We’re still sad that The Way Home is over, and we’ve accepted that we’re going to be in this emotional state for quite some time. The Way Home changed the way that we watched television. How, you ask? It made us invest in strong storytelling and be willing to take the journey no matter how or when it ends.
So we watched and have never regretted it. We’ve tried to solve mysteries and have been far off, but still tried. We have loved both the characters at this time and in the past. The Way Home has been and will always be a mystery. Who? What? When? Where? Why?
So many questions and so few answers. But so many lessons that we’ve learned from watching this show.
In the end, the show taught us that you can’t trust anyone. Well, at least on this show. But when we sat down and spoke with Julia Tomasone (Young Del), Jordan Doww (Young Colton), Devin Cecchetto (Young Evelyn), and Kelsey Falconer (Tessa), they gave us a different perspective on those thoughts.
We asked them about what lessons they learned from The Way Home. Jordan Doww said, “I think one thing the show does really well is that no one’s perfect. I don’t think you’re talking about you can’t trust anybody, but I think it just shows that no one’s black and white. No one’s the villain or the hero, and that’s reality for human beings. I think it’s taught me that you don’t necessarily know everyone’s story. I think there’s more to people than you might realize, and that you might know, and just taking the time to understand other people’s perspectives. I think the show portrays that really well.”
Cecchetto added, “These characters are very complex, and they’re very cheeky. I think that, definitely, this season, honestly, damn, I was not ready to step into being a mom. Now, I know it’s just a character, but it really freaked me out a lot. It did. I was like, “Oh, my God.” First of all, if I were Evelyn’s age, having a kid, then that would be crazy.”
And then added, “Then also just for me being Devin having to handle little babies, in the second episode, or the third episode when Alice comes back, and I’ve got the baby there, at first I was like, “Oh, my God, I’m terrified to hold this baby.” I’ve held babies before, but I just was like, “This is Lewis, and this is terrifying for me.” Now I guess, also now that that’s been aired and it’s out there, then maybe I’m more accustomed. Maybe I could be a mommy.”
We all couldn’t help but laugh at that moment when Doww said, “You’re a mommy.”
To which Cecchetto continued, “I’m a mommy. Definitely, that’s something that’s interesting about having Evelyn be like, “I will raise this child, and I will be strong enough to do this on my own.” She’s got guts. I look up to that a lot. It was really cool to be able to step into that position because I haven’t been able to do that yet in my life or in any other character. That was really cool.”
Evelyn is one of our favorite characters because she is such a spitfire and seems so carefree. Her strength and courage showed us a path of strength and finding meaning in the small and big things in life.
I asked them, out of all of the characters in the show, who we should trust the most. They all agreed that it was Del.
Doww said, “Del is always forward with her truth and her emotions, and everyone else around her has kept secrets, which is more or less unfair. Again, to Kelsey’s point, no one’s black and white. There’s a reason everyone has their secrets, and whether that’s to protect someone or not, we don’t know. Everyone, at least, has always moved forward with at least some intention to save the peace with someone or not hurt someone, but in the process, it does. I don’t think any character in this show has ever done that intentionally.”
We spoke a little bit about the characters, and knowing that the show was ending, I asked them about what they would tell their younger self about getting the role and how it has changed them.
“I don’t know. I think that before I booked the show, I was in a different place. I think that Evelyn allowed me to find lightness and magic again. Through booking this, I didn’t know that it was going to have such a huge following or that we were going to be in as many episodes as we were, and that it was going to go on for us for two seasons. I think the show’s beautiful, and it should go on for more than that, but that’s to zip my lips.” Cecchetto continued.
She then added, “If I could go back, I think I embraced everything to the fullest, but just to give myself a little, I don’t know. “This is magic. This is a little piece of magic, and you will be so grateful, but you’re so lucky that you got this experience.” Yes, it’s a beautiful family, and Evelyn was a beautiful role to play. She helped me move through some things in my life just by the way that she was moving through things as a character, which is really cool.”
Doww answered, “When we first landed the job, I also was just in a different place. I was having a lot of anxiety with life and where I was, and just all of this stuff. Before you start any job, too, I get a little nervous, and you don’t know what you’re going to expect. If I could go back and just tell him, “This would be one of the best blessings of your life. Not only hanging out with these people, but the experience of being on such a warm set, being included in this family.” We are truly all family. I’ve never worked on a project with this warm of a crew.”
He then added, “Then not only that, the fans. The fans have changed our lives. The interaction, the engagement, and the following that it has, has been the most rewarding thing for me out of it because I like to be so engaged. Again, I would just shake him by the shoulders and be like, ‘Don’t be nervous. This is going to be one of the best experiences of your life so far, so don’t cry.’”
“I think so, too. Just embracing it and just jumping into the family. I think I was pretty nervous, especially playing a younger Andy McDowell; there was a lot of pressure in that for me, at least going into the first season. She was so warm, and so gracious, and so lovely. I would just say, ‘Don’t be nervous. Everyone’s going to become your extended family, so have fun.’” Julia Tomasone added.
“Similarly. I remember getting the call that I booked, and it’s always very exciting getting a booking, no matter what. I’ve filmed a lot of shows. Then, literally the next day was the first read-through. I booked it, and then I went the next day, and I met everybody. The way that I was welcomed, I was already part of the family.” Kelsey Falconer said, “Coming into a fourth season is always a bit nerve-wracking, but they immediately welcomed me into the family. I just can’t believe that these people have become my forever friends as well. The set, the cast, the crew, everyone is just so warm and welcoming. It’s actually very rare to feel that on set. It definitely was a life-changing experience to film the show.”
The Way Home was special. It will remain special. We’re crying because it’s over and smiling because it happened.
