Fresh off the debut of the special holiday episodes of Virgin River, Alexandra Breckenridge spoke to Deadline about the Netflix hit’s emotional fifth season, that frustrating cliffhanger, and what she hopes will come next for Mel and Jack.
In episode five, Mel’s high-risk pregnancy ends in preliminary. It’s an especially heartbreaking development for the series lead given that she lost a previous baby with her late husband Mark in a stillbirth.
When asked about whether or not she thinks motherhood is still in the cards for her character, Breckenridge hinted that Mel and Jack might look into other ways to expand their family in the coming seasons.
“At this point, I think where we’re at is that we are looking for Mel and Jack to have an alternative family and for them to adopt,” the actress told Deadline. “But you never know. Sometimes in life, usually what happens with people—I’ve heard this happen so many times where people adopt or they have a surrogate and then they themselves become accidentally pregnant. So that happens a lot; who knows if it’s in the cards.”
“I can’t speak to that but I know that I’m looking forward to them building their dream house together,” Breckenridge continued. “And for Mel to get back to work, opening that midwifery part of the clinic I think will be interesting.”
And as for that Mel and Jack’s wedding has been planned? Breckenridge says she’s “sure a wedding is sometime in the future,” adding that she imagines they will finally say “I do” next season.
Season six of Virgin River—which is scheduled to begin filming in the spring—also has some explanations to do after Part 2 of season five ended on one of the most abrupt cliffhangers since the Sweet Magnolias car crash.
After she was initially rejected by her biological father, Everett, Mel’s wish finally comes true when he shows up on Christmas. In the finale’s final seconds, he started telling her “something important” before he was cut off mid sentence.
Breckenridge told Deadline that she actually has no idea what her on-screen father was about to tell her.
“No, I’m sure that’s the wonderful magic of television where they don’t actually have to tell you, and they can figure it out later,” she revealed. “I think it’s had a few different iterations at this point. I don’t know where they ultimately landed.”
