Brian Bird, co-creator and executive producer of “When Calls the Heart,” opened up in an interview after the season 10 finale, revealing when the choice to change the love triangle was made — and who made the choice. He also shared some advice for broken-hearted Hearties who wanted to see a future with Lucas and Elizabeth.
They Chose the Path That Gave Them the Best Storylines for the Show’s Future, Bird Said
In an interview with James Lott Jr. of JLJ Media, Bird opened up and shared his honest, transparent thoughts about why Lucas and Elizabeth’s relationship ended. For some fans, the change in season 10 was unexpected.
At just past the hour mark into the interview, Bird said that, ultimately, they needed to choose the path that gave them the most storylines for the show’s future.
“There’s multiple levels to decisions like this…” he acknowledged. “On the broadest level, it’s: ‘What do we believe gives us more story to tell?’ … [We’re] going to err on the side of, ‘How do we continue to have seasons and have …. lots more stories to tell?'”
He acknowledged that he used this same reasoning when Elizabeth chose Lucas two seasons ago, but things have since changed for the characters.
“And I said exactly that same thing when when Elizabeth chose Lucas two years ago, and I wasn’t wrong,” Bird said. “They’re two really good seasons… Their love was real, we’re not erasing that… He (Lucas) was a man of the world, raised by wealthy parents and sort of traveled… He lived a bigger life. So domesticating that man seemed very rich to us and it was. And we got good mileage out of that, good storytelling… Season 8 and 9 were real; they’re meaningful…”
They Decided to Make the Big Shift About Halfway Through Season 10, Bird Shared
Hallmark HallmarkLucas and Elizabeth on “When Calls the Heart.”
Bird surprised some fans when he said that they didn’t decide to make the big change until about halfway through working on season 10. Showrunner Lindsay Sturman was part of that decision, but not the only factor.
“It wasn’t a decision made really early in season 10…” he told JLJ Media. “It evolved over … at least the first half of the season, until this sort of the light went on for … Lindsay (Sturman) and her team. And then of course we all had to bless that.”
He said they had to really look at what was in the core of the characters and proceed based on what was best for them.
“There is no path forward in this show if Elizabeth leaves Hope Valley…” Bird said. “Her whole purpose is … lighting fuses under new generation of students to become amazing citizens… But Lucas, this guy was destined to be a big shot… He’s a leader in this community; he’s starting to step up to much bigger things. And it just occurred to Lindsay and the team and to us that if this town is threatened by something bigger than whiskey runners or bandits… It needs a man of the world to … tackle that. And we wanted the equivalent of a mine disaster without all the death… We wanted the stakes to be big.”
All heroes make great sacrifices, he added, and this was part of Lucas’ story.
A Committee of People Were Ultimately Involved in the Decision to Break Up Lucas & Elizabeth, Bird Added
Bird told JLJ Media that the big choices for the show were made by a committee of contributors, not just one person. The showrunner, for example, didn’t make decisions about the love triangle by herself, he shared.
“The foundation is carefully laid for reasons that I can talk about and some that I can’t…” Bird acknowledged. “It is a business full of human beings. None of the choices are ever done in a vacuum. There’s a creative committee with a lot of stakeholders and that includes writers, producers, the network, and the cast. Everybody has a voice in these decisions and no one person makes these decisions. Lindsay (Sturman) was … the pilot of the plane in season 10 and season 11 but … she wasn’t making all the decisions. She was executing the decisions that were made sort of by … a collective group, who all have the best interest of the show and the future of the show in mind.”
Bird Said No One Feels Mistakes Were Made This Season or in Previous Seasons
Hallmark HallmarkNathan and Elizabeth on “When Calls the Heart”
At about 12 minutes into the interview, Bird said that people involved with the show don’t feel like they “messed up” — not in season 10 or in previous seasons.
“We’re not gonna say we messed up, because we don’t believe that…” Bird said. “Sometimes we find inspiration that we had no idea existed before we found it.”
At 17:14, Bird emphasized that they never had any desire to play with anyone’s emotions.
“We don’t want to toy with anybody’s emotions, but by the same token, we also believe in doing what’s best for the future of the show,” Bird emphasized.
He asked Disappointed Hearties Not to ‘Forsake Your Fellow Hearties’
At about 14:29 into the interview, Bird said they do sympathize with everyone who feels hurt by the show’s changes.
“For those who were hurt, we feel bad that they were hurt, we do, we sympathize…” Bird said. “Everybody has a right to those feelings. We don’t want to invalidate their feelings. … (The) profound loss that some people feel is real; we’re not trying to deny that at all… All we can say about that passion is that if you didn’t care so much, you would be silent… We are deeply grateful and humble for all that reaction. Some of it hurts honestly on our side, but also some of it feels fantastic.”
At about 19:40 into the interview, he shifted gears and asked disappointed Hearties to stick around.
“I just want to say to all those Hearties out there who are feeling … out of sorts or sad … absolutely your opinions matter, but don’t forsake your fellow Hearties over it…” he said. “Don’t leave the world of the Hearties, the family of the Hearties, and walk away from that, because you need that just as much as we all do. We all need each other… Dysfunctional families sometimes do break apart but we’re not there and we’re not letting it go there.”
READ NEXT: Showrunner Reveals Plans for Lucas on When Calls the Heart’s Next Season
I have always thought that Elizabeth and Nathan should be together and hopefully it will happen.
I greatly appreciate Mr. Bird and his thoughtful words, yet I’m old enough to see through a “Cover” explanation for Hallmark again.
I also because of the books was a huge “Love Saga” fan, then Hallmark killed off Willie( a core chatacter through the series-12)
I have never seen any of the movies since.
Mountie Jack Thornton died because Daniel wanted more and different options.
I blessed him on his new path.
Their is No such situation that occured here:
New show runner, I have nothing to do with social media, but I have heard and been shown the Vitriol from Nathan fans about the Choice made a few years ago.
Just as in real world, the ones whom create Chaos, most places like Hallmark easily cave, they have been caving for years, Far from the “Core, the Heart of Hallmark”……
I feel for Mr. Bird that he has been the Only one to say Thoughtful and Truthful words, yet Hallmark used him to be the
” One whom falls on the Sword” for the Show and Hallmark.
I washed my hands and have one less hour to waste my time after I got home from Church.
Thank you Mr. Bird for all you had done????
Nothing screams “best storylines for the show’s future” like the regurgitated story of teacher and Mountie! I can’t wait for episodes on baking banana bread and muffins as Nathan shoves them down his gullet.
Give me a break, Bird. Lucas could have had this amazing story arc and still have a relationship with Elizabeth. Last I checked, the entire governor storyline in Canada is false, as there are none, so you could have made this exactly what you wanted.
You WILLINGLY chose to forsake the fans that stuck with you after S8, the ones who didn’t ruin ratings on numerous sites, the ones that DIDN’T burn actor portraits or threaten actors with harm…
No, you lost us. You not only destroyed Elizabeth and Lucas’ romance, you destroyed Elizabeth’s character traits in the process, and so, so many others. Mei, Faith, Fiona…
And I must say, after being a fan of the show since day 1, I have never felt less stressed than realizing I am done with this show for good.
Such cry babies!! I’ve never liked to Lucas relationship but I watched for 2 years. Now it’s “ our” turn to see what/ who’s next. ..
So done I gave you 10 years. Was told done with the triangle, gave us a great love story and than told us you guys were going to switch .Rip a family apart. oh and the writing was awful characters are not the same and Elizabeth you destroyed her. sorry totally out and cannot believe you Brian Bird have no problem Lying and you want us to trust you?
Totally agree
DONE!
I’m really not interested in a story line with Elizabeth and Nathan. He’s kind of goofy and indecisive. His niece is very annoying and I don’t think teenagers in the early 1900s were sarcastic with adults. I liked Lucas but the series was losing me anyway as I didn’t look forward to the episodes like I used to. If they keep Lucas,I may watch. I don’t think Elizabeth’s indecisiveness is true to her character and neither guy would put up with her wishy-washy ways.
I am done. Elizabeth and The Mountie has already been done with Jack and that worked. This do over is a joke. Sorry but Nathan is about as exciting as a bowl of cream of wheat. He is perfect as the always sad, too good to be true, milk toast Mountie who saves lives. He and Elizabeth are carbon copies of each other. Lucas brought out the adventure in her. Opposites attract. She and Nathan are boring…just plain boring. Ipredict the story lines Mr.. Bird is referring to will fall as flat as this switcheroo. So now I have an extra hour each Sunday evening to watch something else. Bye WCTH…you’ve lost me for good. Of course this just MHO.
I am tired of Brian Byrd and his ridiculous explanations. He thinks they can continually jerk us around and we will keep coming back for more. I do feel like the last 3 seasons were wasted and this was the most boring season of all. Now we are supposed to accept that Elizabeth who has turned into a self centered character, is going to settle down with another Mountie after what happened to Jack. Maybe she can bury another husband. They have ruined what used to be my favorite show.
Fortunately, they don’t pander just to one group of fans.
I love the show. TN certainly didn’t get this kind of explanation. However most returned because we love WCTH. Lucas fans are saying some pretty nasty comments, and as always trashing Nathan. Strange to talk out both sides of their mouths worshipping Lucas( character, not real) and trashing out of the other side.
To them it was saint Lucas. So sick of these types of comments. Looking forward to not reading them. If you going? Just GO!
Time for the disgruntled to “get over it” we were repeatedly told for 3 years by Lucas fans, couldn’t even bring up Nathan in any discussion with out being personally attacked or bashing Nathan. Same tired and old trash talk.
Looking forward to the show regardless of what is happening.
Goodbye WCTH