‘CHESAPEAKE SHORES,’ SEASON 2: A New Favorite Family to Love
With their themes of family and love as network cornerstones, Chesapeake Shores finds its ideal home on Hallmark Channel. Season two returns and picks up just where its prior season left off with Abby O’Brien (Meghan Ory) back home in a place she can raise two daughters with family values. But the summer is now over and though it was magical, real life begins again. Abby has to balance her new job with the girl’s and school, and learn how to navigate the re-kindled relationship she has with her hometown sweetheart-turned-country-music-superstar, Trace Riley (Jesse Metcalfe). chesapeake shores season 2
As her girls (Abbie Magnuson, Kayden Magnuson) start a new school, and Abby makes time for family, and her career, life keeps busy. Then, Trace’s musical career slowly picks up speed which creates a chasm between him and Abby. Meanwhile, the rest of the O’Brien’s also encounter challenges. Jess (Laci J Mailey) still has trouble accepting her mother (Barbara Niven); Bree (Emilie Ullerup) is preparing to return to Chicago where her new play could be produced; Kevin (Brendan Penny) struggles with guilt and the possibility his relationship is over; and Connor (Andrew Francis) prepares to start his first job post-graduation.
Apart from the five O’Brien kids, business challenges of a personal nature affect the patriarch Mick O’Brien (Treat Williams). Through it all, Nell (Diane Ladd) fights to ensure her sons, Mick and Thomas (Gregory Harrison) remember the most important thing of all: family means everything.
Chesapeake Shores Season 2 Hallmark Review
I love this show. Imperfections and all, it’s my “fan favorite” when it comes to Hallmark’s scripted series. There’s something so genuine about the characters that works, and for me, it’s a group I can relate to. Are the characters endearingly over-dramatic sometimes? Yes, but they’re also annoyingly flawed which means it feels really real. That’s something that drives home each episode, and is an important part of storytelling.
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Before I gush too much, the one glaring aspect I don’t like is the constant back and forth between Abby and Trace. It’s not really fair to single out Chesapeake Shores because all of the shows do this, but this doesn’t make it any less annoying. It’s unnecessary to create conflict for everyone (or in this case, every single romantic relationship) because there’s plenty of other conflict in their professional lives or other aspects of their personal; like familial tension.
Despite this, the stories in this quint town are worth investing in. There’s heartbreak, yes, but at the end of the day, the sun sets on a family who is supportive and always there for each other. That end game “feels” you experience is worth the strain between characters, and the writers seem to understand the importance of being a family and all that comes with this. This is a storytelling method most writers don’t seem to understand, so when I find it, it makes an impression.
Always a story to wear its heart on its sleeve, Chesapeake Shores is a family saga not to be missed.
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Yay; I’m so excited you’ve discovered the awesomeness that is S2!! And I could not agree with you more about the Abby and Trace drama wearing thin… though to be honest, of the two, Abby is actually the one who annoys me the most.
I also have just one question for you: do you or do you not think that Kevin and Sarah are one of the BEST things this show has gifted us with?!
Kevin’s scenes with Bree this season were also beautiful, every single one; I do love the O’Brien clan, messy though they be. Getting to meet members we haven’t seen before, such as Uncle Thomas, was also fantastic!
(Sincere apologies for missing this comment, Kristy! I think I’m doing better with comment replies – i.e., keeping up, and then I come across a comment from MONTHS ago that I neglected. Sorry.)
To be honest, I love Trace and Abby still… even with their MANY problems. I’m hoping they’ll be together in the end just because I remember them from S1, and how settle Trace was. LOVED that. If there’s not to be a S5, I’m hopeful Hallmark will eventually film a movie to tie up all the loose ends since I don’t see Sunday’s acting as a series finale. Also, they’re supposed to make a movie about the sisters last I heard.
Either way, yes! I adore this family, and *awww* Kevin + Sarah are adorable. I’ve only seen E1 of this new season, but might sneak in an episode or two this weekend. Because I see all the teasers and am all like, “WHY AM I NOT WATCHING!?” :)
The sibling scenes? Priceless!