Netflix’s Virgin River returned with a sixth season, where Preacher (portrayed by Colin Lawrence) hinted at his desire to marry Kaia Bryant (Kandyse McClure). The couple met shortly after Preacher was mourning the loss of Paige (Lexa Doig) and Christopher (Chase Petriw).
Paige exited the series at the beginning of season five after narrowly escaping an encounter with her ex-husband’s twin brother, Vince (Steve Bacic). She and Christopher left to start a new life away from danger, and she hasn’t been seen on screen since.
After escaping an abusive marriage with Wes, Paige relocated to Virgin River and assumed a new identity, leading to an unexpected friendship with Preacher. Following a confrontation that resulted in Wes’s death, Paige realised it was no longer safe for her to stay.
Fans have speculated whether actress Lexa chose to leave the series, or if the storyline simply meant she was no longer needed on the show. Since leaving the series, the actress has taken on numerous roles, most notably as Sally Allison in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries TV films.
She also secured recurring roles in Chucky and Goosebumps. This suggests she never planned to be a long-term part of the show, reports the Mirror US.
As a recurring character, Paige’s storyline wasn’t central to the plot. There’s no evidence to suggest Lexa left the series on bad terms or was forced out.
The Canadian actress Lexa Doig, who is married to fellow actor Michael Shanks, has had a busy life balancing her acting career with motherhood. The couple, who met on the set of Andromeda, have two children and have both appeared in the popular series Virgin River, with Shanks taking on guest roles.
Fans have been vocal about their disappointment over Paige’s storyline in Virgin River, with one Reddit user, Ollies_mama22, expressing, “I will never forgive the writers for how things went with Paige/Michelle and Preacher.”
Another fan, InterviewCautious649, speculated: “I thought it was because the actress wanted to leave but I think it was because they didn’t know what to do with their relationship.”
Typical-Ad4773 suggested that the departure might be due to the child actor’s age, saying, “To be honest I think it’s mainly because the actor who plays Christopher is growing up and it doesn’t match the shows timelines.”
Splashy717 added: “This is what happens with a show that is this slow-paced (Mel’s not even in VR for a full year and we’re how many seasons in? ) and a child actor is involved. He grew up and they needed a way to write them off. Sad.”
Virgin River is streaming on Netflix