In Virgin River season 5, part 2, the titular town undergoes a Christmastime transformation, but the top-notch gossip and twisty romances remain the same. At the end of Virgin River season 5’s first installment, Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) discovered that her late mother had an affair. As fate would have it, her mom’s fling was from Virgin River; in another shocking turn, the mystery man might even be Mel’s biological father. Most of the first episode of the Netflix show’s two-part Christmas release centers on Mel and Jack’s (Martin Henderson) investigation into the identity of Mel’s biological father. Still, Virgin River’s cast of other characters have key moments too.
As Mel and Jack cut down a Christmas tree and interrogate a post office worker-turned-Santa, other Virgin River season 5, part 1 ending plot points come to a head. For starters, Cameron (Mark Ghanime) and Muriel (Teryl Rothery) reassess their relationship and what family really means to them, while Jack’s parents learn to see eye-to-eye for the sake of their own still-growing family. Big moments unfold for Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) as well as Hope (Annette O’Toole) and Doc (Tim Matheson). Needless to say, Virgin River delivers a juicy two-part installment set against a cheerful holiday backdrop that suits the fictional Northern California town well.
Mel Finds Her Biological Father
She Spends Season 5 Searching For Him
In “The More the Merrier,” Netflix’s Virgin River season 5, episode 11, Mel learns more about her mother’s affair. After looking over some of the letters from the mystery man, known only as Champ, she determines that her mom might’ve started the affair after losing a child — something that pushed a wedge between the parents Mel grew up with.
Jack joins Mel on her town-wide investigation into Champ’s true identity, which leads them to a former postal worker who plays Santa during the holidays. Mr. Claus remembers Champ well; his postcards to Mel’s mom were the talk of the office. Unfortunately, he doesn’t know Champ’s real name.
However, Santa is able to deliver on his gift-giving promise when he unearths a crucial memory: Champ got his nickname because he won a lumberjack contest in the ’70s. With more information to go on, Mel and Jack discover the mystery man’s real name: Everett Reid.
When Mel works up the courage to visit Everett, she doesn’t get a very warm welcome. In fact, he pretends not to know Mel’s mom or what she’s talking about; the 1976 Lumberjack Games trophy behind him gives away the lie, but Mel doesn’t linger. Disappointed by her biological father’s actions, she finds comfort in her chosen family — until episode 12’s finale.
Charmaine Finally Gives Birth To Her Twins
Charmaine Had Been Pregnant Since Season 1
After playing a pregnant character since 2019, Lauren Hammersley is finally able to close that chapter in her character’s story. At the beginning of the series, Charmaine Roberts was Jack’s friend with benefits, but, since Mel came to town, that’s shifted. What’s more, Mel is Charmaine’s midwife. After experiencing ongoing Braxton Hicks contractions, Charmaine decides to call Mel, and it becomes apparent that Charmaine is having Christmas Eve babies. Thankfully, this finally ends Virgin River’s most absurd storyline, as the seemingly forever-pregnant Charmaine finally gives birth to healthy twin boys in the “Father Christmas” episode.
Preacher & Kaia Take Their Relationship To The Next Level
Preacher Is In For Another Surprise
For the most part, Preacher (Colin Lawrence) and Kaia (Kandyse McClure) are off on their own during the show’s Christmas episodes. While the two are enjoying the holiday atmosphere and taking a chilly plunge in the water, Preacher lets slip that he loves Kaia. Although he tries to take it back, she assures him it’s not something she can just forget.
Later, Kaia reveals that she’s on the same page and even taking a permanent job in Virgin River. After nearly two hours of old-fashioned, rom-com fun, things take a sharp turn. Wes’ body is discovered and identified, which could lead to a devastating fate for Virgin River’s Preacher.
Lizzie Shares More About Her Pregnancy
Lizzie’s Mother Finds Out About Her Daughter’s Life
At the start of the two-part special, everyone in Virgin River who’s heard the news of Lizzie’s pregnancy seems excited for the mother-to-be and Denny (Kai Bradbury). However, Lizzie frets about telling her mom, who’s visiting from out of town for the holidays. When Lizzie skirts around the topic, Hope takes matters into her own hands and asks Lizzie about her hesitancy. It’s clear Lizzie fears her mother’s judgment — and that she won’t be the supportive, maternal figure Lizzie needs. In typical melodrama fashion, Lizzie’s mom hears the two chatting, learning about the pregnancy second hand.
Despite the drama, it all works out just fine. Hope has a chat with Lizzie’s mom, assuring her that Lizzie wants her mother in the picture. After all, there are things Hope won’t know how to help with. It’s a warm, holiday-appropriate moment that leads to Lizzie and her mom talking it all out. Lizzie’s mom worries that her daughter is shouldering too much: caring for a newborn and Denny, who has Huntington’s disease, might be a tall order.
Eventually, Lizzie’s mom sees how much her daughter loves the family she’s made in Virgin River and seems excited about the baby girl to come.
Doc Proposes To Hope
The Two Have Journeyed Back To One Another
After twenty years of pre-show separation, Hope and Doc’s relationship comes to a head in season 1 of Virgin River, culminating in Hope asking for a divorce. The mayor of Virgin River isn’t known for pulling punches, but, despite everything they’ve weathered together and apart, Hope and Doc have found their way back to each other.
This becomes exceedingly apparent in episode 12: while the two are enjoying Virgin River’s holiday lights display, Doc asks Hope to marry him — again. Every good Christmastime drama needs a proposal plot line, and Hope and Doc deliver after the twists and turns of their relationship timeline in Virgin River.
Mel’s Biological Father Ends Virgin River Season 5, Part 2 On A Cliffhanger
The Cliffhanger Sets The Stage For Season 6
In Virgin River season 5, episode 12’s final moments, Mel’s biological father, Everett, turns up looking for a second chance. While he apologizes for turning Mel away, his excuse is a tad flimsy: he isn’t the man he was when he wrote the letters, but, he concedes, that he is Mel’s father. After offering to be in her life (however Mel chooses), Everett hands Mel a stack of postcards that her mom wrote to him. Touched, Mel accepts the letters.
Before the credits roll, Everett explains that he has something else important to say, ending the show on a massive cliffhanger ahead of Virgin River season 6.
How The Virgin River Season 5 Ending Sets Up Season 6
Virgin River Season 5 Teases More Information About The Past In Season 6
Though season 6 is set to look forward as a time jump has been teased for the series, it’s also set to explore the past, long before Mel ever came to Virgin River. The final episodes of season 5 tease just that from Mel finding her birth father to him revealing he has something more to tell her.
Though season 6 trailers teased an impending wedding for Jack and Mel, it also teased a look at Mel’s mother in the 1970s. That is one of the most anticipated flashbacks for season 6 for fans of the show since those flashbacks could also lead to a spinoff series about Mel’s mother and biological father during their days in Virgin River. It has also, however, opened the door for Mel to find more connections in the town that has become her home.
With her biological father living in Virgin River, the theory has persisted among fans that Mel’s journey in season 6 needs to be about other biological connections in town, like siblings she did not previously know about. That, combined with her wedding, allows two very different avenues of love and connection to be explored in season 6.
How The Virgin River Season 5 Ending Was Received
Season 5’s Ending Was Enjoyed More Than The Entire Season
Fans of Virgin River tune in for cozy romance drama in a small town. For that reason, fans and critics alike believed that season 5 might have been getting a little too bogged down by other even more dramatic storylines, like the crime element. The final episode of the season acted as both a season finale and holiday special, bringing the show back around to its more rom-com elements and storylines involving love and family.
The final episodes are a return to form for Virgin River, and one fans would love to see more of, especially since the book series also includes several holiday anthologies. Marvelous Geeks is one of the outlets that found season 5 to have too many dramatic elements in play, but loved the way the finale worked to tie up the season, celebrate the holidays, and tease the future of the show. Their review stated:
It’s almost as though the series feels like if it doesn’t throw in new development left and right, it’d lose all its charm. But the appeal isn’t in the drama—it’s in the characters and their everyday lives….
Virgin River Season 5 tries too hard when it needs to step back and just be—exist in a place where things can be calm and normal. The dynamics work, the relationships feel entirely earned, and the characterizations are fantastic, but the drama continues to be Virgin River’s downfall.
Though there are sure to be more dramatic storylines that have to finish playing out in season 6, Virgin River proves itself as a cozy small town romance series again and again.
