The waters of progress continue to flow on Netflix‘s Virgin River,

whose now-streaming fifth season makes good on a promise to

prioritize diversity and inclusion in the series moving forward.

In a 2022 interview with Deadline, Netflix drama head Jinny Howe acknowledged the show’s lack of inclusivity, explaining that diversifying Virgin River‘s cast was “going to continue to be a focus and something the audience will get to experience more in Season 5.”

One year later, all 10 episodes of Season 5 (Part 1) are finally upon us, and we can confim that Virgin River’s population is more inclusive than ever.

For starters, Hannah (played by Clare Filipow) is no longer the town’s sole LGBTQ resident in Season 5, which welcomes Chesapeake Shores actress Libby Osler as Tara’s older sister Ava. Most of Ava’s arc involves her struggles with endometriosis and the lingering effects of her mother’s death, but we learn in Episode 2 that the whole town was “super supportive” when she first came out, and it’s mentioned in Episode 7 that Ava’s ex-girlfriend stole her cat.

While briefly discussing Ava’s coming-out experience, Mel acknowledges that while “Virgin River definitely has its quirks, but the people couldn’t be kinder.”

Though Ava is the show’s most prominent new LGBTQ character, she’s not alone. Episode 9 introduces Johnny and Adrian, a same-sex couple whose kids Mel and Jack babysit during a camping trip. And in Episode 9, one of Brie’s male coworkers makes a horny comment about Mike during their company softball game. “Brie, what’s the deal with you and the guy with the arm?” he asks. “Or should I say arms?” (We see what he did there!)None of the aforementioned characters are series regulars, and one of them doesn’t even have a name, but a step in the right direction is still worth acknowledging. Here’s to more progress when Virgin River returns for a pair of special holiday episodes on Thursday, Nov. 30.