The Hallmark Channel’s The Way Home is known for its twists and turns — and the cast is spilling the tea about some of season 3’s biggest revelations thus far.
Warning: Spoilers below from The Way Home season 3, episode 5.
“It’s been really cool because many of the people have actually done pretty well connecting some of the dots, at least from the two seasons prior,” Chyler Leigh, who plays Kat Landry, exclusively told Us Weekly of fan theories.
She teased that season 3 won’t be as easy to solve. “This year we’re going to throw everybody off, which is so wonderful,” the actress said.
Leigh noted that as the season continues, viewers will “learn more about the pond” and how it “really works” and “how it started.”
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While seasons 1 and 2 showed both Kat and her daughter, Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow), time-traveling via the magical pond on their family farm, season 3 hints that more Landrys know about the means of transportation.
Yes, Kat’s long-lost brother, Jacob Landry (Spencer Macpherson), successfully left 1814 and returned to modern times via the pond, but now fans think their late father, Colton Landry (Jefferson Brown), may also be a time traveler.
Scroll down to see which of your burning questions The Way Home cast has answered — including how much matriarch Del Landry (Andie MacDowell) really knows:
Was the Colton Twist Always Planned?
During season 3, episode 5, which aired on Friday, January 31, a sweater was left by the pond in modern times after Alice was mysteriously pushed into the water. Kat eventually realized that it was in fact her dad Colton’s jacket, hinting that Colton might be there with them … even though he died years prior.
“From what I understand, there was always at least a five year plan to make sure that we could get to a certain place to explain enough [about Colton],” Leigh told Us in late January. “But at the same time, you see our show and you can again [see] the way that our showrunners, our writers, our creators think. It can really genuinely go anywhere.”
So far in season 3, viewers learned that Colton heard stories about the pond’s magical powers from his grandmother, Fern, but he wasn’t sure they were true. However, when his childhood best friend died, Colton confessed he jumped into the pond to see if he could go back and save his life. The question is: was that the only time Colton attempted to time travel?
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“It is such a well-laid plan, but I’m just really impressed how much they’ve been able to write to our strengths and listen to how we feel about the story,” Laflamme-Snow exclusively told Us of the show’s creative team and their plan for Colton.
The actress revealed she “hoped’ her character, Alice, would get to meet a younger Del and Colton — which is what has been happening when she jumps back to 1974. That change of scenery has made this season “that much more exciting,” Laflamme-Snow added.
Does Del Know More Than She’s Letting On?
Leigh confessed to Us that the whole cast thinks Del knows more about the pond than she’s disclosing, but Del is also wary of her relatives poking holes into her and Colton’s relationship.
“That’s her struggle. ‘Do you want to know those things?’” Leigh explained. “It’s just like, ‘I don’t know if I want that tainted.’ I don’t know. And I don’t know if I personally would either.”
She explained that Del keeps her romance with Colton close to her heart and rarely lets the family in on their intimate past. That said, Leigh told Us Del is a “free spirit” who “wants to know that the depth and the origin” of their family is known.
“It’s a really fine line because she does have that adventurous spirit,” Leigh said, teasing Del has a layer of mystery to her.
How Will Alice and Del Move on From That Fight?
During season 3, episode 5, Alice tells her grandmother that she feels bad for young Evelyn Goodwin (Devin Cecchetto) after going back to the 1970s and seeing that Evelyn was in love with Colton when Del came to town and won his heart. Del yells at Alice and tells her to stay out of her memories, getting defensive about Alice seemingly rewriting history.
“It’s the first time we’ve seen them at odds in a way. And obviously for Alice it’s devastating, but when I read the scene, I was sort of excited,” Laflamme-Snow exclusively told Us. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is a new thing for Alice and Del.’”
She explained that since Alice moved to Port Haven to live with Kat and Del, her grandmother has been “hands off and let Alice just sort of be Alice.” However, this argument is a turning point in their relationship.
“[Del has] pushed back and said, ‘No, you can’t go in there and interfere with my memories and my love story.’ And I was excited to do that scene, because anything new is always exciting,” Laflamme-Snow continued. “It leaves us at a good spot halfway through the season to not really know how their relationship is going to evolve.” She teased, the characters “are having a bit of a struggle” over the argument.
Should Kalliot Fans Be Worried Now That Elliot’s Wife Has Been Introduced?
Kat was taken aback when Elliot Augustine’s (Evan Williams) ex-wife came to town unannounced during season 3, episode 5. Her appearance caused Kat to worry about her relationship with Elliot even though they recently moved in together.
Williams exclusively told Us that fans will have to tune in to see if the couple “can ride out the turbulence” that comes after his ex-wife comes and goes.
“It really brings some of the fundamental, I would say, cracks in the foundation of their relationship to bear,” he teased. “And the things that also don’t really have anything to do with their relationship, but it’s just contextual.”
Leigh compared Kat and Elliot’s back and forth to the “Ross and Rachel” dynamic from Friends, where they are meant to be but it’s never easy.
“You got to have that little bit back and forth,” she explained, noting that after time traveling to a “fantastical world” it is a change for Kat and Elliot to be home together and act normal.
Leigh continued, “When we’re not jumping in the pond, when we’re not time traveling, when we’re not doing all those things, if one adventure seemingly ends, where do we go from here? So it’s a lot of those reality check moments.”
Is Thomas a Threat to Kat and Elliot’s Romance?
After falling for Thomas Coyle (Kris Holden-Ried) in 1814, Kat has had a hard time putting the past in the past.
“I don’t think there would be a better off [scenario] regardless, because leaving the 1800s in general is a difficult concept in her brain, but also conflict in her heart,” Leigh told Us of Kat’s inner turmoil with Thomas. “And so that’s the tough part about it because she knows that you can’t come forward.”
Leigh added that Kat could “never leave her baby girl” Alice and live permanently in another time period, so Thomas isn’t a massive threat to her future.
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Will Kat and Susanna Be Explored?
In addition to Thomas, Kat is constantly pulled back to the 1800s because of her friendship with Susanna Augustine (Watson Rose). Fans, meanwhile, have started to wonder if there’s a romantic undertone to the women’s dynamic.
“I think it’s always been a magnetism between the two of them. I think they’ve always had some sense of a kindred spirit,” Leigh told Us of the two fierce female characters. “Between the two characters, there is definitely a love there.”
She noted that it’s become obvious that Kat has “never felt” this strong pull and friendship with someone.
“If you really pay attention to the details about Susanna, the character, there’s a lot more to it about her discovering herself and who she is and why she feels the way that she feels,” Leigh said. “And we learn a little bit more about Susanna this season, which is really wonderful.”
Could Nick Be Back?
Elliot mentioned Nick Oates’ (Kerry James) name while reading a text during season 3, episode 5, hinting that the adult version of his best friend could make another appearance. The Way Home fans will remember that Alice fell in love with young Nick when she was transported back to the 1990s during season 1.
Laflamme-Snow revealed that she loves the Alice and Nick story line, calling it an “anchor point” for her. “She was really going through a hard time at the beginning and the first time we see her sing on [Nick’s] request at the beach in front of all these strangers, you really see her for the first time as a young girl and just vulnerable,” she recalled.
The actress noted that she was surprised at how “attached” fans became to Alice and young Nick’s love story even though it can’t continue.
“The more they became star-crossed lovers … the more they got pulled apart, the more people wanted them to come together,” she said, telling Us that for now Alice needs to be “focusing on her future.”
That said, Laflamme-Snow teased that viewers will “see how the Alice and Nick in present day awkwardness can work itself out” this season.
The Way Home airs on Hallmark Channel Fridays 9 p.m. ET.
With reporting by Christina Garibaldi
