Romance Tropes featuring WCTH Couples
Let's dive into 10 of the most popular romance tropes and how they relate to our favorite When Calls the Heart couples.
Let’s explore 10 romantic tropes as they relate to When Calls the Heart Couples. Whew! This was not an easy task because some of them overlapped with multiple tropes. However, I did the best I could and selected what I felt was the best fit.
Unrequited Love: Nathan & Elizabeth
Let’s be honest. Nathan and Elizabeth could fit into almost every romance trope but I picked the one I felt aligned BEST with their story.
The Unrequited Love trope fits Nathan and Elizabeth the best because of Season 8 Episode 2. If you recall, Nathan declared his love for Elizabeth at the log. This sent Elizabeth into a spiral of denial for 3 years (Seasons 8-10). Later in the season, Elizabeth tells Nathan she loves him but is not IN love with him. Ouch. Thus begins the journey of unrequited love. It isn’t until the Season 10 finale we get a glimpse into Elizabeth’s heart and learn that maybe Nathan’s love is not unrequited.
However, at this point in their story, Nathan’s love is still unrequited. Elizabeth hasn’t confessed her feelings to Nathan. Although she alluded to it in the conversation with Rosemary, she hasn’t explicitly said it. I am eager and excited to explore their potential romance in Season 11!
Forbidden Love: Rachel & Christopher
Rachel and Christopher were immediately drawn to each other. Their relationship felt like innocence meets not-so-innocent. Their youthfulness and playfulness were apparent and fun to watch which added a new element to When Calls the Heart. However, Rosemary and Lee forbade (in a sense) Rachel from seeing Christopher. Although they did not try too hard to stop them from interacting. Rachel soon left to go back to Bellingham and Christopher attempted to make amends with his father. We learn in Season 9 via a letter to Henry they are soon to married! I want them to return to WCTH in a recurring or guest role.
Friends to Lovers: Ned & Florence
Friends to Lovers defines Ned and Florence’s relationship. Both widowed and working side by side they developed feelings for one another. We weren’t privy to watching them fall in love or even see their friendship. Their marriage came out of left field for me. Although I enjoy them as a couple, I don’t think it was necessary to marry them off so quickly. I would have liked to delve into their relationship more. Anyway, we know they were friends before they were lovers. Their relationship was likely a slow burn over the years even if we did not get to see it unfold. Now we get to see their romantic relationship continue to unfold.
Bad Boy/Good Girl: Jesse & Clara
This one was hard to pick but I feel like Bad Boy/Good Girl fits Jesse and Clara the best. Clara was new to town after losing her husband, Peter Stanton, to the mine explosion. She lived with Abigail, her mother-in-law, at the time. Throughout the earlier seasons, we see Clara insistent on doing the right thing. She has a strong moral compass. Then, Jesse rides into town with a purpose and affiliation with a gang. His moral compass is not pointing north because he doesn’t quite see right from wrong until later. He begins to develop feelings for Clara and that propels him to make a life change. Jesse may not be a “bad boy” anymore but his introduction to Hope Valley certainly supports that claim. I enjoyed Jesse and Clara despite that being a controversial opinion! Together, they learned and grew to become two of the most caring people in Hope Valley. I would enjoy a reunion between them and Hope Valley. Again, only in a guest role but it would be fun to catch up with them!
Opposites Attract: Rosemary & Lee
Rosemary and Lee are like fire and rain. The pure definition of the opposites attracts romance trope. Rosemary is on fire with a passion for theater and high society life. She is strong-willed and knows what she wants in life. Or so she thought. When she originally came to town it was under the guise of Jack Thornton’s fiancé. However, as quickly as Lee arrived she forgot about her lingering “feelings” for Jack. Lee challenged her in a way that made her feel seen. Lee came to town during the mine trial to see the outcome. Lee is the founder/owner of Coulter Lumber. When he first arrived in town he appeared to be a put-together, no-none sense businessman. While Rosemary challenged him in a way I presume no woman ever had, Lee also challenged Rosemary to be less selfish in her desires. I always enjoy watching them banter and interact on screen!
Over the years it has been fun to watch Lee and Rosemary grow as a couple. Of all the present couples on When Calls the Heart, Lee and Rosemary have been together the longest. Season 11 will mark 8 years of marriage for them but almost 10 years together. They’ve evolved from the honeymoon stage to settling into parenthood. Although, if you look deep and know their history I would argue their relationship still has that novel feel. I cannot wait to see how they journey deeper into parenthood and learn more about them in Season 11.
First Love: Elizabeth & Jack
The saying goes, “There is nothing more special than a first love.” Jack and Elizabeth were certainly each other’s first loves. Some say it’s young love and downplay the maturity of it. However, I would describe their love as mature even though they were young. Throughout their relationship, they went through many trials forcing them to focus on the important aspects of their relationship. They taught each other about unconditional love. Despite protests from her family, Jack and Elizabeth remained strong in their love for one another and never took the easy way out. We did not get to explore their married life nearly as much as I wish we had. But seeing their journey to love for 5 years is a gift we should be all grateful we got to witness. They brought out the best in one another and were a source of constant encouragement and a shoulder to cry on for each other. Elizabeth and Jack will always have a special place in my heart.
Soulmate: Mike & Mei
Merriam-Webster defines a soulmate as, “a close friend or romantic partner with whom one has a unique deep connection based on mutual understanding and acceptance”
Mike and Mei’s relationship is fairly new and I would say their little flirtatious moments didn’t start until midway through Season 10. We’ve mainly seen the flirty part of their relationship but there have been some sweet moments. Mike and Mei both enjoy singing and reading. Their conversations were often about one or both of these topics. Which is why I would consider them soulmates. However, there isn’t much to go off at the moment and I’m hoping that changes in Season 11!
Workplace Romance: Faith & Carson
Faith and Carson are the textbook definitions of workplace romance. Faith originally came to Hope Valley as a nurse and Carson as a Doctor. For a while, Faith was managing the practice as a nurse and I assume it was under the direction of a doctor in Union City or Buxton. Carson did not come until much later but once his expertise as a doctor was uncovered he was promptly offered a job. Their romance developed first as friends and co-workers then progressed to romantic. This was their primary roadblock in the earlier seasons but once they worked through it their relationship was able to flourish. Another unpopular opinion, I enjoyed Faith and Crson’s romance until Season 8!
Tragic Love: Lucas & Elizabeth
I would be lying if I said it wasn’t hard to pick a trope for Lucas and Elizabeth. Tragic love is not a typical romantic trope but I feel like it describes Lucas and Elizabeth’s relationship. In a tragic romance, the central couple’s love story ends in heartbreak. There is no doubt Lucas and Elizabeth fell in love and started planning their future with the full intention of honoring their commitment to pursue a marriage. However, trials of the heart and circumstances in these character’s lives are responsible for their break up. However, this does not negate the love they had for one another. Sometimes love is not enough to keep a couple together. I look forward to seeing Lucas and Elizabeth’s separate journeys back to love with other people.
Power Couple: Minnie & Joseph
Minnie & Joseph Canfield arrived in Hope Valley during Season 8. Joseph is the new Pastor in town and this created an opportunity for God to be placed back into series. I feel like they have been a power couple since their arrival. We’ve seen them continually encourage one another and the members of the community. Now with Minnie managing the cafe, this would allow her to be a center figure of Hope Valley. Minnie and Joseph being given a more central placement in the town would allow for them to exercise their roles as Pastor and Pastor’s Wife. I hope their unique story as a couple and parents allows When Calls the Heart to take a deeper approach to their storylines. I look forward to learning more about them in Season 11!
Close Proximity: Lucas & Fiona
This is a bonus/wishful-thinking relationship. Lucas and Fiona both arrived in Hope Valley in Season 6 and since then I have wanted them to be romantically involved. Lucas is a passionate business owner with unmatched poker skills used for the betterment of the community. Fiona is a businesswoman and female engineer pioneering her way in a man’s world. These two would be a force to reckon with as a couple. They both love to travel but also like having a home base to return to during trips. With Lucas as Governor, I think this would be the perfect time to showcase Fiona’s skills as his advisor. This would also open up the door for a potential romance. Furthermore, they have something in common when it comes to love—an ex-fiancé. Yes, you heard me. Fiona was once engaged and she briefly mentioned this ex-fiancé but we haven’t heard anything else in years. I think it’s time to revisit that topic. Perhaps she has some advice for Lucas on how to handle a broken engagement. This is why I think the close proximity trope could fit them in the future. Proximity would be the perfect catalyst for a great romance between Lucas and Fiona!
Thank you so much for reading! Comment below which romantic trope you would give these Hope Valley couples!