Virgin River returns to Netflix globally for a fifth season in September and November 2023 and can return for season 6. We’ve received a LOT of details about the brand new season, with filming having wrapped in late 2022. Here’s the lowdown on all the pieces we learn about Virgin River season 5 as of July 2023.
First debuting on Netflix again in December 2019, Virgin River has quietly been one in all Netflix’s sleeper hits, with followers across the globe having fun with the romantic drama starring Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Colin Lawrence, and Jenny Cooper set within the quaint distant city.
Now, let’s dig into all the pieces we learn about Virgin River season 5:
For these unaware, Virgin River was given a two-season renewal order following season 3 in 2011. That means we’ve recognized a couple of fifth season for fairly a while. While two-season orders aren’t new, they’re uncommon.
That means that Virgin River continues to beat all the inner objectives, and in response to an interview with Netflix’s head of drama, the present “has some of the most attractive economics for a TV series with a very high return on investment as it costs a lot less to make than special effect-heavy productions.”
How nicely did Virgin River season 4 carry out on Netflix?
The present has been a giant hit for Netflix, even when it doesn’t seize all of the headlines.
When season 4 launched, it featured in Netflix’s high 10 hourly charts for six weeks, selecting up 304.790M hours globally between July seventeenth and August twenty eighth, 2022.
With the caveat that season 4 had an additional couple of episodes, right here’s how season 4 in comparison with season 3 over its first six weeks on the platform:
Week in Top 10 | Season 4 | Season 3 |
---|---|---|
1 | 105,440,000 | 62,580,000 |
2 | 87,940,000 | 87,270,000 |
3 | 46,930,000 | 44,890,000 |
4 | 29,550,000 | 28,320,000 |
5 | 20,470,000 | 18,840,000 |
6 | 14,460,000 | 13,220,000 |
Netflix will launch Virgin River season 5 in two components:
- Part 1 (Episodes 501- 510) will launch on September seventh, 2023
- Part 2 (Episodes 511- 512) will launch on November thirtieth, 2023 (these include Holiday episodes)
Alongside the date announcement on July twenty fifth, Netflix launched a slew of recent pictures for the brand new season, a few of which we’ve included under:
As we reported in early 2022, filming on Virgin River season 5 was initially attributable to start in March 2022. That was subsequently delayed to July 2022, though even these dates have been topic to and in the end did change.
The motive for the delay was unknown, however in a video submit, Alexandra Breckenridge said that she was eager on filming in the summertime, saying that Vancouver isn’t that enjoyable to movie within the winter.
Filming for Virgin River season 5 occurred between July 18th and November seventeenth, 2022.
The official Virgin River sequence account on Instagram confirmed that manufacturing is underway with a Zoom name of a desk learn for the fifth season.
The submit learn as follows:
“Our cast in a table read for SEASON 5.. Yes, you heard that right folks. We have now started production on SEASON 5! Also, please meet our lovely new Show-runner Patrick Sean Smith. We can’t WAIT for you to see what we have in store. Don’t forget though, Season 4 is only 2 days away. See you soon!!”
That desk learn featured the following solid members (suggesting they’re all signed up for the fifth season):
- Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe
- Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
- Annette O’Toole as Hope McCrea
- Tim Matheson as Dr. Vernon Mullins
- Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan Brady
- Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan
- Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen
- Colin Lawrence as John ‘Preacher’ Middleton
- Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie
- Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes
- Nicola Cavendish as Connie
- Chase Petriw as Christopher
- Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler
- Mark Ghanime as Dr. Cameron Hayek
- Marco Grazzini as Mike Valenzuela
- Teryl Rothery as Muriel
- Steve Bacic as Vince
- Christina Jastrzembska as Lydie
- Trevor Lerner as Bert Gordon
- Lucia Walters as Julia
- Keith MacKechnie as Nick
- Emma Oliver as Young Mel
For extra on the place Virgin River movies, try our filming information for the present right here.
We’re informed that Virgin River season 5 may have an episode funds of between $3 and $5 million per episode, which means that season 5 may price Netflix as much as $60 million when all is claimed and executed.
Some BTS of #VirginRiver season 5 at present filming! pic.twitter.com/KbbyGECYyw
— What’s on Netflix (@whatonnetflix) September 3, 2022
Filming was then confirmed to have wrapped on November twenty first, 2022, with the official Instagram account posting a video of the solid celebrating their wrap.
Filming has wrapped on Virgin River season 5! pic.twitter.com/Uv20EzY76T
— What’s on Netflix (@whatonnetflix) November 22, 2022
The largest information going into season 5 is that Patrick Sean Smith is changing Sue Tenney as showrunner. Tenney is shifting on to work on different tasks and has but to state why she’s shifting on publicly.
Smith is notably recognized for engaged on The CW’s Supernatural, ABC Family’s Chasing Life, and most not too long ago writing the episode Jolene on Netflix’s restricted sequence Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings as government producer and showrunner.
Until season 4, all seasons of Virgin River had run at round ten episodes a bit.
Season 4, nonetheless, was given an expanded 12-episode season, and we’ve now realized, because of a dwell stream from Alexandra Breckenridge, that it’s going to as soon as once more be an expanded 12-episode fifth season.
Let’s start with the episode titles for season 5 of Virgin River. In June 2023, we first reported on the new episode titles and what it tells us concerning the forthcoming season.
- Songbird (Expected to be episode 2)
- Calculated Risk (Expected to be episode 3)
- Never Gonna Be the Same (Expected to be episode 4)
- A Second Chance
- Angel’s Peak
- Father Christmas
- The More the Merrier
- From the Ashes
- Full Moon
- Heroes Rise
- Labor Day
- Trial by Fire
As for writers, right here’s who shall be writing episodes all through season 5:
- Episode 501 – Written by Patrick S. Smith
- Episode 502 – Song Bird – Written by Jackson Sinder
- Episode 503 – Calculated Risk – Written by Talia Gonzalez
- Episode 504 – Never Gonna Be the Same – Written by Tesia Joy Walker
- Episode 505 – Written by Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith
- Episode 506 – Written by Thomas Ian Griffith & Mary Page Keller
- Episode 507 – Written by Talia Gonzalez and Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith
- Episode 508 – Written by John Lowe
- Episode 509 – Written by Ildiko Susany
- Episode 510 – Written by Jackson Sinder & Tesia Joy Walker
- Episode 511 – Written by Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith
- Episode 512 – Written by Erin Cardillo & Richard Keith
Thanks to manufacturing listings, we all know who shall be directing episodes within the fifth season of Virgin River:
- Monika Mitchell will direct episodes 1 and a pair of. Mitchell has beforehand directed episodes in season 3, together with Take My Breath Away, Spare Parts, and Broken Hearts.
- Felipe Rodriguez will make his directorial debut on Virgin River for season 5 opn episodes 3 and 4. The director has labored on exhibits like Hudson & Rex, The Good Doctor, Blood and Water, and Ruby and the Well.
- Martin Wood has directed 15 episodes within the sequence to date and shall be returning to direct episodes 5 and 6
- Jem Garrard will make her Virgin River debut in season 5 directing episodes 7 and eight. She has beforehand directed on Motherland: Fort Salem, Wynonna Earp, and Charmed.
- Andy Mikita is one other returning director for season 5 course episodes 9 and 10. Has additionally labored on Travelers, Motive, and Family Law.
- Gail Harvey is anticipated to return as a director on Virgin River, including to her six credit up to now directing the ultimate two episodes, 11 and 12.
In October 2022, What’s on Netflix completely confirmed the truth that Kandyse McClure had joined the solid for season 5 in a yet-to-be-revealed position. McClure beforehand starred in Netflix’s V-Wars and Battlestar Galactica.
Also becoming a member of the solid for season 5 are three new faces we confirmed in November 2022. They embrace:
- Susan Hogan (Legends of Tomorrow)
- Elise Gatien (Supernatural)
- Paolo Maiolo (Supernatural)
No character names have been revealed, as they’re reportedly thought-about spoilers.
Rounding out the solid in minor/recurring roles for season 5 consists of:
- David Stuart as Reporter Ted Ford
- Audré Alleya Stephenson
- Melanie Merkosky
- Brent Fidler
- Serge Houde
- Helenna Santos
- Gabrielle Jacinto as Nurse Jill
Note: This part was written with assist from the Virgin River Twitter account VRPassionate.
Firstly, let’s start with the official synopsis for Virgin River season 5:
“Season Five of Virgin River features surprising new relationships, a shocking break-up, a difficult court trial, a heartbreaking goodbye, and a wildfire that threatens the town, bringing some people of Virgin River together while tearing others apart. Issues of motherhood push Mel to make a big decision about her future at the clinic while her pregnancy unexpectedly sparks an emotional connection to her past. To further prove himself to Mel, Jack squares off with some long-overdue confrontations–with his own demons, and of course, Charmaine. And as Doc and Hope’s respective impairments throw their identities into question, the doctor and the mayor must find solace in their community, in their young new family, and in each other.”
Burning Questions for Virgin River season 5
At the top of the season, Charmaine is in extreme ache and terrified of shedding her twins and confessing to Jack and Mel that the 2 boys aren’t really his.
This will certainly be one of many fundamental and most essential questions for season 5.
While talking with Glamour Magazine, Henderson and Breckenridge confessed they know the twins’ paternity, which may simply imply the dual’s father is a present solid member.
The fundamental “suspects” are Brady, Mike, and Dr. Cameron.
Mel and Jack, essentially the most beloved couple within the present, will proceed to have a significant position in season 5. The upcoming season ought to observe them, specializing in their relationship, household, and new child lady.
Alexandra Breckenridge teased a heavier season going into season 5, according to New Beauty, saying:
“I think this season has started out well and we’re getting into a few episodes soon that are pretty heavy. They’re really intense and I think that they’re some of the best episodes we’ve ever done. I never say that either! I think that there’s a high sense of drama that starts to come up this season that it’s going to leave people on the edge of their seats. At least, I hope. I’m excited to get into that.”
Virgin River’s mayor Hope will proceed recovering with the assistance of Lizzie and, hopefully, get again to her mayoral duties and solidify her friendship with Muriel.
The episode titles reveal {that a} hearth might rage by means of the city in season 5. As we reported after we talked concerning the episode titles, seemingly, a plot surrounding a fireplace hitting the neighborhood will seemingly develop over the course of a number of episodes.
Brie revealed her rape to Brady, and whereas dealing with her former boyfriend-rapist Don, she determined to report her sexual assault and take him to courtroom. The new season may deal with Brie’s trial and her disclosing her assault to Jack.
We left Preacher and Paige in a cabin with Vince unconscious on the ground so we may be saying goodbye to Paige for good subsequent season. That’s primarily as a result of Julia, a brand new love curiosity for Preacher, has been launched in season 4, and there’s little proof there’s room for a love triangle.
Doc’s grandson Danny revealed to Lizzie he doesn’t wish to get romantically concerned together with her as a result of he has been identified with Huntington’s illness. This uncommon illness causes the progressive breakdown (degeneration) of nerve cells within the mind.
Next season each Lizzie and Doc should face Denny’s sickness. Lizzie, who has matured immensely throughout season 4, should resolve if she needs to pursue a relationship with Danny regardless of his illness or if she nonetheless has emotions for Ricky, who, regardless that she left for the marine boot camp in San Diego, gained’t in all probability steer clear of Virgin River for too lengthy.
One behind-the-scenes shot launched in October 2022 means that Jack and Mel shall be celebrating in one of many episodes, and one other suggests we could also be getting a festive episode (that is now confirmed by episode titles).
BTS of Virgin River season 5. Is this their marriage ceremony?!💞💞💞 #VirginRiver #Netflix pic.twitter.com/vpZCriEjlP
— VirginRiverFan (@VirginRiverFan1) October 3, 2022
Lots of recent and returning characters
In an interview with Deadline, Netflix’s head of drama, Jinny Howe, touched on how the sequence will change going into the fifth season:
“I think what’s going to be interesting is to see this universe continue to grow and expand and to see new characters, other characters return. A lot of that was set up in the Season 4 finale but it’s going to be really exciting to see all of that come to a head in Season 5. And some of the soap that’s going to come out of these new complex tensions and triangles.”
More Diversity and LGBTQ Inclusion in Virgin River season 5
Finally, Breckenridge disclosed in her interview with Glamour that the brand new showrunner, writers, and administrators will carry extra LGBTQ+ tales to create extra inclusivity within the present. Breckenridge has been extraordinarily vocal about wanting extra range in Virgin River for the reason that starting.
The present obtained a season 6 renewal at Netflix’s first-ever Upfront occasion on May seventeenth, 2023.
In the aforementioned interview with Netflix’s head of drama, Howe informed Deadline that we’ll “definitely see more longevity and growth with the show,” including:
“As long as the audience asks for it and shows up — and I think we see with Season 4 that the fandom is very strong and growing in many places as well — it feels like based on what we’re seeing with Season 4 and the anticipation for Season 5 that there is a lot more storytelling to offer us. It will be exciting to see which characters continue to break out and audiences crave more of; we’re paying very close attention, understanding that this is a really rich universe of characters and that people can’t seem to get enough, myself included. So I think as long as that continues to be the case — which we’re very hopeful for — you can rest assured that there will be more Virgin River.”
Are you trying ahead to watching Virgin River season 5 on Netflix? Let us know within the feedback down under.