When Calls the Heart is the Hallmark Channel’s most-watched show of all time, and after 13 seasons, it is still going strong. So strong, it is getting a prequel on Hallmark+ today.
Hope Valley: 1874 stars Bethany Joy Lenz, Benjamin Ayres, Jill Hennessy, Roan Curtis, and Lachlan Quarmby.
Newly widowed, Rebecca Clarke (Lenz) left Chicago with her 11-year-old daughter, Sarah (Mila Morgan), to open a boarding house in Hope Valley.
The town needs one because there are plenty of pioneers who are flocking there to find gold. The locals don’t want them there, so they don’t want the boarding house.
Since it is 1874, Rebecca did not see what the building looked like before she bought it. That is a bad thing because it is in complete decay. She gave up everything for it, so what is she going to do?
Tom Moore (Ayres) is a local rancher, and he hates the pioneers more than everyone else there. He does not want them there and is doing everything he can to stop them. But they are fighting back, and that is leading to a lot of conflicts between those who live there and those who are new to the area.
Constable Alexander Vaughn (Quarmby) has been assigned to Hope Valley and will try to maintain order between the two groups. He has the law on his side, but is that enough?
Then there is Hattie Quinn (Hennessy) and her daughter, Olivia (Curtis), who together run the valley’s trading post. They are the bridge between the two sides. They are pioneers who have settled there.
The mother and daughter have also welcomed Rebecca to their town, and they will make a good trio. Will Tom make them a quartet? Rebecca and Tom have a connection, but their differences are coming between them. Something I am sure will change as the show goes on.
I have to admit, I have never seen When Calls the Heart, so I can’t compare the two or know how they are connected. Having said that, I really enjoyed Hope Valley.
It is the perfect period piece for us to enjoy. It might take place 150 years ago, but it feels modern. It is also a series that we can enjoy as a family, and we need more of that.
So if you have been debating whether to subscribe to Hallmark+, this is your reason to do so.
In 2003, Jury Duty was the surprise television hit of the year—a show where everyone but one person was in on the prank. The prank was that he thought he had been called for jury duty, but he was not. It was just made to look that way.
Jury Duty is back on Prime Video, but this time the lone non-actor is a temp assisting on a Company Retreat. Poor Anthony does not know what he signed up for when he agreed to be Kevin’s assistant the week of the retreat.
Rockin’ Grandma’s Hot Sauce is a small company where all the employees are like a family. Doug is the boss, and he is retiring after the retreat. He is giving the business to his son, Dougie. Dougie is a screw-up who has no idea what he is doing. He has also been away in Jamaica for a few years, so the staff doesn’t really know him. He needs to prove himself, but he keeps doing the opposite.
If this was not enough, a documentary crew is there recording everything. This way, Anthony will not question why there are cameras everywhere. However, he will rightfully be questioning everything else.
In the first episode, Kevin proposes to his co-worker, Amy, at the retreat, and he asks Anthony to help with the proposal. What could go wrong? She says no! Kevin is so embarrassed that he goes home, leaving Anthony in charge of the retreat.
How will he handle this group of lovable misfits who would be so much fun to work with? And things get more complicated when he finds out Doug wants to sell the business.
With all of that going on, the actors have been given some weird scenarios to test Anthony. These things are so unbelievable that he keeps saying, “You can’t write this stuff.”
But they can, and they did. Will he figure it out before the big reveal? The first three episodes of Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat are out now on Prime Video for free, the next two episodes premiere on Friday, and the final three drop the Friday after that.
Tomorrow night, BTS is going live on Netflix from Gwanghwamun in Seoul to promote their first album, Arirang, which is out today, since their forced military break.
And talking about breaks. RM did not break his ankle, but he did injure it. Because of that, their label, Weverse, released a statement about his participation in the anticipated performance. “During a performance rehearsal on March 19, RM suffered an ankle injury and was taken to a hospital to undergo a detailed examination and treatment. A medical diagnosis confirmed a sprain of the accessory navicular, a partial ligament tear, and a talus contusion (which includes ligament damage and inflammation). As advised by medical professionals, he must wear a cast and strictly limit movement for a minimum of two weeks to concentrate solely on his recovery.
“While RM expressed a firm commitment to deliver a high-quality performance at this symbolic comeback stage at Gwanghwamun, the company, in close consultation with the artist, has made the decision to prioritize the medical opinion to preemptively prevent any further strain on his injury.”
They added that his participation will be limited, but he will try to be as much a part of it as he can.
K-Pop Demon Hunters dominated 2025. However, no one was prepared for the phenomenon, including the toy companies. So they are making up for it now.
Mattel is one of the companies Sony and Netflix teamed up with, and the toy giant needs your help. They are trying to figure out which doll should join HUNTR/X’s Rumi, Mira, and Zoey. Should it be Demon Jinu or Sleeping Bag Mira?
Mattel Creations says, “Jinu differs from the core line as he has new accessories and face deco, skin tone, hands, rooted hair, and a look not featured in the core line with an elevated outfit in premium execution and fabrics.”
While “Mira differs from the core line as she has new accessories and face deco with an elevated outfit look delivered with premium execution and fabrics.”
I am Team Mira. What about you? You have until May 26th at 11:59p PT to vote.
