Virgin River Season 7: New Characters, New Romance and Everything Else We Know So Far — First Look
At this point, it’s not a question of whether you’ve finished Virgin River Season 6 — it’s a question of how many times you’ve binged it in its entirety. (Don’t worry, we don’t judge here.)
That’s where TVLine comes in. After speaking with showrunner Patrick Sean Smith — as well as series stars Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson — we have a pretty good idea of some of the directions Virgin River will be flowing in next season, which is expected to premiere in either late 2025 or early 2026.
More from TVLine
Netflix threw the fandom an additional bone on March 13, marking the official start of production on Season 7 with some juicy casting news and several first-look photos from set:
And there’s really so much to look forward to: Are Mel and Jack really adopting Marley’s baby? How will Muriel fare in her cancer battle? Was Mike seriously prepared to marry Brie, knowing she slept with Brady? Which character is definitely gone for good, and who might be returning? All those questions and more will be explored.
Read on for a full breakdown of everything we know about Virgin River Season 7, including early intel on several new characters, then drop a comment with your own hopes for the Netflix drama below.
New Character: Cody Kearsley as Clay
The actor formerly known as Riverdale‘s Moose Mason will recur as a “tough” rodeo worker named Clay, who has spent years looking for his younger sister with whom he grew up in foster care. They haven’t seen each other since he was a teenager, so she could be very well be someone we’ve already met. Any guesses?
New Character: Sara Canning as Victoria
The former Vampire Diaries actress will be reintroduced as Victoria, an ex-cop who was shot in the line of duty and has since taken a job as an investigator for the state medical board. Naturally, she’s in town to investigate Dog as part of his suspension.
But that’s not the only thing keeping her in town. According to her official character description, Victoria “runs into a friend whom she wouldn’t mind catching up with…or maybe more.” Who could it be?!
Mel and Jack Are Getting a Baby
After years of heartbreaking setbacks, it looks like Mel Monroe Sheridan is finally going to become a mother in Season 7. The sixth season finale ended with Marley revealing that she wants Mel and Jack to adopt her unborn baby — and it sounds like we’ve got a deal!
“I’m really excited to play Mel becoming a mother, knowing what it all means for her,” Alexandra Breckenridge tells TVLine, adding that she’s excited to see “how all of those emotions are going to come out when she finally becomes the mother that she’s wanted to be basically her whole life.”
Charmaine Is ‘in the Middle of a Mess Again’
Smith won’t reveal what Jack was looking at in the final frame of Virgin River‘s sixth season finale, but he does confirm that it’s bad news. “Charmaine has found herself in the middle of a mess again, which is where her character tends to reside,” he tells TVLine.
Charmaine’s fate is technically unknown at this point, and a recent Instagram post from actress Lauren Hammersley fueled speculation that she might not be long for this world.
Brie, Brady and Mike Will Finally ‘Unpack’ Their Drama
One of the Season 6 finale’s wildest moments came during Mike’s proposal to Brie, who replied by confessing that slept with Brady… to which Mike responded, “I know.” Does that mean Mike was prepared to potentially marry Brie and simply pretend like he didn’t know about her affair?
All Smith can tell TVLine is that Virgin River will “unpack all of that” in Season 7.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Hollingsworth (aka Brady) proposes a direction we’d love to see this storyline take: Now that Lark has run off with Brady’s money, Hollingsworth says he “could see a world in which Brady needs to actually employ Mike’s help to get the money back, which would be a very interesting dynamic.”
Mark Ghanime Is Not Returning as Cameron
Cameron might have returned to Virgin River in Season 6, but don’t expect the good doctor to make another visit in Season 7.
“I love Mark [Ghanime], who plays Cameron, and I love the character of Cameron,” Smith tells TVLine. “He will always be a part of the world, and I would love to see his character back, but he won’t be a series regular in Season 7, unfortunately.”
Muriel’s Cancer Battle Will Have a ‘Positive Outlook’
Muriel has fully tap danced her way into our hearts over the years, so watching her receive a cancer diagnosis in Season 6 was pretty devastating. Fortunately, we have some good news on that front.
Unlike Virgin River’s previous cancer storyline (R.I.P., Lily!), Smith “felt like there was an opportunity to tell the storyline with a more positive outlook, which is really what Muriel is — she’s a big, bright light,” the showrunner tells TVLine. “We’ve now seen her persevere through the diagnosing of it, and in Season 7 we’ll get into the treatment part of it. Putting a positive spin on life-threatening illnesses feels like a story that is worth putting out in the world.”
We (Probably) Haven’t Seen the Last of Ricky
Ricky’s brief-but-memorable visit to Virgin River in Season 6 included, among other things, an awkward reunion with Lizzie and the revelation of a budding drinking problem. And even though Grayson Gurnsey’s character is currently en route to the Middle East, Smith isn’t ruling out the possibility of seeing him again, telling TVLine that he “would love to see Ricky return in the future.”
A Virgin River Spinoff Is in the Works
Though nothing is official yet, Netflix is eyeing a prequel series about Mel’s parents falling in love in 1970s Virgin River. Younger versions of Everett and Sarah (played by Callum Kerr and Jessica Rothe) were first introduced via flashbacks in Season 6.
“We’re in the midst of developing it right now,” Smith tells TVLine. “I’m writing it. So we’ll see. Fingers crossed!”
Virgin River Has Not Been Renewed for Season 8 (Yet)
Although Netflix hasn’t officially renewed Virgin River for Season 8, there’s no reason to believe that Season 7 will be its last. Given that it remains one of the streamer’s top performers, we’d be shocked — like, Jack’s face at the end of the finale, shocked — if it didn’t have at least a few more seasons left in the tank.
Best of TVLine
Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Solve the daily Crossword
