Warning: This text comprises spoilers about Virgin River season 6.

Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) are lastly getting their joyful ending. Sorta.

Season 6 of Virgin River, which dropped all 10 of its episodes on Netflix on Dec. 19, centered on the run-up to Mel and Jack's marriage ceremony, together with all their marriage ceremony planning (that includes a ton of meddling courtesy of Hope (Annette O'Toole)), their bachelor and bachelorette events, and the large day itself.

They do finally make it to the altar and have their special occasion, however there's loads of strife alongside the best way, together with Mel's makes an attempt to forge a bond with a reluctant Everett (John Allen Nelson) and embody him in her marriage ceremony. That additionally contains Everett recounting components of his love story with Mel's mother, which incorporates a sequence of flashbacks to the summer time they fell in love and different conferences.

Virgin River renewed for a seventh season

Netflix has beforehand confirmed that they're growing a derivative about younger Everett (Callum Kerr) and Sarah (Jessica Rothe). Now, Virgin River showrunner Patrick Sean Smith tells Leisure Weekly that he hopes this season may function a backdoor pilot to a prequel. "I'm at the moment growing a script for a possible spinoff that focuses on Sarah and Everett's love story," he says.

Within the present Virgin River timeline, Doc (Tim Matheson) and Everett lastly have it out about their longstanding grudge (however not with out inflicting vital drama with Mel first). It seems Doc has spent years feeling responsible concerning the dying of a child in Virgin River, who died whereas he was off tending to a drunken Everett, who had wrapped his automobile round a tree.

In the meantime, Doc should additionally cope with a menace from Grace Valley hospital to return after his medical license. It's a problem that's worsened when Hope unintentionally reveals that Doc's been mentoring an intern who hasn't gone to med college.

Meet Mel's parents in Virgin River season 6 flashback photos

Different romances proceed to bloom (and falter), together with the bond between Denny (Kai Bradbury) and Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) as they face disagreements about whether or not or to not have their future youngster examined for Huntington's. Lizzie additionally reconnects with Ricky (Grayson Maxwell Guernsey), who stops by city in between boot camp and transport out.

Muriel (Teryl Rothery) tries to maneuver on from Cameron (Mark Ghanimé), whereas additionally dealing with a possible breast most cancers prognosis, which is confirmed by the top of the season. Preacher (Colin Lawrence) and Kaia (Kandyse McClure) deepen their romance, notably after he’s discovered not responsible for Wes' dying. Even when Kaia isn't positive she ever needs to get married once more.

Briefly, there was no scarcity of drama to go round this season. So, we known as up Smith to ask about all of the questions he left us with.

Netflix is developing Virgin River spinoff about Mel's parents

With Doc and Hope, I believe that Doc was in the fitting right here. Hope made a significant error. So why did you determine to have him be the one to apologize?

PATRICK SEAN SMITH: What I believed was an attention-grabbing factor to discover in season 6 was the spirit of Hope from the start of the sequence as one who likes to meddle. She's at all times doing it with the very best of intentions. Typically individuals normally, particularly ladies, may be checked out as "an excessive amount of," which may be extremely offensive. It's one thing that Hope has heard earlier than, and Doc realizes that when it comes out. It's a sensitive topic for her as a lady who lives outdoors the boundaries. So, for what felt like a flaw in her character. I wished to rejoice the truth that she comes at it from a spot of affection.

Everett and Doc lastly open up to one another. Then, Doc helps make certain Everett can attend Mel's marriage ceremony after Everett has a coronary heart assault and surgical procedure. Is that bond mended? Are they going to be mates now?

I might say frenemies. It's onerous for me to purchase {that a} decades-long feud may be resolved that shortly. It's virtually muscle reminiscence to a sure extent, the place you resolve with someone and then you definitely see them and also you're identical to, "Ugh." I like taking part in with the grumpy-old-men dynamic between them in the best way that we've seen it a lot with the ladies on the present; Muriel and Hope's friendship initially was very adversarial. So, I need to attempt to maintain that spark between them alive as a lot as attainable.

Now you too can fall in love in Virgin River in a new interactive game

Everett comes with no IV or something to play and sing a tune at Mel's marriage ceremony hours after a coronary heart assault and surgical procedure. Do you’re feeling any guilt about getting viewers' hopes up about what’s medically possible?

Properly, we spoke with our medical advisor, they usually stated [it could happen] beneath sure circumstances. So I encourage all people to seek the advice of a health care provider earlier than leaving the hospital post-heart surgical procedure to carry out at your daughter's marriage ceremony.

Why does Grace Valley need to make this transfer into Virgin River? It's ostensibly a small city. Is that sufficient enterprise for them?

To herald Cameron and have the quantity of sufferers that we had for just a few seasons with Cameron and Doc and Mel, it appears straightforward for a hospital community to need to are available and no less than, not take it over, however personal it, put money into it ultimately to increase their community. I grew up in a small city in Texas, and that's one thing that occurred to my small city. We're seeing this proliferation of companies and cash in medication turning into an even bigger factor, particularly within the medical insurance world. Their ulterior motive is simply growth. The overarching theme of season7 is the skin world encroaching into this little slice of heaven, which appears inevitable for many small cities.

Is Doc Mullins going to die on Virgin River?

How robust of a battle does Doc have forward of him?

It's a David and Goliath state of affairs.

He doesn't need to lose his medical license, however he’s outdated, the clinic has to go to somebody. How a lot is the battle price it? What’s the excellent state of affairs for him?

In my small city, one of many native medical doctors retired at 82. I learn this unbelievable article about how he served the group for many years, how he delivered infants from ladies who he delivered as infants. It looks like a singular, particular standpoint for a practitioner to have as Doc does. So, I don't assume he has any plans of hanging up his stethoscope anytime quickly. He's prepared for the battle and to guard his legacy, which can also be essential to him.

How [spoiler] leaves Virgin River in season 5

Preacher's trial is an enormous a part of the primary half of the season. Was there ever any need on the writing workforce's aspect to get Paige to return again and testify for him? Was that one thing you explored and it didn't work out? Or was that by no means on the desk?

I wished to maneuver previous Paige and Preacher. This was the final vestige and free thread from their relationship. So I used to be on this gesture of Preacher defending her and sacrificing himself the place he had been a lot her protector and savior from the start of this sequence. By extension, him laying himself on the road for her and [encouraging] her absence to guard her felt like a great way to wrap that up.

Ricky returns. The place did that concept stem from, and is there a chance we'll see him once more?

I really like the character of Ricky. I had thought of doing it in the course of the vacation episodes, however there was an excessive amount of story on the time. So, we lastly had a bit of extra actual property to carry his character again in. I'm Ricky, Lizzie, and Denny as a bit extra mature than their characters have been launched to start with. They're moving into adulting; they're coping with greater life points like being pregnant and serving within the navy.

It additionally felt like a possibility to carry Ricky again in from bootcamp in a spot that would have an effect on Jack, as someone who loves this child and is aware of that he's going off to serve. Whereas he's very happy with his service, it additionally got here at a value along with his PTSD and self-medicating with alcohol. It felt like a superb time to carry him in to have Jack reassess his relationship with the navy. However finally, it was at all times the plan to have Jack proudly in his gown blues on the finish of the altar in the course of the marriage ceremony.

Virgin River season 5 finally reveals Charmaine's baby daddy

When it comes to having them in a extra grownup area, would there ever be potential for Ricky to be an impediment to Denny and Lizzie? They clearly have their strain factors this season.

No present plan, however by no means say by no means. We're nonetheless working by way of her being pregnant, and we'll have to maneuver by way of that storyline, which gained't be Charmaine-length, however will certainly proceed to be part of their story.

Virgin River finally addresses Charmaine's seemingly never-ending pregnancy

For Muriel, she will get this prognosis that she finally ends up sharing with family and friends on the marriage ceremony. What lies forward for her? And was that the present's farewell to Cameron along with his return?

I really like Mark, and I really like the character of Cameron. Sadly, he gained't be returning in season 7, however he'll at all times be part of the world. I may completely see his character coming again when it's the fitting time within the story. It was a little bit of a send-off so far as expectations from the fan as to the place his character matches within the storytelling. However for Muriel, season 7 is about her getting into remedy and doing that with the assist of Walt, however extra importantly, the stitching circle.

Mel and Jack lastly get their joyful ending with loads of challenges alongside the best way. Are they nearer to getting a child than they assume? We get this provide with Mel's affected person, but additionally, may no matter is happening with the twins be one thing, too?

All choices are on the desk and explored in season 7.

When it comes to Kaia and Preacher, she blurts out this sincere reality about herself, nevertheless it looks like they’re fairly sturdy by the top. Ought to we take coronary heart in that?

Sure. They're are a pair that I personally love and am excited to discover deeper and additional. It's odd to say that getting into [their third season together] we're nonetheless attending to see them settle into their relationship, however there's nonetheless much more room for them to get to know one another on digital camera and have the viewers expertise that with them.

Are you able to tease what else is to return in season 7?

Season 7 will see Mel and Jack as newlyweds and beginning to discover their beginnings as a married couple. We’ll see them proceed on their path to parenthood. We shall be digging into Hope's backstory extra so far as what her relationship is along with her household. Within the pilot, it was referenced that individuals inside 50 miles find out about McCrea Cabin, however we've actually by no means scratched the floor of the McCrea legacy and what she's an extension of. We'll be testing out the depth of the Brie-Mike-Brady love triangle. Season 6 is huge, however 7 is shaping as much as be an enormous one, too.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

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