BROOKFIELD, September 15 — The story begins in a small town that exists only on screen, but the feelings it stirs are real enough for the viewers who keep returning to it. When Hope Calls, the feel-good period romance series set in the fictional town of Brookfield, remains one of the more quietly beloved entries in the Hallmark franchise — a show about two sisters, an orphanage, and the stubborn possibility of starting over.
At its heart, the series follows Lillian and Grace, sisters separated as children who reunite as adults to run an orphanage in Brookfield. Morgan Kohan plays Lillian Walsh, Jocelyn Hudon plays Grace Bennett, and Ryan-James Hatanaka plays Mountie Gabriel Kinslow.
Hanneke Talbot appears as Maggie Parsons, and Neil Crone as Ronnie Stewart. The show premiered on the Hallmark Channel in 2019, with its first season airing that year. It then moved to the Hallmark Movies Now streaming service for its second season, which debuted in 2021.
That shift — from a linear cable network to a subscription platform — placed the series among the network’s broader push into original content for streaming, and it has since been available on other platforms as well.
A spin-off with a long family tree
When Hope Calls functions as a spin-off of When Calls the Heart, the long-running Hallmark Channel series itself based on the Canadian West book series by Janette Oke. That parent show premiered in 2014 and has aired multiple seasons. The two share a universe and a creative team, which is precisely the point: for viewers who enjoy the original, the spin-off reads as a companion piece rather than a departure.
The production is based in Canada, and it is produced by Brad Krevoy and his company, Brad Krevoy Television, in association with All Canadian Entertainment and Believe Entertainment Group. Period costumes and sets evoke the early 1900s, and the scenic Canadian locations do much of the atmospheric work.
What unfolded on screen was deliberately gentle. The series is known for wholesome, family-friendly storytelling, romantic plotlines, and its period setting in the early 20th century. Its premise centers on themes of community, faith, and second chances, with the orphanage serving as the central setting for the characters’ lives and relationships.
Episodes typically run about an hour.
Where things stand
The second season concluded with a Christmas special, and the show’s future beyond that has been a topic of interest among fans. The series has not yet been renewed for a third season, and speculation about its fate continues. The franchise itself keeps expanding, with various specials and related programming.
For those involved, the appeal is not hard to trace. The show has been noted for its representation of strong female characters and its emphasis on community support, and its title reflects its optimistic tone and focus on hope and resilience.
It is a notable entry in the romance and period drama genres, and its availability on streaming platforms has introduced it to new audiences. What to watch next is the same question fans have been asking since that Christmas special: whether Brookfield’s orphanage gets another chapter, or whether the story rests where it is.
