Amber Marshall finally explains why we’re all addicted to Heartland

If you’ve been watching Heartland for the last decade (or almost two!), you know exactly why you tune in. It’s not just about the horses or the stunning Alberta scenery—it’s the feeling you get when those opening credits roll. It feels like coming home.

Amber Marshall, who has literally grown up on screen as Amy Fleming, recently did an interview that perfectly nailed why this show is still thriving in its 18th season when most series get cancelled after three.

She called the show a "breath of fresh air," and honestly, she’s right.

We are tired of stressful TV

In a candid chat with Trailblazher Co., Amber pointed out something that I think we all feel but don't always say out loud: most modern TV is exhausting. Shows these days seem designed to give you anxiety just to keep you binge-watching.

"The thing I love about Heartland, and that so many people have shared with me over the years, is that it’s just comfortable… you don’t feel that anxiety," she explained.

It’s true. The world is fast and loud, and we spend half our lives staring at our phones. Watching the Bartlett-Fleming family work through life on the ranch is basically free therapy. It grounds you.

Amber mentioned that fans are always telling her how the show makes them feel "inspired and positive," and that is such a rare thing in entertainment right now.

A show you don't have to mute when the kids walk in

Another big reason the show is still going strong? It’s one of the few dramas left that is genuinely safe for the whole family.

Amber told TV Insider that this is the common thread she hears from fans. People want a show where they "don't have to explain things to their kids." It’s nice to just sit down, disconnect from the internet, and actually watch something together without worrying about violence or inappropriate scenes popping up out of nowhere.

She actually lives the life (for real)

Part of the reason the show works is that Amber isn't faking it. She didn't just play a cowgirl for a few months and then go back to a Hollywood mansion.

She admitted she originally wanted to be a vet, not an actress. But when she booked the role of Amy, she went all in. By Season 2, she decided to move to Alberta full-time. She rented a plot of land, got some chickens and a dog, and never looked back.

"It just felt like home right away," she said.

She’s now married (she met her husband Shawn a year after buying her farm in 2009) and lives the exact lifestyle we see on TV. I think that authenticity bleeds into the show—we can tell she actually loves the land and the animals.

Where we stand with Season 18

For those wondering, the comfort isn't ending anytime soon. As many of you know, Season 18 is already a reality.

While our lucky friends in Canada have been enjoying the new episodes on CBC since October 2024, those of us in the U.S. are currently playing the waiting game. If the release schedule follows the usual pattern, we should see Season 18 drop on Up Faith & Family sometime in mid-2025 (likely around April or May).

Until then, we’ll just have to re-watch the classics!