The Hallmark Channel continues to build upon its new Providence Falls film trilogy with Part 2 – “An Impossible Promise.“ Picking up from where Providence Falls: Part 1 (“Chance Of A Lifetime”) left off, this fantasy romance film sees Liam O’Connor (Lachlan Quarmby) continue to struggle with the weight of his feelings for his detective partner Cora McLeod (Katie Stevens), his one true love from their past lives in 19th-century Ireland. But the fates dictate that Cora’s soulmate is another “better” man, Finn Walsh (Evan Roderick), putting Liam in the impossible position of setting his beloved up with another man in order to give her the happy life she was robbed of in their original timeline. When a third man enters this already complicated romantic equation, things get even messier, and Cora’s life continues to hang in the balance. After the success of Part 1, does Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise deliver or ultimately fall flat? Keep reading to find out!
The Gist: After rookie detective Cora (Katie Stevens) ends Providence Falls: Chance Of A Lifetime confessing feelings for her partner, Liam (Lachlan Quarmby), he is forced to reject her, making things exceedingly awkward at work as they try to put personal feelings aside to solve a tricky murder case. Liam is truly stuck between a rock and a hard place, desperately in love with Cora but forced to push his feelings to the side so he can set her up with her supposed soulmate, D.A. office lawyer Finn (Evan Roderick), all at the behest of angels Agon (Amitai Marmorstein) and Samael (Keegan Connor Tracy).
If you saw Part 1, you know that Liam and Cora were in love in another lifetime in 1840s Ireland, but their different social classes and societal expectations led them to try running off to America so they could finally be together. But in the process, Cora ends up prematurely dead, unable to live out her destiny to do good for others, and forcing her and Liam to be reincarnated 200 years later to get things right. Now, Liam is the only one with memories of their shared past, and with that pain still fresh in his mind and heart, he continues to steer a confused and hurt Cora towards Finn, all while tackling a criminal case that has Cora doubting herself as a detective and person.
The situation grows increasingly complex as another suitor enters the ring, a private security worker named Magnus (Samer Salem) who left the force eight years ago, back when Cora’s dad (Paul McGillion) was still chief. Liam feels that there is something off about Magnus, leading Agon and Samael to look into him to see if he’s an agent of their enemy, nefarious supernatural being Bael (Niall Matter). Feeling overwhelmed by it all, Liam inadvertently ropes Cora’s best friend, Suzette (Felicia Simone), into helping set up Cora and Finn after she witnesses Agon disappear into thin air, revealing the existence of angels (a reveal that she’s surprisingly cool with… maybe too cool with, honestly).
Through it all, the Brady murder case continues to loom large, forcing Cora to seek help from Finn. Their collaboration not only leads them to the leader of a local biker gang, his illegal gambling ring, and a lead on the case, but also shows Cora that there’s a lot more to Finn than she’d ever realized. The two are able to bond and grow closer in the process, but intervention from the flirty and mysterious Magnus, as well as an ever-pining Liam, threatens to ruin their progress and put Cora’s life in jeopardy all over again. Is Cora and Liam’s painful history destined to repeat itself? Or is there a way for them to fight fate for their happily ever after?
What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise is kind of like if you combined the “will they, won’t they?” period piece parts of Pride & Prejudice with the supernatural romance elements of Ghost and Defending Your Life, with the detective plotline and workplace romance of the TV series Psych. It’s also got more than a little Outlander in its DNA, too.
Performance Worth Watching: Katie Stevens is very natural and charming as Cora. From the dramatic 19th-century flashback scenes (where she honestly nails an Irish accent) to the many modern moments featuring a romantically conflicted yet morally grounded Cora, Stevens takes on the tall task that this time-bending trilogy asks of her and absolutely delivers.
Memorable Dialogue: When Suzette is somehow unfazed after witnessing a man vanish before her very eyes and then learning he’s a real-life angel, she tells Liam, “Yeah, yeah, I’m chronically open-minded. Alien abductions, telepathy, Big Foot…” Chronically open-minded, indeed.
Sex and Skin: None.
Our Take: I appreciate how Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise just launches viewers right into the action. They’re clearly operating under the assumption that viewers saw the previous film (which makes sense), although even if you haven’t, you can still enjoy Part 2 and more or less understand what’s going on. Without the context of the first film, the murder case plot isn’t the most captivating, but the star-crossed lover storyline between Cora and Liam is more than enough to keep viewers invested anyway.
Across the board, the performances are strong and engaging, bolstering a unique story we perhaps haven’t seen at this level or scale from Hallmark before. And the romantic tension alone is more palpable than any other Hallmark movie I can remember seeing (from our leading love triangle to even surprising pairs like Suzette and Finn, these characters and their actors have some wonderful chemistry). Sure, An Impossible Promise very much feels like a “Part 2” more than a stand-alone movie, but if you saw and enjoyed Part 1, then this title will definitely be enough to keep you sticking around for the grand finale.
Our Call: If you liked Providence Falls: Part 1, then it’s pretty much guaranteed you’ll want to watch Providence Falls: An Impossible Promise, too. For those who feel ready to commit to this charming and unique fantasy romance film trilogy, why not spice up the end of the summer months with some swoon-worthy romance that defies fate and time? STREAM IT!
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