New images from Virgin River season 6 reveal the first look at Mel’s parents. The hit Netflix romance drama, based on the novels by Robyn Carr and directed by Patrick Sean Smith, follows Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda “Mel” Monroe. Virgin River season 6 will focus more deeply on the titular character, with Mel and Jack (Martin Henderson) preparing to get married. But it has also been confirmed that flashbacks will feature Mel’s parents. Deadline has now shared the first images from the upcoming flashback episode of Virgin River season 6, revealing the actors who will play Mel’s parents. Mel’s late mother, Sarah, will be played by Happy Death Day star Jessica Rothe. Mel’s father, Everett, will be played by former Hollyoaks actor George Kerr. The duo are seen laughing on a car ride and chatting to an unseen third character. The flashback, which will be the second episode of season 6, comes as Netflix is considering a prequel centered around Mel’s parents.
The potential prequel is described as an origin story for Mel’s parents. The story is set in 1972, with Rothe playing Sarah, a free spirit from the big city. The character is described as having a passion for activism and wanting to get away from the typical life young women had to lead in the 1970s. Sarah connects with Everett, and it’s been suggested that the two may be reluctant soul mates.
Everett was played by John Allen Nelson in the main series Virgin River. In the prequel, the character is described as “a singer-songwriter with the soul of a poet.” While he hasn’t yet broken through as a musician, his path changes after a chance encounter with Sarah, a hitchhiker. A more recent version of Kerr was introduced before the end of Virgin River’s season 5, in a Christmas episode, but Sarah has yet to have a meaningful presence in the main series.
While it may not have generated the same level of headlines as Wednesday or Bridgerton, likely due to its premise focusing on everyday personal drama and growth, Virgin River has been a huge hit for Netflix. Some of its premieres have attracted billions of minutes of viewing, according to Nielsen streaming viewership data. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the streaming service is leaning on a prequel in the hopes of expanding the show’s reach. The flashbacks even feature heavily in the season 6 synopsis, which is included below: “Set against the backdrop of Mel and Jack’s romantic spring wedding season, this sixth season promises fresh twists, escalating love triangles, exciting wedding drama, and secrets revealed from Mel’s father’s past that will take us into the magic and mystery of Virgin River in the 1970s.” Virgin River has a large cast, with several regulars credited. A flashback episode gives the romantic adaptation a chance to step back and narrow its focus. Whether or not the flashbacks actually develop into a standalone prequel, Rothe and Kerr both have other notable projects coming to Netflix. Kerr will play Smoker in the live-action One Piece, while Rothe is part of the Carlton Cuse-produced medical drama Pulse from Lost.
