Virgin River
Virgin River Review – Love Heals All Wounds (3×09)
The penultimate episode of Virgin River began with a funeral and ended with an accident.
But whose accident? Well, it sure seems like it involved Hope since the Sheriff paid Doc a late-night visit.
How severe? The final episode will tell.
Annette O’Toole has been absent for most of the season, aside from a few virtual appearances. The excuses the show has used to keep her off-screen have been aplenty but they all feel forced. Will the series simply try to kill her character off to preserve Hope’s relationship with Doc?
Is that why the show has been pushing a connection between Muriel and Doc?
If something happened to Hope, Doc would likely seek comfort in Muriel, especially with his eyesight declining.
The bad news was mounting as the accident news came right after Lilly’s funeral.
The whole town gathered to say goodbye to one of their own, and it was a beautiful funeral followed by a close reception.
It’s clear that Lilly touched the lives of so many people. It’s just unfortunate that her best friend, Hope, couldn’t make it in time to say goodbye.
Mel hasn’t been spared from life’s hardships, which is why she’s been able to empathize with so many people in town. She forms genuine connections because she understands what everyone is going through and more importantly, she understands loss.
She was quick to support Tara when she struggled to speak at her mother’s funeral as she knew how hard it was to get up there and hold it together.
And when Brie, who didn’t even know she was pregnant, suffered a miscarriage, Mel could also relate to what she was going through having gone through fertility issues of her own.
I like Brie, and my heart aches for her as it must be overwhelming to find out you’re pregnant and lose that pregnancy all in the same moment, but I also feel like I need more of her backstory.
We know what’s been going on with Brady, but we don’t really know the woman that she was before she came to Virgin River. She kind of just showed up and has been cryptic about what led to her decision to quit her job.
I thought that halfway through the season, we would find out more about what brought her to the small town, but nine episodes in, and we still don’t know much more than we did before.
I’m not entirely sure what the timeline has been this season, but was Brie pregnant with her ex’s baby or Brady’s?
Brady stopped by after hearing that she was sick to bring her flowers, apologize for everything that happened between them, and tell her that he was falling in love with her.
It’s obvious that Brie feels the same way, but after learning about his past and that he might’ve been involved with Jack’s shooting, she’s continuing to distance herself.
If Brady’s name is cleared, it seems like she’d be willing to give him another chance.
The one thing I couldn’t get over at the funeral was Lilly’s other daughter. Why wouldn’t they make her a character for one episode? Instead, they just had one random girl awkwardly appear in a few scenes next to Tara. It was so distracting and strange. You’d think her other daughter would have more of a presence.
Prior to the funeral, Connie informed Preacher that she saw Vince in Clear River.
That paired with the fact that Preacher heard from Paige’s friend, Sally, rather than Paige, concerned him. Is everything okay with her?
Why is Vince near Virgin River? Does he have his sights set on Christopher?
Lizzie finally found out about Ricky’s plans to enlist in the Marines, and she was less upset about that fact and more hurt by Ricky’s lies.
He lied to her face several times while waiting to see if he would pass his exams. And now that he did, he had no choice but to come clean.
Ricky then confided in Preacher after Lizzie stormed off, but as a former Marine himself, he didn’t seem convinced that Ricky was sure of his decision.
It’s not one to be made on a whim, so I’m glad someone is encouraging Ricky to think about it more seriously.
If I were Ricky, I’d take Preacher’s advice into serious consideration. Why did he apply behind everyone’s back?
Mel and Jack’s relationship is back on track… sort of. I love that they are both taking each other’s feelings into consideration rather than just jumping back into a relationship.
Jack realized that they were both prioritizing each other’s happiness, which is the biggest sign that they love each other.
Mel was hesitant to get back together because she didn’t want him to resent her, and he didn’t want to keep her from her dreams of having a family.
But now, they both realize that their romance is worth fighting for. As Selena Gomez once said, the heart wants what it wants.
Together, they can weather any storm.
When Charmaine showed up at the funeral, she informed Jack that Todd decided that they were moving to Eureka without consulting her.
She’s finally being honest with herself about the relationship, which is one where she’s stripped of any decision-making.
Todd wanting to alienate the twins from their father was Charmaine’s wake-up call, and after talking to Jack, I think Charmaine realizes that he truly has her best interests at heart. He’s always wanted the best for her and for her to be happy — it just couldn’t be with him.
Will she do the right thing and cut Todd loose?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
There wasn’t a dull moment on Virgin River Season 5, from the wildfire threatening the picturesque small town to Brady’s team-up with Mike to take down Melissa, the new woman running Calvin’s drug empire, and even Brie’s trial against her predatory ex—and weaved in through the fabric was Mel and Jack’s pregnancy storyline.
Disclaimer — this post includes spoilers from the episode — proceed with caution.
Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan’s (Martin Henderson) pregnancy started off as one of the more positive storylines, juxtaposed with the shocking revelation that his ex, Charmaine, spent months lying to him about the paternity of the twins. In the Virgin River Season 4 finale, Charmaine suffered a medical episode during which she came clean that Jack was not the father of the boys as she led him to believe. I won’t spoil who the real father is revealed to be in the final moments of the season (you can read that in more detail here and here).
Mel’s pregnancy was immediately considered high risk because of her previous miscarriages, yet it was filled with hope that this time would be the one. Until it wasn’t.
Sadly, Mel lost the pregnancy about midway through the season at the worst possible time as she was volunteering at Doc’s (after quitting her job to make sure she had a safe pregnancy), so she didn’t even have time to fully process what was happening. As she was gearing up to treat patients affected by the wildfires, she stepped away for a bathroom break, which is when she noticed blood on the toilet paper. She confirmed the heartbreaking news with a quick ultrasound showing that there was no longer a fetal heartbeat present.
Instead of having the fully-deserved breakdown, Mel composed herself and gave the people of Virgin River her all, including baby Chloe, who nearly perished when the fire took hold of Lilly’s farm.
Eventually, when the fires got under control, Mel was able to let the feelings in, and they flooded in all at once as she reunited with Jack and broke down crying as she offered up a heartfelt apology, a clear indication that something tragic happened.
Jack fully supported Mel in the aftermath of her loss, allowing her to grieve the way she needed to, and when she was ready, he asked Hope to convey the news to the rest of the town so that Mel wouldn’t have to tell everyone and re-live it every single time.
When Jack brought up trying again, Mel kept avoiding the topic, seemingly not ready to talk about it. She was being honest with herself, so she couldn’t be honest with Jack, however, in a moment of honesty and clarity during her girls’ night with Brie and Ava, Mel confirmed that she didn’t have it in her to keep going and experiencing hit after hit. Not only was it emotionally taxing, but it was physically and mentally draining. Mel didn’t want to get her hopes up again thinking this time would be different only to feel crushed by the realization that it wasn’t.
It definitely wasn’t what Jack wanted to hear—or expected to hear—and his side of things was also valid as he lost three prospective children in a very short time period, however, he remained committed to finding a solution that pleased them both without being pushy or forceful.
He didn’t want to give up on his dreams of being a father, and he knew that deep down, Mel also wanted a family, despite feeling broken and discouraged at the moment. He suggested trying a different method—and there are so many to explore with adoption and surrogacy at the top of the list—reminding her that it doesn’t matter how you get there, it simply matters that you do.
She was a bit hesitant at first as it wasn’t what she’d always envisioned, but things rarely go as planned. And she, of all people (she ended up in Virgin River spontaneously), should know that.
The more she thought about it, the more she realized that Jack was right. This hiccup, though heartbreaking, didn’t have to be the end of their journey towards having kids. They didn’t come this far (she didn’t come this far), to only come this far.
The final moments of the episode found Mel and Jack agreeing to buy Lilly’s farm to start their dream life and family together, all while planning their future wedding in the most perfect spot.
It’s not the outcome many fans were expecting, but given her history, it’s one that made sense, while also allowing the writers to deepen Mel and Jack’s bond while showcasing their journey toward parenthood in a realistic way.
Will There Be a Season 6 of ‘Virgin River’? And If So, When?
Virgin River is giving a holiday gift of two bonus episodes.
After all 10 episodes of the fifth season arrive on Sept. 7, fans can look forward to two additional holiday-themed episodes streaming a few months down the line as “part 2” on Thursday, Nov. 30. It will be the show’s first-ever Christmas offering, bringing the episode count to 12 in total for season 5.
The 10th episode, the unofficial “season finale,” even included a time-jump four months into the future, setting the scene for the additional episodes as Mel and Jack can be seen gearing up for Christmas by decorating their cabin with wreaths and lights.
Mel is chatting with her sister, Joey, as Jack asks if she and the kids are excited for their first Virgin River Christmas.
A few days after the fifth season premiered, Lauren Hammersley, who plays Charmaine, shared the first look at the holiday episodes, revealing what fans can expect—and yes, Christmas in Virgin River looks just as magical as you’d expect.
As the town goes all-out for the Christmas tree decorating competition (the grand prize is a Yule log and bragging rights), Mel, who is sporting some chic new bangs, explains that she’s looking for her biological father as she wants to know “what happened.”
By the end of the brief trailer, she informs Jack that they’ve located him, with Preacher noting that he’s “still in Virgin River.” There are a handful of possibilities as to who it could be, which we break down in full right here!
Lizzie’s pregnancy is also addressed as she has doubts about whether she’ll be a good mom as Hope (likely) gears up to give her some incredible advice.
And speaking of pregnancies, one of the longest in TV history is finally coming to an end as Charmaine begins experiencing contractions at Doc’s practice and Mel jumps in to help.
As for Brady and Brie shippers, there may still be hope for their reconciliation after all as she approaches her ex and accidentally meets him right under the mistletoe. One fan in the comments suggested that she’s now doing the chasing, though a later scene, which seems to be a holiday dinner with everyone in town, sees her cozying up to Mike, so it seems she’s still very much conflicted on matters of the heart.
The only upsetting storyline includes Preacher, who may have found love with Kaia, but whose life might also blow up now that they’ve located Wes’ body after the fire.
“This thing is about to blow,” Mike tells him over the phone as Kaia inquires if he can clue her in on anything.
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We have to wait till Nov. 30 to see how everything unfolds, but remember, despite the drama and love triangles, it’s still the most wonderful time of the year!
Will There Be a Season 6 of ‘Virgin River’? And If So, When?
Virgin River Season 5 ended with a handful of cliffhangers for all the inhabitants of the picturesque small town, so it’s no surprise that fans are wondering if and when we’ll get more of the popular romantic drama.
In addition to the two bonus holiday episodes coming later this year on Nov. 30, the Netflix series starring Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson has already been renewed for a sixth season.
Virgin River Season 6 was officially confirmed back in May 2023, though for now, no release date has been announced.
And the series will likely experience some delays due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes in Hollywood.
Mark Ghanimé, who portrays Cameron, the clinic’s newest doctor, confirmed the renewal, revealing in his Instagram post that the sixth season has yet to start filming.
“I am hoping our lovely gang of writers can get what they need so they can continue writing this show for 5 more seasons and we can get right into shooting our 6th!!” he wrote.
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The series, based on Virgin River novels by Robyn Carr, has no shortage of source material as there are 24 books in the collection, and considering the early renewal for season 6, the streaming giant clearly believes in it as there’s plenty of fan interest to keep visiting the idyllic small town with its fair share of drama.
“I think we definitely see more longevity and growth with the show,” Netflix’s Head Of Drama, Development Jinny Howe told Deadline, noting, “As long as the audience asks for it and shows up — and I think we see with Season 4 that the fandom is very strong and growing in many places as well — it feels like based on what we’re seeing with Season 4 and the anticipation for Season 5 that there is a lot more storytelling to offer us.“
As of now, the family faces, aka the main cast, which includes Breckenridge, Henderson, Colin Lawrence, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Lauren Hammersley, Sarah Dugdale, Zibby Allen, and Marco Grazzini, are all set to return.
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