THE WAY HOME ON HALLMARK: REVIEW, OFFICIAL DESCRIPTION, CAST, EPISODE COUNT, & WHERE TO WATCH
The Way Home is a new Hallmark TV series and the best thing to come from Hallmark in years. This is Hallmark in top form and at the top of their game. If this is the future of the Hallmark Channel, I’m all in.
It’s a perfect blend of genres: part family drama, part romantic drama, and all with a time travel sci-fi twist. Not to mention a compelling mystery that will have you glued to the screen weekly.
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So, if you’re looking for a heartwarming (but not saccharine) new show to watch, look no further than The Way Home on Hallmark.
OFFICIAL HALLMARK DESCRIPTION
The Way Home tells the story of three generations of women – Kat Landry (Chyler Leigh), her teen Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) and Kat’s mother Del (Andie MacDowell) – who are all strong, willful and independent.
More than 20 years prior, life-changing events prompted Kat to move away from her small, Canadian farm town and she remains estranged from Del to this day.
At a crossroads in her life, Kat moves back with Alice to her family’s farm though the reunion isn’t what Kat envisioned.
When Alice and Kat unwittingly discover the ability to travel between the past and present, mother and daughter are determined to unearth the truth around the earlier tragedies as they try to change the course of events.
Kat’s childhood friend Elliot (Evan Williams) is there for them in both eras as they navigate their journeys across time, helping the three women find their way back to each other.
THE WAY HOME – HALLMARK CAST
ANDIE MACDOWELL PLAYS DEL LANDRY
Andie MacDowell is known for iconic films like Groundhog Day and Four Weddings and a Funeral. But she’s also an established actress playing memorable roles across film and television – and even starred in the delightful Hallmark series Cedar Cove.
In The Way Home, MacDowell portrays Delilah (known as “Del”) Landry and is a leader in the community of Port Haven – but she still struggles with the loss of her husband and son. She’s independent, pragmatic, and level-headed.
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But she has a hard time dealing with her unresolved grief. Del also has a problematic relationship with her daughter, Kat.
She brings her warm smile and soft-spoken emotional voice of strength to the role creating another memorable character you can’t help but love.
CHYLER LEIGH PLAYS KAT LANDRY
Chyler Leigh, known for her beloved roles in Grey’s Anatomy and Supergirl, is back, bringing another likable character to life.
Leigh portrays Kat Landry, a 39-year-old divorcee, still recovering from losing her dad and her younger brother as a teenager. She’s a writer and a journalist trying to be the best mom possible to her teenage daughter.
When she reluctantly returns to her hometown after 20 years, she connects to her daughter and mother in surprising ways – while also developing a romance with her former best friend from childhood.
As she discovers a way to time travel to 1999, she begins to uncover the mystery behind her brother’s disappearance.
SADIE LAFLAMME-SNOW PLAYS ALICE DHAWAN
Newcomer Sadie Laflamme-Snow portrays Alice Dhawan, Kat’s independent teenage daughter. Upset over her parent’s divorce and not wanting to leave her life in the city behind, she struggles to fit in in Port Haven.
But when she discovers a portal to 1999, she connects to her family and roots in surprising ways – even befriending her mom as a teenager.
Laflamme-Snow is a promising young actress and singer and was perfectly cast in the role!
EVAN WILLIAMS PLAYS ELLIOT AUGUSTINE
Evan Williams, a versatile actor known for his roles in Versailles and Blonde, perfectly plays the best friend and romantic interest of Kat Landry. Elliot’s a science teacher at the high school and has carried unrequited feelings for Kat forever.
He’s also the “Giles” of sorts to Alice – in on the secret of her time-traveling and helping her over time.
ALEX HOOK PLAYS YOUNG KAT
Rounding out the main cast is Alex Hook as teenage Kat Landry. Alex Hook is known for starring in the TV series I Am Frankie. Hook reveals a different side to Kat – the happier, freer version before tragedy strikes.
OTHER CAST MEMBERS
Besides the core cast, other actors on the show in notable roles include Jefferson Brown as Colton Landry (Kat’s dad), Remy Smith as Jacob Landry (Kat’s brother), David Webster as Teen Elliot, Samuel Braun as Nick (Alice’s crush in 1999), and Al Mukadam as Brady Dhawan (Alice’s father).
Besides the central characters, the rest of the supporting cast includes Marnie McPhail, Samora Smallwood, Nigel Whitmey, Kataem O’Connor, Ali Prijono, Laura de Carteret, Megan Fahlenbock, Siddharth, and Peyson Rock in recurring roles.
THE WAY HOME HALLMARK REVIEW
Besides the strong cast, what initially caught my interest about the new show were the writers – most notably Heather Conkie – known for her work on Road to Avonlea and Heartland.
Conkie wrote some of my favorite Avonlea episodes – and what she does so brilliantly as a writer is capture the importance of “place” within a story.
Well, The Way Home is all about “place.” From a visual perspective, the setting takes place in contemporary New Brunswick and 1999 New Brunswick – sure to entice fans to want to visit the gorgeous province in Canada (even though it was primarily filmed in Toronto and Scarborough, Ontario).
But place is also a metaphor for home – a theme significant in telling the story.
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Besides Conkie, the showrunners include her daughter, Alexandra Clarke (very fitting to have a mother-daughter writing duo for this series), and the show’s creator, Marly Reed – who’s been developing this idea since she was in college.
Reed asked herself if she would be friends with her mom if they were the same age. She then thought further, “Well, what if you could time travel and do just that?”
And that sets up the premise for The Way Home.
HALLMARK AT ITS BEST
Within the first few minutes, it became clear that The Way Home is bringing back the classic feel of Hallmark Hall of Fame movies but as a TV show. This new show is Hallmark at its best with solid writing, emotional, authentic performances, compelling scripts, memorable romances, and with family-friendly storytelling.
Some viewers might also be surprised by the opening sequence of the drama – beginning with the year 1814 with what seems to be a torch mob chasing after a witch…Hmmm. One of the show’s mysteries to solve and an intriguing plot point.
THREE GENERATIONS OF WOMEN
The dynamics between the three generations of women are strong – each character adding an interesting layer to the story. No character is perfect – everyone has strengths and weaknesses – and nothing comes easy for the Landry women.
But they each have an inner strength and a likability that instantly connects them to the audience.
WHAT HAPPENED TO JACOB LANDRY?
Now, some viewers may find some of the content depressing as it does deal with a traumatic family tragedy – the disappearance of Jacob Landry – and the loss of Kat’s dad/Del’s husband only a few months later.
And because more than 20 years later, they still don’t know what happened to Jacob, that mystery and question haunt each character differently. Make no mistake – expect to cry watching this series.
Consider that heavy loss, and imagine if you could time travel and see loved ones you’ve lost – what would you do? Would you try to change history? Try to get just one more moment with them? These are questions asked and answered in the show.
Chyler Leigh’s performance as she deals with the loss of her family for a second time – is particularly heartbreaking to watch.
While the content can be sad to watch, it’s uplifting. And while the tragedy is real and deeply felt, there is still a hopeful, light feel to the series – especially as the three women work through their issues and connect despite the hardships in their lives.
It’s truly a beautiful show about unconditional love to enjoy. Indeed, this is a relatable, nostalgic series for women of all ages.
THE ROMANCES
Teens will appreciate a touch of time-travel romance in the show as Alice deals with a crush and first love with a sweet young man in 1999. Of course, the issue of time puts a damper on this one!
It’s also incredible to see the beautiful relationship between Del and her husband, Colton, in the past. They have the ideal relationship – that is, until tragedy strikes. And even though Colton is gone, Del’s evident love for him remains.
However, the most compelling love story for romance fans is the slow-built relationship between Kat and Elliot. One can’t help to root for these two to finally get together in an Anne/Gilbert way. He’s the best friend who will do anything for her – and the two actors have fantastic chemistry.
Elliot’s the intelligent, lovable, brainy guy who loves you for everything you are – and that’s always fun to watch play out.
OVERALL THOUGHTS
Overall, I can’t recommend The Way Home enough. It’s an unmissable new series with excellent writing, emotional performances from a talented cast, and gorgeous production values.
From the stunning cinematography to the production design, historical props, and ‘historical ’90s research to the perfect cast and talented writers, Hallmark has a winner.
If you love the potential of what the Hallmark Channel can be – well, The Way Home is Hallmark storytelling at its finest. Check it out.
HOW MANY EPISODES OF HALLMARK’S THE WAY HOME?
The Way Home premiered on the Hallmark Channel on Sunday, January 15, and will air ten episodes for Season 1. The finale airs on Sunday, March 26, 2023.
And good news, the new family drama is a success and has already been renewed for Season 2!
WHERE TO WATCH
The Way Home is available to watch on the Hallmark Channel. You can also stream it on Hallmark Movies Now and Peacock (it might only be there briefly). Or you can buy the episodes/season digitally on Amazon Video, Vudu, and Apple TV.
Content Note: TV-PG
Are you watching The Way Home? What do you think of the new Hallmark show? Do you love it as much as I do? And what’s your best theory of what happened to Jacob? Let us know in the comments!
Featured Image Photo: Chyler Leigh, Sadie Laflamme-Snow, Andie MacDowell. Credit: ©2022 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Michael Larsen
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I love “The Way Home” I’m so addicted to it, I can’t wait for the 2nd season. I wish it would just keep going now, next year is to long of a wait. Thank you for the awesome series, “The Way Home”
I love the show. My mom and aunt also watch it. They are trying to figure out the time travel part where her father dies in the car accident.
I think Jacob also goes in the pond and travels somewhere.
It’s so good! I can’t wait to see the finale tonight. 🙂
I have a different view. After watching the series, in bored agony at times, I found it to be very lacking and uninteresting, and very disappointed in the ending — there should have been another episode following the “Finale” episode. “Time Travel” was a hook to pull you into a dull story that nobody should watch during a series of long rainy days because it is so depressing. I was extremely interested in the beginning due to the “time travel” aspect, but soon became disinterested because it just became a typical soap opera, which was WAY so unbelievable or interesting. I am disappointed in this Halmark series, coming nowhere near my expectations.
Every show is not for everyone, that’s for sure. 🙂
I love the way home very and you guys have very talented cast this hallmark Series movie is fantastic keep on going I wish you guys have every week entire year so we can continue watching well done Hallmark
I personally Loved The Way Home series! The actresses and actors were so good story line was interesting and really pulled me into it. Wish it was ongoing like other reviewers stated! Can’t wait for season 2!!
I can’t wait for Season 2! It will be fun to see them explore the time traveling mythology more.