‘Hope Valley 1874’ Delights Hearties in Premiere Episode. ‘Hope Valley 1874’ is the story of the origins of Hope Valley. When we first met Hope Valley back in the beginning of ‘When Calls The Heart‘, it was named Coal Valley. The town goes through a tragedy, and the people renamed the town to Hope Valley as they rose from that tragedy.
In the first episode of ‘Hope Valley 1874’, we meet Rebecca Clarke and her 11-year-old daughter, Sarah. They journey to the Canadian frontier in search of a new life. When she realizes the boardinghouse she purchased is not as advertised, she has no choice but to accept help from local rancher Tom Moore.
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The new Hallmark+ series stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Benjamin Ayres. Also starring are Jill Hennesey, Lachlan Quarmby, Mila Morgan, Roan Curtis, Chelsea Hobbs, Matreya Scarrwener, Grayson Maxwell Gurnsey, and many more. The series was created by Alfonso H. Moreno, who is the executive producer on this and also ‘When Calls The Heart’ and ‘When Hope Calls’.
In episode one, we see Rebecca and Sarah in a wagon heading west. They have to fix a wheel and end up stopping in gold rush country to fill up on water for their horse. The horse gets spooked by men using explosives to find gold. Rancher Tom Moore races to save the horse and Sarah, who is still in the wagon.
Spoilers ahead for episode one. If you don’t want to know yet, here is your chance to stop reading.
Rebecca is grateful and wants to get going to her new boardinghouse. She’s told they can’t travel on that wheel and need to stay. Tom offers a room, but Rebecca opts for a tent with Sarah on Tom’s property. We meet Hattie, who runs the trading post. Clayton, who works for Tom, sets to work on fixing the wheel.
Widow Rebecca is extremely guarded and seems to be fleeing something in her past. Tom sustained an injury to his hand saving her wagon and Sarah. Rebecca tends to wound and says that her late husband was a doctor, and she picked up things watching him. She finally tells Tom that she bought a boarding house and that is what brought her west. Tom looks at the ad from the newspaper and immediately knows she’s been swindled.
He takes her to the property. It’s overgrown in weeds and vines and is in great disrepair. Fans of WCTH will recognize that this becomes the Queen of Hearts Saloon in the future. What is Rebecca going to do with this? She’s beside herself because she has nothing and nowhere to go.
While talking with Hattie, one of the locals comes rushing in for help. His wife has gone into labor. Hattie says she’s never delivered a baby, and she looks to Rebecca. She hasn’t delivered a baby either, but her husband did. The women rush to the laboring mother and help deliver her baby. In a fan-pop moment, we discover that this baby is named Ned. Ned Yost. Yes, we saw the birth of beloved Hope Valley Mercantile owner, Ned Yost. As a fan, I did audibly react to this. I love seeing how the Hope Valley we have loved for 13 seasons came to be.
The first episode drew me in quickly. There is enough of ‘When Calls the Heart’ to make me smile, and the characters grabbed me instantly. There is intrigue with Rebecca and Sarah. Tom finds a paper in the wagon that says, “You were right to leave when you did.” Sarah is afraid to meet the other children. She also mentions that she hopes they can’t find them. Who can’t find them? Who is after them and why? The episode ends with new Constable Vaughn coming into the settlement. The RCMP is now the law in the area. How will the people react to now having a law governing them?
Bethany Joy Lenz has long been a favorite of mine. I could watch ‘A Biltmore Christmas’ and ‘Five Star Christmas’ any day of the week. As her name implies, she brings Joy! Benjamin Ayres, the chancellor of the popular Instagram group, Romance University, is one of my favorites. I love ‘Long Lost Christmas’ and ‘The Santa Class’. As a proud member of the Romance University group, I’ll always support his projects.
This series is looking to become a favorite of many fans. If you are a Heartie, then this will be for you. We will bring more reviews along the way this season. This will be exclusively on Hallmark+ for now. New episodes premiering every Thursday beginning March 26. Hallmark+ is giving new customers a deal on new annual subscriptions. Use code HVHALFOFF for 50% of annual subscriptions.
‘Hope Valley 1874’ Delights Hearties in Premiere Episode
