Fan Demand Led Hallmark To Change Its Mind About The Way Home Season 3, But I’m Still Concerned About One Big Change That’s Coming

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As a devoted fan of Hallmark’s heartwarming and engaging series, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the latest developments regarding “The Way Home.” I’ve been following this enchanting time-travel drama since its inception, and it has become a beloved part of my weekly viewing routine.

In recent years, there hasn’t been this level of commotion at Hallmark since Candace Cameron Bure, Danica McKeller, and other stars departed for GAF. Despite the cable network’s efforts to launch a new streaming service called Hallmark+, their decisions have led to a distancing from their loyal viewer base, including myself.

As a devoted cinephile, I’ve been following the recent developments of the beloved time-travel series “The Way Home” closely. Although they’ve retreated from their latest plan, I can’t help but express my apprehension regarding a significant change that’s looming on the horizon.

Hallmark Shifting The Way Home And Then Backtracking

If you’ve missed out on “The Way Home” recently, it’s worth noting that Hallmark Channel announced that Season 3 of this series will not be airing on their traditional network in 2025. Instead, it is expected to bypass the parent network and debut exclusively on Hallmark+’s streaming platform, similar to new shows like “The Chicken Sisters” and other original content that Hallmark has been moving towards a stream-only format.

The thing is, I already pay for YouTube TV to watch The Way Home. Given I mostly subscribe to a cable alternative for Hallmark content (and my partner for sports) and given YouTube TV is even jacking up the price lately, the thought of signing on for another streaming service is not really bringing me holiday cheer right now. In fact, I’d resigned myself to just not watching the new season.

Initially, Hallmark had decided that only Season 3 of “The Way Home” would be available on Hallmark+. However, over the weekend, they reversed this decision, which is excellent news for fans who have followed the series since its debut, starring Andi McDowell, Chyler Leigh, and Sadie Laflamme-Snow. Yet, this development also prompts me to address my ongoing concern about the upcoming change.

One Big Change About The Way Home Season 3 I Am Concerned About As A Fan

Essentially, the majority of Hallmark’s unique content is broadcast over weekends, with new original movies usually premiering on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. As for their original TV shows like The Way Home and When Calls The Heart, they usually air on Sunday nights – a time when most families are at home instead of being out and about with their busy schedules.

For Season 3, contrary to their initial plan of placing the time travel series on their streaming service, Hallmark has opted to air “The Way Home” during primetime hours, specifically on Friday nights. Here’s a tweet from the brand about it:

NEWS FLASH: Due to an extraordinary level of interest, the full Season 3 of #TheWayHome will debut on the Hallmark Channel from this coming Friday, January 3rd at 9/8 pm Eastern Time, and the following day, you can stream it on @HallmarkPlus!

I’m not exaggerating when I say that this show is must-see TV for me, and I’ve managed to convert some of my family members into fans as well. Shows like “House of the Dragon,” “Survivor,” “Top Chef,” and “The Amazing Race” still hold a special place in my heart too. However, airing it on Friday nights seems more like they’re getting rid of the series rather than showcasing its brilliance. Perhaps they’re counting on the convenience factor to entice some viewers to subscribe to Hallmark+?

To put it simply, my show, “The Way Home,” might draw a comparable audience to programs like “Blue Bloods” and “Fire Country.” These two shows have been successful in pulling viewers on Friday nights, a time that’s often referred to as a “difficult slot” due to traditionally low viewership.

In my opinion, “The Way Home” stands out as the most powerful original content that Hallmark has produced, perhaps even to date. One reason for this is that the script was originally designed with a streaming TV budget in mind, and it truly reflects that. Lisa Hamilton Daly, SVP of Hallmark, brought “The Way Home” over when she left Netflix, and since then, it’s been making waves. It’s easy to understand why it has already been renewed so quickly. It’s not just a good Hallmark show; it’s simply a well-made television series overall.

It’s hard for me to believe that the network is intentionally ending “When Calls The Heart” given its long-standing reputation and the expectation that shows like it would continue beyond what one might expect. (Even though I enjoy it, I find this a bit odd for the show.) However, the whole situation has left me quite puzzled, as I’m also unsure about the changes that will come when “The Way Home” takes over the TV schedule next year.

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2024-12-17 00:07