What a heartbreaking ending to Virgin River Season 3 Episode 8. 

Although we knew Lilly’s death was coming, it didn’t lessen the blow when it suddenly happened as Doc was over for dinner. 

The good news is that he was around to console Tara and offer emotional support as she mourned her mother and begged her to open her eyes.

The scene had me balling like a baby! 

The worst part of it all is that Lilly never got to tell Hope that she was sick because she didn’t want to interject herself into her current plans and wanted to wait to tell her in person. 

Lilly thought she had more time, and thus, passed before saying goodbye to her best friend. 

However, Tara mentioned that her mother was having a really good day, so part of me thinks that maybe Lilly somehow knew that it was her last day and was content knowing she lived a good life with a great family and friends. 

Either way — this is a huge loss to the town and the daughters she left behind. 

Mel spent the first half of the episode in Los Angeles comforting her sister Joey during her divorce proceeding. In turn, Mel confided in Joey that she and Jack broke up because he got scared away by her desire to have a child. 

Joey then pointed out that Mel, an independent and capable female, didn’t need a man to have a baby. 

While it’s obviously a lot more difficult to raise a baby alone, Joey reminded her that she still has the embryos she froze with Mark. I can’t remember if this is something that was mentioned before, but it almost seems too obvious and perfect.

The thinking is that Mel could have the child she’s always wanted while honoring her late husband’s memory. If Jack then wants to be a part of that child’s life, he can be, but the expectation wouldn’t be placed solely on him.

However, I’m not sure how Jack would feel about Mel carrying a child that wasn’t his. 

They may have broken up — and in my review of Virgin River Season 3 Episode 7, I understand where Jack is coming from more than the rest of the town– but there’s clearly a lot of love between them. 

Everyone in town sees them as soulmates and cannot believe that Jack would let such a great woman go. 

Jack continues to defend his actions explaining that he did it because he loves Mel; he doesn’t want to burden her with all of his issues and commitments. 

Again, everyone in town thinks he’s running away from commitment and emotions, but I think that Jack is being realistic rather than feeding into his desires. He knows that he can’t give Mel everything she wants at the moment and doesn’t want her to resent him for it. 

But then Doc made a solid point as he explained that it wasn’t Jack’s choice to make alone — Mel was a woman that has gone through hell and back. She knew exactly what she was getting into when she gave her heart to Jack and had every chance to back out if it was too much for her. She never did because she chose to be there; she chose to be a part of the chaos. 

Jack broke her heart and betrayed her by making the decision for her because it didn’t acknowledge what she wanted out of their relationship. He was essentially saying that he knew better and had the authority to decide for her. 

Once Jack heard Doc’s perspective, he crawled back to Mel and begged her to take him back. 

He explained that he acted out of fear, but knew in his heart that she was worth fighting for. 

And who can blame Mel for giving him a second chance? Just look at those puppy eyes. 

She may have been hurt, but she knows deep down that Jack is the one.

However, it also wasn’t clear if Mel’s meeting with the fertility specialist was just informative or if she already made the decision to get her embryos implanted. If she did, it was a pretty haste decision and one that may have serious consequences moving forward.

Brady and Brie had an honest chat where she basically told him she didn’t believe a word he said. 

Brady admitted that he was at the bar the night of the shooting, but promised her once again that he wasn’t the one who pulled the trigger. 

Obviously, that didn’t matter much to Brie because she already made up her mind about him based on what Jack told her. She doesn’t believe people can change and doesn’t like that he’s shrugging off all the bad things he’s done even though he simply doesn’t want to be defined by the mistakes of his past.

Brie has had terrible luck in the dating department, so I’m not surprised she’s finding any excuse to push Brady away. She cautiously opened up her heart to him only to find out he willingly worked for a guy who was dealing fentanyl and may have been involved with her brother’s shooting! 

I’m just curious as to why she didn’t ask what Brady and Jack fought about? No one seems to care, but it could give insight as to who did shoot Jack. 

Brady obviously cares about Brie, so when she dumped him, he got drunk and picked a fight with Mike at Jack’s bar. 

Brady may want to change but he’s reckless, which makes him his own worst enemy. 

The fight between the men revealed that Mike did something in Iraq that he wasn’t proud of and that didn’t paint him as the hero everyone thought he was. It was kind of petty of Brady to bring it up, but again, that’s how Brady operates. He’s not above hitting below the belt to hurt someone who hurt him. 

Will we find out what Brady was referring to in terms of Mike’s past?

It’s also a bit of a stretch to parallel anything that they did in Iraq to something that Brady did while back in Virgin River. They are two very different scenarios. One is about survival, the other involves a choice being made.

Lizzie was swindled into helping Preacher with a BBQ event at the bar after Ricky called off. He told Preach he was visiting a friend out of town, and he probably should learn to keep his stories straight, especially in a small town where everyone talks. 

When Lizzie confronted him about where he’d been, Ricky blatantly lied to her face and she knew it. It’s not a good look for Ricky. 

It’s totally understandable if Ricky wants to wait until he passes his entrance exams to let Lizzie know, but again, he needs to learn to keep his stories straight if that’s the case. Otherwise, Lizzie, like every other woman, will just assume the worst. 

And then there’s Charmaine, who is finally seeing the light and realizing that Todd might not be her Prince Charming after all. 

During some ritzy soiree, Charmaine found out that Todd was planning to move her and the twins to a house in Eureka without even running it past her. 

When she confronted him about it and emphasized that her life was in Clear River, he brushed it off before admitting that the move would get them further away from Jack. The goal was to make it as difficult as possible for Jack to be involved in the twins’ lives so that he’d eventually give up wanting custody. 

Now, if that isn’t the biggest red flag (among other red flags), I don’t know what is. 

Charmaine knows it’s wrong. She knows it’s wrong to keep a father away from his children. How does she not realize that she’s blessed with a man that wants to be involved and take responsibility?

And it says a lot about Todd that he wants to sabotage another man’s chances at being a father. He’s overstepping already and the twins aren’t even here yet nor are they biologically his. 

Jack is so chill, if Todd was a decent human, he likely wouldn’t mind him being a step-father. But Todd is bold for wanting to take those kids as his own.

Now that I think about it, it’s unclear if Charmaine was even clued into Todd’s offer to adopt the children and cut Jack loose or if that was something Todd suggested without her knowledge. 

I’m leaning towards the latter, and I find myself deeply disturbed by that. 

Charmaine has to speak up because she has sacrificed way too much for Todd at this point. 

She would have an easy life with him, sure, but she’d also have no say in it. Charmaine may have been a little unhinged, but she deserves better than to settle for any man who will give her the time of day. 

I’m hoping Charmaine will come around and do the right thing. 

What did you think of the episode? Are you rolling your eyes at Charmaine? Did Mel get the implantation? Should they get back together? Sound off in the comments!