Virgin River Season 6 Ending Defined: Showrunner on Season 7, Extra

Virgin River season 6 gave viewers extra pleasure – and drama — than ever earlier than, and showrunner Patrick Sean Smith broke down all of the loopy reveals, plot twists and cliffhangers with Us Weekly.

Warning: Spoilers forward for season 6 of Virgin River. 

Season 6 of the small city drama, which hit Netflix on Thursday, December 19, noticed numerous characters’ lives being turned the wrong way up in mere minutes. Simply as Doc (Tim Matheson) reached a contented (and wholesome) groove with Hope (Annette O’Toole), his medical observe was put into jeopardy; Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) lastly obtained married however have been thrown for a loop when a neighborhood teen lady requested Mel to undertake her child; Charmaine (Laura Hammersley) seemingly disappeared after submitting a restraining order on her druglord ex; Preacher (Colin Lawrence) and Kaia (Kandyse McClure) discovered themselves at a serious crossroads about their future and Muriel (Teryl Rothery) introduced that she had been identified with breast most cancers.

No drama, nonetheless, in comparison with the ever-evolving messy love triangle between Brie (Zibby Allen), Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) and Mike (Marco Grazzini). Brie and Brady’s impulsive resolution to sleep collectively regardless of breaking apart in season 5 — and being in relationships with different individuals — induced main fallout, which was solely exacerbated by two main finale bombs: Brady confessing he was nonetheless in love with Brie and Mike proposing after she confessed her infidelity.

In response to Smith, these forms of excessive stakes are what make the trio’s story line so attractive.

“ love triangle is barely as robust because the choices you’re presenting, and in addition wanting on the affect that [Brie’s] alternative would have on her life,” the showrunner solely shared with Us. “So imagining what her future may seem like with Brady in comparison with what it may seem like with Mike. And I feel that’s the place it really works rather well.”

Brie was beforehand sexually assaulted by her former boyfriend, and Smith famous that her journey to “heal” from her previous is a serious contributor to her indecision.

“What Mike presents to her, I feel, what she appears like she wants proper now, which is security and consistency and a superb man,” he continued. “And Brady gives the other, which can also be very interesting.”

Whereas season 7 — which was greenlit earlier this 12 months — will proceed to unravel lots of season 6’s plot factors, Smith promised that Mel’s pre-wedding jitters received’t be one in all them. (The bride virtually bailed on the ceremony after her organic father, Everett, performed by John Allen Nelson, had a medical emergency however she finally made it down the aisle.)

“For me, it was [Mel] as a personality, who has had so many onerous occasions, [and the] nervousness of anticipating your marriage ceremony day being a day fully freed from any of that. Then your worst case situation occurs when your newly emerged organic father suffers a well being scare,” he defined. “It knocks her off steadiness a bit bit, and being off steadiness is the very last thing that I feel her character desires to really feel as she’s going by this expertise with Jack. However I don’t see it coming again once more. I see it extra as form of a remaining lap for her in making an attempt to place the previous behind her to begin this new chapter in her life with Jack.”

Hold scrolling for extra of Smith’s teasers for Virgin River season 7:

Will There Be Extra ‘Virgin River’ Flashbacks?

Virgin River launched a brand new construction in season 6 by flashing again to Everett’s love story with Mel’s mother, Sarah, who died when she was 11 years previous. The glimpse into the previous, Smith mentioned, was a trial for what a possible prequel spinoff would possibly seem like.

“[It would] develop Sarah and Everett’s story extra whereas additionally increasing and studying extra in regards to the historical past of Virgin River,” Smith instructed Us. “One reference that was made within the pilot that had by no means actually been explored earlier than was Hope says that the McCrea Cabin is a spot that folks inside 50 miles know all about, which suggests there she has a form of household legacy to this space that we haven’t actually gotten to scratch the floor of.”

Smith mentioned that the Sarah and Everett flashbacks are only the start of “increasing the Virgin River-verse,” and its historical past, however labored as an ideal leaping off level.

“After we dedicated to the concept of introducing Everett, it felt like an ideal alternative as someone who we all know has resided within the space however has sort of eliminated and remoted himself from the group to have this historical past and have this relationship to this city and to this space,” Smith defined, including that it “felt like a possibility that we may introduce a brand new couple, which the present has achieved pretty constantly over the course of the seasons, and never inherit one other couple that we now have to maintain servicing within the current.”

For Smith, Everett and Sarah’s love story resembled Robin Carr’s method within the Virgin River novels the place she launched a brand new couple in every e-book. “And it felt like Mel’s organic dad and mom as having the depth of this epic romance that might be book-worthy,” he continued. “[Something] that might span time, that could possibly be star crossed and will have a being pregnant and a baby and a father that wishes to be part of that. And every little thing simply felt like a novel strategy to discover a pair on this by the lens of this present in a means that we haven’t seen earlier than.”

What’s Up With Hope and Her Ex-Husband?

Season 6 launched a brand new character in Hope’s ex-husband, Roland. Whereas a shroud of thriller nonetheless surrounds the curmudgeonly horse coach, the pair clearly have a tumultuous and wealthy historical past.

Smith confirmed that Roland will return for season 7 and that previous will probably be delved into additional, discover “extra of the place their relationship didn’t work, but in addition begin to perhaps dip a toe into how their relationship did work.”

Smith additionally mentioned that Hope’s historical past will proceed to develop in numerous different methods, which can come into play for the potential prequel.

Will Cameron Make Any Extra Shock Appearances?

Though Cameron (Mark Ghanime) and Muriel referred to as it quits in season 5, the physician got here again after discovering out about her breast most cancers analysis  to assist put together her for the powerful highway forward. Followers of the pairing, nonetheless, must be happy with the exes’ season 6 interactions, as Smith instructed Us their romance is probably going a closed chapter.

“I really like that relationship, and, I feel this season noticed a bit little bit of a sendoff for Cameron,” he defined. “By way of Mark, the actor who I like, he sadly received’t be coming again for season 7, however that’s to not say that Cameron’s not part of our world without end.”

As for potential appearances sooner or later, Smith mentioned, “I’d like to deliver him again, and produce his character again when the story presents itself.”

May Brie and Brady Discover Their Manner Again Collectively? 

After breaking apart in season 5, Brie and Brady realized they weren’t fairly over one another and gave into their passions on one in all Jack’s bar pool tables regardless of being in relationships with different individuals. Brady had been courting Lark — the lady who tried to steal all his cash — whereas Brie had sparked a romance with good-guy cop Mike.

The pair struggled with learn how to deal with their infidelity all season, with it culminating in a couple of main surprises through the finale. Brady confessed his love for Brie at Mel and Jack’s marriage ceremony, whereas Brie got here clear to Mike about having intercourse with Brady.

The season resulted in true cliffhanger type when Mike revealed he knew in regards to the tryst however obtained down on one knee and proposed anyway.

In the case of Brie and Brady’s future in season 7, Smith wouldn’t give an excessive amount of away however admitted that the pair’s chemistry is plain.

“I’m a sensible individual. I see and love all of the story potential of their chemistry, and in what Zibby and Ben deliver each time they get in entrance of the digital camera,” he shared, noting that even the executives at Netflix have been blown away by Brady’s love confession. “I bear in mind on the desk learn, our community exec who I really like, she texted me or emailed me after and she or he was like, ‘Oh my God, that scene!’ It was particular.”

Smith identified, nonetheless, that the exes had reliable points that induced them to separate — even when lots of their passionate followers don’t agree. “When individuals have been upset with the breakup in season 5, I used to be like, ‘He’s working for a fentanyl queen! He’s screwed her brother over repeatedly!’” Smith mentioned with amusing.

Regardless of their rocky previous, Smith acknowledged that the duo are a really “particular” a part of the present, and have a dynamic that works “rather well” on display screen. “I wish to be very aware and cautious of it,” he mentioned of their story, “and proceed to make it as contemporary and thrilling and horny as attainable.”

So, Was Mike At all times Going to Suggest?

Smith mentioned that Brie’s confession and Mike’s subsequent proposal was the unique plan, noting it was “a part of the strain cooker” he needed to place Brie in “with the key she was sitting on for a number of episodes,” main her to “confess to be able to atone.”

Issues barely modified, nonetheless, when Smith realized he needed to movie the proposal two alternative ways.

“On the day we determined to shoot it two methods and we added his, ‘I do know [you slept with Brady].’ And I used to be like, ‘I simply wish to see what it appears to be like like within the minimize.’”

Smith then ran it by his writing group, and the response was plain. “We had a viewing with the writing employees when the episode was minimize collectively. They didn’t comprehend it was going occur,” he recalled. “And after we watched it collectively and he mentioned that, there have been, like, audible gasps and screams within the room, and I used to be like, ‘I feel we’re going with that one!’”

As for the way Brie will reply, Smith revealed — simply kidding, you already know he didn’t inform Us!

Will Mel and Jack Turn into Dad and mom? 

Mel — and the remainder of Us — have been shocked within the finale’s remaining moments when a pregnant Marley revealed that the couple who have been going to undertake her child modified their minds. Marley then requested Mel and Jack to take her child, leaving Mel shocked.

Smith instructed Us that Marley’s predicament, together with different conversations about increasing their household, will proceed to be a focus for Mel and Jack shifting ahead.

“With Marley and that scenario, we are going to proceed to see Mel and Jack transfer down their path in direction of parenthood,” he defined. “We get to reside within the newlywed bliss that they’ve and the challenges that include that as a brand new married couple.”

Smith added that he’s looking for a “distinction” from how Mel and Jack have been whereas courting to who they’re as a married couple. “I feel that with the tempo at which we’re shifting comfortably provides us a number of alternative to simply maintain telling increasingly more tales for as many seasons to return as attainable,” he mentioned.

What Occurred to Charmaine?

After giving beginning to her twins in season 5, Charmaine solely made a couple of transient appearances in season 6 as she continued to cope with her children’ father, Calvin (David Cubitt) — a drug kingpin and gang chief — and labored with Brie to get a restraining order.

Charmaine was scheduled to model Mel’s hair for her marriage ceremony, however when she by no means confirmed up, Jack headed over to verify on her the following day solely to seek out her house empty and ransacked. The final scene of the finale noticed Jack opening the infants’ room wanting aghast, however the reveal was hidden from viewers.

Smith couldn’t dish on what lies on the opposite facet of that room, however promised it will be a narrative line for season 7.

“Charmaine has discovered herself in the midst of a large number, which is a spot the place she tends to reside and it pulls our character into it,” he teased. “Not simply Jack and Mel, however there are another characters that discover themselves pulled into it as properly.”