The show even when it was originally on, more or less felt like a retreat of Linda Bloodworth-Thomason's other show on CBS at the time, Designing Women (https://web.archive.org/web/20061031125301/http://www.jumptheshark.com/h/heartsafire.htm). What I mean is that they would have the same stupid speeches being made, just by different actors. I'm assuming that she was trying to do her version of Moonlighting with Jack Tripper and Christine Sullivan in the roles of Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd and with a political backdrop. If I'm not mistaken though, Bloodworth-Thomason announced that she going to use the series to take some swipes (https://moviechat.org/tt0103437/Hearts-Afire/58c757b16b51e905f67a3b89/I-cant-belive-this-show-did-run-longer) back at the Washington Establishment for mocking her for being close friends with the Clintons. When you really think about it, that's a pretty self-serving (https://moviechat.org/tt0090418/Designing-Women/58c745c56b51e905f67141cc/Julia-Duffy-and-the-Allison-season) (and stupid) justification for a television series.

I read on Wiki that the first season was set in Washington, the remainder in Arkansas. Maybe the reason for the revamp was to boost the ratings. Did it work?

I kindof liked it .. but mostly not. It wasn't realistic