The Virgin River universe is expanding, and details surrounding the upcoming prequel indicate that one twist of fate in the original television show likely wasn’t a coincidence after all. The Netflix romantic drama series, developed by Sue Tenney and based on Robyn Carr’s book series of the same name, revolves around Mel Monroe, played by Alexandra Breckenridge, a midwife and nurse practitioner who moves to a small town to escape her past. The show premiered in late 2019 and was an immediate hit among critics and fans alike, resulting in multiple renewals and now a prequel series.
After five successful seasons (and the renewal of a sixth one), Netflix has greenlit a Virgin River prequel. According to Deadline, the Virgin River prequel will depict the origin story of Mel’s parents — Sarah and Everett. As fans recall, the Christmas special of the drama revealed that Everett “Champ” Reid was Mel’s biological father after years of speculation regarding the man’s identity. Now that the secret is out in the open, Netflix has jumped at the opportunity to produce a prequel centering around Mel’s parents and their time in the town of Virgin River (which makes one coincidence quite unlikely).
Virgin River’s Prequel Show Will Strengthen Mel’s Ties To The Fictional Town
Netflix constructing the Virgin River prequel around Mel’s parents will exponentially increase the character’s connection to the small Northern California town. When season 1 premiered, Virgin River seemed like an escape for Mel that she chose on a whim. Mel’s move from Los Angeles to Virgin River didn’t appear to be a purposeful choice since she explained early on that she had decided to relocate to the small town because of an advertisement. As a result, many believed that Mel’s ties to Virgin River didn’t form until she stepped foot in the city. However, that is no longer true.
Mel’s connection to Virgin River is much stronger than anyone first imagined. Her biological father lives there, as revealed when Everett appeared in Virgin River season 5. Plus, based on the description of the Virgin River sequel, it seems like it was Everett’s birthplace. Mel’s mother fell in love with a man from the town and gave birth to her, so her ties to Virgin River run deep. Consequently, Mel’s newfound complex connection to the city makes the probability of her unknowingly moving to where her father was much more unlikely.
