While season 6 was broadcast last December and rumors are rife about a potential prequel, the showrunner of Virgin River says more about the surprises planned for season 7!
After six seasons of good and loyal service, the enthusiasm around the series Virgin River does not seem to be weakening. While the last salvo, broadcast on Netflix in December 2024, was marked by numerous intimate scenes between the characters and everything revolved around Mel's marriage and her reunion with her father, fans are already waiting for the next episodes. It remains to be seen whether the next trip into the universe of Virgin River will consist of a sequel, with season 7, or a spin-off in the form of a prequel, in order to learn more about the relationship of Mel's parents. But while we wait to get an answer to this question, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith already has some surprising information regarding the next season.
Virgin River season 7: we didn't expect it but this character will be back
During season 6, a few new characters were discovered. Among them, we could count the very first appearance of Roland, Hope's former husband, played by John Ralston. The latter appears since he still owns a ranch and Hope would like him to welcome Sugar. So, Hope first visits him at his home in episode 6, and he makes his return in episode 9 when he comes to pick up Sugar but Jack ultimately decides to keep him. We naively thought that this marked the end of the character's participation, but Patrick Sean Smith went in a different direction during an interview with Deadline : “Roland will return in Season 7. A lot of what we'll do in Season 7, which resonates with our prequel project, is look further back into Hope's story. From the beginning of the series, it was said that the McCrea cabin was known within a 50 mile radius, and we never really explored his family's heritage in that area.” he emphasized.
-Virgin River : a new side of Mel scrutinized in season 7
As for whether other elements of the past will be studied during the episodes of season 7, Patrick Sean Smith said:We'll explore Mel's background as a midwife a little more, which led to her decision to become a nurse. Part of her vocation was born from the emotional experience she had with her mother's illness and death. It's about understanding more deeply Mel's relationships with newborns, her relationships with birth mothers, and digging into that side.”
