Mel and Jack finally made it to the altar on Virgin River ahead of season 7 — but what comes next?
Virgin River, which premiered in 2019, follows the lives of residents living in a small town in Northern California, including Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and her love interest, Jack (Martin Henderson). The series also stars Colin Lawrence, Annette O’Toole, Tim Matheson, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Sarah Dugdale, Zibby Allen, Marco Grazzini, Mark Ghanimé and Kai Bradbury.
After many ups and downs, including a miscarriage in season 5, Jack and Mel ended season 6 as husband and wife.
“Jack’s still kind of holding out for this family that he wants and is quite anxious and eager to know where that is gonna lead,” Henderson exclusively told Us Weekly in December 2024. Breckenridge, meanwhile, teased Mel’s headspace, adding, “She’s just like, in full shock. I mean, she just got married. This is literally the morning after she wakes up, and she’s in shock. And then there’s, like, that hope that sort of starts to creep in. We’ll see.”
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Breckenridge also weighed in on where Mel stands with her newly-found father.
“I’m very curious to see where that goes,” she shared. “I love how Mel tries to open up her relationship with her father, and he keeps trying to push her away because I think he doesn’t want to experience the loss again. You know, a lot of times people who lose people, they’re scared to love anyone again, because they’re scared, they’re gonna go through that pain. But you can’t live without it, you know? It’s not a life if you don’t love again.”
Keep scrolling for everything to know about season 7 of Virgin River:
Will Mel and Jack Face More Bumps in the Road?
Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith reassured Us not to worry about Mel and Jack’s happily ever after despite a wedding day hiccup, sharing in December 2024, “For me, it was looking at [Mel] as a character, who has had so many hard times, [and the] anxiety of anticipating your wedding day being a day completely free of any of that. Then your worst case scenario happens when your newly emerged biological father suffers a health scare.”
He continued: “It knocks her off balance a little bit, and being off balance is the last thing that I think her character wants to feel as she’s going through this experience with Jack. But I don’t see it coming back again. I see it more as sort of a final lap for her in trying to put the past behind her to start this new chapter in her life with Jack.”
Smith confirmed that Mel and Jack are considering adopting Marley’s baby after her offer.
“With Marley and that situation, we will continue to see Mel and Jack move down their path towards parenthood,” he explained. “We get to live in the newlywed bliss that they have and the challenges that come with that as a new married couple. I think that with the pace at which we’re moving comfortably gives us a lot of opportunity to just keep telling more and more stories for as many seasons to come as possible.”
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Cameron Isn’t Returning
Mark Ghanime reprised his role as Cameron in season 6 but he isn’t returning as of right now.
“I love that relationship, and, I think this season saw a little bit of a sendoff for Cameron,” Smith told Us about Cameron and Muriel. “In terms of Mark, the actor who I adore, he unfortunately won’t be coming back for season 7, but that’s not to say that Cameron’s not a part of our world forever. … I would love to bring him back, and bring his character back when the story presents itself.”
What Will Happen to Brie and Brady on ‘Virgin River’?
After breaking up in season 5, Brie and Brady couldn’t avoid their feelings, which resulted in a hookup despite their new relationships.
“I’m a practical person. I see and love all the story potential in their chemistry, and in what Zibby and Ben bring every time they get in front of the camera,” Smith noted. “I remember at the table read, our network exec who I love, she texted me or emailed me after and she was like, ‘Oh my God, that scene!’ It was special.”
Despite the passion for Brie and Brady, Smith isn’t in a rush to get them together, adding, “When people were upset with the breakup in season 5, I was like, ‘He’s working for a fentanyl queen! He’s screwed her brother over repeatedly!’ … I want to be very mindful and careful of it and continue to make it as fresh and exciting and sexy as possible.”
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Muriel’s Cancer Battle Will Have a ‘Positive Outlook’
Muriel’s cancer diagnosis in season 6 shocked fans but Smith “felt like there was an opportunity to tell the storyline with a more positive outlook.”
“We’ve now seen her persevere through the diagnosing of it, and in season 7 we’ll get into the treatment part of it,” Smith told TVLine that same month. “Putting a positive spin on life-threatening illnesses feels like a story that is worth putting out in the world.”
How Does the Virgin River Prequel Expand on the Show?
Season 6 introduced Callum Kerr as the young version of Mel’s dad, Everett, while Jessica Rothe played Mel’s mother, Sarah. The prequel is currently being developed and would go back to the 1960s.
“That is what Virgin River itself has done beautifully in its balance of not being so boxy but also having something to say that still matters,” Smith told Us about the “romance-forward” and “character-based” plan for the new show.
