Virgin River Season 5: Release date, plotline and more

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers. Proceed with caution if you have not watched the show/movie.

Filming for the fifth season of Virgin River on Netflix ended on November 17, 2022. The show has a new boss, Patrick Sean Smith, because Sue Tenney is working on different projects. Fans are excited to find out what will happen next and when the new season will be released. They're also wondering if season 5 will be the last one or if there will be a sixth season in the future. Here’s everything we know so far.

Virgin River Season 5 release date

Netflix has not announced a release date for the new season yet, but based on previous seasons, we can expect it to come out in the third quarter of 2023. Season 1 and 2 were released seven months apart, but there was a gap between Season 2 and 3. So, we can assume that it will take around 6 to 7 months for the post-production work of Season 5 and another 2 to 3 months to release the trailers. Therefore, we can expect Season 5 to come out in the third quarter of 2023.

Virgin River Season 5 plotline

As we look ahead to Season 5, fans of Virgin River are eager to see how the show will resolve some of the lingering questions around various characters and their relationships. The upcoming season will delve deeper into the intricacies and challenges in the love life of Jack and Mel, while also answering questions about the father of Charmaine's twins, a mystery that has kept fans guessing. Additionally, Season 4 provided a glimpse of Doc's grandchild and the identity of Jack's shooter, which we can expect to be further explored. Alexandra Breckenridge (who plays Mel) and Martin Henderson (who plays Jack) have hinted at what we can expect from the upcoming season.

The paternity of Charmaine's twins

One of the biggest mysteries in Virgin River is the identity of the father of Charmaine's twins. The show's fourth season finale saw Charmaine revealing to Jack that he isn't the father, which has left fans speculating about who it could be.

The official Virgin River Instagram page recently posted a picture of Charmaine and asked fans to share their theories about the father's identity. Some fans have been guessing that it could be Brady or Calvin, but one fan has a unique theory that Mike could be the biological father.

The fan pointed out that during the Marine reunion, Jack mentioned Charmaine's pregnancy, to which Mike responded with surprise, saying, "Whoa Jesus, I didn't know you were still seeing her." This led the fan to believe that Mike and Charmaine might have had a fling, resulting in the pregnancy.

Patrick Sean Smith’s July 2022 chat with Glamour, he confirmed that the next season will keep giving viewers those comforting feels we all long for, while also upping the ante to give us stories that feel a “bit louder,” and noted:

“We get into things that will be new and exciting, but still very much feel like the same show, but are definitely taking a more exciting approach to some of the stories. A little bit louder, but not to the detriment of the comfort of the show. I want it to feel like Season 5 will be next-level.

Impact on Jack and Mel's relationship

The reveal of the twins' paternity is likely to cause tension between Charmaine and Jack. However, it will also have a significant impact on Jack's relationship with Mel. Actress Alexandra Breckenridge, who plays Mel, said that her character would feel betrayed and lied to, but she believes that the revelation won't damage their relationship. Breckenridge thinks that Jack and Mel's bond will become even stronger in Season 5.

In contrast, Martin Henderson, who plays Jack, revealed that the revelation would be crushing for his character. Nevertheless, he believes that their relationship will become much deeper and more mature in the upcoming season.

He also defines the character Brady (played by Benjamin Hollingsworth) by saying “Brady, as a character, definitely has a lot of redemption in season 4. I think there's even more in season 5. That'll definitely color their relationship. I think it's wrong, though, if Brady is all of a sudden just this good guy. I don't buy that, that he's just going to turn over. It feels trite. It's more interesting to have a character that he can't help himself.”

Fate of Vince

One of these loose ends is the fate of Vince, whether he is dead or just unconscious after Preacher's attack. Moreover, actor Martin Henderson, who plays Jack, has hinted at a much deeper and mature relationship between Jack and Mel in the new season.

Benjamin Hollingsworth's character, Brady, will also have more redemption in Season 5. However, Henderson believes it would be wrong for Brady to suddenly turn into a good guy. He thinks it would be more interesting to have a character that can't help himself.

According to showrunner Patrick Sean Smith's chat with Glamour in July 2022, the upcoming season will keep viewers feeling comfortable while also offering new and exciting stories. The show will take a more exciting approach to some of the stories, but not at the expense of its comforting vibe. Smith wants Season 5 to feel next-level, building on the show's foundations.

Henderson also defines the character Brady, played by Benjamin Hollingsworth, by saying, "Brady, as a character, definitely has a lot of redemption in Season 4. I think there's even more Virgin River Season 5. That'll definitely color their relationship. I think it's wrong, though, if Brady is all of a sudden just this good guy. I don't buy that he's just going to turn over. It feels trite. It's more interesting to have a character that he can't help himself."

Denny’s role in Virgin River Season 5

Doc's grandson Denny, who is suffering from Huntington's disease, had a significant storyline in Season 4. However, he doesn't want to plan a better future with Lizzie, leaving fans to wonder about his fate in Season 5. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith revealed that Season 5 would give viewers a much clearer picture of who Denny is and the relationships he forms with people in the town.

Smith also emphasized the importance of not passing judgment on how a person with a life-threatening disease chooses to live their life. He believes that Virgin River, a show that prides itself on being both surprising and comforting, will handle Denny's character with care and nuance in Season 5. Smith told Entertainment Weekly:

“What we get in Season 5 is a much clearer picture of who Denny is and what he's going through, and the relationships that he forms as people in the town and people close to him in his life start to become a support system for it and create stronger bonds between them all … It's easy for people on the outside to look at, specifically a life-threatening disease, and pass judgment on how that person lives their life, but I don't think that that's fair. And it's not how I think a show which prides itself on being surprising, but also comforting, would approach that with his character this season.”

Virgin River Season 5's episode count and future of the series

While fans eagerly await the release of Virgin River Season 5, Netflix has not yet confirmed whether it will be the end of the series or not. However, fans can expect 12 episodes in the upcoming season, which is standard for the show.

As for the future of the series, only time will tell. But fans can rest assured that Season 5 will bring plenty of drama, romance, and resolution to the lingering plotlines from the previous season.

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