The Echo of the Past: Ricky’s ‘Virgin River’ Season 7 Return Poised to Solve a Major Lizzie Mystery by Adapting a Pivotal Book Storyline
Virgin River thrives on its interwoven character arcs, and few relationships have generated as much speculation and emotional investment as that of Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey). After Ricky’s departure for the Marines at the end of Season 4, his absence in Season 5 left a significant void. However, his brief return in two episodes of Season 6 has sparked a flurry of fan theories, suggesting that Season 7 might finally address one of the show’s biggest lingering mysteries: the paternity of Lizzie’s baby. By adapting a key storyline from Robyn Carr’s original Virgin River book series, the show could deliver a dramatic and long-awaited revelation.
The series has often deviated from Carr’s novels, but Ricky’s recent appearance, coupled with Lizzie’s current pregnancy, provides a compelling opportunity to align with a major book plot point that would dramatically alter the trajectory of several characters.
Ricky’s Journey: From Sweetheart to Soldier
Ricky, the kind-hearted teenager who worked at Jack’s Bar, was a beloved figure in the early seasons. His innocent, burgeoning romance with Lizzie was a fan favorite. However, their relationship faced significant hurdles, culminating in Ricky’s decision to join the Marines, mirroring Jack Sheridan’s own military background. His departure at the end of Season 4, and subsequent absence from Season 5, led many to believe his story on the show was over.
His return in Season 6 for a couple of episodes was a welcome surprise. It allowed viewers to catch up with him after boot camp, before his deployment to the Middle East. While brief, his presence served a crucial purpose: it subtly reopened the door to his connection with Lizzie, even as she was deep into her relationship with Doc’s grandson, Denny Cutler (Kai Bradbury), and had recently discovered she was pregnant.
The Mystery: Who is Lizzie’s Baby’s Father?
Lizzie’s pregnancy in Season 6 was somewhat abrupt, occurring relatively quickly after she and Denny became romantically involved. This rapid progression has left many viewers questioning the timeline and, critically, the paternity of her baby. While Denny is assumed to be the father, the show’s often compressed and sometimes inconsistent timeline (where seasons equate to mere months in-universe) leaves room for doubt.
This is where the Robyn Carr books offer a powerful and intriguing solution.
The Book Connection: Ricky is the Father of Lizzie’s Baby in ‘Paradise Valley’
In Robyn Carr’s seventh Virgin River novel, Paradise Valley, the storyline for Ricky and Lizzie takes a very different, and much more dramatic, turn. In the books, Ricky is the biological father of Lizzie’s baby.
In the novels, Lizzie and Ricky become pregnant as teenagers. This early, unplanned pregnancy forces them to grow up quickly. Tragically, Lizzie experiences a stillbirth. This devastating event, while incredibly painful, binds them together. Following the stillbirth, Ricky joins the Marines and is deployed. Later in the books, Ricky returns from Iraq severely injured, becoming bitter and pushing everyone away, including Lizzie. However, despite these immense challenges, Ricky and Lizzie are ultimately endgame in the book series, finding their way back to each other and navigating their difficult experiences together.
The Netflix series has already mirrored a significant portion of this: Ricky joining the Marines and being deployed, and his brief return in Season 6 before heading to the Middle East. The crucial piece missing from the show’s adaptation, and the one that could resolve Lizzie’s paternity mystery, is the fact that she and Ricky conceived a child before his departure.
How Season 7 Could Adapt This Twist
Given the show’s existing deviations from the books, a direct, literal adaptation of Lizzie’s stillbirth might be too dark for the show’s overall tone. However, the core mystery of paternity could still be adapted in a compelling way.
- Timeline Ambiguity: The show’s famously slow and sometimes unclear timeline could easily allow for the possibility that Lizzie became pregnant by Ricky just before he left for the Marines at the end of Season 4. While she and Denny quickly formed a relationship in Season 5, the “it only takes once” factor could be subtly introduced, making it plausible that Ricky, not Denny, is the father. The fact that the show doesn’t explicitly state the conception date for Lizzie’s pregnancy leaves this window open.
- Genetic Testing: Season 6 saw Lizzie and Denny contemplating genetic testing for the baby due to Denny’s Huntington’s Disease. This presents a perfect narrative device. If they proceed with extensive genetic testing in Season 7, the results could unexpectedly reveal that Denny is not the biological father. This would be a shocking twist that is scientifically plausible and directly linked to an existing plotline.
- Ricky’s Return and Revelation: Ricky’s full return to Virgin River in Season 7, potentially having been injured as he is in the books (though perhaps not to the same extent to maintain the show’s tone), could coincide with this revelation. His presence would add immense emotional weight to the paternity reveal, forcing Lizzie to confront her past with Ricky and her current relationship with Denny.
- Denny’s Reaction: If the baby is not his, Denny’s reaction would be profound. Given his struggles with Huntington’s and his desire not to be a “burden” on Lizzie, he might initially withdraw or even leave Virgin River, believing it’s best for Lizzie to have a family “free from impending loss.” This would create new drama and further complicate Lizzie’s journey into motherhood.
The Impact on Lizzie, Denny, and Ricky
This book adaptation would create a powerful and complex storyline for all three characters:
- For Lizzie: It would force her to re-evaluate her relationships and her understanding of her own past choices. Her excitement for motherhood would be complicated by the unexpected paternity, pushing her to make difficult decisions about her future.
- For Denny: It would test his selflessness and love for Lizzie. Could he accept raising a child that isn’t biologically his, especially with his own health challenges? It would be a significant test of his character and his commitment to Lizzie.
- For Ricky: His return would be fraught with emotional baggage, especially if he’s returning from a military injury as in the books. Discovering he’s a father would be a monumental shock, forcing him to consider his responsibilities and whether he wants to be involved in raising the child, even if he’s not with Lizzie romantically. It could propel his character into a more mature and responsible role, mirroring his growth in the novels.
Why This Mystery Needs Solving
The question of Lizzie’s baby’s paternity is more than just a plot point; it’s a character-defining mystery. It directly impacts Lizzie’s future, Denny’s commitment, and Ricky’s potential re-integration into the main storyline. Leaving it ambiguous would be a disservice to these characters and the audience. Adapting the book’s resolution, even with necessary tweaks, would provide a powerful, emotional, and satisfying answer that aligns with the show’s themes of second chances, family, and unforeseen challenges.
Conclusion: A Book-Inspired Twist for Season 7
Ricky’s unexpected return to Virgin River in Season 6, though brief, has ignited a fascinating possibility for Season 7. By finally adapting the Robyn Carr book storyline where Ricky is the biological father of Lizzie’s baby, the show could solve one of its biggest unanswered questions. This twist would not only deliver a major dramatic reveal but also create compelling new arcs for Lizzie, Denny, and Ricky, pushing them to confront their pasts, redefine their relationships, and navigate the complex journey of parenthood. As Season 7 begins filming, all eyes will be on Virgin River to see if this book-inspired mystery finally unravels, promising a season filled with emotional depth and surprising revelations.
