A scene from "Virgin River." | The cast of "Chesapeake Shores." | Source: Netflix | Chesapeake Shores
As fans of "Heartland" seek to immerse themselves in stories that capture the same heartwarming essence, a world of equally compelling series awaits. From picturesque settings to deep emotional connections, these shows beckon with their tales of family, love, and life's trials.
Shows like "Heartland" on this list depict family life, often in rural settings, in a wholesome manner that does not shy away from darker topics such as grief and family strife. The Canadian show found a global adoring audience on Netflix.
"Heartland" introduces the Fleming-Bartlett family from the perspective of a teenager, Amy, portrayed by Amber Marshall, who goes to live with her grandpa on his ranch in Alberta, Canada, after her mother's death.
Amy begins her healing journey when she discovers that, like her late mom, she has a natural affinity for communicating with the farm's injured and problematic horses. Through the 16 (and counting) seasons, she helps save the ranch and starts her own family.
Shaun Johnston rounds out the cast as the patriarch, Jack Bartlett; Michelle Morgan, who portrays Amy's sister, Samantha Louise "Lou" Fleming; Amy's estranged dad, Chris Potter, as Tim Fleming; and her love interest is played by Graham Wardle.
For fans of the series, whether a viewer from when it first debuted on television in 2007 or those who binged the first few seasons on Netflix, reading the eponymous Young Adult novels by Lauren Brooke is not the only option when missing the Fleming-Bartletts. There are tons of heart and intergenerational family dramas to watch.
'Wildfire'
One cannot do a roundup of TV shows like "Heartland" without mentioning "Wildfire," which premiered two years prior in 2005. Over its four seasons, a troubled young woman, Kris Furillo, portrayed by Genevieve Padalecki, finds redemption at Raintree Ranch.
She moves into a trailer on the Ritter family's ranch upon getting parole from a juvenile detention center for stealing a car. Her presence on the farm causes ripples as a love triangle forms between her, the Ripple's son, and a boy from a rival ranch.
Where Amy has her steed Spartan, Kris has Wildfire, a horse she rescues and trains to become a champion. The strained familial relations between Kris and her mother, the Ritters, and the neighboring Davis family are the show's guiding force.
'Free Rein'
Los Angeles native Zoe's (Jaylen Barron) summer on a sleepy island off the coast of the United Kingdom, visiting her British grandfather with her family, becomes more interesting when a runaway horse, Raven, leads her to Bright Field stables.
Here, she makes friends and frienemies, encountering romance as she learns to ride horses. "Free Rein" is one of the rare examples of the genre with a person of color in the lead. As a bonus, there is a standalone movie, "Free Rein: The Twelve Neighs of Christmas."
Parallels between "Free Rein" and "Heartland" abound, starting with its' leads inheriting their horsemanship from their moms, as with Amy's Spartan, the stallion Raven helps Zoe heal her emotional wounds. Sisterly love is also a shared theme.
'All Creatures Great and Small'
If the animals and stunning nature scenes were the true stars of "Heartland" for you, this show from MASTERPIECE on PBS will hit the spot. Set in the 1930s in Yorkshire Dales, England, the show was nominated for a Bafta and numerous other awards.
"Heartland" viewers will appreciate the unique and innovative methods that veterinarians employ to heal the animals, not unlike Amy's approach to her horses. Similarly, the humorous interaction between the vets and locals parallels the Canadian series.
'This Is Us'
Despite its different setting and premise, the emotional heartbeat of "This Is Us" echoes "Heartland." The NBC ensemble starring Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia, Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Justin Hartley won 66 awards in its six-season run.
The tearjerker depicts the lives of the Pearson family, Jack and Rebecca, and their unconventional triplets, Kate, Kevin, and Randall, through multiple timelines. The show is famous for its intergenerational family drama, cliffhangers, and heartfelt moments.
'Virgin River'
Also streaming on Netflix, "Virgin River" exudes warmth, with easy-watching, family-friendly drama akin to "Heartland" with a touch of "Heart of Dixie." The ensemble cast includes Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, and Tim Matheson.
Los Angeles nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe, played by Alexandra Breckinridge, gives up her life in the city for a post in a remote Northern Californian town, where she has to convince her boss and the town folk that she can make a difference.
'Chesapeake Shores'
Made in the signature Hallmark channel style, "Chesapeake Shores" envelops you comfortably and easily. Abby O'Brien-Winters (Meghan Ory) returns to her hometown of Chesapeake Shores and sets off a series of events that bring her fractured family together.
She and her four adult siblings begin to process the trauma of their mother (Barbara Niven) abandoning them when they were young and their often absent father (Treat Williams). Abby reconnects with her daughters and an old flame.
'Northern Rescue'
Airing for only a single season in 2019, "Northern Rescue" sees a Boston search and rescue commander (William Baldwin) move his small family to his rural hometown of Turtle Island Bay after the death of his wife.
The family finds comfort with their grandfather and their maternal aunt. Much like Amy's arc of forgiveness with her father, the West children's strained relationship with their dad starts to thaw and heal in the series.
'Everwood'
In another appearance by Treat Williams as the patriarch, "Everwood" is a WB show from the early 2000s that holds up well for its realistic and nuanced portrayal of family dynamics. "Heartland" echoes the storylines of displacement and grief of the teen drama.
A widowed New York surgeon uproots his two kids in a tiny Everwood, Colorado, mountain village. Battles between father and son are delicately balanced by lighter moments supplied by the quirky residents of the area.
The drama was a launching pad for young stars such as Chris Pratt and Emily VanCamp, with many early guest appearances from Kristen Bell, Sarah Drew, Justin Baldoni, and "Vampire Diaries" Paul Wesley.
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