Parents' Guide to

When Calls the Heart

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 7+

Faith-based period drama has stellar female role models.

When Calls the Heart Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

age 7+

Based on 36 parent reviews

age 2+

As good in Season 9 as it was in Season 1!

This show is honestly really good! As someone who is always looking out for hidden messaging, ect, I have been extremely impressed with When Calls The Heart. I especially appreciated the prominent Faith shown in the earlier Seasons. For a while, I was afraid that the show may have been losing those elements but much to my delight, Faith is now an even more important part of the show in S9 than it was maybe ever. While there are those who criticize Elizabeth's new Fiance, as a Christian myself, I have no objections to him. He treats with gentleness, shows her unconditional love and respects her boundaries. Not to mention, he's just a really good man, regardless of what some may say. If you enjoy rom coms & aren't super bothered by inaccurate costuming, you should definitely give this show a try!

This title has:

Great messages
1 person found this helpful.
age 8+

A wonderful series through Season Seven

This was a wonderful family oriented show for 7 seasons. Season 8 was awful. It was incredibly sad to witness the self-destruction of what was a great series. S8 took a dramatic turn in writing and in the high moral standards of main character who becomes self-absorbed and unlikable. Don’t waste your time watching past season 7.
1 person found this helpful.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (36 ):
Kids say (25 ):

This Hallmark series touches on some serious issues, which adds to its credibility as a historical drama, but it explores them with such care that their positive messages leap off the screen. Your kids may have questions about the characters' physical and emotional struggles -- particularly as they relate to the miners' recent deaths, which are referenced often -- but the show is a testament to human perseverance and faith in a higher power.

Based on Janette Oke's book series, When Calls the Heart picks up Elizabeth's story where the previous movie left it, but it does so with an almost entirely different cast (only Loughlin reprises her movie role). Nonetheless, it's easy to make the jump if you've seen the movie, but the series' plot works fine as its own entity as well. This is a beautifully crafted period drama set against the lovely backdrop of western Canada, and it's rich in historically situated content; positive messages about faith, family, and courage; and strong female role models, with Elizabeth leading the charge.

TV Details

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