‘When Calls the Heart’ Reveals News About Jack — How Will It Affect Elizabeth & Nathan?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for the When Calls the Heart Season 12 premiere “The Mountie Way.”]
When Calls the Heart ended last season on a shocking cliffhanger: Superintendent Hargraves (David James Lewis) interrupted Elizabeth (Erin Krakow) and Nathan (Kevin McGarry) to reveal he had news about her late husband, Jack. And while at first what it ends up being doesn’t seem to be anything major, it soon becomes clear that it could mean trouble for the new couple down the line.
The When Calls the Heart Season 12 premiere doesn’t waste any time in revealing just what Hargraves has to say. Though he tries to dismiss Nathan, Elizabeth insists he stay. “I’m here because recently, a road crew began excavating at the site of the rock slide where Jack…,” Hargraves explains. “They found something I think you’ll want to have.” He gives her Jack’s commissioner’s medal, the highest Mountie honor. “No exaggeration to say Jack Thornton has become quite a legend,” Hargraves says, calling him, “not one so easily replaced,” while looking at Nathan.
“You were meant to be leading that training mission, weren’t you?” he recalls and tells him, “Take care of her,” as he leaves. Elizabeth tells Nathan not to pay him any attention, and he brushes it off.
Elizabeth then shows Little Jack his father’s medal. “This was given to your daddy for exceptional valor in performance of his duty,” she says. “Daddy was very brave.” She lets him choose where to keep the medal, and he puts it on a frame with Jack’s photo, “like he’s right here with us.” Little Jack then raves to Nathan about the medal and his father getting it for being a hero. “Some say he was the bravest Mountie of all,” Nathan agrees.
Later, however, Elizabeth remarks that during that exchange, “you didn’t seem quite like yourself to me.” Nathan insists he’s always himself. “I’m really proud of you for not letting Hargraves get to you,” she adds. “You asked me to let the guilt go. That’s what I’m, trying to do,” he says, but, “When Jack grows up, he’s going to have questions about how his father died. He’s going to want to know the truth. I’m going to have to answer for it.”
He keeps hearing about how great Jack was, too, when a new cadet, Oliver Garrett (Jacob Shoemay), he’s to train, recognizes Elizabeth’s last name. “They talked about him all the time during basic training, how brave he was and smart, how he single-handedly tracked down an entire band of smugglers in the northwest. They say he was the finest example of the Mountie Way.” Nathan agrees, ”He was the best of the best.”
Little Jack then wears the medal to school, to show how brave he is, and he gives it to Lily to wear to calm her nerves. After he gets it back, he wants to wear it to his riding lessons with Nathan, and it’s there that Little Jack asks if the Mountie knew his dad. “No, I didn’t,” Nathan says, “but I wish I had.” Little Jack tells him he’s a hero, too; all Mounties are.
It’s a conversation with Rosemary (Pascale Hutton) that seems to get through to Nathan, after she remarks about the long shadow that Jack casts. “I’m not trying to replace Jack, not for Elizabeth, not for Little Jack,” he insists. “It’s just one day that little boy’s going to grow up and he’s going to wonder why his father died, and I think the closer we get now, the angrier he’s going to be when he gets older.” Rosemary doesn’t think he’s giving himself enough credit because “I can see how happy you make her, how happy you make them both. no one knows what the future holds, so we might as well enjoy the time we have.”
Ricardo Hubbs / Hallmark Media
When Nathan stops by Elizabeth’s and notes where the medal is (on the picture frame), Elizabeth stresses, “It’s important to me that he stay real to Little Jack and to me.” But Nathan assures her he wouldn’t have it any other way and reveals he made a display case for the medal. Elizabeth immediately puts it inside. He also shares that Rosemary offered wise advice.
“If Little Jack ever wants to know more, we’ll find a way to tell him together,” Elizabeth assures him. “And until then, he gets to have you in his life, which I suspect he wouldn’t give up for the world. And neither would I.”
What did you think of the reveal about the news about Jack? And while it seems like Elizabeth and Nathan have gotten past this hurdle, do you think it will affect their relationship down the road? Let us know in the comments section below.
When Calls the Heart, Sundays, 9/8c, Hallmark Channel
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O
They have just gotten together. With time and the growing of their love, this will all work out. They have gone through a lot already together where Jack is concerned. He will always be a part of their lives, and Nathan will be loved just as much. Little Jack needs Nathan as he only has pictures and stories of Jack. I think Jack would be happy to know Elizabeth and Little Jack have someone to love and be loved by.
26 9
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G
Please let them just be together and move on like any adults in love would. They are not young people anymore. They are very adult and should not be happy with superficial teegage Tyler live which is what Elizabeth had with Lucas and why I left the show. It is time for them to start a life together. She has been a widow for years, little Jack never knew his father. It is time to put them together in marriage working together to build a life or you will lose a lot of viewers. The waffling on and on is sooooo old and aggravating!!
24 12
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O
I agree. Let them have a life, a good life.
1 1
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C
Jack dead a hero leave it along and let Elizabeth and Nathan be together
17 7
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B
Let Nathan and Elizabeth begin their life together with their new family. True love and friendship ❤️
23 14
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C
We are watching a wonderful love story , a REAL love story. Not one with fake and over the top not memorable gestures. Nathan will work through this and at the end he will prove to himself and others that he is a great HERO as well. The arc we are facing this year is amazing and so well written. All stories felt real and full of feeling. Nathan and Elizabeth emanate love and passion and togetherness.... this is the epic love these two characters deserve and have... I cannot wait to see the resolution to this and the rest of the season.. Amazing love story 🙂
18 10
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O
I love that Nathan and Elizabeth are finally getting together!! They are a great couple together and will love to see what the future holds for them!!♥️
16 9
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O
Yes its nice when people fall in love however if they have a Skelton in the closet its best to get it out so their relationship can be real
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R
I truly love the show! My hope was that Elizabeth would end up with Lucas. However, since that ended in such a strange way I think that if it’s going to be Nathan let it be Nathan. It’s weird that now the ghost of Jack has returned. Let them move happily on.
12 6
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R
I agree, I too, wish she ended up with Lucas. She will never get over Jack and she will never be comfortable always thinking of Jack when she see Nathan in uniform.
5 4
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B
I was hoping for Nathan to be the one Elizabeth chose. I never trusted Lucas. I don’t think this will hurt their relationship. I do wonder if his “daughter” will end up with the new recruit, Oliver.
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J
No, I think the conversation is behind them now, while they all move forward as Rosemary indicated earlier.
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B
It shows that Elizabeth is not ready to move on as she is merely replacing her dead Mountie husband with a live one. Lucas was the better choice but her lack of maturity wasn't able to comprehend. She is not a strong woman and she callously used Lucas and tossed him aside because she was too scared to truly move on.
30 28
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O
😂😂😂
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B
I don't watch Elizabeth and Nathan scenes. The actors frustrate me. They have two expressions. Particulary Elizabeth. .. I prefer rosemary and Lee and Bill who can really act. Elizabeth is too insipid and the actress has the same facial expressions in all her movies. And when do we stop calling the son Little Jack?
5 4
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C
I agree Kevin is not a good actor especially when he was crying in this one scene such bad acting
4 3
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O
Kevin is an incredible actor. Anyone who thinks he’s not is clueless. Get a grip.
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P
I felt like I was reunited with old friends. The show is very special.
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B
I stopped watching when Jack was killed off so its good to read he’s being written as important. I will never watch again until/if the day comes when the show ends and Daniel Lissing returns to walk off into the sunset with Elizabeth and son.
1 1
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R
I have always hoped Jack would return and he and Elizabeth and Little Jack could be a family.
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G
Just leave Elizabeth and Nathan alone let things work out for them. Jack is not coming back so let them marry and be happy, it's been long enough. Jack coming back and not really dead would be a great story, but since that's not happening I rather see Elizabeth with Nathan. Rosemary and Lee are my favorites on the show. I did love Elizabeth with Jack it was so much chemistry there but Nathan will do. I didn't like Elizabeth with Lucas at all, he seems a bit shady.
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O
It took so long for Jack & Elizabeth to get together it felt like decision to get them together was just so she could have a baby to remember him as he quit the show. I hope this relationship doesn't take years. I think holding onto Jack's character to this degree is too much. Let Nathan & Elizabeth be happy & have a baby of their own & move on.
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O
No Nathan is a good man and with Elizabeth’s love and reassurance, he’ll move on. Get them married already, please!
2 4
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C
I wish Nathan's character was played by a better actor
9 17
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O
Kevin is a phenomenal actor - second to none on this show or anywhere.
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T
End this show, NOW!
12 22
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O
Thousands of fans love the show. If you don’t like it, don’t watch. It’s not rocket science.
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