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Mel's parents might get their own spin-off
A lot happens in Virgin River — the town and the series — each season, but Season 5 of the charming Netflix series might have been the most action-packed season yet. The show's characters are always put through the wringer, but the latest episodes saw them experiencing even more loss and heartbreak than usual, all while trying to put out a raging wildfire. Thankfully, everyone made it out OK, and Virgin River fans are getting another gift in the form of an earlier-than-expected release date for the next season. Now that we know when Season 6 premieres, we're one step closer to finding out what's in store for our favorite (or least favorite!) characters.
Here, we will answer your questions, such as when Virgin River will return, who is in the Season 6 cast, what to expect from the series, and more.
More on Netflix:
On Oct. 7, Netflix announced that Virgin River Season 6 will premiere on Dec. 19. This is earlier than previously expected, because in February 2024, Netflix announced an extensive list of shows not returning in 2024, and according to Deadline, that list included Virgin River.
Unlike Season 5, which was split into two parts, Season 6 will drop all 10 episodes at once.
Alexandra Breckenridge (who plays Mel), Martin Henderson (who plays Jack), and the rest of the Virgin River cast began Season 6 production in late February, according to Tudum. The two leads shared a photo from the show's Vancouver set on Instagram. Based on the production slate, it seems like they were working on 601, the first episode of the new season.
More on Virgin River:
No trailers are out yet. But as soon as one is released, we'll post it here.
In September 2024, Deadline reported that Season 6 will focus on Mel and Jack's nuptials, so cross your fingers everything goes smoothly! "We're trying to hit all the milestones of the pre-wedding planning, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the rehearsal dinner," showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Tudum.
Although Mel had a miscarriage in Season 5, she and Jack weren't ready to give up on having a family. In fact, they decided to purchase Lilly's farm in order to plant their roots in Virgin River. With that in mind, we can expect Season 6 to be about the couple growing their life together.
"Mel and Jack will advance on their path to parenthood while also turning Lilly's farm into their ultimate dream home," showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Tudum.
When we last saw the characters, it was December, as they all were celebrating Christmas, but the season will see them "deeper into springtime," says Smith, who adds that "babies and wedding bells are never off the table" as we look toward Season 6. Lizzie and Denny are expecting — will anyone else be sporting a baby bump soon?
Also, expect a deeper look into Mel's parents' lives, with flashbacks showing how the two got together.
You can expect the main cast of Virgin River to return for Season 6. Additionally, Deadline reported in late September that young versions of Mel's parents have been cast for flashbacks: Jessica Rothe will play Sarah, Mel's late mom; and Callum Kerr will play Everett, Mel's biological dad. And if all goes well, they'll reprise those roles in a standalone spin-off sometime in the future.
Along with the news that Virgin River went into production on Season 6, Deadline reported in February that Netflix is developing a prequel spin-off to Virgin River that would focus on Mel's parents, Sarah and Everett, chronicling their early love story. Everett (played in the present-day timeline by John Allen Nelson) was recently revealed as Mel's biological father in the Virgin River Christmas episodes that aired in late 2023, and Season 6 will feature young Everett (Callum Kerr) and Sarah (Jessica Rothe) in flashbacks. If their story is received well by fans, Netflix would presumably greenlight the prequel series.
If you're looking for more shows about picturesque small towns, heart-swelling romance, and enticing drama, we've got a list of TV shows that all fans of Virgin River will love.
The first five seasons of Virgin River are available to stream on Netflix.