Middle seasons are usually where shows start to trip over their own shoelaces. They get lazy. Writers start recycling tropes or, worse, they blow up the central dynamic just to "keep things fresh." But honestly, Good Witch Season 4 did the opposite. It leaned into the cozy, magical realism that made Middleton famous while finally pulling the trigger on the romantic tension that had been simmering since the pilot.
It's comfy. It’s quiet. It’s exactly what people wanted.
If you’re looking for high-octane explosions or gritty reboots, you’re in the wrong town. Middleton is about tea, intuition, and the kind of problems that can usually be solved with a meaningful look and a well-timed scone. In this fourth outing, the show really figured out its identity. It stopped trying to be a medical procedural with a twist and fully embraced being a modern fairy tale.
The Proposal That Everyone Saw Coming (But Still Loved)
Let’s talk about Sam and Cassie. By the time we hit the premiere of Good Witch Season 4, the "will-they-won't-they" had reached a fever pitch. James Denton and Catherine Bell have this specific, understated chemistry. It’s not fiery; it’s steady.
The engagement wasn't just a plot point. It was a payoff.
Watching Sam navigate the complexities of joining the Merriwick clan is where the humor lives. He’s a man of science. A surgeon. He wants logic. Cassie, meanwhile, operates on a plane of existence that involves "feeling the wind" and knowing exactly which herb will cure a broken heart. Seeing him try to plan a wedding with a woman who lets the universe dictate the guest list is objectively funny.
The season kicks off with "With This Ring," and right away, the stakes feel different. It’s no longer about whether they like each other. It’s about how two very different families—and two very different philosophies—can actually inhabit the same house.
Grace and Nick: The Growing Pains of Middleton
While the adults were busy measuring lace samples, the teenagers were actually doing the heavy lifting emotionally. Grace Russell, played by Bailee Madison, really comes into her own here. She’s no longer just "Cassie’s daughter." She’s a young woman grappling with her own intuitive gifts, which, as it turns out, are a bit of a burden when you’re just trying to pass your driving test or survive high school drama.
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Rhys Matthew Bond’s Nick Radford goes through a massive shift too. Remember how he started the series? He was the quintessential "troubled kid from the city." In Good Witch Season 4, that edge has almost entirely softened.
His friendship with Grace is one of the show's most grounded elements. It’s not always romantic. Sometimes it’s just two kids trying to figure out their parents. Their graduation subplots feel earned because we’ve seen them grow from snarky neighbors into genuine confidants.
Abigail Pershing and the Art of Being "Bad"
Abigail is the secret weapon of the show. Period.
Sarah Power brings a necessary friction to the otherwise sugary atmosphere of Grey House. In this season, we see her struggle with the Mayor’s office. It turns out that running a town is a lot harder than running a vintage shop. Her rivalry—and eventual sort-of-friendship—with Martha Tinsdale is a highlight.
Martha, played by the incomparable Catherine Disher, is a force of nature. If you haven't seen the episode where she temporarily loses her position as mayor, you’re missing out on some of the best character work in the series. She’s ridiculous, yes, but she’s also the beating heart of Middleton's civic pride.
The Merriwick Mystery and That Pesky Curse
You can’t have a season of this show without a bit of lore. The 400th anniversary of Middleton provides the perfect backdrop for some historical sleuthing.
We get deeper into the history of the Merriwick family. There’s always a trunk, isn’t there? Or a hidden map? This time around, it’s about the "Elizabeth Merriwick" story and how it mirrors the current relationships in the house. It adds a layer of destiny that helps justify why everything in this town seems to happen for a reason.
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Some fans argue the "magic" is too subtle. They want wands and spells. But the beauty of Good Witch Season 4 is that the magic is metaphorical. It’s about intuition. It’s about being in the right place at the right time. When Cassie "predicts" something, it’s usually just because she’s paying more attention to people than anyone else is.
Why People Still Binge This in 2026
Life is loud. The news is stressful.
Middleton is an escape.
The ratings for the fourth season were consistently strong for Hallmark because it offered a "low-stakes" sanctuary. You know nothing truly terrible is going to happen. Even the "villains" are usually just misunderstood people who need a cup of chamomile tea and a pep talk.
There’s a specific episode—"Tying the Knot"—where the wedding prep reaches a crescendo. It’s a masterclass in cozy television. The color palette is all soft blues, warm woods, and autumn leaves. It’s visual cocoa.
Addressing the "Too Sweet" Criticism
Look, I get it. Some people find the show a bit much. They think it’s unrealistic that everyone is so nice.
But if you look closer at the scripts for Good Witch Season 4, there’s a recurring theme of loss. Cassie is a widow. Sam is a divorcé. These are people who have been through the ringer. Their kindness isn't because they're naive; it’s because they’ve chosen it. That’s a nuance that often gets lost if you’re just casual-watching.
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The show handles blended families better than most "prestige" dramas. There’s genuine friction between Nick and the idea of Sam remarrying. There’s the awkwardness of Grace sharing her space. It’s handled with grace (pun intended), but it’s there.
Production Tidbits You Might Have Missed
The show is filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario. The actual "Grey House" is a real historic site called Mair Mills Estate in Dundas. During the filming of the fourth season, the production had to deal with some pretty intense Canadian weather, which is why you see so many gorgeous scarves and coats. It wasn't just a fashion choice; it was survival.
The chemistry on screen isn't fake. The cast famously gets along, and you can feel that camaraderie in the ensemble scenes at the bistro. It’s that "found family" vibe that keeps the fandom loyal years after the show wrapped.
Key Episodes to Rewatch
- "With This Ring": The tension of the proposal aftermath.
- "Family Time": A rare look at the characters outside of their usual Middleton haunts.
- "The Graduation": Bring tissues. Seriously.
- "Tying the Knot": The season finale that sets the stage for the massive changes in Season 5.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Rewatch
If you’re diving back into the series or watching it for the first time, don’t rush it. This isn't a show meant for "power-watching" while you scroll on your phone.
- Pay attention to the background. The set design at Bell, Book & Candle is insane. Every single prop is hand-picked to fit the aesthetic.
- Watch the hands. Catherine Bell uses a lot of specific physical cues to signal when Cassie is "sensing" something. It’s subtle, but it’s consistent.
- Listen to the score. The music in Season 4 moved away from some of the twinkly "magic" sounds and toward a more acoustic, folk-inspired soundtrack that fits the small-town vibe better.
The fourth season isn't just a bridge between the start of the show and the later years. It’s the peak of the Sam and Cassie courtship. It’s the year the kids grew up. And it’s the year Middleton felt most like home.
Whether you’re a "Goodie" (as the fans call themselves) or just someone looking for something to watch while you knit, this season holds up. It reminds us that sometimes, the most magical thing you can do is just be kind to your neighbor.
To really appreciate the narrative arc, watch the Season 4 Halloween special, "The Heart of Middleton," immediately after the finale. It acts as a perfect bridge, deepening the lore of the town's founders while keeping the romantic momentum going. Also, keep an eye on the transition of the wardrobe—the shift from Cassie's darker, more "witchy" tones to a lighter, more bridal palette throughout the season is a clever bit of visual storytelling by the costume department.