What When Calls the Heart fans hope to see in season nine

By the time the Hallmark Channel’s When Calls the Heart‘s ninth season debuts, it will have been close to a year since its eighth season wrapped with series star and executive producer Erin Krakow’s character, Elizabeth Thornton, having given her heart to series star Chris McNally’s character, Lucas Bouchard. While many, many fans were disappointed Elizabeth didn’t choose series star Kevin McGarry’s character, Nathan Grant, an equal proportion of fans were glad the love triangle was over.

Elizabeth had been struggling for almost three years, with her heart warring between Lucas and Nathan, but now that the decision has been made, hopefully, the series will allow the relationship to unfold while creating deeper story arcs for some other fan-favorites…like Lee and Rosemary Coulter, portrayed by Kevan Smith and Pascale Hutton.

Something is missing for Rosemary and Lee on When Calls the Heart

Married since season three, Rosemary and Lee have weathered some storms in their marriage, yet it has remained one of the strongest unions on the series. But the couple wants something elusive to them. They want to become parents. So far, that’s not what the producers have in mind, but fans are hoping that will change with season nine.

Rosemary and Lee have loved baby Jack (Elizabeth’s son with her late husband, Jack Thornton) like their own, and seeing them interact with the baby and now toddler only reinforces what fans already know. The pair would be great parents, both funny, maybe a little over-the-top when it comes to Rosemary, and truly committed. After five years, it’s time for this couple to get what their hearts desire.

The Canfields deserve an in-depth story arc on When Calls the Heart season nine

Introduced last season, the Canfields, portrayed by Viv Leacock and Natasha Burnett, have two children, a daughter, Angela, played by Leacock’s daughter, Vienna, and son Cooper, played by Leacock’s son, Elias. And most of the season was spent trying to get Angela, who is visually impaired, to attend the only school in Hope Valley with teacher Elizabeth Thornton.

And fans were excited when Joseph Canfield took over as the pastor of Hope Valley’s only church as the town had been without one for quite some time. Unfortunately, the season didn’t have time to bring in more about this side of the family. Fans are hoping to see Joseph behind the pulpit, uniting the town together, and also want a strong friendship to develop between Joseph’s wife, Minnie, and Elizabeth and Rosemary.

Nathan Grant needs more to do in When Calls the Heart

And, finally, Nathan Grant, as the town’s Mountie, needs more action and romance of his own. He spent most of last season hoping Elizabeth would choose him. Now that he knows that’s not to be, fans want him to move on, become a stronger, more self-assured member of the Hope Valley community, and eventually find a woman who chooses him first.

There are so many other characters that need bigger and better stories on the series, but with only twelve episodes, it’s difficult to cover them all, which is why fans also want longer seasons…but that’s another story.

When Calls the Heart season nine will air on the Hallmark Channel in 2022.