Fresh on the heels of season 5, part 2’s finale, several Virgin River season 6
storylines have already been teased by showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.
Fresh on the heels of Virgin River’s fifth-season finale, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith
has teased several season 6 storylines well ahead of the show’s filming dates. Virgin River season 5, part 2’s ending culminated in a cliffhanger that saw Mel Monroe’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) recently discovered biological father, Everett Reid (John Allen Nelson), dropping that he has something important to tell his long-lost child. The Christmas-set finale episodes resolved some threads, including Virgin River’s most absurd storyline (i.e. the five-season pregnancy of Lauren Hammersley’s Charmaine). However, the two-part special release also left other storylines hanging.
While Preacher (Colin Lawrence) seems to have found happiness with Virgin River’s newest resident, Kaia (Kandyse McClure), the discovery of Wes’ body threatens the couple’s bliss. It was also revealed that Brady’s (Benjamin Hollingsworth) girlfriend, the mysterious Lark (Elise Gatien), is actually playing her beau as part of a larger revenge plot. Thankfully, the series’ newest showrunner has more than just a Virgin River season 6 wishlist. Patrick Sean Smith has arcs planned out and themes he’s set on tackling in the Netflix drama’s next chapter. Best of all, Smith has been pretty candid about what Virgin River’s cast of characters will get up to in 2024.
Mel Will Deal With A “Paternal Love Triangle”
At first, it seemed like Everett — a.k.a. Virgin River’s Champ — wanted nothing to do with his long-lost daughter, Mel Monroe. Thankfully, Everett eventually shows up on her doorstep, gives Mel love letters written by her mother, and says he has something important to share. But Everett also offers to be in Mel’s life in whatever capacity feels right for her. No matter what Virgin River season 6 theories suggest about Mel’s dad and the information he’s sitting on, it’s clear that he’ll have to meet Mel’s father figure, Doc (Tim Matheson), making for a complicated “paternal love triangle,” as Smith puts it (via Deadline).
Doc Won’t Lose His Eyesight
In the Virgin River season 5, part 1 finale, Vernon “Doc” Mullins tells Hope McCrea (Annette O’Toole) that he’ll be taking part in a risky clinical trial. After being diagnosed with macular degeneration, it seemed the character would lose his eyesight in future episodes. However, Smith has confirmed that’s not Doc’s season 6 fate. In fact, both Doc and Hope will put their health challenges behind them and enjoy a much calmer, happier chapter in their shared life. “We’re getting to see Doc and Hope in a place that we haven’t really gotten to seem them before, which is healthy,” Smith says.
Ava Will Return To Virgin River In Season 6
Virgin River’s Ava, played by Libby Osler, heads to the small, Northern California town to spend more time with her family. At first, she was not a huge fan of Virgin River, preferring her Portland, Oregon lifestyle. Still, Ava bonds with Mel, becoming one of her closest friends in season 5. At the end of season 5, part 1, Ava decides to sell her family’s farm to Mel and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) after her sisters move south. That said, Ava’s return is not just likely, but a “must” considering her many ties to Mel.
More Time Will Be Spent On Mel & Jack’s Romance
Mel and Jack lovers may rejoice at Smith’s reveal that Virgin River season 6 will spend more time on the pair’s romance. In the Christmas episodes, Mel alludes to a future wedding, which may hint at the upcoming season’s biggest plot point. While Smith remained tight-lipped on that front, he did confirm that the two have seen enough tragedy — at least for now. “Everybody wants more Mel and Jack,” the showrunner said. Smith also confirmed that the couple’s parenthood pursuits will feature heavily in season 6, which is exciting news for fans of the show.
Virgin River Season 6 Will Feature A Time Jump
It’s been widely publicized that Virgin River season 6 will incorporate a significant time jump, though the team behind the series has remained elusive about how much time will pass between the seasons. Nonetheless, the time jump has the ability to fix Virgin River’s confusing timeline, allowing characters’ relationships to feel more natural and lived-in. Smith also mentioned that he and his team have the privilege of gauging folks’ season 5 reactions, which will allow them to “do a little bit of course correcting” in season 6. Undoubtedly, the inclusion of a time jump will help Smith smooth over those changes.
