Ep 1. Coming Home

When Amy Flemming's mother dies in a car accident, she returns to her family's ranch, Heartland, from New York City where she was pursuing a career in show jumping. There, she reunites with her older sister Lou and grandfather Jack, and they try to cope with the loss of their matriarch while keeping the ranch running. With their mother gone, the sisters must work together to fulfill her dream of helping abused or troubled horses find healing and rehabilitation at Heartland.

In the first episode, "Coming Home," Amy is apprehensive about returning to Heartland after five years away. She left the ranch on strained terms with her family, and coming back now is a reminder of all of the things she left behind. But when Lou calls her with the news of their mother's death, Amy knows she has to come home to be with her family and see the ranch she missed so much.

Upon her arrival, Amy is immediately thrust back into her old way of life – wrangling horses, mucking stalls, and working with her grandfather. Jack is the glue that holds Heartland together, and Amy quickly realizes how much she relies on him for support and guidance. Lou, on the other hand, has taken on more responsibility since their mother's passing, and the sisters struggle to reconnect as they navigate their grief and conflicting ideas about the ranch's future.

One of the main storylines in this episode involves a horse named Spartan, who was rescued from a neglectful owner and brought to Heartland for rehabilitation. Amy works tirelessly to earn his trust and build a relationship with him. Her goal is to eventually turn him into a therapy horse, one who can help other horses overcome their traumas and learn to trust humans again. This work with Spartan is a reminder of why Amy came back to Heartland in the first place – to honor her mother's memory and continue the work she loved so much.

As the episode progresses, we see glimpses of the personal lives of Heartland's residents. Jack is dealing with a health scare that threatens his ability to run the ranch, and Lou's husband, Peter, is struggling to balance his work and family life. We also learn that Amy's ex-boyfriend, Ty, is still living on the ranch and working as a ranch hand. There is clearly a lot of history between them, and their interactions are charged with tension and unresolved emotions.

Overall, "Coming Home" sets up the themes and tone for the rest of the series. Heartland is a show about family, love, and healing – both for the horses and the humans who work with them. Amy's return to the ranch is the catalyst for a lot of growth and change, and we see glimpses of the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead for her and her family.