Kevin McGarry, who stars as Nathan on “When Calls the Heart,” said one scene with Elizabeth (played by Erin Krakow) in the season 10 finale was intended to be a callback to a pivotal moment from season 8.
In discussing the complexities of the relationship between Nathan and Elizabeth, McGarry said there’s nothing simple about the couple.
“It’s complicated; it’s always been complicated,” McGarry told interviewer Tiffany Wallach for the Canadian Super Channel Heart & Home post-show broadcast. “They are connected, but at the same time … they’re like a puzzle piece you’ve got to like, you know, jam together.”
Nathan Understands ‘That’s Her Home,” Kevin McGarry Said
Nathan always knew that Hope Valley was where Elizabeth’s heart was, but confronting her about it at the school wasn’t easy, McGarry said about a scene in episode 11, which aired October 8.
“He’s the one that knows in her heart that’s her home,” McGarry said. “And it doesn’t go over well. It plants a seed in her head, and we all know what happens after that.”
McGarry also wanted to make sure fans knew that Nathan did vote for Lucas in that final episode, even if he voted at the end of the day just before the polls closed.
“Bouchard, number one,” McGarry said with a smile. “…He was voting for Lucas.”
He went on to say that part of the complication between Elizabeth and Nathan is just how honest they are with each other.
“They find solace in each other even though it’s hard,” he said. “And I think the fact that they just know each other so well and they’re able to call each other out on the truth of who they each are. It leads to hurt feelings sometimes or it leads to things said, and that’s happened since they met.”
The two also had a deep conversation at the voting booth, when they couldn’t see each other’s faces. There will be more deep conversations in season 11.
“I think there’s more to say…” McGarry said. “We’ve gotta wait until season 11 before we hear it.”
The Log Scene Was a Callback to Season 8
McGarry added that the log scene where Elizabeth and Nathan met at the end of the season 10 finale was a deliberate callback to season 8. It was the same location where Nathan had originally confessed his feelings to her. But the scene had to be shortened a bit due to time constraints.
“It was the exact same,” McGarry said. “I think, again due to time, we were supposed to get the same kind of ride down … that originally happened during that scene (in season 8) as well… I think that … got condensed a little bit. Yes, it was supposed to basically go back to that moment in time when he said that. And here we are again. And he gets off the horse and he’s about to say something again. And then Bill is in the woods out of nowhere. Great timing!”
Overall, he said the season was a great setup for some powerful storylines in season 11.
“You think it’s gonna go one way and all of a sudden it makes a hard right turn somewhere, as does life…” McGarry said about season 10. “It’s really set up for some pretty incredible stories in season 11.”
He added that Lucas will have a major storyline also, since he’s been propelled onto a “bigger stadium” at the end of season 10 now that he’s governor.
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Kevin McGarry Breaks Silence on Nathan & Elizabeth: ‘It’s Always Been Complicated’