How much older is Jack than Mel?
Netflix’s Virgin River revolves around Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and local bar owner Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson); but how old are Mel and Jack in Virgin River? Based on the books by Robyn Carr, the romantic drama revolves around Mel and Jack’s hot-and-cold romance set in the fictional town of Virgin River. With several seasons released, many wonder what’s next for the lead characters. Virgin River season 1 began like the books, with recently-widowed Mel beginning anew in Virgin River after she finds a nursing job following her husband’s tragic death.
She quickly met local barman and former U.S. Marine Jack, who convinced her to stay, despite a rocky start in her new setting. By the end of Virgin River season 4, Mel and Jack were engaged and having a baby together. Mel revealed she would be leaving her job, though she would stay in Virgin River for Jack and the other friendships she has made. However, Mel miscarried the baby in season 5, and the couple endured that tragedy together. However, with Mel and Jack still wanting to have a family, many fans are still wondering how old Jack and Mel are in Virgin River.
The book series’ author Robyn Carr shares that Mel was just 32 when she moved to Virgin River in the first Virgin River book (the source inspiration for season 1) and met Jack, who was 40 at the time (via RobynCarr.com). Mel and Jack’s ages make sense given their histories. As a nurse practitioner, Mel likely attended post-secondary school for six years, before working in an emergency room for five years, which partially overlapped her previous six-year marriage. Jack enlisted in the Marines at 18 and served for 20 years.
Assuming he took a couple of years to establish his bar, it makes sense he is 40 years old when Mel arrives in town. In season 4, it’s also revealed that Charmaine Roberts’ (Lauren Hammersley) pregnancy with twins is only five months along, despite beginning back in season 1. Charmaine was still pregnant at the end of season 5, so it appears that only five months have passed between the start of season 1 and the end of season 5. As such, Mel and Jack are likely still 32 and 40 in season 5, assuming their birthdays have not occurred in the last five months.
Mel actor Alexandra Breckenridge is 41 years old, and Jack actor Martin Henderson is 48. Both actors’ ages raise a concern: they are several years older than their characters and are aging faster in real life than Mel and Jack are in the series, which five months have occurred over four years in real-time. Mel and Jack have been at the center of Virgin River thus far, however after finding their happy ending and the actors’ ages creating a possible inconsistency, it feels as though Virgin River season 5 should change its leads to characters featured in later books.
