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!
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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