Interviews: Hallmark Channel’s ‘The Way Home’ Dives Into Another Season of Past Lives

A drama series centered around three generations of fiercely independent women grappling with a decades-old family tragedy that incorporates an undercurrent of homecoming healing and a love letter to the ‘90s is already a great hook, and we haven’t even gotten to the time travel. Fans of feel-good TV might find a refreshing new favorite in the Hallmark Channel’s genre-blending The Way Home, which premieres season two today.

Kat Landry (Chyler Leigh) and her teenage daughter Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow) return to Kat’s childhood home in the Canadian farm town of Port Haven after her marriage and career fall apart. Kat’s mother, Del (Andie MacDowell) still lives there, trying to move on from the tragedy that fractured the family two decades ago. Alice, appropriately full of angst about everything, runs off and falls into a pond (like you do), resurfacing in 1999.

Believe it or not, teasers for season two suggest that things only get weirder for our heroines. Alongside the family trauma they must work through together, the mystery of the Pond remains elusive.

“The Pond in and of itself is a character, and such a huge character for the show,” notes co-showrunner Heather Conkie knowingly.

While the Hallmark Channel has a reputation for feel-good, easy-watching content, The Way Home delivers real drama that even the actors were surprised by.

“I had no idea what I was getting into, to be honest with you,” explains Andie MacDowell with a laugh. “I wasn’t thinking about my son disappearing, and my husband dying, and not getting along with my daughter, and all these difficult things, and having to cry, and dig deep, and feel, ugh, you know? I wasn’t thinking about that.”

But we’re glad MacDowell stuck with the role, surprises and all, because her performances as Del are some of the most heart-wrenching in the series.

“I liked the idea of being a matriarch appeals to me. At my age, I think playing a really strong woman, not only for myself, but for other women, I think is really important,” she reflects.

Every character has an intensely relatable storyline, as they confront their childhood wounds. Evan Williams, who plays Kat’s childhood best friend and not-so-secret admirer, discusses Elliot’s perspective as he lives his life cursed with the knowledge of his future.

“Elliot at the end of season one decides to forge his own path because he needs to get free of the time travel prophecy. That wasn’t such a popular choice with some of our fans,” he says of his character’s decision to leave Kat at the end of season one. The crowd chuckles.

“Elliot’s got some work to do, but hopefully the course is towards learning how to really love himself and show up. And then maybe when he does that, maybe he will be ready [for Kat].”

The series begs the age-old question—if you could go back, would you change things? For many of us, the temptation might be overwhelming, but for Leigh, who plays Kat, the answer is clear.

“My honest answer is no, because it got me where I am right now,” she says. “All the crap and all the good stuff, whatever that was, the journey that I’ve been through, and it’s been a journey, without it, then I wouldn’t be me. And so, I’m grateful for that.”

Leigh’s acceptance of the ups and downs that mark a life well lived reflects the duality the show’s creators sought to capture as well. The idea for The Way Home came from creator and executive producer Marly Reed, and fittingly, the matriarch-themed show is run by mother-daughter duo Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke.

“That’s why it appealed to us, because we’d worked together before but we’d never showrun together, so that was a challenge and a little adventure to go on,” says Conkie.

Clarke discusses their approach to the series, “The primary goal is to create viewing for a family, something that at Sunday night at 9, you’re gathered around the TV together, and everyone can watch it and enjoy it…We always say the most successful episodes are the ones where you laugh and you cry, and if we can do that every week, that’s the goal.”

The familial energy behind the camera extends to the tight-knit cast. Laflamme-Snow, who plays Alice, reflects on her experience filming for season two.

“The fun part about getting back into it and starting season two was that we had so many scenes where we got to show that side of what it’s like to work on the show, that is, it really feels like a family.”

The cast remained tight-lipped about what we can expect in season two, but Laflamme-Snow hints at the drama to come.

“The more warmth you have, the bigger the fall is when things start going wrong. That’s kind of the intrigue of season two. Now we see them together, so what happens when things get messy again?” 

Find out tonight as season two premiere of The Way Home on the Hallmark Channel.

If you need to catch up on season one of don’t worry, you will not need a time traveling pond to do so. The complete first season is streaming on Peacock.

Awards Radar attended Hallmark’s season two premiere of The Way Home, below are exclusive interviews and photos from the event’s red carpet and Q&A.