Although Netflix officially greenlit Virgin River season 6 awhile ago, viewers’ wish lists of what they want to see unfold in the new outing are growing longer by the minute, especially in the wake of Virgin River season 5, part 2. While the Christmas-themed episodes certainly answered a few burning questions, the two-part special teased several more plotlines for the romantic drama’s upcoming installment. In Virgin River season 5, part 2’s ending, viewers learn that Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) does have a bioparent who’s alive and well. Known as “Champ,” Virgin River’s Everett is Mel’s biological father, whom she and Jack (Martin Henderson) track down ahead of the holiday.
The Northern California town sees several other members of Virgin River’s cast of characters caught up in whirlwind romances and slow-burn drama. For starters, Doc (Tim Matheson) asked Hope (Annette O’Toole) to renew their vows, while Cameron (Mark Ghanimé) assured Muriel (Teryl Rothery) that a family of two was all he needed. Elsewhere, Lark (Elise Gatien) reveals herself to be part of a revenge plot against Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth), who’s still navigating his attraction to his ex, Brie (Zibby Allen) — and the feeling is mutual. Needless to say, Virgin River season 6 has a lot to juggle.
At first, Virgin River season 5, part 2’s ending seems like it will be a bit of a tearjerker for Mel. After Mel tracks down Everett, he claims he isn’t her dad, but Mel catches a glimpse of some undeniable evidence over Everett’s shoulder. The truth is, he just doesn’t want to be in Mel’s life. That changes, however, when Everett appears at Mel and Jack’s with letters Mel’s mom wrote for him in the last few minutes of the episode. Everett also says he has some urgent news for Mel — and that had better be revealed in season 6’s opening. And it better be good.
No matter what Everett reveals to Mel — a long-lost sibling, a genetic disorder, a terminal illness, or anything else that’s par for the course in Virgin River — the nurse practitioner will have to navigate new relationship dynamics. It’s not just Everett who poses a new challenge, however. After a rocky start, Doc becomes Mel’s surrogate father of sorts. Not only is Doc a professional mentor, but he’s a key part of Mel’s support system. Clearly, he’ll be protective of Mel once he learns about her bio-dad. It would also be interesting if Everett, who’s lived in the area for decades, has a preexisting relationship with Doc.
In the Virgin River season 5, part 1 finale, Doc decides to take part in a risky clinical trial after being diagnosed with macular degeneration. The ever-practical Doc rightly points out that even if the trial goes south, he’ll lose his eyesight anyway. Given everything that Doc and Hope have weathered — both together and apart — it would be nice to see the trial succeed. According to the series’ new showrunner, Patrick Sean Smith, it seems likely that the clinical trial will be a success, leaving Doc and Hope with plenty of time to renew their vows.
The final episodes of Virgin River season 5 reveal that Lark, Brady’s current love interest, is actually involved in a plot to exact revenge on Brady. Earlier in the season, Brie decided to breakup with Brady because he lied to her. Now, it seems like both halves of the former couple have moved on — Brie has a relationship with Mike, which is honestly one of Virgin River’s better romances — but the Lark bombshell definitely upends things. Not to mention, Brady and Brie shared a romantic tension-filled moment under the mistletoe in the Christmas episodes, making it even more likely that this couple will rekindle their love.
