Did they change the actress who plays Paige in Virgin River?
In the first episode of Virgin River season 5, it appears that Paige is back to stay after the altercation that she and Preacher have with Vince during Virgin River season 4’s ending, but sadly, this is not to be. During dinner with Preacher, Paige explains that she had initially moved to Virgin River for a fresh start in a home that Wes had never been in. However, after everything that happened with Wes and Vince, Paige no longer had a place that wasn’t tainted by Wes. Paige admits that she can’t get over that fact, and as a result, she and Christopher are leaving Virgin River.
After Lexa Doig’s Paige leaves Virgin River in season 5’s premiere episode, it’s unclear if this means that Paige is gone for good from the Netflix series. There is a finality when Paige and Christopher are saying goodbye to Preacher at the end of the episode that makes it feel like Paige might really be leaving Virgin River forever. However, since Paige has left and returned to Virgin River several times prior to this throughout Netflix’s Virgin River, it’s difficult to say if this departure is truly the last time Paige will be seen in the series.
Along with Paige’s history of leaving and returning to Virgin River in the past, Paige’s Virgin River book storyline could suggest that Lexa Doig’s character might return to the series in the future. In the second Virgin River book, Preacher and Paige get together, and if the show is to adapt this storyline, then Paige will have to come back to Virgin River someday. However, Netflix’s Virgin River has made many changes to the original book series while adapting it, so Paige’s original book story doesn’t necessarily confirm her return. Ultimately, it won’t be known whether Paige will return to Virgin River until season 5 part 2 releases in November.
Netflix’s Virgin River is known for having shocking twists and turns, and the season 5 premiere’s character exit has already set the bar high. Based on the romance books of the same name by Robyn Carr, Virgin River tells the story of nurse practitioner Mel, who moves to the titular town for a new start after the death of her husband. Upon her arrival, Mel quickly becomes acquainted with the other members of the Virgin River community, and many of them, like Lexa Doig’s Paige, have secrets of their own.
Throughout Netflix’s Virgin River, Paige has been on the run from her abusive ex-husband Wes (who was killed early in the series) and his twin, Vince, who is seeking revenge on Paige on behalf of his brother. Virgin River season 5 finally brings a satisfying conclusion to this arc when Vince is arrested during the premiere episode. Since Vince is behind bars, it seems as though Paige is back in Virgin River for good, but she reveals that she is leaving once again. Despite Paige and Christopher leaving at the end of season 5, episode 1, it’s unclear if the two are leaving Virgin River forever.
