Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson star in the soapy small-town drama.

Welcome to Virgin River, California, where majestic redwood trees surround a mirrored

lake, everyone knows your name at the local bar and restaurant, and you could be

kidnapped at any moment by vicious drug dealers. Virgin River follows a group of small-town residents with pretty big problems — from a local drug cartel to passionate love triangles. Ahead of the Season 5 premiere on Sept. 7, read on to find out the major players and how they’re all connected. Alexandra Breckenridge as MELINDA “MEL” MONROE ABOUT THE CHARACTER A nurse practitioner from the big city (Los Angeles), Mel arrives in Virgin River looking for a fresh start after losing her husband and baby. She begins working at the local clinic (where she also puts her midwife skills to use), and sparks quickly fly between her and one of the pillars of the Virgin River community. “Jack and Mel, they have a big journey, a big roller-coaster this season,” Breckenridge teased to Tudum on the Virgin River set in 2022.

PREVIOUSLY IN Other than Virgin River, Breckenridge is best known for her roles in The Walking Dead and This Is Us, and is also an accomplished photographer who specializes in portraits and cityscapes (you can check out her work on her website). Martin Henderson as JACK SHERIDAN ABOUT THE CHARACTER Gruff bar owner Jack is a Marine veteran who runs Virgin River’s popular watering hole — and serves as a friendly face, confidant, and handyman for his fellow residents, even if it means neglecting his own issues. While he’s in a situationship when Mel arrives, he quickly takes notice of the new woman in town. Going into the fifth season, Mel and Jack are in love and expecting a baby together. “There’s always been an element of drama around these two. Even though it’s a very sweet love story, it’s never really been that easy,” Henderson told Tudum on set in 2022.

But as time progresses, “I think their love deepens because they share more with one another.” PREVIOUSLY IN New Zealand–born Henderson is best known stateside for his roles as Dr. Nathan Riggs in Grey’s Anatomy and porn producer Wayne in the 2022 horror hit X. (If you follow him on social media, you’re probably already also a big fan of his semi-regular cooking videos.) Colin Lawrence as JOHN “PREACHER” MIDDLETON ABOUT THE CHARACTER The yin to Jack’s yang, Preacher is the talented chef at Jack’s bar and a bright, positive force compared to his best friend’s often cranky energy. Also a former Marine, he’s still on the hunt for true love. He embarks on a new relationship this season, which means “you’re seeing this whole new side to him, and he is taking time to focus on himself,” Lawrence told Tudum on set in 2022.

PREVIOUSLY IN Lawrence is an English-Canadian actor known for stints in Battlestar Galactica and The Killing and, more recently, Riverdale. Annette O’Toole as HOPE MCCREA ABOUT THE CHARACTER While Jack’s an unofficial leader in Virgin River, Hope is its official one: mayor. And as mayor, she’ll do anything necessary to protect her city and its people regardless of what anyone thinks of her. She’s married to a fellow longtime Virgin River resident, Doc. After a car accident, she struggles with a traumatic brain injury, going “from somebody who is so capable to not being capable,” O’Toole told Tudum in 2022. PREVIOUSLY IN O’Toole has been a working actor since childhood and has appeared in everything from Superman III to Nash Bridges. (She’s no stranger to superhero content: in addition to appearing in the third Superman film, sheplayed Martha Kent for eight seasons in Smallville; she also did a four-episode stint in The Punisher.) Tim Matheson as VERNON “DOC” MULLINS ABOUT THE CHARACTER Guess what Doc does.

Go ahead, we’ll wait! That’s right, the town doctor goes by “Doc” (how quaint!) and serves as the medical provider for nearly everyone in and around Virgin River. While he isn’t initially keen on hiring Mel, he eventually warms up to her and comes to depend her skills during crises. He and Hope have a long, fraught marriage. But the love remains between them. “One of the great things about Virgin River is there is a love story in every generation,” Matheson told Tudum on set in 2022. “They’re still active, they’re still passionate, and it’s very rare for a show to allow us to represent that.” PREVIOUSLY IN Longtime actor and occasional director Matheson has previously played a similar character — as rural doctor Brick Breeland on Hart of Dixie — and is also known both for his iconic comedy (Animal House, Fletch) and drama (The West Wing) roles.

Benjamin Hollingsworth as DAN BRADY ABOUT THE CHARACTER Another Marine buddy who served with Jack and Preacher, Brady has struggled to find his place in the world after returning from his tour of duty. Sometimes that means working on the wrong side of the law. PREVIOUSLY IN TV veteran Hollingsworth has done stints in shows including Code Black and the short-lived dramas The Beautiful Life and Cult. He also starred alongside Demi Moore and David Duchovny in the film The Joneses. Zibby Allen as BRIE SHERIDAN ABOUT THE CHARACTER Jack’s sister is a whip-smart lawyer who, much like Mel, seeks solace in the remote town of Virgin River. And, much like Mel, she, too, finds love in the picturesque place with none other than Brady. PREVIOUSLY IN Allen has appeared in shows including Grey’s Anatomy, kids’ series A.N.T. Farm and Scaredy Cats, and Vancouver-shot dramas Nancy Drew, The Good Doctor, and Bates Motel. Marco Grazzini as MIKE VALENZUELA ABOUT THE CHARACTER Local cop Mike is another old friend of Jack’s with an eye on the local criminal element. He teams up with some fellow locals to try to take down the drug cartel threatening the area.

PREVIOUSLY IN A familiar face on the small screen, Grazzini has appeared in series as varied as sitcom Kim’s Convenience and sci-fi soap Heroes Reborn. Sarah Dugdale as LIZZIE ABOUT THE CHARACTER Troubled teen Lizzie moves in with her aunt in Virgin River in an attempt to get away from the temptations of Los Angeles. After a bit more rebellion, Lizzie falls in love with her new town — and with some of its inhabitants. PREVIOUSLY IN Dugdale has been acting professionally since she was a teenager, and is best known for Lifetime movies including Death of a Cheerleader, The College Admissions Scandal, and The Bad Seed. Kai Bradbury as DENNY CUTLER ABOUT THE CHARACTER Doc didn’t know he had a grandson — or a son, even — until Denny came knocking on his doorstep in an attempt to connect with his family as he copes with a deadly diagnosis.

PREVIOUSLY IN Vancouver-born Bradbury began acting in local theater as a teen, and has since transitioned to television. His credits include Altered Carbon, The Terror: Infamy, The Imperfects, Supernatural, and more. Mark Ghanimé as DR. CAMERON HAYEK ABOUT THE CHARACTER Doc knows he needs to start training whoever will ultimately replace him at the clinic, and Cameron is his first choice — until some personal relationships get in the way of his work. PREVIOUSLY IN Like many of his co-stars, Ghanimé hails from Canada and has appeared in plenty of television series, including the sci-fi hit Helix, historical drama Reign, journalism dramedy The Bold Type, plus Lifetime holiday films and the movie The Age of Adeline. Kandyse McClure as KAIA ABOUT THE CHARACTER Kaia is a tough firefighter who is introduced in the upcoming fifth season.

PREVIOUSLY IN A staple of genre television over the years, including in the critically acclaimed Battlestar Galactica reboot, McClure can be seen in Hemlock Grove, Motherland: Fort Salem, The Imperfects, and the Charmed reboot. Lauren Hammersley as CHARMAINE ROBERTS ABOUT THE CHARACTER Jack’s ex was desperately in love with him — but he never felt the same, and broke things off when Mel got to town. Charmaine, a hairdresser from a town nearby, wasn’t too pleased. PREVIOUSLY IN You’ll recognize Hammersley from roles in series like Orphan Black, Saving Hope, Mr. D, and Sullivan’s Crossing. Grayson Gurnsey as RICKY ABOUT THE CHARACTER Lovable busboy Ricky has hopes of becoming a Marine himself, just like his boss, Jack.

PREVIOUSLY IN Best known for his role in coming-of-age Canadian series Game On, Gurnsey has also appeared in shows including iZombie and Van Helsing and movies including The Art of Racing in the Rain and Wonder. Lexa Doig as PAIGE LASSITER ABOUT THE CHARACTER A local baker with a mysterious past, Paige grows close enough with Preacher to entrust him with her deepest, darkest secrets — and the care of her son, Christopher. PREVIOUSLY IN Although her character dips in and out of Virgin River, Doig has been a television mainstay for decades. In addition to her leading role in sci-fi series Andromeda, she’s put in time on Stargate SG-1, V, Continuum, The Arrangement, Arrow, and the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries series — plus, she’s been a big-screen scream queen in Jason X.