Virgin River delivered a hefty dose of holiday cheer with Season 5, Part 2’s two seasonal episodes. But after the ice skating, Christmas tree decorating, and cozy celebrations, the series gifted viewers some more jaw-dropping cliffhangers.
While the whole of Season 5 explores loss, medical issues, pregnancy, a massive drug operation, wildfires, and much more small-town drama, the holiday episodes ushered a much-needed (albeit short-lived) sense of peace into Virgin River as Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), Jack (Martin Henderson), family, and friends wholly embrace festive traditions and basked in the joy of togetherness.
The Season 5 finale welcomed fresh faces to Virgin River, took relationships to the next level, featured a rare Virgin River snowfall and musical, and finally introduced Mel to her father. But in its closing moments, the cheery, hopeful episode took a dark relationship turn, foreshadowing challenges, legal trouble, and concerning reveals to come — including that ominous final line spoken by Mel’s dad, which showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Decider is “definitely a bit of a bombshell for their relationship” and “something that informs a lot of what’s happening in Season 6.”
Wondering how Virgin River Season 5, Part 2 ends? Decider’s Virgin River Season 5 finale recap has you covered. Just be mindful that spoilers lie ahead.
Virgin River Season 5, Part 2 Ending Explained:
Season 5, Episode 11, “The More the Merrier,” ends with news that Mel’s father, Everett Reid, is still living in Virgin River. So Episode 12, aptly titled “Father Christmas,” finds Mel and Jack pulling up to his house on Christmas Eve.
Despite a “No Solicitors” sign, Mel knocks on his door and a man appears, asking who’s looking for Everett Reid. “His daughter,” Mel says. “I found love letters addressed to my mother, Sarah Jenson.” The man claims he’s not the guy she’s looking for and doesn’t know where to find him. But when he runs to the kitchen to turn off a timer, Mel sees Everett’s trophy from the 1976 Lumberjack Games on his shelf and assumes he simply doesn’t want to know her.
When Mel gets back to the car she tells Jack that the mystery man is her dad, but he wants absolutely nothing to do with her. She’s upset, but ultimately happy she got clarity. And before she has time to process the rejection, a very pregnant Charmaine calls to say she’s finally (at long last!) having contractions.
Mel meets Char at the clinic to deliver the twins, and to her surprise, their father Calvin is there. After seeing the stress he’s caused Char, Mel banishes him from the clinic with a new understanding of why she lied about Jack being the dad. (Turns out the FBI dropped all the charges against Calvin and put him in witness defense for his help busting Melissa. As for how the two got together, Char said she was drunk, sad, and mad at Jack.) Knowing Calvin’s history in town , Mel agrees to keep the baby daddy news to herself. But if he’s back for good, we imagine it won’t be secret for long…
Elsewhere in Virgin River, Brie and Jack are disappointed in their parents, who seem unable to spend the holidays together. Post-cold plunge, Preacher tells Kaia he loves her, but she can’t promise anything to anyone just yet. And Lizzie’s mother vows to support her during her pregnancy. Speaking of Lizzie and Denny’s baby-to-be, they decided not to get married quite yet, since Denny knows marriage means Lizzie is signing up to care for him as well. All this wedding talk reminds Doc that prior to Hope’s accident and his diagnosis, the two were planning to renew their vows. But no time to think about that! Like Mel, Doc has twins to deliver!
Once in labor, Charmaine’s blood pressure skyrockets, and Mel and Doc fear she has preeclampsia. They hooked her up to an IV and successfully delivered the twins, marking the end of a Virgin River era. After the taxing delivery, Doc and Mel share a touching moment and he admits he feels like a proud father when they work together. Mel tells Doc her biological dad wants nothing to do with her and asks if he’ll walk her down the aisle when she marries Jack. Doc, overjoyed by the ask, says he hopes he can see the look on Jack’s face. Then he asked Mel to deliver his great-grandbaby in the spring.
Before the moment gets any cuter, Doc excuses himself to plan something special for Hope and the 44th Annual Virgin River Christmas Tree Decorating Competition kicks off. Cameron finally tells Muriel that his ex-fiancé showed up, revealed she’s sober, and wants to start a family with him. But he sent her away because he’s happy with his life and love in Virgin River. Aw! Preacher and Kaia exchange gifts early and she reveals she took a full-time fire chief job in Virgin River so they can be together. Double aw! And Lizzie and Denny share that they’re having a girl! Triple aw!
