Why ‘The Way Home’ Didn’t Reveal Casey’s Identity in Finale, Plus Season 4 Scoop
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for The Way Home Season 3 finale “If You Could Read My Mind.”]
With all the reveals that we did get in The Way Home Season 3 finale, there’s still a major one we’ve needed since the previous finale left up in the air: Who Is Casey?
Vaughan Murrae’s character is a time traveler — they’re no longer hiding that — but they reveal to Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) in the Season 3 finale that they are not her kid from the future with Max Goodwin (Dale Whibley). Below, executive producers (and mother and daughter) Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke explain why Casey’s identity remains a mystery and answer other burning questions while looking ahead to Season 4. (Read part 1 of our deep dive into the finale with the EPs here.)
Jacob (Spencer Macpherson) left, but Sam (Rob Stewart) tells Del (Andie MacDowell) it’s going to be okay. So first of all, can you say if Jacob went back to the 1800s? Anything about where/when he is?
Alexandra Clarke: Not really.
Heather Conkie: What we loved about the Sam scene is if you recall, he’s in exactly the same place that Elliot [Evan Williams] stood by the pond in the end of our pilot episode, and he says the very same words, so it was more to spread mystery about Sam in that moment.
How long have you known that Sam knows about the pond? Was that from the introduction of the character?
Clarke: When we’re introducing someone into our world, we know the full arc of them throughout because look, we’re a show that’s 41 minutes and 57 seconds long. When we introduce a new character that’s going to take up time on screen, we are very purposeful in why and the reasons behind it, and Sam is no different. I mean, we definitely have the ideas for who he is, how he’s involved, and we’re looking forward to sharing a little bit more about that.
Peter Stranks / Hallmark Media
I think the very fact that we took the time to put him in the same position, to have him say the same words as Elliot said to Kat [Chyler Leigh] when she was so worried about where Alice had disappeared to in our very first episode and getting so angry at him for being so sure that she’d come back, the fact that we’ve done that again with Sam, I think in and of itself should tell fans something about who he is.
Yeah, I’m thinking a confidant of Casey’s — they did go to him for help. Should we be wondering if he’s a time traveler, too? That would really complicate matters because of his and Del’s relationship…
Clarke: I think all of those possibilities are very valid for Sam. He’s got a few tricks up his sleeve, that’s for sure.
Casey’s now not hiding they’re a time traveler. Why have them talk to Jacob?
Clarke: We were fascinated by that pairing. I think it felt like in a weird way, by the end of our season, Casey was only kind of coming up against Alice and Kat and we’d never actually had them come face-to-face with yet another time traveler. And Jacob, we’d realized, had really only probably heard about Casey through the stories the others are telling. So it was really fun to have them come face to face. And really it’s because this mystery that we’d seeded even in Season 2 of Casey being hired as an intern and going through those boxes and while they found something actually really, really interesting, but never got a chance to tell Kat about it because of the pond and you skip forward in time when you’re gone. But ultimately, the thing that they found was about helping Jacob, and so it was really nice to have a moment where they actually in person could help him versus doing it through Alice or doing it through Kat. Because at the end of the day, this is, as Jacob even says, his salvation, finding this will. So it was nice to have that be an earned moment between the one needing the saving and the one being able to save versus doing it through third parties.
Casey then tells Alice that Alice is not their mom, but doesn’t answer about being a Landry and a Goodwin. What can you say about their identity? Because there is still the matter of them having Kat’s ring…
Conkie: Yep.
Clarke: I think we realized early on that there was a way we could reveal all about Casey in our Episode 10, but we held back because it is such a lovely reveal and we didn’t want it to just be yet another reveal in this episode of reveals. There’s so much more story to tell with Casey. Casey is the most mercurial, incredible character. I love the Casey character and Vaughan Murrae plays them so perfectly, and they really could be anyone is the best part. They’ve got a little bit of Goodwin, they’ve got a little bit of Augustine, they’ve got a little bit of Landry. And I think it’s lovely to see the viewers continue to guess at who they actually are. The answer will be shared, of course it will. But I think there’s more story to tell and there’s more story to earn us that reveal rather than just kind of throw it away. It’s too big and important a reveal to just throw away in a quick scene in a finale episode. So I will say that they are telling the truth about not being Alice’s kid.
Casey also told Jacob that the will will help stop Dell’s letters. What did they mean by that?
Clarke: It reveals that they know about those letters. And so that’s a clue as well to maybe who they might be.
What can you say about the identity of who’s been sending those letters?
Clarke: All shall be revealed is what we can say. [Laughs]
Then there’s Fern (Jill Frappier), who continues to be this very mysterious character. We got that interaction between Fern and Kat, and clearly their conversations are far from over. What can you say about when they’re going to be seeing each other again? Is that song about ’65 a clue to when they see each other again or is that something else?
Clarke: I think anything Fern says is a clue about her and her relationship to this family. Jill Frappier, who plays Fern, we all fell in love with her from the moment she set foot on set, and I’m so glad the audience has done the same. I love that they love her. I mean, I’ve seen fan art, it’s just fabulous. And she’s so flattered as well. She’s so excited. Yes, there’s certainly more to tell with Fern, for sure. I think she’s such a fascinating character, and that, I think, is what we can say.
How does Alice finding out that Casey is not her and Max’s child now factor into how she feels about him? She was worried that that was influencing her before, but now to find out that Casey’s not their kid will also maybe influence her. Then there’s the Noah (Alexander Eling) of it…
Clarke: It’s a really great question, and it’s one that we’re asking ourselves right now. We leave all three women on a new sense of freedom at the end of Season 3. One way we always like to talk about our three main gals in the writers’ room is each one kind of representing the past, the present, and the future within a season. And this season we certainly looked at it as Del questioning what she remembered about the past as a result of Alice being there and kind of interfering with all of that. It was Kat really questioning where she was in the present now that she brought Jacob home, she’d published Susanna’s book, what the heck do I do now? It was a focus on the relationship with Elliot for sure. And Alice was sort of questioning her future and not only because she’s about to go into her last year of high school and you’ve got Brady [Al Mukadam] saying five-year plan, five-year plan, but also because of the knowledge, or at least the theory, that Casey was her kid.
Peter Stranks / Hallmark Media
And now that I think a lot of questions have been answered for these women in regards to those three — past, present, future of it all — they’re all kind of in a moment of pure freedom going into next season where it feels like their life is their own, and Alice is no exception. We are going to be going into her end of high school experience in Season 4, and there’s lots of questions that come along with that, none of which are related to a pond. So at the end of the day, she’s still a teenager living in 2025 and needing to go to university if she wants to and all that stuff. So I think apart from it being a time traveler, she has a lot of life questions to ask herself.
Is Del going to want to time travel again or has she gotten what she needed? It feels like she’s the one person who can be like, “You know what? Once was it.”
Clarke: It does. Yeah, she’s very — I think even Nick [Kerry James] says it, a no-nonsense woman. I think the Del of it all in regards to time travel will be an interesting thing to explore in Season 4 — when she wants to go, why she wants. I feel like no matter what, she will always have a very — she’s never going to be like Kat, where it’s like, well, wake up and feel like jumping in the pond. It will never be that. If and when she does time travel again, it will be for a very good reason, well thought out. Kat leads with her heart. I think Del leads with head and heart combined in a very equal, lovely way. So it will never be impulsive, I guess, is the bottom line.
Conkie: It will be for a damn good reason.
So what can you tease about Season 4?
Clarke: It will answer questions. That’s such a weak answer. I’m sorry.
Conkie: I know. Well, it will answer the questions that we ran out of time to answer.
Clarke: I think it will be like any of our other seasons if we do it right, which is answering a lot of lingering things, but also asking a lot of new interesting questions, introducing a lot of new kind of compelling mysteries. The pond’s going to pond, and we’re excited to see where it takes our cast this year for sure. Because as I said, I think they’re all starting from a really new fresh perspective off the top that we’ve never really had before: that sense of freedom, that sense of possibility and that sense of closure. So I think that in and of itself is a really exciting thing.
Conkie: Anything goes.
Are there any questions that you can say will definitely be answered in Season 4?
Clarke: I don’t want to be beholden to anything. I think we can safely say that the Casey of it all — their identity, their story — the curtain will be pulled back on that in a bigger way next season for sure. I think the other lingering questions about Sam or the letters or all the things we let hang at the end of this year, they will be addressed, no question about it. We are very aware of the questions we left unanswered at the end of Season 3 going into Season 4, and I hope that our viewers trust us enough to know that we will 100 percent address ’em all.
The Way Home, Season 4, 2026, Hallmark Channel
Conversation54 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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Cousins?? I don’t think they’d do that knowing Kat and Elliot lived together and likely slept together so incest is so not Hallmark appropriate and just… ewww. The saving grace is that if Vic isn’t Elliot’s bio-dad, that would mean Ell wasn’t a blood Augustine and I don’t think the writers would take this away from such a prominent character. My guess is also that Elliot’s mom hooked up with Colton’s brother after Elliot was born and they escaped their reality knowing he’d be well cared for. If the baby wasn’t Vic’s he’d be the last person to raise Elliot alone, and if the guy she jumped with is Elliot’s bio-dad, she wouldn’t have had to leave him behind. She couldn’t time travel without a Landry so either the guy is a Landry of about that same age OR she is, but likely not as again… Kat and Elliott would be related! You just never know. Another question… who delivered the baby in the basket from the pond to the Landry farmhouse front porch?!? Watch it be Alice as she hasn’t yet traveled to the 80’s. No, no show is perfect in the eyes of every viewer but it is by far my favorite show EVER. Perpetual mystery, great relationships, great casting adult and younger versions of these characters, and so very unique in story. I’ll watch as many seasons as they’ll give us. Bring on Season 42!
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I love the show, but I find it a little over emotional sometimes
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Casey is Kat and Elliot's child. They are named after Cassandra Goodwin. It will be discovered that Cassandra was Susanna's daughter. Elliott is part Goodwin.
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How did you get that?
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I'm thinking Casey's parents are Jacob and Susanna's daughter , she looks so much like her .
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That would be amazing! But how? He cant bring her to the future. Could he bring just the baby to the future? But they didnt actually love each other either, so why? Wait...where did the Augustine's come from? She married a Goodwin and had no children, and the rest of her family was not in Port Haven...
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I thought of that possibility, but then why does Casey have Alice’s parents wedding rings? They wouldn’t mean anything to Casey.
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I love Kat and Elliot so I was very happy with their scenes in episode 10 and am so looking forward to what that get up to in the next season. I really want to know more about Elliot's mom and why she left and where she is. It will be so interesting to see where this goes. Is it the 1920s? Is that where Elliot's mom ended up and why did she leave her infant son with the abusive Vic? Looking forward to learning more about KC and Sam and where in time Jacob is. Is he the one that jumped with Elliot's mom? Taking her to safety, a kind of redemption tour? Looking so forward to what is coming up. A hint or two during the year would be fun.
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Is it possible that Elliott's mom left the baby in the basket & jumped into the pond with Colton's brother? That would be the Landry ticket for her to time travel. Could she have been married to Vic, in love with Colton's bro & ran off with him through the pond......maybe knowing Del & Cole would raise him. What if the bro is really Elliott's father? Vic resents Elliott & treats him badly because he isn't his, but rather a Landry. This would make Elliott & Kat cousins. I am team Elliott so I don't like this thought! Someone tell me why this thought won't work....please!
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If Vic isn't Elliots dad he would have never raised him. But Elliots mom running off with someone (perhaps Coltons brother or Jacob) would result in Vic resenting the fact that he was left with a kid to raise on his own.
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We already know that Vic was upset at all the Landry’s because of his older brother dying and not Cole when the accident happened. He always hated the Landry’s. And maybe Elliot’s mom did jump in the pond with Colton’s older brother. He did say that he expected his older brother to not show up at his wedding but not his best friend. So there’s that
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They memtioned Cole's brother for a reason. And we have NEVER seen him, not even at the funeral. Maybe he's been time traveling this entire time, or maybe he did leave with Elliott's mom and never came back. What if that's how Casey comes into this whole thing? Colton's brother and Elliotts mom have a kid when and wherever they are. That kid is a Landry, who grows up, goes to college, meets Max Goodwin in college and they have Casey. They never said they weren't Max's kids, they just said they weren't Alice's kid...😲🤯🤯🤯🤯 i think i just solved the Casey mystery.😂
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I really want to see more of a relationship between Thomas and Kat. Thomas seemed much more suited for kat than Elliott. Disappointed in that one aspect.
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I felt like Elliot was more high school type love and that Thomas’ was more a grown up love
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I think once Kat and Elliot know that they were rais3d together as babies like bro and sis Thomas will be back and that no going to the future thing may be erased just like del not being able to travel was. It could have more of a outlander feel. Plus I still feel like Cole will come back some how . Don't know how Kasey is a Augestine and a Landry and a Landry interesting.
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Question for you, how if Elliot was raised with Kat did he end up with Vic
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Elliot was raised by Vic. That did not change - you cannot change the past, remember???
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NOTHING CHANGED. Why would you think they are now raised as siblings???
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Thomas fans did get more air time and several very sexy kisses. Then the gut punch to us fans that Ms Clarke thought was funny. Kat tells Thomas he was in her life for a reason to show her what she wanted and deserved in the man she loves and then runs back to Elliot which has none of those qualities. She says Thomas showed her she should be accepted for who she is and then apologizes to Elliot for being that person. Season finale was not great and not sure why the cast was crying. Yes the Colton scenes were good but the rest not so much. But thank you for writing the amazing character of Thomas Coyle. He will not be forgotten. For me it will be a 2 season series. Season 2 and 3
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Casey actor just did not deliver a very emotional performance but one that looked so overrehearsed that she became bored with her own dialog. Same can be said for Elliot's mother scene. By comparison the main cast give very genuine performances. You can read the emotion not only in their dialog but also in their facial expressions and body language. I loved the episode but Casey's scene were underwhelming.
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Terrific interview. Some viewers seem to believe TWH is or should be Outlander or The Young and Restless. IT ISN’T.
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The fans of Thomas were appeased in season 3 with incredibly romantic scenes and then, as Ms Clarke herself stated “gut punched” by the adios Thomas scene. In less than 42 minutes Elliot was absolved of all his shortcomings and Kat apologized for being herself. The lack of continuity spoke for itself. The episodes with higher ratings and trending tweets for season 3 are self evident. All in all, a disappointing conclusion.
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I agree with my fellow #tomkats!
And it really Disgusted me that you used a clip with Thomas and Kat in it for the season finale ad to lure us #tomkats to watch and help bump up ratings....🤮 that was just gross.
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I think that Kats future IS NOT WITH ELLIOT! There has to be a way that they bring Thomas & Kat together because Elliot is more brotherish to Kat than Love. Thomas is more manly and for Kat. Writers please do not end Thomas' character!!
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Why is Casey referred to as them/they?
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That’s strange isn’t it. Could Casey be twins that take turns time-traveling?
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I had thought about that. I guess I need to rewatch and find out when this was first brought up I guess I missed the statement. I’ve watched every episode.
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🤦♀️
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When Casey first arrived on scene to work as an intern at the paper with Kat, after introducing themself to Kat, Kat responded with "so you are Evelyn's granddaughter?" Casey replied "grandchild actually. They them."
Everything written about Casey is in the they/them term. It makes me wonder if that leaves it open for Casey to be a male or female . I don't know.
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The actor is non binary and they honored that with the character.
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Met quite a few people who want to be referred to as They, Them.
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I am not a Casey fan.. when she introduced herself in the show, she said her name as K.C... not Casey... that was interesting .. and who wants to be referred as They, them... good grief... .. She seems bored with her own lines.. not seeing the passion as the others on the show...
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Best show ever.
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I love this program!! I look forward to it every week! 2026… so long to wait. I agree with so many others here - questions about Thomas, KC, etc. .
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Is the character CASEY binary and that's why you keep referring to her as they?
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yes, the actor is so they honored that for the character
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Casey is Jacob and Abigail’s child
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A little?
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My stepdaughter prefers they them. Grammatically it drives me nuts..
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But them again, why the ring? It only means something to Kat, Brady & Alice.
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Well, one thing the final episode of season 3 of "The Way Home" suggestively reveals is, Elliott's mom apparently traveled back in time, although the only way she could have done this is with a Landry... The writers have teased a few times that Colton has a brother, but we haven't ever met this brother of his yet, or have we??? Enter the character Sam, who obviously now has had knowledge about the Pond seemingly the entire time since his introduction,,, could Sam be Colton's long lost brother??? Is this who made the jump with Elliott's mom??? And an even bigger question would be,,, is Casey the lovechild of Colton's brother and Elliott's mom, born from their love for each other???
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that character is a prime example of what is wrong with the show in the later seasons - bloated cast and unnecessary characters that we just don't care about. not only is it confusing but it is boring. we wish they would go back to the original format of the three generations of women trying to resolve things, with some much needed flashbacks to younger Colton and Jacob. We give up trying to care about all of the unnecessary part.
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Cut the crap about using pronouns for Casey. It’s not the thing anymore. Thee and thine were used by the Pilgrims in speaking. This is 2025!
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I think that we find out that Casey is related to Sam in some way, especially knowing (or at least thinking) that they both can time travel. Are they related to the Landrys? I don't think so. Which opens up another question...who, besides the Landrys, can time travel?
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His is so much fun!!! Your story is so creative and intriguing. Please keep it going!! The actors and writers Rock! Please start Season four sooner and add more episodes!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️Thank You!! ❤️
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Can the pronouns!
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Could Sam be future Elliot?
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That thought crossed my mind, but that means after sleeping with Kat, he would come back and pursue Mom? Like Kristyn's cousin comment, that seems a little risque for Hallmark.
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Jacob goes back in time and hooks up with Susanna to create a Goodwin heir (by Susanna's marriage to Cyrus)
Who actually has Augustine and Landry blood. So, then Kat and Elliot will find out and have to decide whether they can stay together because they are related.
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I would have loved to known about Casey. I think shes jacobs kid. I think the writers messed up not making Thomas a series regular. Elliot isn't the right guy for Kat. Either way I'm probably done with the show.
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I recorded season 3 because I don’t want to watch if if they leave a bunch of unanswered questions. Now that I know that it does, I will delete the episodes that I recorded without watching them. I’m not a fan of soap operas.
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You are really missing out on a brilliant show!! I dislike soap operas also. This is not one of those by any means.
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Incredibly disappointing finale. So in 2 days Kat said goodbye to Thomas and was over it ( no female would be) , Elliott did a 180 and became everything he never was and everything Thomas was, that Kat said she wanted. So unrealistic. These writers can write mystery and intrigue but romance writers they are not. Which is sad considering its Hallmark. They need to add some new writers to the team. A time travel show that can't figure out how to bring a couple with incredible passion and chemistry together actoss time is super puzzling. They'd rather force a couple on us who make us close our eyes because it's like watching siblings. That finale was the Series finale for me!
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They are related, you'll see, so their love is because they are related
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