Virgin River’s Martin Henderson Says Season 5 Is the Best One Yet
Martin Henderson has just finished filming his first two scenes of Virgin River season 5 when he jumps on a Zoom from the set in Vancouver. He has one more scene left for the day—with his screen partner Alexandra Breckenridge—but he’s already breathing a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t sleep a wink last night,” he says. “I’ve been an actor for 34 years, and it doesn’t even matter. This is season 5 of a show that’s clearly working, yet there’s some part of my mind that is filled with doubt that I don’t know if I’m going to be able to do it. But I think I looked appropriately sad at the right moments and appropriately happy at the others. So yeah, I think I’ ve still got my job.”
That combination of humbleness and humor is one of the many reasons viewers can’t get enough of Henderson’s portrayal of military vet and bar owner Jack Sheridan. In fact, when I mention I’ve already binged all 12 episodes of season 4 ahead of our interview (the day before the new season premiered), Henderson asks if I’ve seen season 5 yet. I chalk it up to his sleep deprivation and tell him that would be pretty amazing if I had since he’s only filmed two scenes so far. His response: “Season five’s great, by the way. It’s the best season yet. I’m amazing in it.”
Henderson is being funny, of course, but any fan who has seen season 4 can attest that he definitely is outstanding in the role, especially as the weight of Jack’s personal and professional life is crumbling around him. Not only is there the very real financial burden of supporting two unborn children with his ex-sorta-girlfriend (more on that in a minute) and raising a child with the love of his life who might not be pregnant with his child, but there’s the PTSD he continues to struggle with from his time in the Marines, his dependence on alcohol, and the guilt stemming from the death of his brother as a young child. Then there’s the fact that he basically tries to be the hero to everyone in the Virgin River community. It’s amazing the guy’s still standing.
And after all that, that ex-sorta-girlfriend tells him she’s been lying to him all along and he’s not the father of the twins. Has there ever been a more shocking ending to this show?
Henderson (or Hendo, his nickname, which also appears on his Zoom screen) graciously answered every question about paternity issues, Char’s comeuppance, and that gorgeous engagement scene, sleep deprivation be damned.
Martin Henderson: I don’t know what part [caused it]. I tried to drop myself into the character’s shoes as it were. And at that point, Jack’s dealing with so much. What I find interesting about him is that he’s been carrying all of that stuff on his own for so long, and this is the first time he’s ever found a partner—someone that he really feels is right for him and she’s already proven how much she shows up for him. So for me, it was just a really emotional moment where he’s making this declaration and this request.
I’ve never proposed to someone, but I hope when I propose, I kind of know what the answer’s going to be. I would hate to be in a situation where you’re like, “I don’t know, it’s 50- 50, but I’m going to ask her anyway.” [Laughs.] In Jack’s case, he knew she would say yes. He knows his future is going to be with this woman, and there’s a responsibility to that, right? Marriage requires a lot of us, but it’s also a huge relief that he can have this moment and he’ll go forward with Mel by his side. I just think that’s an overwhelming idea for him, for someone who’s been alone his whole life, really.
