The Way Home Stars Tease Family Secrets, The White Witch, and An Emotional Finale

As season 4 of The Way Home continues to unravel the mysteries of Port Haven, the show’s 1970s cast is offering new insight into some of the season’s biggest questions. In a recent conversation with Pop Culture Planet, Kelsey Falconer, Devin Cecchetto, Julia Tomasone, and Jordan Doww reflected on everything from Tessa’s connection to the Landry family and Evelyn’s fascination with the White Witch to Del and Colton’s emotional past.

Pop Culture Planet: Do you think Tessa recognized her own handwriting in that Landry family almanac? And why do you think she's so focused on connecting with the founding families of Port Haven?

Kelsey Falconer: Great question. I think she did recognize her handwriting. That's why she was so fixated on it because I think you would recognize your own handwriting, but of course, how can you make sense of that? Like there's no explanation of why my handwriting would be in that book. It's definitely a very confusing moment that then is interrupted anyway by being confronted by Fern. But yeah, […] I think we see that she recognizes her handwriting. Kind of wild. Then yeah, this whole thing about Tessa finding her found family. She says that she wishes that her family could have done something like this if they had the chance. That's one thing that Tessa says in episode 4. So I think that alludes to the fact that there's something missing from her life regarding family, which I won't talk too much about, but there's definitely something that she's looking for, and that is that found family. That is friends that feel like family. So these connections, these friendships, and being welcomed into the Landry home is really important for her.

PCP: Devin, I wanted to talk to you about the White Witch. Why do you think Evelyn is so fascinated by that mythology? Do you think that research may lead to her getting close to the truth about the Landry family?

Devin Cecchetto: Obviously Evelyn has always been obsessed with magic and mystery. I think that when she was young and she was in the pond, she knows that somebody saved her and she attributes that to the White Witch. Then the White Witch keeps showing up everywhere. It's this thing that's maybe to her… I don't know if she is like who could it be or if it's more of like a guardian angel that she feels like is watching over her. But as we go down and we see more episodes then we actually will maybe discover a little bit more about that. I know that Kelsey just put out something [online] where she actually is wearing something very similar to the White Witch. I think also whatever that concept is to Evelyn and whatever the White Witch represents to her, which I think is almost like a spirit guide or something that protects her, she introduces it to Lewis as well, which I think is really, really beautiful and sweet. I don't want to like expose too much because there is more to be heard but we'll just leave it there.

PCP: We're learning more about things that Del dealt with at the beginning of her marriage with Colton. There’s a loss that she hasn't shared with the rest of the family. I was wondering how you feel that impacts her journey in the present as well now that Alice is seeing both sides of things that have happened to her.

Julia Tomasone: Last season we did not see that level of tenderness and vulnerability with Del for sure, especially when she came to town. I think that she rubbed some people the wrong way, but she's always had a really big heart. Her dream has always been really rooted in having family and the stability that she never had and warmth. She's just a really loving person that wants to give and receive love. Colton is that rock and I think that they have a lot of really beautiful moments in the upcoming episodes. But I think that we see everything that she experiences in the present softens Del in the future. We understand why she is the way she is. She goes through a bit of an emotional rollercoaster. There's some big ups and downs upcoming. I think that she just is trying to keep hope and she just really wants to be a mom.

With the time period too, women didn't talk about that kind of thing as openly, right? So we're seeing her navigate that. I think it's really important to have that be a storyline this season.

PCP: We've heard about this mysterious brother that Colton has. Now we are finally getting a chance to bring him into this story. Colton has always been this rock for everyone else. I was wondering what that's like for him.

Jordan Doww: It's definitely interesting to get to explore further into Colton because everything was so fun and free and light last season. There was even some complexities last season too. There was this big secret and then some guilt there. Colton had said that summer of 74 was the worst and best summer of his life. He met the love of his life, but then also navigated all of this guilt that he thought he had. It's cool to step into adulthood now with Colton and explore the deeper parts of that. The journey that he goes on with Del through adulthood, early marriage, and then now we are seeing more of his family and that there is a missing brother. There's going to be some tension there. I'm excited to dive further into that. I can't really explain too, too much, but there's definitely some tension there because he missed a lot. Colton's life is moving in a direction. There's people that haven't been around to see that.

PCP: Did you guys take anything from set to commemorate your time on the show?

JD: Heck yeah. Colton's jeans, the '70s jeans. I love those. I'm borderline about to not fit in them, but I love them and I wear them.

JT: I took one of Del's farmhouse jackets that she's always in.

DC: I got Evelyn's legendary white outfit that she wore the very first time we saw her. […] Like the shoes, the purse, and then I also took the bee necklace. Which is really sweet. The bee necklace just sits there and I like it and it's cute.

KF: I took a bunch of Coyle’s merch. I've got some of the ‘70s Coyle merch. I've got some stickers and stuff. Then I have a bunch of the photos that were props on the show that are being very much used and thrown around and ripped. I've got the the non-ripped ones and the ripped ones.

JD: I also got a gift from Sadie [Laflamme-Snow]. I got a Coyle’s sticker from Sadie. I actually put it on my guitar at home in the same spot that it's on in Colton’s guitar so it feels like it's Colton's guitar.

JT: Yeah, I love that. I have mine on my fridge.

JD: Oh, cute, cute, cute.

PCP: Did you have any fun things that you got to do on set?

JD: Going in the recording booth and singing. What a dream come true.. We just we all had so much fun. It didn't feel like work at all. Truly.

KF: I think all the scenes that were all together, like all the 70s crew. All of those days on set were just the best.

PCP: Can you each share one word that was your reaction to the finale?

JT: Just beautiful.

DC: I'd say, breathtaking.

KF: I'd say, overwhelming.

JD: Mine is going to be this: “What? Like what?” So with the action and everything included with it.

New episodes of The Way Home season 4 airs Sundays on Hallmark Channel.