When Calls the Heart season 13 delivered a lighter, more creative chapter on February 22, 2026, with an episode that balanced community fun with personal heartbreak. The eighth installment, titled “Take Two,” shifted focus from the intense wildfire investigation to a delightful silent film project led by Rosemary Coulter. While laughter filled Hope Valley, Lucas Bouchard made a difficult decision about his relationship with Edie after a misunderstanding threatened their future.
The episode offered viewers a chance to see their favorite characters step outside their comfort zones, with hilarious results for some and emotional consequences for others. From Rosemary’s ambitious directing debut to Nathan Grant’s struggles with acting, the hour delivered plenty of memorable moments.
Rosemary Brings Silent Film Magic to Hope Valley
After losing her beloved playhouse, Rosemary Coulter refused to let disappointment keep her down. True to her spirited personality, she came up with a creative new project that would involve the entire community. Rosemary decided to direct a silent film and immediately began recruiting actors and crew members from among her friends and neighbors .
The black and white production brought old Hollywood charm to the small town. Rosemary turned to her close friend Elizabeth Thornton to write the script, knowing Elizabeth’s way with words would capture the vision she had in mind . With a slim budget but unlimited enthusiasm, Rosemary threw herself into bringing her cinematic dreams to life.
What made the storyline particularly entertaining was watching the Hope Valley residents adapt to the demands of silent film acting. Nathan Grant found himself cast opposite Elizabeth as her love interest in the production. The Mountie, comfortable with chasing criminals and maintaining law and order, discovered that performing for the camera presented an entirely different challenge .
Nathan’s Acting Struggles Bring Comedy to the Set
The silent film shoot provided some of the episode’s funniest moments. Nathan struggled as a first-time actor, unable to find the right rhythm for the stylized performances silent films require. Rosemary, serving as director, had to cut the scene multiple times as Nathan worked through his awkwardness in front of the camera .
Rather than discourage her leading man, Rosemary came up with a clever solution. She pretended there was something wrong with the camera equipment, buying herself time to find replacement actors who might better suit the roles . The tactic showed Rosemary’s quick thinking and her determination to make her film a success, even when obstacles appeared.
Enter Fernando, who made his way to center stage and surprised everyone with his natural talents. His performance left Rosemary and the assembled crowd speechless, proving that unexpected talents sometimes hide beneath the surface . The moment added a layer of warmth to the episode, showing how community projects can reveal hidden gifts.
Behind-the-Scenes Fun Revealed by Cast Member
Pascale Hutton, who brings Rosemary to life, shared that Episode 8 contained some of the most fun she has ever had on the When Calls the Heart set. In an interview, Hutton revealed that viewers should keep their eyes peeled for a particular background scene that had her laughing uncontrollably .
“I just watched the episode last night, and I was dying laughing, watching us in the background,” Hutton said. “It fills me with so much joy” .
She admitted to wondering whether the cast might be too distracting in the scene. “I was like, ‘Are we being distracting?’ And I’m like, ‘we’re really dancing on the edge right there.’ But I think it was subdued enough that it barely skated by. But oh my gosh, so funny, so funny” .
Hutton recalled telling fellow cast member Ben Rosenbaum afterward that it was “the most fun I’ve ever had on this show” . The scene features Hutton, Rosenbaum, and Hrothgar Mathews in a background moment that captures the joy of filmmaking.
Lucas Makes Painful Decision About His Relationship
While Rosemary’s film brought laughter to Hope Valley, Lucas Bouchard faced an emotional crossroads in his personal life. The episode explored whether he was ready to move forward romantically after recent events left him questioning his ability to trust again .
The tension began when Fernando approached Edie, Dr. Faith, and Mei during a lunch outing. Fernando gave each woman a yellow flower, prompting questions from Faith and Mei about whether Lucas had anything to worry about. Edie assured them that was simply how Fernando behaved, though her friends weren’t convinced he understood she wasn’t interested .
Later, Edie made her position clear to Fernando. She told him directly that she wasn’t interested in rekindling their past romance. When Fernando tried to interject about their love still being alive, Edie stopped him and kissed him on the cheek as a final goodbye to what they once shared .
Unfortunately, Lucas turned the corner at that exact moment and witnessed the affectionate gesture without hearing the conversation that preceded it . The misunderstanding set the stage for heartbreak.
Edie Leaves Town After Lucas Ends Their Romance
Lucas jumped to the conclusion that Edie still loved Fernando. Drawing on painful experiences from a past relationship marked by distrust, he decided he couldn’t continue their romance. When he found Edie and told her he needed time and space, she understood his decision but walked away with a broken heart .
The official synopsis for Episode 8 confirmed that Lucas found himself hesitant to open his heart again . His emotional walls, built after previous disappointments, proved difficult to lower even when genuine love waited on the other side.
Mike attempted to give Lucas a pep talk, encouraging him to fight for his love for Edie rather than let fear dictate his choices . The advice came from a friend who genuinely wanted to see Lucas happy. But by the time Lucas worked up the courage to act, Edie had already left town .
The timing left viewers heartbroken, as Lucas finally seemed ready to share that he did want to continue their romantic relationship, only to find Edie gone . Whether she left temporarily or for good remains to be seen in future episodes.
Wildfire Investigation Takes New Direction
The ongoing mystery surrounding the Goldie National Park wildfire continued to develop in Episode 8. Christopher Hughes remained missing after leaving town without a trace, prompting Nathan to issue a search and coordinate efforts with Bill Avery and Christopher’s father, Henry .
Bill suggested bringing fresh eyes to the investigation, leading Nathan to issue new alerts in hopes of locating Christopher. Only by finding him could Hope Valley piece together the truth about who caused the fire .
The investigation took a significant step forward when Nathan, Bill, and Georgie connected important dots. They determined that Christopher’s boss had asked him to get rid of a transformer as part of a corporate defrauding cover-up . The revelation shifted the focus from accidental wrongdoing to deliberate criminal activity.
Georgie’s skills as a forensic investigator proved valuable as the team continued piecing together evidence. Her expertise helped them understand the full scope of what happened and who might be responsible .
Undercover Operation Targets Mapmaker
With new information in hand, Nathan and Bill asked Georgie to participate in an undercover espionage operation. They wanted her to pose as a client of the man who drew the map for Pioneer Electric, the document that detailed where to bury and burn the transformer .
Georgie met with the mapmaker and gathered information about his typical fees. When Nathan approached their table and confronted the man about receipts proving he was paid significantly more by Pioneer Electric, the mapmaker denied everything and quickly made his exit .
Bill and Georgie found a way to tap the phone line, hoping to hear if the mapmaker contacted Pioneer Electric. Their plan worked when he placed a call and warned the company, “They’re on to us!” . The confirmation gave investigators the proof they needed that a cover-up was actively underway.
Unfortunately, Bill later informed Nathan that while the phone conversation was recorded, they couldn’t use the transcript in court. The legal limitation meant their investigation would need to continue through other means .
Community Stories Add Warmth to the Episode
Beyond the main storylines, Episode 8 included several smaller moments that reminded viewers why Hope Valley feels like home. Molly walked in on Florence having lunch with a man and immediately assumed the worst. She called Florence out for what she believed was cheating on her husband, Ned .
The twist came when Molly realized the man with Florence was actually Ned wearing a black wig. The humorous misunderstanding led to apologies and laughter. Molly then shared her happy news that she had passed her exam to become a nurse .
Georgie also received a work offer from Edie that would take her out of town. Edie politely declined, explaining that her life was in Hope Valley now . The moment reinforced how the town draws people in and makes them want to stay.
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How to Watch When Calls the Heart Season 13
When Calls the Heart airs Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the Hallmark Channel . Viewers who missed Episode 8 can watch it on demand through several streaming services.
Philo offers Hallmark Channel as part of its $33 monthly package. DIRECTV provides a five-day free trial for new subscribers, making it possible to watch without immediate cost. Both services allow on-demand viewing of episodes after they air .
The series stars Erin Krakow as Elizabeth Thornton, Kevin McGarry as Nathan Grant, Pascale Hutton as Rosemary Coulter, Jack Wagner as Bill Avery, Martin Cummins as Henry Gowen, and Kavan Smith as Lee Coulter .
New episodes continue to air each Sunday, with the season moving toward its emotional conclusion in the coming weeks. Episode 9 is scheduled for March 1, 2026, at the same time .
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