1. Heartland
Going into its 14th season, Heartland is the longest-running one-hour scripted show in Canadian television history. The show follows sisters Amy (Amber Marshall) and Louise “Lou” Fleming (Michelle Morgan) and their lives on the family ranch in Alberta, Canada. If you’re #TeamNathan, then you’re sure to enjoy this show. Kevin McGarry joined the cast in the latter seasons. Fans of Good Witch will recognize Chris Potter, who plays Amy and Lou’s father, Tim. Potter had to exit Good Witch when the films went to series due to his prior commitment to Heartland.
2. When Hope Calls
A spin-off of When Calls the Heart, When Hope Calls follows Lillian (Morgan Kohan) and Grace (Jocelyn Hudon), two sisters separated as children after the death of their parents, who reunite as adults and open up an orphanage in the town of Brookfield. Romance is in the air for the sisters with local farmer and veterinarian Chuck Stewart (Greg Hovanessian) and the Gabriel (Ryan-James Hatanaka), the local Mountie.
3. Little House on the Prairie
We all probably read at least one of the Little House on the Prairie books when we were young. The show is based on the series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder and follows the lives of Charles (Michael Landon) and Caroline Ingalls (Karen Grassle) and their two daughters, Mary (Melissa Sue Anderson) and Laura (Melissa Gilbert). It ran for nine seasons and made household names of Landon and Gilbert.
4. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
This American Western drama series starred Jane Seymour as the titular character, a doctor who moves from the hustle and bustle of Boston for the wilderness of Colorado Springs, Colorado. As one of the first female doctors, she comes upon some prejudice but eventually wins over the town over the show’s six seasons. Adopting her friend’s three kids after her untimely death, the good doctor adjusts to her new life and finds love with Byron Sully (Joe Lando), a handsome and rugged outdoorsman. Episodes can be viewed on Philo with a subscription.
5. The Young Riders
This show follows a group of Pony Express riders based at the Sweetwater station in Nebraska. Some of the riders are the younger versions of their future famous selves including Wild Bill Hickok (a pre-Thanos Josh Brolin), Buffalo Bill (Stephen Baldwin) and later Jesse James (Christopher Pettiet). It also featured a pre-Oscar winning Melissa Leo in one of her first main cast roles as Emma Shannon, the caretaker at the Sweetwater Station.
6. Signed, Sealed, Delivered
The episodic series aired for one season on Hallmark Channel before segueing to 10 two-hour movies that aired on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. A new movie is slated to premiere on Hallmark’s third network, Hallmark Drama, though scheduling and the pandemic have hampered production on the future installment. The romantic dramedy follows four postal workers who work to find the recipients of dead, or undeliverable, letters.
7. Hart of Dixie
After she loses out on a fellowship at a prestigious New York hospital, surgeon Zoe Hart (Rachel Bilson) leaves the concrete jungle for the marshy wetlands of Bluebell, Alabama. There she finds herself torn between two men—the handsome attorney and southern gentleman, George Tucker (Scott Porter) and her cocky ne’er-do-well neighbor, Wade Kinsella (Wilson Bethel).
8. Everwood
Everwood followed the lives of the Brown family after the patriarch, the successful surgeon Dr. Andy Brown (Treat Williams) moves his family from New York City to the small idyllic town of Everwood, Colorado after the death of his wife. Andy is trying to reconnect with his piano prodigy son, Ephram (Gregory Smith) while being a single parent to both Ephram and his sister, Delia (Viviene Cardone). The show was the springboard for future Star-Lord Chris Pratt.
9. Miss Scarlet and the Duke
Set in Victorian London, Eliza Scarlet (Kate Phillips) is one of the first female detectives of her era. After the untimely death of her investigator father, Eliza takes over his detective agency to satisfy her curiosities and to make ends meet. Detective Inspector William Wellington a.k.a. The Duke (Stuart Martin) is her childhood friend, professional colleague, and potential love interest. He’s frustrated and intrigued by her detective skills and finds himself turning to her to collaborate on seemingly unsolvable cases. The show has been picked up for a second season and will air sometime in 2022 on PBS.
10. McLeod’s Daughters
This Australian drama follows two half-sisters who inherit a ranch in the Australian bush after their father dies. It’s part Little House on the Prairie, part The Man From Snowy River, with a hint of Crocodile Dundee thrown in. All eight seasons can be streamed on Acorn TV or on Tubi.
11. Centennial
Back when networks had miniseries like Lonesome Dove, The Blue and the Grey and The Thorn Birds, there was Centennial—a sweeping series that followed the history of the town of Centennial, Colorado from the 18th century to the 20th. It boasted of stars like Richard Chamberlain, Raymond Burr, Robert Conrad, Mark Harmon and Gregory Harrison. Based on a James Michener novel of the same name, the project was the most ambitious of its time. Centennial is available on DVD.
12. Virgin River
Looking for a fresh start, Melinda Monroe (Alexandra Breckinridge) leaves her life in Los Angeles to take on a position in a small rural town in Northern California. Hoping to escape the complexities of her life in Los Angeles, Mel finds things aren’t so simple in Virgin River, especially when Jack (Martin Henderson), the local restaurant owner complicates her heart. Both seasons can be streamed on Netflix.
13. Sweet Magnolias
Based on the popular series of books, Sweet Magnolias by Sherryl Woods follows lifelong best friends Maddie (Joanna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley), and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) as they juggle relationships, family and careers in the charming small town of Serenity, South Carolina. The first season can be streamed on Netflix. Season 2 is currently in production and will premiere sometime in 2022.
14. North and South
Not to be confused with the American miniseries of the same name, this BBC historical drama put Richard Armitage on the radar of swooning women everywhere. Armitage played John Thornton, the brusque owner of a cotton mill who becomes a student of Margaret’s (Daniela Denby-Ashe) father. Margaret and John clash at every turn, but later both realize their perception of the other was incorrect.
15. Burden of Truth
Joanna (Kristin Kreuk) is a lawyer representing big pharma when she returns to her hometown to litigate a case between her client and a group of sick girls. As she begins to uncover the truth, she realizes she’s on the wrong side of justice and begins to help Billy Crawford (Peter Mooney), the lawyer representing the sick girls. The fourth and final season of the show recently aired in Canada. Burden of Truth can be streamed with your subscription to Hulu.
16. Poldark
Based on the books by Winston Graham, Poldark follows the life and adventures of Captain Ross Poldark (Aidan Turner) after he returns home to Cornwall after the war. He returns to find his father has died, his estate is near bankruptcy and his childhood sweetheart is now betrothed to his cousin. After hiring Demelza (Eleanor Tomlinson) as his scullery maid, the two later fall in love and marry.
17. Legacy
In a post-Civil War America, widower Ned Logan (Brett Cullen) struggles to raise his family alone while maintaining his prestigious Kentucky horse farm. Legacy can be streamed with your subscription to Hallmark Movies Now or for free on Pluto TV.
18. Cedar Cove
Based on a series of books by prolific romance novelist Debbie Macomber, the show was Hallmark Channel’s first scripted series. The show, which ran for three seasons from 2013-2015, followed the professional and romantic life of Judge Olivia Lockhart (Andie MacDowell) and the townsfolk of Cedar Cove in the Puget Sound.
19. Chesapeake Shores
Abby (Meghan Ory) returns home to Chesapeake Shores after receiving a frantic call from her sister. She’s already juggling a demanding career, divorce and single parenthood when she returns home to help with her sister’s inn. Her trip home also means she has to deal with strained relationships with her family and Trace Riley (Jesse Metcalfe), the boy she left behind. The fifth season of Chesapeake Shores is currently filming in Canada and will premiere on Hallmark Channel on August 15. Chesapeake Shores can be streamed with your subscription to Hallmark Movies Now.
20. Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries
This spinoff of the popular Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries is set in 1960s Melbourne, Australia and follows Phryne Fisher’s niece, Peregrine Fisher (Geraldine Hakewill) and her adventures after she inherits her aunt’s estate. She’s a thorn in the side of local police detective James Steed (Joel Jackson), but he doesn’t seem to mind one bit. The first season of Ms. Fisher Mod can be streamed on Acorn TV (acorn.tv) with the second season set to premiere on June 7.
21. Good Witch
The popular movies turned episodic series follows Cassie Nightingale (Catherine Bell) and her mysteriously bewitching life in the small town of Middleton. Season 7 is currently airing on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel.
22. The Lost Husband
Based on Katherine Center’s 2013 novel of the same name, The Lost Husband stars Leslie Bibb and Josh Duhamel (who also star opposite each other in Netflix’s newest superhero series, Jupiter’s Legacy). Still reeling from the death of her husband, Libby (Bibb) finds herself a single mother of two and without a home. Looking for a fresh start, she ultimately moves in with her Aunt Jean (Nora Dunn) in Texas where she encounters Jean’s farm manager, James (Duhamel). The Lost Husband is available to stream on Netflix.
23. The Healer
The Healer follows Alec (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), a down-and-out handyman, who agrees to live with a distant uncle. The uncle insists that his ability to fix things goes beyond repairing appliances. Cecilia (Camilla Luddington), a town local, helps Alec get situated and find new clients. The Healer is available to stream on Netflix. 24. Sanditon This series is based on an unfinished work of Jane Austen. It was canceled back in 2019 but fan outcry and subsequent ratings on PBS revived it from cancellation. The current season can be viewed on PBS with a PBS Passport subscription. Episodes can also be purchased on iTunes. Next, Everything We Know About Seasons 2 and 3 of Sanditon
