Virgin River wouldn’t be the same without Jack and Mel’s love life but some fans think it has been “ruined” by clips shared off set.
Netflix subscribers were instantly drawn to the undeniable chemistry between Jack Sheridan (played by Martin Henderson) and Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) when Virgin River first came out in 2019.
Their turbulent yet charming love story has tugged on heartstrings from the very beginning and is at the epicentre of the romantic drama.
And it’s well known the cast are very close away from the show as well with the Virgin River Cooking Show on YouTube and Breckenridge sharing videos of them together on Instagram.
However, snippets of herself spending time with Henderson in the kitchen have had a less desirable effect on some who think the chemistry between their characters has been tainted.
Kicking off the discussion on Reddit, one fan remarked: “On the show there is the huge romantic connection between them (portrayed MUCH better in the first couple of seasons), but when I saw the cooking videos they did together and the BTS videos they put on IG, I see their dynamic as more of brother and sister and it ruins their romantic image on the show for me. Anyone else?”
A second agreed: “I thought the same. It seems like the director (or someone) wanted them to develop their off screen relationship but that relationship was more friendly/sibling like.
A fourth added: “This is what I was trying to say. Their on screen relationship seems different
“I know they are friends in real life and each in their own happy relationships, but doing these videos together almost takes away from their connection on the show.
“Or at least the connection that the writers want us to believe in.”
But not everyone agrees with this sentiment as others argue that Henderson and Breckenridge are not together in real life so would be more friendly rather than romantic away from the show.
Commenting on the post, a user wrote: “Martin and Alex are not Mel and Jack.
“They play their parts. There’s NOTHING more or less to their dynamic. Martin has a girlfriend and Alex is married for God’s sake!”
“The amount of ‘fans’ that truly expects him to leave his girlfriend because he ‘belongs’ to Alex is worrisome. I’ve literally read those words out of fans. It’s sick”, said another.
While a fellow Netflix subscriber simply added: “They are actors, she is married, he has a SO, they are coworkers that’s it.”
Henderson and Breckenridge won’t be reprising their roles for quite some time though as season six isn’t expected to begin until late 2024 or early 2025.
Filming on this new lot of episodes is due to begin in the first half of 2024.
