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Another highly-dramatic season of When Calls the Heart is over, and if the Season 11 finale, “Anything for Love,” taught us anything, it’s that there are more than few surprises in store for Hearties when it comes to Season 12.
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In the Season 11 finale, newly official couple Nathan and Elizabeth exchange secrets with one another and tell their children that they are forging close bonds. Elizabeth’s ex-fiance, Lucas, meanwhile, is weathering the storm of poor decisions about building a resort that almost led to bloodshed.
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But the biggest news for Hearties looking forward to in Season 12’s 12 new episodes came after Mei and Mike’s lovely wedding when a Canadian Mountie comes to town with a major cliffhanger about Elizabeth’s late husband, Jack Thornton, who died in Season 5.
Hope Valley’s favorite characters that viewers have grown to love are expected to return in 2024, with production of Season 12 expected to start in July. Hallmark Channel’s longest-running original series was renewed for a 12th season in May, so the show is certain to continue its themes of family, community, and heartfelt 1920s romance for at least another year.
More: The most shocking exits from When Calls the Heart over the years
So what will happen in Season 12? Well, our theories predict that Elizabeth and Nathan’s life-altering news about Jack will take center stage and greatly affect his widow next season — and by connection, Little Jack, Nathan, and the rest of the Hope Valley community. But the sad news doesn’t stop there, as our Season 12 theories also predict that other several beloved characters could leave Hope Valley for good. Keep reading for our When Calls the Heart Season 12 theories.
The Jack Cliffhanger Could End Elizabeth and Nathan’s Relationship
Shortly before the end of the finale, a serious-looking Mountie says he has news, and Nathan assumes it’s for him. The Mountie continues by saying “Mrs. Thornton it’s about your late husband…” (Jack Thornton died in a landslide while saving the lives of two other Mounties in the Season 5 finale of When Calls the Heart, leaving a then-pregnant Elizabeth behind in the spring of 2018.)
Soon after Mike and Mei wedding, Elizabeth and Nathan discuss their new romantic relationship, while proclaiming their happiness for the married couple. In an extremely romantic moment, Nathan tells Elizabeth, “Faith is taking what life gives you and turning it into what you want. Or you could kiss a potato,” in reference to a childhood prank that Elizabeth’s sister played on her that kissing a potato would help her find true love. Elizabeth responds to Nathan, “I already have my heart’s desire.”
Previously, Elizabeth told Nathan, “You feel like home to me,” and Nathan replied, “I’m in love with you.” Nathan replies with a tender and romantic kiss and holds her tight, and says, “I have never stopped loving you. Not for a single second,” which warmed all of our hearts.
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However, we predict that the unexpected bad news about Jack could upend Elizabeth and Nathan’s relationship before it really begins. We predict that this shakeup to Elizabeth and Little Jack’s lives could be the monkey wrench that Elizabeth sees as a sign to slow down or stop her romance with Nathan all together.
We also predict that the Mountie’s update could tarnish Jack’s reputation in Hope Valley, which would only further and shake up Elizabeth and Little Jack’s lives. However, the opposite could also happen. Whatever bad news comes about the late Jack Thornton and the threat that it poses could, in turn, bring all of the Hope Valley together, but viewers will have to wait until Season 12 to see if that happens.
Nathan and Elizabeth Could Get Engaged
As the season came to a close, Nathan and Elizabeth take “a leap of faith,” share several kisses and look for ways to spend time alone. In fact, Elizabeth explains to Little Jack that the two of them will be spending more time with Nathan and hhis adopted daughter, Allie, and that, sometimes, she also needs alone time with Nathan. Nathan, for his part, tells his daughter that he and Elizabeth, “are a couple,” to which Allie responds, “It’s really nice. I am so happy that she makes you happy.” The four of them embark on a picnic and Allie happily agrees to take Little Jack berry picking so the new couple can have some sought-after grown-up alone time.
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If the Mountie’s news about Jack doesn’t break Elizabeth and Nathan up and they continue on their current path, we could see happy news in their future. (After all, Elizabeth and Lucas also got engaged after dating for not too long.) Weathering the bad news around Jack could also bring them so close that Nathan proposes and Elizabeth accepts. Could a wedding, marriage and a blended family be in their future?
Fiona Could Permanently Leave Hope Valley After Mei and Mike’s Wedding
Much to everyone’s delight Fiona, who left earlier in Season 11, returns to act as “best woman” for Mike and help with the festivities. But she also admitted that she is happy away from Hope Valley and leaves once again by the end of the episode. If our Season 12 theories are correct, Fiona won’t be returning to Hope Valley full time any time soon, despite being missed by the town and confessing how much she missed her friends and family.
Rosemary and Lee’s New National Parks Project Could Prompt Them to Leave Hope Valley
After Lucas’ resort project goes bust, Rosemary and Lee come up with a new direction for the land and pitch Lucas an idea about preserving the area as a national park so that current and future generations can enjoy the preserved wildlife, hiking trails, and campsites, and keep the outdoors in its natural state as an important part of their legacy.
While this new park project could be a rallying point for the Hope Valley residents to support, Lucas’ point in the finale that the National Park project would require him and Lee to move to Capital City could spell bad news for both Lee and Rosemary, who didn’t look pleased about the possibility of leaving Hope Valley. If Lee is working in Capital City, then it’s likely that his wife, Rosemary, and their adorable daughter Marigold “Goldie” would follow him there.
Lucas Could Also Permanently Move to Capital City
Before the wedding, Elizabeth makes a point of stopping to see Lucas, who is deeply concerned about his image as governor when even his supporters are doubting his judgment. The backlash is a result of the way he handled the resort issue involving Jeanette Aucoin, his devious former fiancé, which results in Lucas’ opponents calling for his resignation as governor of the territories. If Lucas continues as governor, however, his new national park project could also have him leave Hope Valley for good with Lee.
Angela Canfield Could Leave Home to Go Away to College
Much to her parents’ chagrin, Angela tells them that Elizabeth recommended a school for the blind that could help her with her future, but require her to leave Hope Valley. We predict that Angela enrolls, is accepted, and leaves for college in the next season, causing sadness and angst for her parents, siblings, and best pal Allie, who will no doubt fiercely miss the lovely young girl who is always trying to help others.
Faith Could Legally Adopt Lily
Lily’s grandmother has recovered from her illness and comes to town to take Lily home. But when she sees Lilly and Faith together, she tells Faith, “I am not sure I can give Lilly what she needs” and asks Faith to continue caring for the little girl. After everyone involved agrees that Lilly is better off staying in Hope Valley with Faith, the two will settle into their routine and become more like a family. In fact, in the finale, Faith is offered an opportunity to practice medicine in Nashville, but her heart is set on raising Lilly in Hope Valley and turns down the offer.
We predict that Faith and Lily will become a strong family unit and an integral part of their community, and that one day the extremely motherly Faith could adopt Lily.
Nathan and Bill’s Guidance Helps Little Jack Thrive
Bill oversteps a bit in Season 11 when he gets a pony for Little Jackbefore asking Elizabeth’s permission. Elizabeth agrees to let “Pal the Pony” join the family and cheers her son on when Nathan and Bill take turns teaching him to ride, which reminds her of her late husband’s love for horses and riding. Elizabeth wistfully sees that her son is growing up and knows she wants to hold on to these “precious years” of his childhood.
We predict that, thanks to Bill’s wisdom, Little Jack will grow and thrive under the love and care of Elizabeth and their Hope Valley community, and emulate his father’s stellar legacy of being a caring and community-focused young man.
When Calls the Heart is available to stream on Peaco*ck.
For more on When Calls the Heart, check out the cast’s most memorable exits over the years in the gallery below.
