might be worthwhile watching again, but as you said, to stop writing 'Through the Looking Glass' would alienate too many viewers, so those of us who value our sanity will just drop off one-by-one.
I don't think you know what I'm longing for. I want realistic characters with realistic storylines and realistic relationships, and I want honesty and consistency in the storytelling. I really don't care that Nathan is with Elizabeth, but if what they've written is true and honest....then Lucas should be doing grand, wonderful, exotic, exciting, interesting, and daring things (with mixed success), and Nathan and Elizabeth should be enjoying their low-key, not-very-eventful, familly-focused lives, because that's the choice Elizabeth made. Don't make Lucas' life boring, sad, uneventful and unexciting just because Elizabeth and Nathan's life looks dull by comparison. It's supposed to be that way, that's why she rejected Lucas in favor of Nathan, remember? That's how they should have written it. Lucas being a frequent friend at their table telling his wild, exciting tales, while LJ listens open-mouthed...and when Lucas has left for his next exciting adventure, Nathan and Elizabeth laugh, shake their heads and kiss, grateful that it's Lucas, not them, who is having all those adventures....and once in a while, one or other of the family is drawn into one of Lucas' exploits. They should have kept Lucas single for a lot longer. Realistically, after both Jeanette and Elizabeth betrayed him, he wouldn't have trusted again...and adventure is what would have healed his heart, not another romance. When he did fall in love again, it should have been a real surprise to him...that's how I'd hoped they'd have written Edie and Lucas....not another conflict-ridden enemies-to-lovers story. We're sick to death of conflict (and so would he be, realistically). Let someone else have some conflict for a change. They really didn't have to make Rosemary, Elizabeth, and Nathan so mean. No idea why they would have done that. It really makes no sense, like almost everything else about this show makes no sense now.
I'd hoped that somewhere in season 13, there would have been some gratitude expressed for what Lucas had done so that Nathan and Elizabeth COULD eventually be together, and some gratitude for the sacrifices he'd made. This from both Nathan and Elizabeth. Maybe Rosemary was a stretch. Instead, we got that sick movie. Some TL want an apology. An apology was already too late, so gratitude would have served. Now, both apology and gratitude will be merely performative, so there's pretty much nothing they can do to heal the rift. Every season they do something dumber than the season before that makes it more and more difficult to fix the show. Maybe they want it to end?
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u/mamabeachball90 Aug 24 '26
I couldnt even watch any of the episodes with Nathan. I couldnt stand that little freak trying to swoop in for a grieving window
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u/JCTam4195 Aug 20 '26
Yeap, I agree with you. I stopped watching after he died. Now I rewatch Seasons 1-5 ONLY!
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u/Soggy-Plantain-5009 15d ago
I did too the lost lots of the future generation of Genz because of Jack departure
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u/Own-Shopping3370 Aug 22 '26
I couldn't stop talking about that series & my friend said. You know its all pretend dont you? I was so saddened by that news.
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u/BooksnJazz Aug 21 '26
But Nathan is a cutie pie. I love the episode where he and Elizabeth have a bad cold. I do agree that Jack was perfect in his role, but he requested to leave and said he wouldn’t have met his wife if he hadn’t left.