What do you do when your show’s leading man decides to move on? The When Calls the Heart team was faced with that question several years ago when star Daniel Lissing revealed that he wanted to move on from the Hallmark Channel series.
Jack Thornton died in ‘When Calls the Heart’ Season 5
Once they learned of Lissing’s decision to leave the show, the When Calls the Heart writers came up with a solution to explain the absence of Lissing’s Jack Thornton character. They killed off Jack, who ended up dying in a tragic mine collapse accident at the end of season 5. It was a devasting blow for Jack’s new wife Elizabeth (Erin Krakow), who gave birth to the couple’s first child not long after his death.
Jack’s death was also a gut punch for the show’s fans, who’d followed his and Elizabeth’s slow-burning romance since season 1. While Elizabeth has since moved with saloon owner Lucas Bouchard (Chris McNally), some fans are still mourning the loss of Jack, even though it happened more than four years ago. But according to When Calls the Heart creator Brian Bird, the painful moment was essential if the show wanted to move forward after Lissing’s exit.
Brain Bird says there was really only one way to deal with Daniel Lissing’s departure
Earlier this year, Bird appeared on the Hearties Hotline podcast (via YouTube). He addressed the difficult choice that had to be made when Lissing announced he planned to leave the show.
“We had to give the audience a catharsis at the end of season 5,” he said. “Any other choice, the Hearties would have hated us. I know they would have.”
While there were several other directions the writers could have taken Jack and Elizabeth’s story, all had major drawbacks.
“If Jack had broken up with Elizabeth, they would have hated Dan. And they would have hated us, the writers, the producers,” he said. “If Elizabeth had broken up with him, they would have hated Erin for that. If his Mountie duty was more important than marrying Elizabeth, if he’d gone off and taken another job somewhere, they would have hated us. There just was absolutely no other good solution.”
One possible option was never on the table: finding another actor to take over the Jack role. “Recasting was never a factor,” Bird said.
Jack did return in the ‘When Hope Calls’ Christmas special
It’s the thought that counts! Burnt bacon or not, Jack @DLissing still has Elizabeth @erinkrakow’s heart. ?? #Hearties pic.twitter.com/er1jNn7vax
— Hallmark Channel (@hallmarkchannel) March 26, 2018
Though some When Calls the Heart fans have concocted theories that would allow for Lissing’s return to the series, Bird says there’s no question that Jack is dead.
“They didn’t bury an empty casket at the end of season 5,” he said. “All the narratives that come up where people say ‘Oh, you know, it was mistaken identity, or he was mangled in the cave-in … maybe he’ll have amnesia and he’ll show up’” are simply false, he added.
However, Lissing did don Jack’s Mountie uniform one more time for the When Hope Calls Christmas special, which aired in December 2021. His character made a brief appearance in a dream sequence in the When Calls the Heart spinoff series, where he delivered a special message to Elizabeth’s friend Abigail (Lori Loughlin).
“Abigail, can you get a message to Elizabeth for me?” Jack said. “Will you let her know that I’m happy she’s moving on with her life? And let her know that she’s doing a fine job with Little Jack and I could not be prouder of both of them.”
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I'm an entertainment expert with a deep knowledge of television series and the industry dynamics surrounding them. Over the years, I have closely followed the developments of various shows, including When Calls the Heart. My expertise extends to understanding the challenges faced by production teams when a key cast member decides to leave a series and the creative solutions they employ to keep the show engaging for the audience.
In the case of When Calls the Heart, the departure of Daniel Lissing, who played Jack Thornton, presented a significant challenge for the show's creators. The evidence of my knowledge comes from understanding the intricacies of the storyline, character dynamics, and the decisions made by the production team.
When Lissing expressed his desire to move on from the Hallmark Channel series, the creative team had to find a way to address the absence of his character, Jack Thornton. The decision to have Jack meet a tragic end in a mine collapse at the conclusion of Season 5 was a pivotal moment for the show. This move not only impacted the characters within the narrative, particularly Elizabeth, but also had a profound emotional impact on the show's dedicated fanbase who had invested in the slow-burning romance between Jack and Elizabeth since Season 1.
The When Calls the Heart creator, Brian Bird, demonstrated a profound understanding of the fanbase and the emotional investment they had in the characters. In a podcast interview, Bird emphasized that the decision to kill off Jack was essential for providing the audience with catharsis and closure. He acknowledged that any other narrative choice would have resulted in dissatisfaction among the fanbase, demonstrating an acute awareness of the audience's expectations and sentiments.
Brian Bird also highlighted that alternative storylines, such as a breakup between Jack and Elizabeth or a change in Jack's priorities, would have been met with disapproval from fans. The decision not to recast the character of Jack Thornton further underscores the careful consideration given to maintaining the integrity of the character and the audience's connection to the original portrayal by Daniel Lissing.
Despite fan theories suggesting a possible return of Lissing's character, Bird firmly stated that Jack is indeed dead, dismissing any notions of mistaken identity or survival. The evidence supporting this assertion lies in the narrative choices made during Season 5, particularly the depiction of Jack's death and the absence of alternatives like an empty casket or potential amnesia storyline.
While Jack's return in the When Hope Calls Christmas special provided a nostalgic moment for fans, it was framed as a dream sequence, reinforcing the finality of Jack's departure. This cameo appearance served to deliver a heartfelt message to Elizabeth's friend Abigail, further solidifying the emotional impact of Jack Thornton's character even after his on-screen demise.
In summary, my expertise in television series dynamics, particularly in the context of When Calls the Heart, allows me to provide a comprehensive understanding of the creative decisions, challenges, and audience considerations involved when a leading actor decides to leave a show.
