Get ready for more heart-pumping romance, intense drama, and unexpected twists as more of Virgin River is officially
on the way!
This show has enchanted viewers since it first premiered in 2019, capturing the hearts of dramatic TV show enthusiasts worldwide, and we have no doubt that the fans of Virgin River will be thrilled to know that the show, which was renewed for a fifth season on Netflix back in September 2021, is speculated to hit our screens sometime in the summer of 2023.
The popular romance drama series that has captured viewers’ hearts are set to take us on yet another thrilling adventure as we follow the lives of the residents of the charming town of Virgin River. This series is based on the book series of the same name by author Robyn Carr, and season 4 of the show concluded on a major cliffhanger, leaving fans with several unanswered questions.
There is no doubt that Virgin River Season 5 promises to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. So it’s time to get your popcorn ready as we delve deep into everything we know so far about the upcoming season. Here’s a complete guide we know about Virgin River Season 5, which includes all the latest updates relating to its release date, cast, and plot details since its renewal.
Virgin River Season 5 Release Date and Time Slot
The release date for Season 5 has not been officially confirmed, but it’s expected to drop sometime in mid-2023 at the same time slot of 12:00 a.m. (PT) or 3:00 a.m., with July being the likely release window as the filming for the fifth season began on July 18, 2022, and concluded on November 21, 2022. The shift to remote work and the relaxation of restrictions have brought about an uptick in production quality and timeliness.
The global pandemic initially delayed the filming and production of several shows. But we are certain that the streaming platform won’t delay the premiere any further. If you’ve been keeping up with the fan pages on Twitter, then you’ll know that they share all of the recent updates with their followers. After dropping clues on social media about the anticipated fifth season’s likely release date, a widely shared video of Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson quickly became popular among fans.
In the clips, the stars answered some fan questions and predicted that the show would most likely return in July 2023. Accordingly, if we believe the cast, there are decent chances that Netflix will get ready and end its hiatus in the next five to six weeks by revealing Season 5 release date. This makes the perfect time for the promotion to start on schedule in order to engage the audience and clear their calendars before it’s time to stream the new episodes.
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Virgin River Season 5 Plot Updates
Not much has been disclosed about the potential plotline for the new season. But, Virgin River’s showrunner Patrick Sean Smith, who helmed the 2019 Netflix anthology series Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, tells Tudum, quote, “I’m excited to be working with Netflix again, and I couldn’t be prouder to join the Virgin River family. Together with its stellar cast and amazing crew, we’ve got great things in store for our fans worldwide.”
The fourth season of the show left several cliffhangers and unresolved plotlines that are sure to feature in the new season.
Fans undoubtedly wonder what fate has in store for Jack after he got shot in the season’s penultimate episode. Furthermore, it’s not clear if Jack and Mel will finally make things work now that she decided to stay in town permanently. Moreover, the town of Virgin River is continually evolving, with many characters facing new and unexpected challenges as they navigate love, family, and even death. Season 5 will likely pick up where the previous season left off, filling in the blanks and expanding upon the narrative with new twists and turns.
In an interview with Deadline, Netflix’s head of drama, Jinny Howe, touched on how the series will change going into the fifth season, stating, “I think what’s going to be interesting is to see this universe continue to grow and expand and to see new characters, other characters return. A lot of that was set up in the Season 4 finale but it’s going to be really exciting to see all of that come to a head in Season 5. And some of the soap that’s going to come out of these new complex tensions and triangles.”
The series’ new showrunner Patrick Sean Smith is aware of this, and he is determined not to disappoint fans in season 5. “There is a lot going on, and it took me a while to get my head around what [the characters have] all been through, where they’re heading, and where I’d like them to go,” he told TVLine. “I wanted it to be as seamless as possible.” Additionally, “From what I understand this season, you’re going to also see Mel and Jack get really close,” he told Glamour.
“Some of the stuff they’re going to go through is really going to cement their bond. A lot of season 4 was stuff pushing them away, like Jack’s drinking.” Martin concluded: “I don’t think there was true doubt about the relationship, but there were definitely some questions and bumps that were making their union kind of rocky. Hopefully, that big proposal put an end to that … but seeing them mature and deepen their love is going to be nice.”
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Virgin River Season 5 Potential Top Spoilers
According to TV Guide, On Jack and Mel’s reaction to the baby news, stating, “I think Mel feels, obviously, lied to and betrayed,” Breckendridge said. “I’m sure there’s an underlying sense of relief that she probably will never talk about with Jack. I think Jack is absolutely devastated because he really invested in these children. It’s crushing for him.”
The second spoiler for Melissa and Nick’s involvement in Jack’s business, states, “It’s an interesting twist. Jack and Mel are such honest people that I’m surprised,” Breckenridge informed TV Guide. “I’m really curious to know if Nick knows that Melissa is a fentanyl kingpin. I don’t actually know that. Obviously, Nick has invested in this airstream glamping business that Jack is starting, so I think Melissa may become a part of that. How that ties into any danger for Jack and Mel, I don’t know!”
On Mel’s life in Virgin River without the clinic, “I don’t think she’s interested in mending any relationship with Cameron. I think she realizes that she has a high-risk pregnancy, and she’s not going to stay at the clinic, and Doc is declining. She’s really worried about the town having a medical facility, so she wants Cameron to stay for that reason alone,” the actress said. “I don’t know what [Mel’s life without the clinic] going to look like. I don’t know what Mel is going to do. She loves her job. She loves caring for people, and I imagine that stepping away from that is going to be very difficult for her.”
According to Annette, the mayor of Virgin River will focus on her recovery as she gets back into her daily activities within the community. “Little by little [Hope’s] getting better,” she told. “The producers want her to get back as much as she can to bring the Hope that we knew originally. So, I think that’s interesting, but she will be changed. I think it will have changed her for the better.” Further adding, “I think she is going to be more empathetic,” she revealed. “I mean, she’s still who she is … [In] season five, she’s still dealing with [her injury], but less so … By the end of season five, you’re going to see pretty much how she’s going to be.”
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Virgin River Season 5 Cast Updates
The main cast members from the fourth season who are expected to reprise their roles are as follows Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda Monroe, Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan, Tim Matheson as Vernon Mullins, Annette O’Toole as Hope McCrea, Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts, Colin Lawrence as John “Preacher” Middleton, Grayson Gurnsey as Ricky, and Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie.
The recurring cast members include Melinda Dahl as Stacie Monroe, Lexa Doig as Paige Lassiter, Mark Ghanimé as Dr. Cameron Hayek, Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler, and Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan. In October 2022, Kandyse McClure joined the cast for season 5 in a yet-to-be-revealed role. Also joining the cast are three new faces confirmed in November 2022, including Susan Hogan, Elise Gatien, and Paolo Maiolo.
While some of the characters from the show’s earlier seasons have been able to leave an impression on viewers, others haven’t been able to have an impact on the plot, which has led to their brief appearances in later seasons. Recently, we have observed that fans have started to stir up debate on social media regarding specific characters, which is why we have explained that these characters will be shortened in the upcoming season.
Denny, who is Doc’s grandson, has revealed he has Huntington’s disease, leading fans to believe he could leave the show. He has the option of staying in Virgin River with his grandpa or leaving to seek alternative medical care. Charmaine is also likely to leave due to her involvement in the turmoil, her lying about being the real parent of her twins, and her giving up on trying to win Jack’s forgiveness. Season 5 may be a good time for her to leave. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next for these characters.
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Virgin River Season 5 Episodes and Streaming Options
The upcoming season is confirmed to have a total of 12 episodes with a runtime of 40 to 48 minutes, just like the fourth season, which will drop all at once, so you can binge away! The titles and synopses of the majority of episodes have not been released yet. But, on the bright side, IMDb has released the titles of the three episodes, which are as follows:
- Season 5 Episode 1: TBA – 2023
- Season 5 Episode 2: Songbird – 2023
- Season 5 Episode 3: Calculated Risk – 2023
- Season 5 Episode 4: Never Gonna Be the Same – 2023
When Virgin River Season 5 draws close to its release date, the series will be available on Netflix, with other series of the same genre also accessible with a wide range of membership options. The video quality and the number of screens you can use to stream Netflix simultaneously depend on the package you choose. The basic membership starts at $9.99/month, and the standard membership starts at $15.49/month at no additional cost with any of their services.
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Will there be a Virgin River Season 6?
The show is only currently renewed through the end of season 5, but there’s more on the cards in the aforementioned interview with Netflix’s head of drama, Howe told Deadline that we’ll “definitely see more longevity and growth with the show.” As long as the audience asks for it and shows up – and I think we see with Season 4 that the fandom is very strong and growing in many places as well – it feels like based on what we’re seeing with Season 4 and the anticipation for Season 5 that there is a lot more storytelling to offer us.
It will be exciting to see which characters continue to break out and which audiences crave more. We’re paying very close attention, understanding that this is a really rich universe of characters and that people can’t seem to get enough, myself included. So I think as long as that continues to be the case – which we’re very hopeful for – you can rest assured that there will be more Virgin River.
Fans can take solace in the fact that the showrunners have previously stated their desire to continue the series for as long as possible. Robyn Carr, the author of the book series on which the show is based, has revealed that there is plenty of source material for further seasons.
On the other hand, Sue Tenney also said that she “would love to keep going” and that there were plenty of storylines that could be explored in future seasons. As with any TV show, the renewal of a season depends largely on factors such as viewership ratings and popularity.
Luckily for fans, Virgin River has been consistently popular since its debut, and we are certain that season 5 will also receive plenty of positive reviews. With this track record, it seems likely that Netflix would renew the show for a sixth season. It’s just a matter of time before they officially confirm the news on social media, which is likely to happen after evaluating the overall reception of the fifth season.
In conclusion, Virgin River is a must-watch for anyone who loves a good romance drama. It has an alluring small-town charm and is an engaging watch from start to finish. With a fifth season on the way, fans can look forward to more drama, romance, and heartbreak in the months to come. Until then, fans can keep themselves updated with the latest news about the upcoming season and prepare for what’s set to be another thrilling ride!
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While you wait for Virgin River Season 5 to premiere on Netflix, share your thoughts on the potential release date and plot developments in the comments.