Inside ‘Chesapeake Shores’ Season 5: Trace’s Exit, Abby’s New Leading Man & ‘More Laughter’
Preview
“Meghan, would it be safe to say one of the themes of Season 5 is how Abby got her groove back?”
“Well, I do have bangs this year.”
“And they are working for you!”
It’s late June, and Chesapeake Shores star Meghan Ory and her new leading man, Robert Buckley, are chatting with TV Guide Magazine via Zoom from the set of the endearing Hallmark Channel family drama. They’re between scenes, but as that banter proves, the chemistry between their characters—grounded divorcée (and eldest O’Brien daughter) Abby and self-made billionaire Evan Kincaid—comes naturally.
“I’m excited for people to see this new energy we have,” Ory says. “It’s a whole new show. There’s a lot more laughter.”
To explain how Buckley (iZombie) breezes into town, we need to back up to March, when Jesse Metcalfe, who had starred as passionate musician Trace Riley since the show’s 2016 debut, announced he was leaving. The writers were thrown for a loop: Trace and Abby’s on-again, off-again romance had been the heartbeat of the ensemble series (based on Sherryl Woods’ novels). Plus, when last we saw them in 2019’s Season 4 finale, the two shared a kiss after he pledged his desire to reunite!
The solution: Open Season 5 a few months later and flash back to a blowout between the couple that caused Trace’s sudden departure. (Metcalfe returned to film the scenes.) “Even though it’s hard and Abby’s saying goodbye to things that weren’t working in her life, she’s moving forward,” Ory says of the dual timelines in the first two episodes. “Abby is finally taking control of her life for her.”
Crown Media
The savvy businesswoman’s decision to join dad Mick (Treat Williams) at O’Brien Construction leads to her meeting Evan in the August 29 episode. He hires the company to build a boutique hotel in picturesque Chesapeake Shores—and first appears rappelling down a mountain during a video call, then testing out a hoverboard at the site.
“You have to make the character completely different so the audience doesn’t feel like, ‘Well, now we’re replacing Trace with another Trace,’” new showrunner Phoef Sutton says. He’d seen that approach work before as a writer on the classic sitcom Cheers, when Shelley Long left and Kirstie Alley was cast as Ted Danson’s new sparring partner. Whereas Trace had a brooding James Dean swagger, Evan is relentlessly positive and playful. “Spiritually, he’s a golden retriever,” Buckley says with a laugh. “He’s a very curious, excitable guy.”
It won’t be love at first sight. “It’s a classic romantic-comedy, Tracy–Hepburn type of thing where they don’t get along…but they will in the future,” Sutton teases. As Ory explains, “Evan is all over the place and unpredictable. Abby already has two children and doesn’t need a third.” But her brutal honesty piques Evan’s interest in working with her. “She’s not charmed by his quirkiness or the trappings of his lifestyle,” Buckley says, “and that’s a rarity for him.”
Crown Media
Evan also finds himself drawn to Abby’s loving family. Raised by a single mother without knowing his father, “He sees the O’Briens and thinks, ‘This is the one thing I’ve never had, the one thing I can’t buy,’” Buckley notes.
At one point, he becomes a guest at the inn owned by Abby’s youngest sibling, Jess (Laci J. Mailey), and her fiancé, David (Carlo Marks). As that couple plan their midseason wedding—and contend with David’s manipulative parents—O’Brien brother Kevin (Brendan Penny) and his wife, Sarah (Jessica Sipos), both firefighters, struggle to get pregnant.
Playwright sister Bree (Emilie Ullerup) returns from a successful London run and jumps into a creative writing position at the University of Maryland and, perhaps, a love triangle. The department head (Matthew Kevin Anderson) is her former high school nemesis, and a crush from her teen years (Stephen Huszar) gets a job at the Bridge bar.
Crown Media
Lawyer sibling Connor (Andrew Francis), meanwhile, begins work at a Baltimore firm and may get to play hero in his dad’s brewing legal battle with crafty construction vendor Paul Dilpher (Aurelio DiNunzio), who claims Mick knowingly used inferior concrete in projects. Never! Beloved matriarch Nell (Diane Ladd, who appears in just the back half of the 10-episode season due to the pandemic) raised him right.
Although noble Mick is “devastated” by the challenge to his reputation, Williams hasn’t been this happy to go to work since the early seasons of his 2002–06 family drama Everwood. He says he loves how instrumental the kids are in their father’s life. The actor quotes lyrics from the Sinatra standard “The Second Time Around” to describe Mick and ex-wife Megan (Barbara Niven) growing closer.
He raves about the addition of Buckley (his costar in the 2020 Hallmark movie The Christmas House) and the way Evan and his chauffeur, Mandrake (Wesley Salter), seem straight out of a ’30s screwball comedy. And he calls the September 5 episode a favorite of his 45-year career: Mick and his brother, Thomas (Gregory Harrison), bond on an overnight hike. “You can feel the new energy,” Williams says, echoing Ory. Suddenly, he enjoys rehearsing in front of a crew. “You know when the crew laughs you’ve got something good going.”
Chesapeake Shores, Season 5 Premiere Sunday, August 15, 8/7c, Hallmark Channel
This is an excerpt from TV Guide Magazine’s latest issue. For more of the romantic, summer fun, pick up the issue, on newsstands Thursday, July 29.
Conversation22 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Comments are closed on this story.
-
O
Trace and Abby was the show!!
16 1
-
G
Another Hallmark series will lose viewers due to over thinking writers, directors with poor decisions from producers. Abby and Trace were the show, PERIOD...
11 1
-
C
Without Trace, no interest.
13 3
-
G
Why take Trace out of the season ?? The whole reason I came to the show !! It’s not the same anymore
10 2
-
B
Without Jesse lost interest,
8 1
-
R
After a disappointingly boring conclusion to Hallmarks other drama When Calls the Heart, i’m hoping for something much better with Chesapeake Shores which was always my favorite drama on Hallmark anyhow ….Trace was one of my least favorite characters on the show so I don’t mind if he’s gone… he just always reminded me with his slick back oily hair/of a gangster lol (yeah that hairstyle always turns me off) so happy with a new romantic interest for her…Was hoping Greyston Holt would turn into it for her as I’ve always LOVED him (he was so Hot in Bitten) but Buckley is ok. Bree needs a better man though…. The actor that played her love interest last season was boring…. she needs somebody bubbly and outgoing. Jess & David have always been my favorite couple so I’m happy that they are keeping them together. Looking forward to another season of Chesapeake Shores …it’s by far much better than any of the other series Hallmark has aired. #Chessies
16 9
-
P
I so agree with you. I'm not sorry to see Trace go. Nor did I like the slick backed oily hair. I love Jess and David!!
1 1
-
R
I love Jess & David too& I agree as well about Trace. I found Metcalfe so one note, Abby deserves better. It is the O'Brien family I care about, not Trace. Good riddance
1
-
-
-
B
I just started to watch the show, especially because Jesse Metcalfe was one of the stars. I now find after a couple of shows that he is leaving (or left). I'm pretty sure I will not be watching the show. These last few episodes did not entice me, just the one starring Jesse. So hello and goodbye (unless you bring Jesse back).
11 5
-
T
Looking forward to this show being back
10 4
-
G
Beyond Sad to see Jesse go, he was the best Character! Not much left without him and his stunning voice!
1
-
O
Thank goodness there is a change Was it not obvious that Trace & Abby were never going to make it long- term? Love the series, but it was becoming boring. Spring some B life into it!!
1
-
R
Feeling cheated. Trace and Abby couple gone, no more Chesapeake Shores for me!
1
-
P
Trace and Abby love was the heart of the show. It is plucked and trampled by Hall mark. Hope one brief season where trace returns and fights for the love of his life..
-
O
I love the series and want season 6. About Jess leaving, I don't mind the new twist, I actually like it.
-
R
Love this show and have watched from the very beginning ! Sad Jesse Metcalfe is leaving but since he did not die , there is always the chance he can come back . I still find the show a refreshing change of pace in a crazy world right now . I laugh and cry as I watch this beautiful family that no matter what - continues to pull together !
-
G
I loved the Jesse character. I wish they would have included more of his songs and singing. The greasy hair got on my nerves. Yuck!
-
G
Jesse the actor who plays Trace got a starring role as Superman and chose to leave. I actually like it better without him.
-
G
For those that seem to be very unaware Jesse got the lead role in a new Superman series which is why he left. I however do not like his new series and was really only a fan of him in Teen Wolf. So no love loss for me. I absolutely adore Robert and just about everything he has played in so far. Really hope he gets to stay as the love interest for Abby because her and Trace were kind of boring but her and Evan are super cute and spunky. I really love watching all of the stories of each sibling and can’t wait to see what happens next.
1
-
R
I read the books and am disappointed the character leaving.i love Jesse but think you should have replaced his character with another actor.
2 4
-
P
I'm glad to see Trace go never liked him and don't like country music so I got to were I would fast forward the parts with him in it or the parts with him and Abby. I liked her with Jay the school teacher. My favorite is Jess and David, hes so adorable! My next favorite is Kevin and Sarah.
4
-
G
Not a fan of Jesse Metcalfe. Glad he is off the series. He does other Hallmark shows, but I’m not impressed with his acting
2 9
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services