Heartland wouldn’t be the same without showing how life on a ranch in Alberta mixes with the characters’ struggles and relationships.
After filming Heartland for 18 seasons, the producers, cast, and crew have likely experienced almost everything Mother Nature could throw at them in rural Alberta. However, this summer brought a new challenge for the production team.
One of the main storylines in Heartland Season 18 focuses on the Bartlett ranch, which has been central to the show since its start in 2007, facing severe drought. This plot is inspired by the real struggles ranchers and farmers in Alberta have dealt with. The writers began planning this storyline for Season 18, which premieres on Sept. 29 on CBC, after the province experienced a dry spell in 2023.
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When filming began in May, Mother Nature had other plans.
We were filming a drought during one of the wettest seasons we’ve ever experienced, It was tough having characters talk about how they wouldn’t survive without rain while standing in a lush green field. The scripts were written months before, based on the previous summer, which was hot and dry. Last year, everything was dry and crispy, but this summer was rainy and green, while we were talking about a major drought affecting the area.
says Amber Marshall, who plays Amy Fleming
The crew, already used to Alberta’s unpredictable weather, had to film carefully around the lush green fields to show the drought’s impact. This adds to the “save-the-ranch” theme in Season 18. But drought isn’t the only problem for the Bartlett family. Along with Amy, her sister Lou (Michelle Morgan), their dad Tim (Chris Potter), and grandpa Jack (Shaun Johnston), the ranch faces new competition from Pryce Beef, a neighboring ranch whose methods are hurting the Bartlett business.
They’re selling beef to many of the same places we do, It’s a direct rivalry with our neighbors, so Lou steps up, using her business skills to help the ranch stay profitable.
says Marshall
While the writers have focused more on the everyday struggles of running a ranch in Alberta, Heartland wouldn’t be the same without showing how these challenges connect to the characters’ personal lives and relationships.
Since 2007, the Canadian audience has enjoyed watching the Bartlett-Fleming family grow over nearly two decades, becoming the larger Bartlett-Fleming-Morris-Borden family. When Lou and Amy first arrived at the ranch, Amy was just 15, making her a year younger than Lou’s oldest daughter, Katie (Baye McPherson), who will be 16 in Season 18.
Longtime fans have seen Amy come to the ranch as a young teen mourning her mother’s death. Over the years, she has grown into a young adult, becoming a wife and mother. By the start of Season 14, she faced the heartbreaking loss of her husband, Ty (Graham Wardle), and had to navigate life as a single mother.
After grieving the loss of her young husband, Amy started dating again as time went on. In Season 17 of Heartland, she began seeing Nathan Pryce Jr. (played by Spencer Lord), who is from the family that owns the rival ranch. Things get more complicated with the return of Ty’s best friend, Caleb (Kerry James), who wants to be more than just friends with Amy.
Amy is getting really close to Nathan, who is their direct competitor, Of course, this causes tension with Amy’s family, leading to ups and downs in her relationship with him. She feels stuck in the middle.
says Marshall
As always, these dramatic relationships will mix with Heartland’s usual focus on horses and other animals, as Amy continues to help troubled horses. Marshall is now a producer on the show, and one of her main jobs is working with the horses featured in the series. She has loved horses since before she got the role of Amy, and they remain an important part of both the show and her life.
At the start of the year, we plan the story arcs and horse storylines, We consider questions like: Does this make sense? Can we introduce new horse characters or breeds? How will this fit with the wranglers finding the horses? A lot of my time goes into ensuring the animal actors and horse storylines work well.
she explains
This strategy has attracted Heartland fans worldwide. Last week, CBC announced a new streaming channel dedicated to Heartland, featuring the first 17 seasons.
Despite challenges like drought and competition, Heartland Ranch remains a romantic and inviting place for families and teens.
Mark Haroun became the showrunner in 2016 but has been with Heartland since its first season as a script supervisor. He recognized early on that the show was special, mixing new elements—like introducing young characters every few seasons—with traditional aspects to maintain its success.
I knew right away that Heartland had something special, The mix of the cast and the unique family stories we told hadn’t been explored on TV before. It felt special from day one.
says Haroun, who won the Showrunner Award at the Writers Guild of Canada Screenwriting Awards this year.
Even though the show is thriving after 18 seasons, questions arise about how long it will continue. When will it end? How will it end? Are the cast and crew ready for it?
The final decision will come from the network, but Haroun hopes they’ll have enough notice to craft a satisfying ending for the cast, crew, and fans. However, he feels the show still has plenty of life.
Nothing is certain, but I believe we have many more stories to tell, I’ve never struggled to develop ideas because the characters are so rich and dynamic. It feels like we could keep going.
Haroun says
New episodes of Heartland Season 18 are set to be released on Sundays on CBC.
Source: Calgary Herald