‘Virgin River’ Boss on Pulling Off the “Best Wedding Season in TV” and What’s Next

As a longtime fan of the romantic drama genre, I must say that Virgin River season 6 has truly outdone itself. The way it balances romance, drama, and crime elements is nothing short of masterful. It’s like they’ve taken all the best ingredients from their previous seasons, mixed them up, and served us a delicious dish that leaves us wanting more.

[This story contains major spoilers from Virgin River season six.]

In season six, it appeared as though Mel and Jack might not walk down the aisle, but luckily for them, they did. The actors portraying these characters, Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, managed to get married by the end of the series.

Of course, wedding planning often involves some level of excitement… or perhaps even a great deal, as depicted in the series “Virgin River”. Although Mel and Jack seemed the most solid in the sixth season of this popular Netflix show (now available for streaming), those close to them didn’t shy away from creating drama. A love quadrangle involving Brady, Brie, Mike, and Lark; Preacher’s trial; Mel’s father’s history with Vernon; Hope’s interference and other incidents were all part of the mix.

During a wedding, tensions can arise among people, but what stands out in Virgin River is the consistent support shown between characters Mel and Jack,” explains Patrick Sean Smith, the show’s producer, to The Hollywood Reporter. “This was something I emphasized from the start – watching these two help each other. It’s not just unique; it’s optimistic and aligns perfectly with the positive vibe of the series.

Below, Smith shares insights with THR on the long-awaited wedding of Mel and Jack, navigating through the turmoil of season six, the introduction of a fresh timeline featuring young Everett and Sarah, the nerve-wracking cliffhangers in the finale, and hints for what lies ahead in the already confirmed season seven.

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After a wait of six whole seasons, it was a joy to finally have Mel and Jack tie the knot. Just how thrilled were you to provide this moment to the fans?

I was both thrilled and apprehensive about the task at hand. It seemed like a rare chance to create the most memorable wedding episodes on television, something not commonly found these days. Essentially, we were immersed in this two-part wedding storyline from the opening scene of season six right up until the finale. This experience was truly unique and I felt it was my duty to ensure that the fans would feel as though they were part of the buildup leading to the event.

With all the chaos this season, was there a storyline that was your favorite to bring to life?

I must admit, there are many aspects from this season that I’m genuinely proud of. Discovering the “love rectangle” was a blast with its twists, excitement, and a dash of romance. As it was my second season on the show, diving deeper into Mel and Jack’s relationship during the wedding season added an extra layer of excitement. Additionally, I felt quite proud of the Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny (Kai Bradbury) storyline. Despite being relatively minor, it was impactful. I believe Kai and Sarah delivered exceptional performances in their roles, and I couldn’t help but feel proud of their dedication and talent. Overall, I felt a sense of pride for all the storylines and performances this season.

In this current season, it appeared that Mel and Jack were the most consistent among all characters. Was it your intention to emphasize their relationship as a focal point amidst the turmoil, making their storyline more stable compared to others?

As a gamer, I can’t help but notice the strong bonding moments during a wedding experience in the game. Sometimes characters clash, but it’s always refreshing to see Mel and Jack standing by each other. One of the first things that caught my attention when I started playing was the thought, “I want to witness these two supporting each other.” It feels authentic, hopeful, and aligns perfectly with the optimistic vibe of this game.

“A significant subplot revolved around Mel and Everett’s (John Allen Nelson) blossoming father-daughter bond, along with Vernon’s (Tim Matheson)’s presence. What inspired you to create such an enigma about Everett’s past?

The essence of the show is subtly woven into its fabric. Initially, the series delved into an emotional enigma surrounding Mel, her struggles unraveling gradually through flashbacks. My intention was to rekindle that atmosphere, with Mel now finding herself on the opposite side of the mystery, struggling to comprehend Everett’s actions yet striving for a true-to-life portrayal of their relationship – one where this man withdrew from society for inexplicable reasons. Now, she’s rescuing him from the wilderness and saying, “And now you’re the father of the bride,” showcasing the challenges such a revelation might bring but also offering an opportunity to rise above it, which I admire he did for his daughter’s sake.

It’s also nice that Mel and Everett’s struggles got resolved within this season.

I strongly desired to limit the experience to this specific timeframe, primarily for a sense of finality. The heart attack wasn’t something we had anticipated at first. However, as we approached the later stages of the season, it seemed necessary to introduce something intense that could plunge Mel into an emotional crisis right before her wedding. It also felt like we could capitalize on this situation with Everett, which, in my opinion, not only added drama but also linked the two storylines together, albeit unintentionally.

With Preacher, was the idea of him being found guilty ever thrown around?

No, Preacher is just an MVP of the series. He’s a beloved character. So there was no chance, but it did feel like it gave an opportunity for some of his relationships to deepen in crisis, especially, Jack and Kaia (Kandyse McClure). I was excited to have Brie (Zibby Allen) play an obvious utilitarian part in that as a lawyer, but I feel like also we saw more connection between them. So it felt like it was worth the price of admission for the episodes that we did. But I knew that I didn’t want it to drag out over the season or make it our big trial of the century, kind of thing. It has been sort of a loose thread that’s been hanging since a few seasons back, so I just felt like it was time to pull it and close it out and move them on.  

As a devoted fan, I’ve noticed that Benjamin Hollingsworth’s character, Brady, has been on a redemption path throughout the series. This season, with Lark’s scheme and his complicated feelings for Brie, it seems his journey is far from over. Could we see him achieving self-justice in the future as this story unfolds?

The thing that I loved about the storyline and the aftermath of it was, as much as we can play this battle for Brady’s soul, I think he will always be the character that has the edge that he has. I don’t think we ever want to lose that. I think him getting redemption or revenge plays in season seven. But I’m always curious about the true nature of people and that’s what we’re still trying to get to with Brady. There was a moment where he confronts Jimmy (Ian Tracey) about the con and telling him that Lark (Elise Gatien) is not a part of it. I think Jimmy said something like, “You’re a low-down dirty devil just like me.” I think Brady always knows that he has that capacity and it’s the question of how many life circumstances can push him to the place of falling off the pedestal that he’s worked so hard to get himself back up to. 

Despite the deep romantic bond between Brady and Brie, it came as a shock to me that Mike still wishes to marry her, given that she had been unfaithful. What could possibly be the reason for this? Can you offer any insights on this?

In season seven, we’ll delve deeper into all aspects. Mike (Marco Grazzini) harbors deep affection for Brie, yet he faces a challenging obstacle as he competes with a man who consistently seems to hold an edge over him. As a police officer, Mike tends to see things in stark contrasts, but I believe there’s more complexity to his feelings than he realizes. Sometimes, certain men can easily sweep issues under the rug, employing a sort of mental trick that says ‘nothing more to see here,’ and then move forward. I think this season will explore the depths of Mike’s emotions, as he grapples with his lingering feelings for Brie and his desire to overcome this hurdle. The central question of the season becomes: can they both move past their issues?

You also introduced a new timeline this season and gave fans a first look at young Everett (Callum Kerr) and Sarah (Jessica Rothe), with the prequel series currently in the works. What was it like bringing in those new characters?

It was exciting just from a storytelling perspective. When I came in, I was like, “I want the river to get deeper.” It was a lovely river and it was beautiful and it had some good movement to it, but I just wanted it to have more layers. So to be able to add a timeline to it and start to fill in some of the gaps of the history of the area and of the characters is really exciting. But finding Sarah and Everett, we cast for several months looking for the right duo, and Jess and Callum were it, so it was nice. We ended up holding all their scenes to shoot them all at once in Vancouver, so it was kind of fun. We sort of put the mothership aside and then played with the fun period of the cars and the wardrobe and the locations and everything and got to see them over a big time span of when we see them in the ‘70s, when we see them in the ‘80s. You could just feel it with everybody on the crew that it was a fun new thing to do and to explore in a series that they already know and love so well. 

After Mel and Jack’s wedding, the current season ended on several suspenseful notes involving Marley (Rachel Drance)’s baby and Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley). Will they manage to go on a honeymoon next season amidst all the chaos?

Absolutely, it’s a strong possibility! It’s certainly something that’s at the top of our thoughts, and it seems like an exciting prospect for the audience. The specifics are yet to be determined, but rest assured, it’s on our agenda. They might need to venture up to Vancouver for this event, though I did chuckle as I said that! If they make a trip north from northern California to Vancouver, we can work out the details. (Smiles)

Given all the suspenseful moments, the primary query that lingers in my mind is: what became of Charmaine? Since she was only featured a few times during the season, could this have been a deliberate choice to make her disappearance the climactic surprise at the end?

As a devoted fan, I’ve come to appreciate the intricate balance between the suspenseful crime aspects and the romantic core of “Virgin River.” Initially, the crime elements were evident, serving a vital role in creating tension and high stakes. However, at its essence, this series is a heartwarming romance with a relationship focus, intertwined with medical drama elements as well.

When we paired her with Calvin (David Cubitt), it gave the story a more emotional depth instead of making them mere plot devices in a crime saga. We subtly incorporated him into each episode to keep him relevant. I aimed to portray Calvin as a shark, always present but unpredictable – you never knew when or how he would resurface. This was intentional and Lauren was a true professional. She traveled from Nova Scotia for the show and was flexible with her schedule, which was greatly appreciated. However, it was also part of our plan to keep Calvin’s presence ongoing, leading up to that major revelation at the end. With the twins’ storyline wrapped up and Marley’s baby introduced, the focus now shifts to Mel and Jack’s journey towards parenthood – a mystery we’re eager to unveil.

Now that Virgin River has been renewed for its seventh season, can you give us a hint about what viewers might see in the upcoming season?

We raised the bar so we’re definitely wanting to deliver in season seven. I think we’re gonna play out the Marley cliffhanger and see what effect that has for Mel and Jack. We are getting into some of Hope’s (Annette O’Toole) back story a little bit more through the character of Roland, who we introduced last season [season six]. We’re gonna see more of Mel and Jack and finding their purpose on the farm and how that is going to become a part of their life, which again is just another opportunity to expand the series as we go and put them in this new world.

But what I’m excited about too, specifically with Mel and Jack, is getting to see them exist as newlyweds and see how, in the past of the series we’ve seen them going down their respective paths and helping each other, and now they really have to work together to build a life together. I want to show that marriage matters and that it’s not just a piece of paper and it’s not just name changes, but I want to find ways that their relationship dynamic can change in this new chapter for them.  

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Virgin River season six is currently streaming on Netflix.

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2024-12-21 20:56