Fresh on the heels of Virgin Riverâs fifth-season finale, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith
has teased several season 6 storylines well ahead of the showâs filming dates.
Virgin River season 5, part 2âs ending culminated in a cliffhanger that
saw Mel Monroeâs (Alexandra Breckenridge) recently discovered biological father, Everett Reid (John Allen Nelson), dropping that he has something important to tell his long-lost child. The Christmas-set finale episodes resolved some threads, including Virgin Riverâs most absurd storyline (i.e. the five-season pregnancy of Lauren Hammersleyâs Charmaine). However, the two-part special release also left other storylines hanging.
While Preacher (Colin Lawrence) seems to have found happiness with Virgin Riverâs newest resident, Kaia (Kandyse McClure), the discovery of Wesâ body threatens the coupleâs bliss. It was also revealed that Bradyâs (Benjamin Hollingsworth) girlfriend, the mysterious Lark (Elise Gatien), is actually playing her beau as part of a larger revenge plot. Thankfully, the seriesâ newest showrunner has more than just a Virgin River season 6 wishlist. Patrick Sean Smith has arcs planned out and themes heâs set on tackling in the Netflix dramaâs next chapter. Best of all, Smith has been pretty candid about what Virgin Riverâs cast of characters will get up to in 2024.
11. Mel Will Deal With A âPaternal Love Triangleâ
At first, it seemed like Everett â a.k.a. Virgin Riverâs Champ â wanted nothing to do with his long-lost daughter, Mel Monroe. Thankfully, Everett eventually shows up on her doorstep, gives Mel love letters written by her mother, and says he has something important to share. But Everett also offers to be in Melâs life in whatever capacity feels right for her. No matter what Virgin River season 6 theories suggest about Melâs dad and the information heâs sitting on, itâs clear that heâll have to meet Melâs father figure, Doc (Tim Matheson), making for a complicated âpaternal love triangle,â as Smith puts it (via Deadline).
10. Doc Wonât Lose His Eyesight
In the Virgin River season 5, part 1 finale, Vernon âDocâ Mullins tells Hope McCrea (Annette OâToole) that heâll be taking part in a risky clinical trial. After being diagnosed with macular degeneration, it seemed the character would lose his eyesight in future episodes. However, Smith has confirmed thatâs not Docâs season 6 fate. In fact, both Doc and Hope will put their health challenges behind them and enjoy a much calmer, happier chapter in their shared life. âWeâre getting to see Doc and Hope in a place that we havenât really gotten to seem them before, which is healthy,â Smith says.
9. Ava Will Return To Virgin River In Season 6
Virgin Riverâs Ava, played by Libby Osler, heads to the small, Northern California town to spend more time with her family. At first, she was not a huge fan of Virgin River, preferring her Portland, Oregon lifestyle. Still, Ava bonds with Mel, becoming one of her closest friends in season 5. At the end of season 5, part 1, Ava decides to sell her familyâs farm to Mel and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) after her sisters move south. That said, Avaâs return is not just likely, but a âmustâ considering her many ties to Mel.
8. More Time Will Be Spent On Mel & Jackâs Romance
Mel and Jack lovers may rejoice at Smithâs reveal that Virgin River season 6 will spend more time on the pairâs romance. In the Christmas episodes, Mel alludes to a future wedding, which may hint at the upcoming seasonâs biggest plot point. While Smith remained tight-lipped on that front, he did confirm that the two have seen enough tragedy â at least for now. âEverybody wants more Mel and Jack,â the showrunner said. Smith also confirmed that the coupleâs parenthood pursuits will feature heavily in season 6, which is exciting news for fans of the show.
7. Virgin River Season 6 Will Feature A Time Jump
Itâs been widely publicized that Virgin River season 6 will incorporate a significant time jump, though the team behind the series has remained elusive about how much time will pass between the seasons. Nonetheless, the time jump has the ability to fix Virgin Riverâs confusing timeline, allowing charactersâ relationships to feel more natural and lived-in. Smith also mentioned that he and his team have the privilege of gauging folksâ season 5 reactions, which will allow them to âdo a little bit of course correctingâ in season 6. Undoubtedly, the inclusion of a time jump will help Smith smooth over those changes.
6. Preacherâs Wes Storyline Will Be Resolved (Finally)
Before Paige (Lexa Doig) left Virgin River behind, she had an altercation with her abusive ex-husband, Wes, which resulted in his death. Unsure of what to do, Paige called her then-boyfriend, Preacher, for help. Known as Virgin Riverâs good guy, Preacher didnât leave Paige in the lurch and handled things. Of course, his kind gesture has now implicated him in Wesâ death. To make matters worse, Wesâ body has just been uncovered, which means Preacherâs fate is a little up in the air. âThe intention is really to be a big test of Preacher and Kaiaâs relationship,â Smith said of the Wes plot.
5. Muriel & Cameronâs Age Gap Will Continue To Be A Focus
Before the Christmas episodes, Muriel (Teryl Rothery) and Cameron (Mark GhanimĂ©) didnât really address the age gap in their budding relationship. Despite the rushed nature of their relationship, the couple have one of Virgin Riverâs best romances, if only because it adds fresh intrigue to the well-worn, small-town romance formula. Muriel, a retired actress, has no interest in starting a family, while Doctor Cameron Hayek moved to Virgin River to find love and have children. While Cameron claims that a family of two is enough for him, Smith says season 6 will address if âitâs built to last or not.â
4. Season 5âs âIntensityâ Wonât Be Matched In Future Virgin River Outings
Virgin River season 5, part 1 gave fans 10 emotional episodes. Between the underground drug trade coming to light, an intense wildfire, and a challenging miscarriage plot line, the show explored plenty of difficult topics. Although the two-part season finale, set amid the holidays, offered a little reprieve, viewers arenât sure if that tone will last. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Smith admitted that, â[the] intention was never to have subsequent seasons match the intensity of season five.â That said, season 6 will double down on the romance.
3. A Brady & Brie Reunion Is Pretty Much Confirmed
Bradyâs new girlfriend, Lark, is harboring quite a few secrets. For starters, her daughter, Hazel, is actually Jimmyâs kid; sheâs also involved in a revenge plot thatâs sure to turn Bradyâs world upside-down. Meanwhile, Bradyâs ex, Brie (Zibby Allen), has embarked on a new relationship with her friend-turned-lover Mike (Marco Grazzini). Itâs what Smith calls âa [love] rectangle,â though plenty of viewers are hoping the mistletoe moment between Brady and Brie means the couple will rekindle their romance. Smith confirmed that they could get together again, noting that they have things to work through on their own before they can âhopefullyâ partner up.
2. Paige Wonât Return In Virgin River Season 6
Although Paige managed to leave Virgin River after her estranged husbandâs death, Preacher stayed behind. Not only did he have to deal with hiding a dead body, but Preacher was forced to do so alone and heartbroken. Even though Wesâ body has been found, and even though season 6 will deal with that aftermath, Smith confirmed that Paige will not return in the upcoming chapter. âThere are no plans to bring Paige back,â he said â and, all things considered, thatâs probably good news for Preacher.
1. Pony The Dog Wonât End Up Like Tucker
One Virgin River character will probably be recast before season 6: Pony, Mel and Jackâs new puppy. The dogâs moniker stems from the fact that Mel always wanted a pony for Christmas. While he doesnât get her a horse, Jack does present her with a puppy named Pony. However, given the disappearance of Virgin Riverâs previous dog, Charmaineâs Tucker, viewers are worried about Ponyâs fate. Initially, Mel and Jack were supposed to adopt Tucker, but Breckenridge vetoed the idea based on the trioâs complicated dynamic (via Yahoo). Thankfully, Pony will figure prominently into Jack and Melâs lives â even if a new canine plays him in Virgin River season 6.