The Means Residence hits the candy spot in an particularly vital method relating to sequence storytelling. The hit Hallmark present, resulting from kick off its extremely anticipated third season on January third, efficiently strikes a pitch-perfect steadiness between giving followers solutions whereas elevating new questions within the course of.

On the finish of Season 2, one of many present’s largest questions lastly received a solution; will Jacob (Remy Smith and Spencer Macpherson) ever discover his method dwelling? After a complete season of attempting to resolve the thriller of his disappearance after which yet one more targeted on determining if and the best way to convey him again from the 1800s, Jacob lastly makes his return to the Landry farm in current day. Nonetheless, such a game-changing second sparks a large number of recent questions. A lot of Kat’s (Chyler Leigh) arc has been targeted on discovering Jacob and attempting to convey him dwelling. Now that that’s full, what are her high priorities? Jacob’s return will even, little doubt, change the Landry household dynamic considerably. Can Del (Andie MacDowell) lastly stay fortunately ever after now that her son is dwelling candy dwelling? After which, in fact, there’s Kat’s long-awaited romance with Elliot (Evan Williams). Is the duo lastly transferring full steam forward or might Kat’s 1800s reference to Thomas (Kris Holden-Ried) rock that boat?

In mid-November, I used to be fortunate sufficient to get to go to the Toronto-based set of the present. Given the staff was busy filming the ultimate two episodes of Season 3 whereas I used to be there, a lot can be saved till the tail finish of the season airs, however there was nonetheless ample alternative to gather curious Season 3 teases from sequence creators, Heather Conkie and Alexandra Clarke, and the solid, together with Kat herself, Chyler Leigh.

What Are Kat’s Prime Priorities in Season 3?

And is one in all them Elliot?

Sure, Kat’s predominant mission of discovering and bringing Jacob house is full, however she’s nonetheless received a wealth of problems and challenges to kind by means of. Leigh defined:

“I believe one thing new for this season for Kat is having to actually determine the best way to cut up herself into so many items, as a result of she’s coping with a lot from a love, a friendship, from household interactions, and the whole lot, that this 12 months it is virtually like she’s unfold even thinner. It is like her looking for the items of herself amidst all of the totally different occasions, as a result of there are a lot of occasions. There are numerous totally different years and eras this season.”

One particularly vital time for Kat proved to be 1814, for a large number of causes, however an enormous one being the sudden spark between her and Thomas Coyle. Whereas it appeared that Kat would lastly solely give attention to her relationship with Elliot transferring ahead close to the tip of Season 2, the revelation that Thomas was really alive in 1814 referred to as that into query. I requested Leigh if we might see that rock the boat for the pair in Season 3. She laughed and famous, “You already know the reply to that query. It undoubtedly rocks the boat.”

Nonetheless, that’s not the one hurdle Kat and Elliot should overcome as a pair. Leigh teased:

“That is one of many issues that I actually love about this season is that the viewers is gonna get to study extra about Elliot as effectively, his upbringing and his story. So, let’s simply say [spoiler] undoubtedly shakes the each of them, Kat and Elliot, in a method [that’s similar to the] realization that Del has with, ‘Are issues actually the best way that they’re, or was I solely seeing issues from one perspective and now I’ve to sort of reevaluate a complete lot?’ So there’s numerous re-evaluating, and Kat, being such a lover basically, undoubtedly has to prioritize and settle for the truth of conditions the place, what occurs will at all times occur, and the way that finally ends up guiding her choices to maneuver ahead or transfer on.”

How Will Kat and Del Deal with Jacob’s Return?

“You have received two fiercely protecting ladies, and you may’t assist that sort of getting in the best way generally.”

Talking of Del, she’s about to have her world rocked within the largest method possible. Her son, who’s been lacking since 1999, is dwelling. A beautiful flip of occasions, little doubt, however one which’ll pose its personal distinctive set of challenges — for each Del and Kat. Leigh defined:

“The factor about our present is that the extra solutions you get, you are left with much more questions, proper? We do see Jacob coming again into the fold, and we’re all attempting to make life occur for him as a result of we nonetheless see him, in some methods, because the little boy. Kat has to have that transition of seeing him now as a person, however she’s had a minimum of a few of that point with him in Season 2 through the 1800s stuff the place she sort of helped make the entire thing occur for him to return dwelling. In order that’s one factor for Del, particularly, isn’t seeing him as a little bit boy. So we each, Kat and Del, have to actually reconcile that in numerous other ways, and Jacob has to advocate for himself, saying, ‘Hey, I am able to figuring some of these things out, too.’ However you have received two fiercely protecting ladies, and you may’t assist that sort of getting in the best way generally.”

MacDowell has been hovering in The Means Residence since day one, however Leigh additionally teased that given what Del goes by means of this time round, Season 3 will characteristic much more showstopping work from her than standard.

“Andie, watching her this season, having much more depth to her character and the workload she had this 12 months … the best way that Andie can actually fall into this scene, that may be devastating and crushing, after which they yell lower and she or he’s like [laughs]. She simply has her Andie cackle, which is simply this wonderful, infectious snort. However to see how rapidly and effortlessly she will be able to bounce proper into that depth, these deep, darkish locations? I’ve at all times admired her profession. I’ve at all times admired her as a girl, however simply to observe that and see her so highly effective and have a lot openness, and she or he’s such a beautiful scene accomplice, however she’s additionally change into a really constructive and inspiring affect in my life personally. And this can be a actually huge 12 months for me that I actually wanted that on a private stage, and she or he’s confirmed up each single time. I simply see increasingly more of the great lady that she is, after which additionally get to actually get pleasure from it and encourage her because the unimaginable actress that she is that this 12 months as effectively.”

MacDowell isn’t the one one upping her recreation in Season 3 in a really particular method. Leigh herself has seen her craft as an actor evolve proper alongside Kat’s arc within the present.

“I had a scene, really on Friday evening. I would not say it is a first, essentially, however it was a really deeply heartbreaking, emotional scene. I used to be in a position to, like I used to be complimenting Andie on, swap expression and feeling. I had actually seconds to have the ability to do it, to desperately attempt to encourage and make someone imagine that this entire factor is gonna work out when, in actuality, Kat may be very a lot struggling, realizing that, ‘Oh, that is about to go down. That is about to be actually severe.’ And so I had a second of this individual and saying this within the scene, have to show round, and inside seconds I needed to drop, simply lose it solely, and I used to be in a position to join and I used to be in a position to go there, and I sort of was identical to, ‘Oh.’ I imply, I do know I can do it, however there was an ease to it. I believe it is also as a result of the present is ending, for the season, and it is a number of transitional time, and as an actor, as a human being, I am horrible with transition, so I’ve received quite a bit that I can pull from, however it was one thing the place I used to be like, ‘Wow, I am able to doing it that rapidly. I can join that a lot.’ And that, for me, was an enormous accomplishment.”

On the lookout for much more on The Means Residence Season 3? Keep tuned! We’ll have spoiler-free on-set conversations with MacDowell and Sadie Laflamme-Snow for you quickly, and much more behind-the-scenes particulars dropping on Collider all season lengthy.

The Means Residence Season 3 begins airing on Hallmark Channel on January third at 9 pm ET/PT. Episodes can be out there to stream the subsequent day on Hallmark+.

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