There has always been a glimmer of hope among fans that he might make a comeback in some form, and with the Season 11 finale cliffhanger, it seemed it could happen.
When Calls The Heart Spoilers – Is Jack Thornton Coming Back?
After the Season 11 finale wrapped up on June 23, fans are buzzing with excitement over the possibility of Jack making a return to When Calls the Heart. The theories circulating among fans are truly intriguing.
In the final moments of the episode, Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) and Nathan Grant (Kevin McGarry) found themselves face to face with Superintendent Hargraves (David James Lewis).
Hargraves, who was Nathan’s commanding officer at Fort Clay and the one who benched him from the fateful mission that led to Jack Thornton’s tragic demise, made a surprising appearance. With Nathan sidelined, Jack took his place on the mission and met his untimely end in a landslide.
WCTH Spoilers – Hargraves’ Appearance Made Fans Wonder About Jack Thornton’s Survival
Consumed by guilt over Jack’s death, Nathan decided to move to Hope Valley to care for Elizabeth and her son, Jack Jr. (Hyland Goodrich). Hargraves disappeared from the show after Season 8, when Nathan’s connection to Jack was revealed, leading to his breakup with Elizabeth.
Fans immediately sensed trouble when he reappeared on screen, knowing it would complicate things for the couple who had finally reconciled after a season of romantic tension.
Nathan assumed Hargraves was there for him, but it turned out he had come to talk to Elizabeth; “I’m not here to see you, Constable,” he told Nathan. Then, “Mrs. Thornton, it’s about your late husband;” Hargraves insisted that the matter couldn’t wait and needed to be discussed in private.
When Calls The Heart Spoilers – Cliffhanger Time
The credits rolled before viewers could learn what news Hargraves had for Elizabeth-Hearties everywhere have already begun to theorize that Jack may not actually be dead.
One fan wrote in a Reddit thread after the episode aired: “They buried a body. Not sure it was Jack.” Another fan added: “I think WCTH is cowardly for not entertaining the idea/ theory Jack is alive: either with amnesia or brain damage or mistaken identity caused by trauma, something!”
A third fan agreed that Jack could be alive, but noted: “I was hoping the same thing. But since he said ‘late,’ maybe they found Jack’s body?”
WCTH Spoilers – Fans Continued Their Theories
One theory suggests that he might make an appearance in Season 12 through flashback scenes. Hargraves mentioned her ‘late husband;’ during last year’s Hearties Homecoming, the writers discussed the need to revisit and conclude the Ft Clay storyline.
There could be flashback scenes with Dan, but Jack remains deceased-a Heartie proposed a different theory, suggesting that Jack is truly dead.
Perhaps the news is that Jack was intentionally killed, or someone had a vendetta against him and finally confessed after all these years (without informing Elizabeth until they had all the details).
When Calls The Heart Spoilers – Unfortunately, Jack Thornton Isn’t Alive
Krakow hinted that the cliffhanger will be addressed in Season 12 but didn’t reveal much.
Showrunner Sturman confirmed that Jack will not be returning, but his memory will be kept alive in the show. Elizabeth’s new relationship with Nathan will face new complexities as Little Jack grows up.
Fans may not see Jack in Hope Valley again, but they can catch Lissing and Krakow together in a Hallmark holiday movie. The movie is called “Santa Tell Me”, airing later this year as part of the network’s Countdown to Christmas event.
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Hallmark right now. Come back here often for Hallmark spoilers, news and updates.