Virgin River
Virgin River Season Premiere Review – Mel’s Birthday (3×01)
The Virgin River Season 3 premiere wasted absolutely no time jumping into the action.
The season 2 cliffhanger left audiences wondering whether Jack would survive after being shot at the bar, but that wasn’t really much of a question when the third season picked up.
Even based on the trailer, we knew Jack was going to be up-and-running in no time.
However, the after-effects of the shooting lingered on as he dealt with memory loss.
The question of who shot Jack loomed large, especially as he couldn’t remember exactly what happened during the bar fight. The only recollection he had was leaving Mel’s and waking up at the hospital.
Doc assured Jack that the mind tends to block out traumatic experiences to protect itself, but that didn’t help the investigation.
All we know for sure is that Calvin himself wasn’t responsible since he was in custody.
The attack on Jack also doesn’t seem isolated. In the final moments of the episode, Jack’s place goes up in flames while he and Mel are enjoying a birthday bubble bath together.
It definitely seems like someone planned a second attack on the town’s favorite bar owner. This leaves us with two questions: who and why?
Jack obviously has the means and will to end Calvin and his shady business, so it could be Calvin’s right-hand man Jimmy, who they are still looking for.
Brady is also climbing the ranks of the suspect’s list, though I previously counted him out since he testified against Calvin and helped Spencer get out of town.
But it cannot be a coincidence that Brady paid Jack an unexpected visit right before the fire was set, right? When Jack asked why he stopped by, Brady remained vague and asked him more about his memory loss.
Something about that just doesn’t sit well with me.
Prior to the cabin being burnt down, Jack tried his best to make Mel feels special on her birthday, which she was adamant about not celebrating.
While most people go all out for birthdays, Mel wanted to remain lowkey. She kept having flashbacks to the birthday where she was still pregnant and had her whole life ahead of her, which will likely usher in the baby storyline for Jack and Mel. She also admitted that she didn’t find the day to be one of celebration as it always reminded her of her mother’s death.
And now, it will also remind her of a fire at Jack’s place.
Seriously, why can’t anyone let Mel enjoy her day?
Despite not wanting to make a big deal of it, Jack did surprise Mel with a massage and had some sushi flown in, so the day wasn’t a total wash. It’s sweet how much he cares for her and wants to make her feel loved and appreciated.
Mel has suffered a great deal in her life, but she took a leap with Jack and she’s being rewarded.
Doc got the news that he was wet-aged-related muscular degeneration, which comes with the risk of permanent blindness.
Based on the course of treatment, it could force him to go into early retirement. But finding a replacement physician won’t be easy as Doc doesn’t want to go digital meaning the headhunter doesn’t believe he can attract top-tier talent without offering city-level perks.
Of course, we know there’s plenty of people who are interested in living a chiller lifestyle in a small town even if they aren’t convinced of it at the moment. Just look at Mel!
She was charmed by Virgin River, so my guess is that someone else will find that their calling is to fill Doc’s shoes at the practice.
Hope was MIA during the episode as she was stuck in South Carolina after bad weather prevented her from flying back home.
That didn’t stop Muriel from moving in on Hope’s man, though she swore that she’s looking out for him as just a friend. I hope that she’s telling the truth because I thought we put the Hope, Muriel, and Doc love triangle to rest, especially with Hope and Doc’s engagement.
I’m all for Doc having a friend and confidant in Muriel as long as she keeps the boundaries.
Preacher is doing his best to take care of Christopher in Paige’s absence. It’s sweet to see how much he cares about the boy and how dedicated he is to being a good parent.
The bond they share is truly special.
Seeing how concerned Preacher was about who would pick up Christopher from camp means that there’s definitely still a threat that Vince, Wes’s twin brother, will show up.
I hope nothing bad happens to Preacher or Christopher!
Ricky and Lizzie are also getting more of a presence this season, though, by the end of the hour, their relationship was in jeopardy as Ricky became overly concerned with upsetting Lizzie’s aunt Connie.
Can Connie just let them be teens and acknowledge that Ricky is a stand-up kid?
Since he came into Lizzie’s life, she’s been a lot less trouble!
And lastly… Charmaine is engaged… after three weeks of dating Todd, a personal injury lawyer she met at the salon.
Charmaine is desperate to get a man ahead of the twins’ arrival, so it’s not surprising that she just jumped into another relationship, but it is concerning. How much does she really know about this guy?
I doubt Jack would’ve objected about it had he been given a heads up as he only wants Charmaine to be happy, so why keep him in the dark until the last minute?
Also, I found it strange that she didn’t even come to check on him after his accident. They might not be together, but he is the father of her kids (at least we think so)!
She did threaten Jack last season by telling him she would get married and the man she chose would become the father of the twins instead of Jack, so is she simply trying to spite him?
Todd’s passive-aggressive joke about being taken when he met Mel just didn’t sit well with me. It seems like he’s going to stir up a world of trouble.
What did you think of the premiere? Is someone targeting Jack? And if so, who? Is Preacher right to be so concerned about Christopher’s safety? Will Paige ever come back? Is Vince still a threat?
Let us know in the comments!
Fan-favorite small-town shows like Virgin River, The Way Home and One Tree Hill are joining forces for a first-ever experience.
As Virgin River fans patiently await season 8, there’s something else they can look forward to.
Ben Hollingsworth, who plays Dan Brady on the hit Netflix drama, took to Instagram for a first-ever announcement that delighted fans.
“Virgin River fans, I know you’re excited. You want to know: is Brady coming back for season 8? You want to know when season 8’s coming out? You want to know if there’s going to be a season 9. Well…” he begins, before a censored sticker covers his mouth and a bleep-out noise cuts off any sliver of news he was going to share.
“I’m just joking, I can’t tell you any of that,” he admits, before revealing something equally as exciting for the fandom.
“What I can tell you is that for the first time ever, me and a bunch of my Virgin River cast mates are going to be doing a convention.”
And it’s not just any convention, as he clarifies that it isn’t like “one of those mall ones,” adding that this one is “tailored just for shows like ours.”
By that, he meets small town shows, which have carved out a place for themselves in the TV landscape.
“It’s called Meet Cute con and the theme is small town television,” he added, noting, “that’s basically Virgin River.”
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The excitement continues as Hollingsworth reveals it’s taking place in Nashville at the Loveless Barn, with Virgin Hotels Nashville fittingly serving as a sponsor.
It will kick off with a rooftop party and run from Nov. 6th through 8th.
People reports it will include “celebrity panels, live music, interactive experiences, and Southern food for an intimate fan experience.”
But it’s not just Virgin River!
Other small town hows included in Meet Cute Con include One Tree Hill and The Way Home.
The confirmed guest list for Small-Town Swoon is as follows: One Tree Hill alum Jana Kramer, The Way Home‘s Evan Williams, and Virgin River stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Hollingsworth and Zibby Allen.
Additional celebrities from small town shows will be announced in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, if you want to be part of the first-ever meet up, you can grab tickets here.
Virgin River has established itself as one of Netflix’s best—and longest-running shows.
So it’s no surprise that fans are patiently waiting for the premiere date of the upcoming seventh season.
The comfort of a small town, even one that has its fair share of trouble and drama, is something we all yearn for and crave.
Thankfully, Benjamin Hollingsworth, who plays Brady on the hit series, recently gave fans some insight into when they can expect new episodes.
We’ve only been waiting since last December!
When Will Virgin River Return for Season 7?
Virgin River Season 7 will not be making a holiday appearance this year, but its return isn’t too far off, according to Hollingsworth.
While chatting with FOX5 in New York, he revealed the premiere month, stating that it would begin streaming on Netflix in March 2026.
There’s no specific premiere date, as of yet, but as soon as we find out, we’ll let you know!
What Changes Are Coming to ‘Virgin River’ Season 7?
The series has to keep things fresh, so fans can expect some new faces to make their way into town, including The Vampire Diaries alum Sara Canning, who will join as ex-cop Victoria, previously shot in the line of duty and now working for the state medical board as an investigator. What brings her to town, you ask? Well, she’s here looking into Doc’s practice, but she runs into a friend she doesn’t mind catching up with, with the synopsis teasing, “or maybe even pursuing something more.”
Virgin River has a way of convincing people who are just visiting to stay for a while…
The second new face will be Riverdale’s Cody Kearsley, starring as “tough” and “athletic” Clay, described as the type of guy to “immediately” get noticed when he enters a room. He has experience in the “rodeo circuit” and grew up in foster care with his younger sister, whom he hasn’t seen since they were teens and who he’s been looking for ever since.
Will There Be a Season 8 of Virgin River?
You betcha! People can’t get enough of Virgin River, with the series scoring an early renewal, with Deadline reporting that the eighth season was confirmed a few days after season 7 wrapped up production.
And that can only mean one thing—there’s still plenty more stories to tell when it concerns Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), Jack (Martin Henderson), Vernon (Tim Matheson), Brady, Brie (Zibby Allen) and more.
Lark (Elise Gatien) made her debut on Virgin River Season 5, specifically, during the episodes that tackled the wildfires that ravaged parts of the picturesque town.
Warning – this post has spoilers from the Virgin River holiday episodes.
After Jack and Brady risked their lives to save Lark’s daughter, Hazel, who went missing from the campsite during the fire evacuation, the single mom began to bond with the latter, extending her gratitude to him for going out of his way to prioritize her daughter’s safety.
When Brady found out that Lark and Hazel were squatting, he offered them up a place in one of the lumber yard trailers, a selfless gesture that speaks to his big heart.
Lark definitely set her sights on Brady, especially on the heels of his generosity, and a connection sparked around the time that Brady’s relationship with Brie crumbled and he was looking for some companionship. Lark also helped Brady see the better parts of himself, as Brie held his lies (even though he couldn’t tell her anything about being an informant) against him and made him feel guilty.
One thing led to another and eventually, Lark and Brady began a relationship after his romance with Brie ended. It was also helpful that Hazel really took to Brady, and thus, he became a bit of a stepfather figure in her life.
Fast forward a few months to the timeline of the holiday episodes, Brady and Lark are going strong, fully embracing their romance and sweet little family together. Lark even invited Brady to meet her mother, though he claims that’s a little too fast-paced for him, which is understandable considering he still harbors strong feelings for Brie, who has currently moved on with Mike.
However, Brady seems to be in a good place in life, particularly as everything with Melissa Montgomery’s money laundering/drug smuggling at Emerald Lumber has finally settled down. He’s finally able to move past the nightmare that started when he was roped in by Calvin when he was young and reckless, or so fans thought. In retrospect, I guess we should’ve been more suspicious of Lark’s attempts at inserting herself into Brady’s life, though she definitely made it seem so natural.
In the final moments of Virgin River Season 6 Episode 12, Lark sneaks off to pick up a call from Hazel’s father, who turns out to be Jimmy, who is serving time in prison. Lark informs him that “Brady doesn’t suspect a thing,” which shows that this is Jimmy’s form of getting close enough to Brady to get revenge.
It’s an awful and disappointing twist considering all the progress Brady has made to turn over a new leaf and hit refresh. He can’t seem to shake this whole Emerald Lumber fiasco, no matter how hard he tries. Bad luck just seems to follow him based on one bad decision he made way back when—and it’s cost him so much, including his friendships and his romance with Brie.
I’m hoping that Lark realizes just how good of a guy Brady is and how much he’s sacrificed for her and Hazel and decides not to go through with whatever she and Jimmy have planned.
Lord knows that Brady deserves some sliver of good news and positivity in his life, along with a storyline far removed from the lumber yard.
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