Virgin River has five seasons, all on Netflix, with its first season premiering in 2019. Since moving to Virgin River, Mel has met many interesting characters in town — all as complicated as herself. From a bar owner to the town’s mayor, they all carry their own stories to tell, and many interfere with each other’s. Here are the show’s best episodes so far.
10. Season 5, Episode 3: Calculated Risk
A fire is taking over the town, literally and figuratively. Jack (Martin Henderson) is going through a rough patch in his life as he navigates life without his recently passed away brother. He’s not the only one in a rough patch, though, as Jack’s younger sister Brie (Zibby Allen) and his friend Brady (Ben Hollingsworth) are in a difficult situation with Brie’s rape case and Brady’s hidden secrets from Brie.
The literal fire in town calls for many first responders and volunteers, keeping the town’s mayor, Hope (Annette O’Toole), very busy. Mel herself is also busy, for a call from a firefighter brings her to talk through childbirth over the phone. Everyone is going through it, as the town is also going through the blazing hot fire that’s eating away all their beauty. As the title suggests — it all has calculated risks.
9. Season 5, Episode 4: Never Gonna Be The Same
The people of Virgin River face challenging things that change everything. From a supposedly romantic camping trip for two, it turns into a babysitting session for Jack and Mel. However, this doesn’t stop them from rekindling their relationship. Then, there’s Hope, who is forced to make amends with Jo Ellen (Gwynyth Walsh) — which, of course, doesn’t end quite well.
Brie, now preparing to testify in court, has to face the difficult step alone. After a huge fight with Brady, they are not talking — it can’t be good for the future of their relationship. But who knows? Perhaps the upcoming episodes will finally give the development that these characters need after being exactly the same for the last couple of seasons.
8. Season 2, Episode 9: Hazards Ahead
When one’s baggage clashes with another’s, it becomes the start of something messy that can’t easily be resolved. Rumors, strained relationships, coincidences — all sorts of drama happen in Mel’s life in Virgin River. In dealing with the mess, she keeps herself busy but still thinks of a strategy — one that may involve keeping secrets.
Affairs and hidden relationships happen in Virgin River and are uncovered in this episode, all because of a lack of communication. One thing leads to another, and they all become tangled in each other’s business. Many unresolved dramas still haven’t found their resolution — be it a body being found, a cheater caught in the act, or people moving away without saying goodbye.
7. Season 3, Episode 8: Life and Death
Love is not up in the air in Virgin River. Break-ups and awkward glances across the room are now typical between the townspeople. Jack and Mel breaking up leaves both of them in bad situations — it even leads Mel to contemplate using Mark’s (Daniel Gillies) leftover embryos to have a baby. Jack, too, is in a bad situation with Brady about the shooting. No one believes the other.
Lies, secrets, and cover-ups have been their go-to solutions, and now everything is seeing the light of day. Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey) are not in the same boat when Ricky decides to secretly apply for the army behind Lizzie’s back. But Jack and Mel magically get back together in the same episode they broke up.
6. Season 1, Episode 8: Into the Light
The dark and stormy small town is filled with anxious townspeople. When a power outage attacks the town, to Jack’s bar, they all go. Mel, struggling to let go of her past, at first decides to stay in the comfort of her bed. But soon, it gets freezing, and she has no choice but to go to Jack’s bar.
There, Mel and Jack end up taking Bert (Trevor Lerner) to the clinic. During the long drive, Mel opens up to Jack, saying that she still isn’t over her husband’s death. But it all ends on a sweet note. When they reach their destination, Mel is surprised that Jack has turned a cabin into a very cozy farmhouse, where they share a romantic kiss. A storm, a cozy house, and a kiss — the perfect date night starter pack.
5. Season 3, Episode 10: A Wedding, No Funeral and a Baby
A lot of big events go down in this episode. It involves Hope having to be induced into a coma after an accident, Mel finding out she is pregnant, and Brie’s painful past. Difficult decisions have to be made, whether it’s about life and death or children of divorce’s future.
4. Season 2, Episode 10: Blown Away
Staying true to the episode title, the characters and audience are blown away by the revelations that see the light of day in this episode. It starts with Hope and Doc (Tim Matheson) making up and agreeing to take each other’s hands in a marriage once again. It looks like they are the only ones with a happy story to tell for now.
Jack is still quarreling with Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) over their weird relationship and her jealousy over Jack and Mel’s happy relationship. It all comes to a forced halt, though, as Jack suddenly gets shot and Mel tries to find help. In the usual Virgin River fashion, the shooter is still a mystery, leaving the story in a cliffhanger until the next episode.
3. Season 5, Episode 6: Heroes Rise
The fire requires all hands on deck, and the heroes rise when duty calls. Amidst all this, their personal problems also come out and look for attention — Doc’s eyesight issues, a lost baby, and a strained parent-child relationship. The episode is both intense and intimate, showing new sides of the characters that are refreshing to see.
2. Season 5, Episode 5: Trial by Fire
The start of the town’s big challenge — this is when the wildfire starts. The townspeople start pouring into the clinic from smoke inhalation, and some evacuation efforts are activated. But, just like in real life, many leaders are in denial when a tragedy is starting, thinking it’s all gonna pass soon — Hope’s plan to evacuate the townspeople is thrown out the window.
Mel stays busy at the clinic and finds out that her baby has no heartbeat anymore. She doesn’t take the news right away, as more patients require her attention. The episode’s fast pace really brings the show back to life, giving the characters something to go on that gives urgency to the plot.
1. Season 4, Episode 12: The Long Goodbye
Many characters are leaving Virgin River in this episode. Cameron (Mark Ghanime) leaves the town for San Diego, leaving the clinic short-staffed. Ricky, after secretly signing up for the army, is also leaving town for his training – giving the audience a little heartbreak as he stares at Lizzie and walks away. Goodbyes are inevitable, but it also begs the question for the rest of the townspeople’s lives in Virgin River: what’s in store for them?
