Virgin River first came to Netflix in 2019, and ever since then it has gained worldwide popularity with fans from all over the world anticipating the released of the seventh season.
Season six ended in a nail biting cliffhanger, as fans wonder whether Charmaine is alive and who has taken her twins.
Now, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has given viewers an exclusive of what to expect from the seventh season of their beloved show.
Jack and Mel’s relationship
After a rollercoaster relationship filled with heartbreak, including a miscarriage in season 5, Jack and Mel finally ended season 6 as husband and wife. However, their wedding day wasn’t without its challenges.
According to Martin Henderson, who plays Jack, his character is still anxious about what the future holds for his family. He told US Weekly in December 2024: “Jack’s still kind of holding out for this family that he wants and is quite anxious and eager to know where that is gonna lead.”
Although Mel’s perspective is slightly different.
Actress Alexandra Breckenridge, who portrays Mel, teased her character’s emotional state as she processes the aftermath of her wedding.
“She’s just like, in full shock. I mean, she just got married. This is literally the morning after she wakes up, and she’s in shock. And then there’s, like, that hope that sort of starts to creep in. We’ll see,” she said.
Alexandra also shared her curiosity about Mel’s relationship with her newly discovered father. “I’m very curious to see where that goes.”
“I love how Mel tries to open up her relationship with her father, and he keeps trying to push her away because I think he doesn’t want to experience the loss again.”
She continued: “You know, a lot of times people who lose people, they’re scared to love anyone again because they’re scared, they’re gonna go through that pain. But you can’t live without it, you know? It’s not a life if you don’t love again.”
Despite some early challenges, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith reassured fans that Mel and Jack’s happily ever after is here to stay, saying: “For me, it was looking at [Mel] as a character, who has had so many hard times, [and the] anxiety of anticipating your wedding day being a day completely free of any of that. Then your worst case scenario happens when your newly emerged biological father suffers a health scare.”
“It knocks her off balance a little bit, and being off balance is the last thing that I think her character wants to feel as she’s going through this experience with Jack.
“But I don’t see it coming back again. I see it more as sort of a final lap for her in trying to put the past behind her to start this new chapter in her life with Jack,” he continued.
Brady and Brie‘s relationship
Brie and Brady’s relationship took a turn in season 5 when they went their separate ways, although despite new relationships the two still share this undeniable chemistry.
During season 6 their connection leads to a surprising ‘fling’ and Brie’s boyfriend Mike proposes knowing the pair have shared a night together, which only complicates things further for Brady and Brie.
Showrunner Patrick acknowledges the strong dynamic between the two actors and characters, stating: “I’m a practical person. I see and love all the story potential in their chemistry, and in what Zibby (Brie) and Ben (Brady) bring every time they get in front of the camera.”
He recalls the emotional impact of a scene between the pair during a table read, saying: “I remember at the table read, our network exec who I love, she texted me or emailed me after and she was like, ‘Oh my God, that scene!’ It was special.”
Muriel’s cancer battle
One of the more emotional storylines from season 6 was Muriel’s cancer diagnosis. While it shocked fans, Patrick is determined to give the storyline a more positive spin in the new season.
“We’ve now seen her persevere through the diagnosing of it, and in season 7 we’ll get into the treatment part of it,” Patrick explained in an interview with TVLine.
“Putting a positive spin on life-threatening illnesses feels like a story that is worth putting out in the world.”
During the upcoming season, Patrick hopes that Muriel’s resilience in the midst of her battle will continue to inspire viewers.
Dr Cameron wont be returning
Dr Cameron Hayek, played by Mark Ghanime, won’t be returning for the seventh season of the show.
Cameron returned in season 6, but his storyline has now come to a close.
As Patrick shared: “I love that relationship, and I think this season saw a little bit of a sendoff for Cameron,”
“In terms of Mark, the actor who I adore, he unfortunately won’t be coming back for season 7, but that’s not to say that Cameron’s not a part of our world forever. … I would love to bring him back, and bring his character back when the story presents itself.”
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