Picture Credit: Agency / Great American Family
If you’re a fan of wholesome, feel-good period dramas, your next great binge has officially arrived. As of today, September 14th, the first two seasons of When Hope Calls are streaming on Netflix in the United States and Canada!
A spin-off of the beloved When Calls the Heart, the 1920s-set series follows the residents of the frontier town of Brookfield. Originally launching as a streaming exclusive before finding a home on Great American Family, the series has built a fiercely loyal fanbase. Now, with its first two seasons hitting Netflix, it’s poised to capture a massive new audience of binge-watchers who are craving exactly this kind of uplifting storytelling.
To celebrate the release, we sat down with series star Cindy Busby. Of course, Netflix subscribers will instantly recognize Busby; she is no stranger to streaming dominance thanks to her fan-favorite role as Ashley Stanton on the global mega-hit Heartland. In When Hope Calls, she steps into the shoes of Nora Anderson, a trailblazing lawyer from San Francisco who finds unexpected community and purpose in Brookfield.
With the first two seasons now available to stream and a highly anticipated fourth season currently in production for 2027, we spoke with Cindy about the show’s Netflix debut, the heart of her character, and what fans can expect next.
Here’s our chat with Cindy Busby:
When Hope Calls is officially dropping its first two seasons on Netflix in the US and Canada on September 14th! How does it feel knowing the show is about to be introduced to a massive new streaming audience?
Cindy Busby: It feels very exciting for our show to reach an even broader audience, who may not know yet about our period piece family-friendly series, through Netflix, especially because of its binge-worthy appeal.
You’re certainly no stranger to streaming success, given how much of a massive, global hit Heartland has become on Netflix. Are you excited to see When Hope Calls potentially experience that same kind of “Netflix effect”?
Of course! When Hope Calls already has a very loyal following on Great American Family, but the more people we can introduce to our show, the better, and Netflix is certainly a great outlet for that. I have no doubt that those who love watching Heartland will also love watching When Hope Calls.
For those who will be hitting play for the first time on September 14th, how would you describe the overarching theme and heart of When Hope Calls?
When Hope Calls is about the townsfolk of a 1920s frontier town called Brookfield, centered around the New Hope orphanage. Brookfield reminds us of a simpler time when we relied on community and connection to get us through triumphant and challenging times. It’s about heart, coming together, Mounties, ranchers, and romance.
For a lot of Netflix viewers, this might be their first introduction to the When Calls the Heart universe. Why do you think this is the perfect time for audiences to binge a wholesome, heartwarming series like this?
Everyone wants to be able to relax and watch something with their family that won’t ignite more stress and anxiety in a world that can feel overwhelming. When Hope Calls is a feel-good show, with relatable fun characters and heartwarming storylines. It’s a family-friendly show that brings people together, which is something I feel we’re all craving a little bit more of.
Picture Credit: Great American Family
Introduce us to your character, Nora Anderson. What originally drew you to this role, and how does she fit into the community of Brookfield?
For a long time, I’d been looking forward to being a part of a series again, so when the role of Nora Anderson came my way, I knew it was the perfect fit. Nora is a lawyer from San Francisco during 1920, so needless to say, she’s smart, strong, and a trailblazer. I love her capacity to be witty, kind, selfless, and her ability to hold her own in any discussion. Nora fits as the centerpiece of Brookfield, bringing heart, guidance, and a sense of groundedness to the town. Throughout her journey she finds connection and community, which is exactly what she’d been missing all along.
Looking back at those first two seasons that are hitting Netflix, do you have a favorite scene or character moment for Nora that you are excited for new fans to finally experience?
We are so lucky to have really fun characters played by talented actors on When Hope Calls, who bring humor, heart-fluttering, and sincere moments throughout the show. There’s a powerful scene between Nora and her niece Lillian, when they meet for the first time, that I think was beautifully executed, and Nora’s meet-cute moment with Mountie Michael Fletcher is so romantic.
You are currently in production for Season 4, which is slated to premiere in 2027. What is the energy like on set right now, especially knowing a new wave of fans will be catching up on the show just in time for the new season?
Getting to come back and shoot an all-new season with the When Hope Calls cast and crew is so wonderful! We all genuinely love working together and bringing these stories to life. The vibes are high and filled with excitement to share the show with a new wave of fans and it’s even more incentive to keep making this show the best it possibly can be.
Picture: Great American Family
How has Nora evolved from the early seasons that Netflix viewers are about to watch, to who she is in Season 4?
Nora first comes to Brookfield hoping to connect with the nieces, Lillian and Grace, whom she never knew she had. Despite her career as a strong and successful lawyer in the big city, she is apprehensive and searching for belonging as the new stranger in town. Throughout the seasons, Nora not only becomes a role model and caretaker for the children at the orphanage, but she also becomes a pillar of strength, guidance, and heart for the residents of Brookfield.
Without giving away any major spoilers, what can you tease about the overall vibe of Season 4? What should longtime fans—and newly converted Netflix bingers—be looking forward to in 2027?
To all our amazing longtime fans, thank you!
You can expect to see more of everything and everyone you already love with even more jaw-dropping cliffhanging moments! To our new Netflix community, welcome to the wonderful world of When Hope Calls. Get ready to fall in love, laugh out loud, be swept away to a different time and be on the edge of your seat. Binge away and you’ll wonder how you lived without this series for so long!
Picture: Great American Family