OMG. CHESAPEAKE SHORES! Good and BAD! Please come to talk to me.

[ChesapeakeEmbarrassed]

I'm a late arrival to Chesapeake Shores and am totally obsessed (Binge watching and mid Series 3) but have really come here in the hope to find people to first help me on my quest to turn my life in to Chesapeak Shores and second join in my ranting.

If you aren't familiar with this joy, it is easy watching on Netflix - Hallmark style - similar vibe to a Christmas movie. Lovely setting. Beautiful people finding love in a small town. Big city bad. Nearest smaller city better. Small town best of all.

GOOD

It's lovely. Soft easy delicious viewing. Looks awesome.

SO WHERE/HOW can I make my life more Chesapeake Shores???

Do I need to move to be by the sea? Can I have Chesapeak Shoreness in the UK? How do I get that? Do I need to move to Vancouver Island where they film it?

What do I need to make my life like this???? I don't have a million siblings which is major handicap.

I found this page of Chesapeake Stores style btw way if anyone wants to join me in this madness.

www.hallmarkchannel.com/chesapeake-shores/style

Please note my new user name. I am very self aware of my foolishness.

AND THE BAD

The occasionally Irish grandmother. Seriously that accent. Whenever the accent is passing through. Sometimes she sounds wholly American. Sometimes variably Scottish.

Trace’s singing. I’ve started fast forwarding through it. I don’t get why there is so much of it. Surely no one can think it’s worthwhile. Apparently the actor writes some of these songs. He really should stop. Or someone should stop him.

The Trace Riley Band song Freefall. Once was enough. If I hear it again, I think I’ll have a seizure.

Jess the annoying sister. No one can really be that annoying in real life and still have friends or even relatives they speak to. Plus how on earth did someone THAT juvenile and shrieky end up with the handsome, kind, super wealthy bf. Ok. Yes I know fiction. But come on scriptwriting people!

Bizarre recoveries 1: The Trace Riley Band man that Trace was in an accident with. One minute he was in a wheelchair, bitter and ruined by the car accident, the implication being this was a permanent state (see Trace’s overwhelming guilt) and the next he was up and bopping about on stage as the bassist in the band. I must have missed the evangelical healing episode.

Bizarre recoveries 2: Kevin was in an IED explosion in Afghanistan or Iraq or somewhere. His leg is mangled, has major facial burns etc etc. A couple of episodes later he’s out running and looks just fine. I don’t know what his rehab secret was but I think they could sell it as a medical wonderment.

The Mother. So she just walked out on her family without telling them why (answer dad was a tosser) and expects all of them to just be fine with her pitching back up 13+ years later, baking a cake and all of that anger and history to be swept away. Plus why is the Dad now newly interested in her. It makes no sense.

The changing and then missing dog. One minute a golden retriever, then a German shepherd, then no one mentions him again. Who is looking after this dog?

Ah I love this show, so easy to watch, any drama sorted out by the end of the episode. Might have googled houses for sale in van over island after seeing their family home. There is definitely are fair few holes in the plot! Also not remembering season 3 and not wanting to give out spoilers- the place that jess stays in seems to change location? I think the actor playing Trace wanted it to be a launch for his music career, and oh my god that grandmother's accent!! I'm up to date now but I found the last episode odd- not sure if there's going to be more for this season or that was it?

the place that jess stays in seems to change location?

Oh yes that reminds me the main house changed as well from the pilot to the main place. That first house had stairs up to the front door and a main central staircase.

I haven't noticed Jess's place change yet but maybe it's coming.

Also Trace's Bar joint - who runs it while he is 'on the road' and how come we've never met them.

I have a couple more of the last season to watch, but I agree with the points especially about the mum. She just seems to walk back in as though she never left.

If you like this try Heartland (also on Netflix). Its very similar. Although it makes me want to live on a ranch in Canada and ride horses all day.

Oh yes I watch heartland too, love it, nice to have something on tv thats suitable for kids to watch too. There are so many seasons I don't think I will ever get to the end of it!

I do love this programme, also worth trying for a similar vibe in different ways are good witch and when calls the heart

I love it! I would move to Baltimore in a heartbeat!

Jess is super irritating and it’s all so cheesy but I love it!! Your description of it being like a Hallmark Christmas film is spot on.

I binge watched series 1 to 4 last year when I was off work having treatment. I was very stressed at the time and found it very soothing. Yes it is quite cheesy at times but visually I found it stunning and really enjoyable. I’ve now nearly finished series 5 so need to find something else to replace it.
I’ve also watched Maid which I believe was filmed in Victoria, Canada looks such a beautiful country.

You need Virgin River next, beautiful people in a beautiful location with a bit more drama than in Chesapeake Shores.

It used to be my pleasant show that I watched while breastfeeding and was feeling a bit down (baby blues). Same with the good witch. I love that cosy vibe where nothing truly awful happens. I liked the gilmore girls for that reason too.

I live by the sea and have yet to achieve any CS feeling in my life though.

Oh this looks like a gentle hug kinda show. I think it's filmed in parksville/ Ladysmith. They film a lot of Hallmark stuff here.

Love this show. Shame season 5 does not have one of the main characters. Feels different. No spoilers

@Fired

It used to be my pleasant show that I watched while breastfeeding and was feeling a bit down (baby blues). Same with the good witch. I love that cosy vibe where nothing truly awful happens. I liked the gilmore girls for that reason too.

I live by the sea and have yet to achieve any CS feeling in my life though.

Gilmore Girls is by far my favourite thing I watched during lockdown. Even considering watching it again soon.

Have tried to watch Good Witch, but think that the series is after some films? I couldn't find the films, but didn't search too hard. Maybe after my last 2 episodes of CS I might look again

I couldn’t get into it. I enjoyed Virgin River more

I've just started season 4 and love it(although not quite to the same extent as you OP 😂). I agree with all of your plot holes/observations especially the Irish accent. It's terrible!!

I really like it, very easy viewing. The house is beautiful and I love the dynamic between all the siblings.
I think season 5 is finished now, I didn’t realise it was the last episode til I looked for another on Monday.

The grandmother's accent changes so often... It's worse in season 5 I think!

I love in a small seaside town and sadly it is nothing like CS. For shame.

Try Sweet Magnolias as well as the aforementioned Good Witch, Gilmore Girls and Virgin River.

Love it. Was all set to watch another episode last night when I realised I'd watched all 10 episodes of season 5.

Cannot stand the grandmother's faux Irish accent but she does a fantastic breakfast, 'for sure'. There's always way too much food on the table, even with them all appearing from every angle at breakfast time.

Love Kevin and Bree. The other 3 can be a bit irritating, especially Jess.

Have watched Virgin River too. Enjoyed that. Must watch Heartland next.

Try Sweet Magnolias as well as the aforementioned Good Witch, Gilmore Girls and Virgin River.

I haven’t watched Good Witch but enjoyed all the others.

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

You need Virgin River next, beautiful people in a beautiful location with a bit more drama than in Chesapeake Shores.

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime

It was Virgin River that lead me to Chesapeake Shores. I binged the whole of Virgin River, then watched Sweet Magnolias and then was casting around for similar suggestions - which was Chesapeake Shores

(so far - up to mid Season 3 despite the many annoyances) I kind of prefer Chesapeake Shores I think because I want to live there.

Although I did want to live in Virgin River when I watched that (I'm obviously fickle) but Chesapeake shores has more going on. I mean they have an Oyster festival AND a bookstore AND a live music venue AND Sally's Cafe. Virgin Rivers just has one bar!

I want to be Bree I think. I'll have to go and stalk some authors at book signings.

Whoever said above that it is very soothing has it exactly right. Nothing really very bad happens and if it does it is sorted very, very quickly.

I need a plan to Chesapeake Shore my life.

@OrangeBananaFish

I have a couple more of the last season to watch, but I agree with the points especially about the mum. She just seems to walk back in as though she never left.

If you like this try Heartland (also on Netflix). Its very similar. Although it makes me want to live on a ranch in Canada and ride horses all day.

Thank you for this recommendation.

Based on past history, I'm very sure it will make me want to live on a ranch in Canada.

Sigh.

I LOVE it! And am also completely baffled by it most of the time . It is so pleasing on the eye, everyone is lovely looking, nothing terrible really happens - what's not to love?

It is also like a cut and shut - stories leap forward in a single scene, new characters just sort of drop in out if nowhere, half of it makes very little sense. It's brilliant!

The faux Irish accent is

Terrible! Obviously hit send too soon.

I spoke to soon about the dog. He has reappeared for about 2 seconds in episode 8 or 9 of season 3.

Season 4 spoiler

I am very upset that Simon the novelist and Bree didn't work out. I must say that the "dumping" scene scores highly in the ultra-cheese stakes - when he 'read' her that bit about her love helped him and he hoped it helped her pages from her novel. It rivalled that excruciating is it raining/I hadn't noticed Four Weddings and A funeral scene.

I liked the whole concept of their relationship but they really (the actors themselves not the characters) didn't have any chemistry. The writer with the bookshop owner/playwrite was such a cute concept.