VIRGIN RIVER SEASON 4: Better Than Last Season, But Beware of VRSO Syndrome

Virgin River Season 4 is here! And you know what that means. Yes, it’s time again for us to gather round our screens and gorge our eyes on mountains of bucolic scenery, heaps of uneaten baked goods, and oodles of folksy charm mixed with soap operatic drama-rama. Fortunately, this season is definitely not worse—I think it might be better—than Season 3, which is a relief because I will not quit watching. There are certainly fewer Life Altering Secrets and more movement and purpose in the storytelling.

Please note that while watching you may suffer from Virgin River Series Opener Syndrome (VRSOS). Symptoms may include: Confusion, befuddlement, frustration, discombobulation, and a feeling that you skipped a hidden first episode. People with VRSOS may ask themselves questions like: Hang on…didn’t we leave Preacher (Colin Lawrence) roofied and alone in the woods with no car and no cell phone? When and how did he get out of that pickle?!? Wait a minute…wasn’t Hope (Annette O’Toole) in the hospital balanced between life and death? How is she so…fine? Is this show doing some weird crossover with Outlander and that’s why it feels like Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) has been pregnant for 300 years? Be assured that VRSOS is not your fault (unless you are in fact a writer on this show—in which case, I’d like to have a word). Instead, your brain is simply falling face first into one of the more egregious holes in the plot. (See also: the end of Season 2 when Jack (Martin Henderson) was left bleeding out on his bar floor and Season 3 when he was happily grilling up a storm.) They should really have the craft circle women whip up some patches for those gaping gaps. Or, you know, write a different script. Anyway, take my hand and we’ll pick our way through the plot and the holes together.

This season had me thinking it was going to take a sharp turn into uncharted territory (for the show) when it opened with Jack having an anxious dream about the paternity of Mel’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) baby. He and a very pregnant Mel are happily discussing baby names when she mentioned they’ll have to consider naming it after Mark (Daniel Gillies) if it’s a boy. Then Mark shows up and kisses Mel before turning to face an extremely confused and offended Jack. For at least a second or two I thought Mark was also going to kiss Jack, which would have been quite the twist! But, alas, no such luck.

Next thing, Mel and Jack are awake and in a doctor’s office with Jack claiming he doesn’t need to know the paternity of the baby because it just doesn’t matter to him. Uh, methinks your subconscious begs to differ! No matter, Jack has decided to stuff that anxiety dream, along with all his many other issues—Charmaine having twins, his PTSD, his recent shooting, and financial worries, to name a few—as far down into his well-fitting pants as he can get them. He plans to just muscle his way through with independence, grit, and a steady stream of amber alcohol—a formula that has failed, just, generations upon generations of men before him, but why let that stop him? (Please don’t misunderstand, I like Jack. I respect his trauma. He just has some growing to do and I want him to get there.)
Syndrome
Virgin River Season 4 is here! And you know what that means. Yes, it’s time again for us to gather round our screens and gorge our eyes on mountains of bucolic scenery, heaps of uneaten baked goods, and oodles of folksy charm mixed with soap operatic drama-rama. Fortunately, this season is definitely not worse—I think it might be better—than Season 3, which is a relief because I will not quit watching. There are certainly fewer Life Altering Secrets and more movement and purpose in the storytelling.

Please note that while watching you may suffer from Virgin River Series Opener Syndrome (VRSOS). Symptoms may include: Confusion, befuddlement, frustration, discombobulation, and a feeling that you skipped a hidden first episode. People with VRSOS may ask themselves questions like: Hang on…didn’t we leave Preacher (Colin Lawrence) roofied and alone in the woods with no car and no cell phone? When and how did he get out of that pickle?!? Wait a minute…wasn’t Hope (Annette O’Toole) in the hospital balanced between life and death? How is she so…fine? Is this show doing some weird crossover with Outlander and that’s why it feels like Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) has been pregnant for 300 years? Be assured that VRSOS is not your fault (unless you are in fact a writer on this show—in which case, I’d like to have a word). Instead, your brain is simply falling face first into one of the more egregious holes in the plot. (See also: the end of Season 2 when Jack (Martin Henderson) was left bleeding out on his bar floor and Season 3 when he was happily grilling up a storm.)