With the final two episodes of Season 5 slated to air on Netflix on November 30, 2023, it’s time to reflect on Virgin River‘s most astonishing plot twists on the show thus far. From mysterious deaths and cryptic backstories to torrid love affairs and everything in between, the biggest twists and turns in Virgin River force fans to rethink the events on the show.
10. Mel Departs For Los Angeles
Once Mel discovered the shocking twist involving Jack (Martin Henderson) and Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley), most fans expected her to dig in, fight back, and go after what she wanted. Alas, when Mel simply felt too defeated by the whole situation and left Virgin River and returned to her Los Angeles hometown, fans were left scratching their heads regarding her decision-making process. The biggest shock came when Mel left without even telling Jack.
Although no one can really blame Mel for her decision, especially given the emotional trauma she had experienced in the past year, the rash decision to up and leave her new life behind was a shocking sight to behold. Viewers didn’t expect Mel to run away from her problems but rather face them head-on, which she eventually does in her inevitable return to the titular town of the soapy melodrama.
9. Paige’s True Identity
Paige Lassiter (Lexa Doig) and her son Christopher (Chase Petriw) are two of the most endearing supporting characters in Virgin River. Paige owns the food bakery truck “Paige’s Bakeaway” in Virgin River and provides the town with delicious treats. However, when viewers learn about Paige’s true identity and reason for coming to town, her character becomes far more sympathetic.
The stunning twist comes when Paige reveals her real name is Michelle Logan. Michelle changed her name to Paige and relocated to Virgin River to escape her violently abusive husband, Wes (Steve Bacic). For a romantic melodrama featuring searing love affairs, unplanned pregnancies, and the like, viewers were left completely floored by the domestic violence storylines that revealed Paige’s true identity. Of course, more shocking twists regarding Wes’ history would soon follow.
8. Lilly’s Tragic Fate
Alas, viewers were not ready for Lilly’s tragic fate resulting from her pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Just as Lilly began to accept the daily battle and the townsfolk prepared to help her deal with her illness, Lilly suddenly passed away in her sleep due to a stroke. While many expected her to eventually succumb to cancer, the abrupt death via stroke was something viewers were not prepared for.
7. The Arrival of Wes’ Twin Brother
Indeed, another jaw-dropping episode of Virgin River came when viewers learned that Wes had a twin brother named Vince (also played by Steve Bacic). When Wes returned to Virgin River and confronted Paige, she pushed him down the stairs and accidentally killed him. If that wasn’t shocking enough, viewers were mortified to see Wes walking and talking moments later. That’s because it wasn’t Wes at all, but his twin brother Vince.
6. Doc & Denny
Vernon “Doc” Mullins (Tim Matheson) is the top physician in Virgin River who often handles infant deliveries. As a long-term Virgin River resident with a wealth of knowledge and experience, Doc is a kind of father figure in town. Yet, it’s been stated that Doc and his wife Hope (Annette O’Toole) never had children, neither together nor with outside partners. Therefore, when Doc’s supposed grandson, Denny Cutler (Kai Bradbury), suddenly arrives in town, viewers are thrown for a loop.
It turns out that Denny is actually the grandson of Rose, a woman Doc dated in college. Rose dumped Doc before he went off to medical school. While it is eventually revealed that Doc is really Denny’s grandfather, another shocking twist comes when Doc learns Rose is still alive and well. Meanwhile, viewers were also left reeling when it was revealed that Denny transferred a large sum of money to pay for Doc’s clinical debt rather than doing something illegal.
5. Jack & Charmaine’s Romance
When Jack and Mel began seeing each other in the acclaimed Netflix original series, fans expressed adoration for their romantic chemistry. Jack seemed to be an ideal match for Mel and even managed to convince her to stay in Virgin River instead of moving back to Los Angeles. Alas, just when it appeared as if Mel had found a romantic partner and real reason to feel optimistic, a stunning revelation came that shook everything up.
When it was revealed that Jack was already romantically involved with Charmaine, fans were left aghast. At first, Jack and Charmaine’s relationship is revealed to be physical, with the two agreeing to be friends with benefits. Alas, when Charmaine revealed she wanted a more serious relationship, fans were gobsmacked to learn that Charmaine was also pregnant with twins. Stay tuned to find out if Jack is the father of Charmaine’s babies.
4. Mel Uses Mark’s Embryos
When Jack breaks up with Mel because he can no longer bear children, she goes against the composed demeanor she normally shows at work to deal with her personal life. Abruptly fleeing back to Los Angeles, fans were stunned to see Mel act so erratically and decide to undergo IVF using Mark’s frozen embryos. If that wasn’t twisty enough, what transpires next is even more eye-opening.
Indeed, once Mel returned to Virgin River, viewers were left wondering why she was so adamant about getting back together with Jack. It turns out that Mel received a positive pregnancy test at last, with Season 3 ending with a dramatic cliffhanger involving a half-hearted marriage proposal. Most shocking of all, viewers had to wait until the following season to learn who the father of Mel’s baby was.
3. Lizzie’s Pregnancy
Season 5 of the disturbing Netflix series had no shortage of seismic twists and profound character developments. During the cliffhanger in episode 10, it was revealed that Connie’s mischievous niece from Los Angeles, Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale), is potentially pregnant. While viewers will have to wait to learn the identity of the baby’s father, the plot wrinkle comes as quite a shock considering Lizzie’s past romances.
2. The Father of Charmaine’s Twins
Season 4 ended with a bombshell revelation involving Charmaine’s twin babies. When Charmaine called Mel and Jack for help, the hysterics pointed to Charmaine’s response to Todd’s departure. The truth was much more shocking when Charmaine confessed that Jack was not the father of her twin babies as previously believed. By Season 5, the astonishing revelation led to an even more stunning development.
In the cliffhanging finale of Season 5 Part 1, viewers learn that Calvin (David Cubitt) is the father of Charmaine’s twins. Calvin runs an illegal marijuana farm on the opposite side of town. It’s one thing for viewers to learn that Jack isn’t the father; it’s quite another to learn that Charmaine had a hidden affair with one of Virgin River’s most untoward characters. It’s the kind of dramatic shift in perspective that forces viewers to contextualize the events of the entire series.
1. Mel’s Biological Father
Remember, when the series began, Mel claimed she never heard of a place called Virgin River after answering a job advertisement. If her father indeed hails from the town, that means that Mel must have been manipulated in some form or fashion to arrive in town. While Mel’s miscarriage was also shocking, her entire profession as a nurse, caretaker, and midwife derives from her own lack of nurturing family as a child. Therefore, the revelation that Mel’s real father is someone she may already be acquainted with in town is a compelling storyline sure to pay dramatic dividends.
