'Virgin River' Season 4 Recap + Predictions for Season 5

May 31, 2023

Who's the real father of Charmaine's twins? We have a theory.

Netflix's rustic romance Virgin River makes its much-anticipated return with Season 5, Part 1 on September 7, followed by Part 2 on November 30. Judging from the latest trailer, Season 5 of the delightfully extra drama series will up the ante. And that's saying a lot: Virgin River Season 4 played out like an episode of Maury, with questions of paternity rocking the quaint northern California town. Mel and Jack, played by Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, received some welcome baby news, and Jack's ex-girlfriend Charmaine dropped a bombshell. To get you up-to-speed, we've compiled all the biggest plot twists Season 4 had to offer and put on our tin foil hats for a bit of theorizing about what's to come in Virgin River Season 5. (Charmaine's twins? We have receipts!) Here's everything you need to know before settling in for Virgin River autumn.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Virgin River Season 4.

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It's one of the most unhinged plot points in TV history: During her very brief breakup with Jack (Martin Henderson), Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) went and did IVF with the last embryo she and her late husband fertilized. At the end of Season 4, Mel breathes an ungodly sigh of relief when she learns that Jack, not her dead hubby, is the father of her baby girl. Oh, and they finally get engaged, in the moonlight. By the river. It's sheer perfection.

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Just when you think Charmaine (Orphan Black's Lauren Hammersley) can't get any more craven, she outdoes herself. Convinced that her wealthy new husband Todd (Patrick Sabongui, The Flash) is cheating on her, she drops a bombshell: Jack is not the father of her twin boys, and she knew it all along.

Season 5 Prediction: The father of Charmaine's twins is probably Mike, Jack's Marine buddy. Hear us out: When Jack told him about Charmaine's pregnancy back in Season 2, Episode 5, Mike freaked out and said, "Jesus. Uh, I didn't know you were still seeing her." Guilty! Plus, would it be so out of character for Charmaine to hook up with Jack's friend just to make him jealous?

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After his little tiff with Mel, Cameron (Mark Ghanimé, The Age of Adaline) puts in his two weeks' notice at the clinic. He can't stick around pining for Mel while pretending to support her marriage to Jack. But with Doc's (the legendary Tim Matheson) degenerative eye disease and Mel's high-risk pregnancy, the clinic needs Cameron. Mel tells Doc that she'll resign if it means Cameron will stay on as Virgin River's doctor.

Season 5 Prediction: Cameron has to get over himself. Mel wouldn't give up her calling...right? Right?

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In flashback, we finally see what went down the night Jack was shot. Vince (Steve Bacic, Alter), the twin brother of Paige's dead husband, came to the bar with a gun looking for Preacher. Jack managed to stab him with a kitchen knife before Vince shot him in the stomach and left him for dead.

Season 5 Prediction: The blood on the knife matches Vince's DNA, so he'll no doubt be arrested for shooting Jack.

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Preacher (Colin Lawrence) goes special-ops when he finds Vince holding Paige (Lexa Doig, Aurora Teagarden Mysteries) hostage at a cabin in the woods. After admitting to killing Vince's brother and burying his body, Preacher hits Vince over the head with a log, cartoon-style. All the while, Mike is on his way to arrest Vince for shooting Jack.

Season 5 Prediction: If Vince survives the blow, he'll tell the cops that Preacher and Paige murdered his brother. Besides their obvious legal trouble, Preacher and Paige's relationship remains a question mark. Will Preacher end things with Julia (played by Lawrence's wife, Lucia Walters) and start anew with Paige and Christopher?

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In tragic news, Doc's long-lost grandson Denny (Kai Bradbury, The Imperfects) tells Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale, Death of a Cheerleader) that he has Huntington's disease, a terminal illness. He likes Lizzie, but his diagnosis has scared him away from a relationship.

Season 5 Prediction: We're in for a heartbreaking romance this September. Lizzie won't shy away from taking the next step with Denny, but they'll be grappling with his illness and whether they can have a future. Think The Fault in Our Stars. In better news, now that Denny's cleared the air, Lizzie will probably take the job as Hope's (Annette O'Toole) aide. Get ready for the funniest workplace comedy ever.

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Inveterate bad-boy Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth) is cleared of Jack's shooting after one of Calvin's goons admits to planting the gun in his car. Mike (Marco Grazzini, Kim's Convenience) apologizes for not believing Brady, and they team up to take down Calvin (David Cubitt, Medium). Someone, however, beats them to it: They watch as Calvin's boat explodes with the drug kingpin inside. TV rules say don't believe it unless you see the body, but we learn that Calvin was never the head of the fentanyl operation in Virgin River. It was actually little old lady Melissa (Barbara Pollard, Champions), the sister of Jack's new partner in the glamping business.

Season 5 Prediction: Remember when Brady vaguely blamed Mike for Chris' death in Afghanistan? Yeah, count on Mike's dirty little secret coming to light — whatever it is.

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Brady and Brie (Zibby Allen, Grey's Anatomy) are doing better than ever when her ex-boyfriend Don (James Kot, Batwoman) comes to Virgin River and pressures her into signing an NDA. He's up for promotion at work, but multiple other women have accused him of harassment. Brie refuses to sign and announces that she's pressing charges against him.

Season 5 Prediction: Don warned Brie that no one would believe her assault claims, but her stillbirth will provide the DNA evidence to lock him up and throw away the key.

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Lovable busboy Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey, The Art of Racing in the Rain) is off to Marine boot camp in San Diego, leaving Lizzie to move on with Denny in his absence. Gurnsey confirmed to The Daily Express that Ricky would not return for Season 5 but that he could come back in future seasons: "He won't be in Season 5, but maybe Season 6 or 7, who knows. I'm always happy to come back." Virgin River has already been renewed for Season 6. And with a whopping 21-book series to draw from, there's plenty of story left to tell.

Virgin River Season 5, Part 1 premieres September 7 on Netflix.