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Details on Every Single ‘Virgin River’ Season 4 Theory Out There

*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

The third season of Virgin River ended with a cliffhanger that left fans reeling, but fortunately, it won't be long before they get some answers.

In case you missed it, Netflix announced in September 2021 that Virgin River has been renewed for not just one, but two new seasons. Season four, which is set to premiere on July 20, will find Mel embracing the opportunity to become a mom, despite not knowing who her child's father is. Meanwhile, a charming new doctor rolls into town looking to settle down and start a family of his own.

So, what does this mean for the small-town residents? Will there be a new love triangle? And what about Jack’s shooter? Keep reading for every single Virgin River season four theory that fans should be aware of.

virgin river theory mels baby
Courtesy of Netflix

1. Jack Is The Father Of Mel's Baby

In the season three finale, Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) tells Jack (Martin Henderson) that she’s pregnant, and he might not be the father. While there’s a slim chance the baby is Mark’s (Daniel Gillies), the timing doesn’t match up, as one Reddit user points out. Since Mel was only in Los Angeles for a few days, it’s highly unlikely that she had enough time to undergo the procedure and recover from it before returning to Virgin River. In that case, the baby must be Jack’s.

“[Mel] was in L.A. for, like, three days and had the idea while she was there. I think she’s pregnant with Jack’s baby, at least I hope so,” someone wrote. Another added, “You don’t pop in on a whim and do IVF!” (Fair point.)

virgin river theory brie
Courtesy of Netflix

2. Brie Framed Brady

This might surprise some fans because the pair developed a romantic relationship in season three, but if Brady didn’t shoot Jack (like he claims), then someone must be responsible. And unfortunately, all signs point to Jack’s sister, Brie (Zibby Allen).

First, she’s one of the only people who had access to Brady’s car, where the gun was “planted,” which led to his arrest. Second, we still don’t know why Brie randomly showed up in Virgin River at all. Although she arrived just after the shooting, we can’t help but wonder if there’s a hidden reason behind her sudden entrance.

virgin river theory todd charmaine
Courtesy of Netflix

3. Todd Shot Jack

Yes, we’re talking about Charmaine’s (Lauren Hammersley) new partner, Todd (Patrick Sabongui), who isn’t the biggest fan of Jack. Not only is Todd against the idea of co-parenting with Jack, but he’s also trying to convince Charmaine to move out of Virgin River. And although we didn’t meet Todd until season three, that doesn’t mean he’s innocent. Perhaps he tried to solve the Jack problem by getting rid of him…for good.

virgin river theory preacher
Courtesy of Netflix

4. Preacher's Cliffhanger Is A Distraction (not A Death Sentence)

This theory originated because of the season three finale of Virgin River, which concludes with Preacher (Colin Lawrence) getting drugged, kidnapped and left for dead in the woods. It’s important to note that some fans believe Preacher’s storyline hints that Paige (Lexa Doig) is dead, but we don’t think that’s the case. Instead, we think that Vince (Ian Tracey) orchestrated the whole thing, so he can get to Christopher (Chase Petriw). Because as of now, the only thing standing between Vince and Christopher is Preacher.

virgin river theory mike
Courtesy of Netflix

5. Mike Is A Bad Cop

You probably know Mike (Marco Grazzini) as Jack’s friend who works in law enforcement, but this mind-blowing theory hints that he knows more than he’s letting on about the shooting. In fact, we’re starting to wonder if the writers are misleading us to believe that Mike is a “good cop” when he’s the exact opposite. As Looper pointed out recently, several fans have expressed their concerns on the show’s official Instagram page [LINK TO IG PAGE]. One comment read, “I don’t think Brady shot jack. I think Jacks ‘friend’ is the cop [who] shot Jack.”

virgin river theory lizzie
Courtesy of Netflix

6. Lizzie Is Here To Stay

Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) receives more screen time in season three, but the finale made fans question whether she’ll return for the next installment. This is mainly because Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey) reveals that he’s enlisting in the Marines. There’s a small possibility that Lizzie will leave Virgin River, but we don’t think that’s the case. If there’s anything we learned from past seasons, it’s that every character has a purpose—and we’re not convinced that Lizzie has served hers quite yet.

virgin river theory mel jack
Courtesy of Netflix

7. Mel & Jack Are Bound To Break Up

As much as we want Mel and Jack to have a happily ever after, it’s highly unlikely. First of all, Mel kept a major secret (i.e., the frozen embryos) from Jack, who doesn’t forgive easily. Second, Virgin River is a TV show, and the relationship between Jack and Mel has been far too perfect thus far. Yes, they’re still dealing with Jack’s ex, and they often bicker about starting a family, but for the most part, Mel and Jack have had a fairly smooth storyline arc since the shooting, so it’s only a matter of time before the writers throw us a curveball (or so we think).

virgin river 8
Netflix

8. Jack Is Not The Father Of Charmaine’s Babies

One observant fan did some sleuthing and discovered that Lauren Hammersley, who plays Charmaine, hasn’t been heavily involved in season four, which could be a hint that she’s only returning as a guest star. Perhaps the mother-to-be will be moving on with her life, fortunately for Jack.

The Reddit user wrote, “I'm pretty sure that she won't be a major character on the 4th season, meaning that it is very likely that (surprise, surprise—everyone rolling eyes) the show will find a quick way to solve the twins 3 seasons long drama. I think this is just the confirmation that Jack is not the father and Charmaine will be out of his life.” Fair enough.

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