Virgin River Season 6 Promises Changes and Continuation as Production Set to Begin
Virgin River recently concluded its fifth season with a festive two-episode Christmas special, departing from the usual 10-episode format of the earlier parts. However, the upcoming sixth season is set to bring back the familiar 10-episode structure, leaving behind the extended 12-episode formats of Seasons 4 and 5.
Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith shared insights in a detailed interview with Deadline, expressing his hesitation about revisiting holiday specials. “It’s sort of been there, done that, and I feel like we did it in a big way that I wouldn’t even know where to start to explore,” he said. The decision to return to a 10-episode season aligns with the show’s original format.
Season 6, currently in the scripting phase, encountered a brief setback when the writers, led by Smith, went on strike in May. Despite the pause, Smith revealed that they have completed the second half of the scripts and teased a time jump from the holidays to the beginning of Season 6.
In addition to outlining changes in the episode count, Smith shared optimistic updates about the storyline. He discussed Doc’s medical trial prognosis, hinted at more developments in Mel and Jack’s relationship, and teased upcoming weddings and the return of villains in the next season.
Production for Season 6 is scheduled to kick off in the first half of 2024, with hopes of starting as soon as the weather in Vancouver permits. Alexandra Breckenridge, one of the show’s stars, expressed enthusiasm about the potential for extending the series beyond Season 6. “I keep trying to tell them they should just pick up Season 7 so we can just knock Seasons 6 and 7 and call it a day,” she mentioned in a separate interview with Deadline.
While an early confirmation for Season 7 is yet to be announced, both Breckenridge and Smith emphasized that there are no plans to conclude Virgin River with Season 6. Breckenridge stated, “I’m not aware of it being the final season. Hopefully, we’ll get more.” Smith echoed this sentiment, affirming, “There’s no plans of wrapping anything up. I think, as long as these characters are living, there are always going to be stories to tell, and that’s an incredible opportunity for any showrunner.”
“We’re going to start as soon as the Vancouver weather allows. So hopefully in the spring is what I’ve been hearing,” Alexandra Breckenridge told Deadline in a separate interview https://t.co/mZAgE995Y6
— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) November 30, 2023