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‘Virgin River’ Season 5 Is Here: Everything About the Cast, What to Expect in Part 2 & More

Part 2 arrives November 30

virgin river season 5 cat

If you’re anything like us, then you’ve been counting down the days until Virgin River season five arrived on Netflix (and scouring the internet for information in the meantime). Now, we finally have the first ten episodes of the latest season, with two “holiday episodes” set to drop on November 30. But, whether you’ve already watched or you’re waiting to binge all the eps at once, we’ve compiled a handy list of what Virgin River fans can expect from this new chapter.

From the release date to the cast list to the trailer (plus, our take on how season five holds up to previous installments), keep scrolling for details about Virgin River season 5.

Doc Mullins and Hope in 'Virgin River.'
Courtesy of Netflix

1. When Will Virgin River Season 5 Premiere?

Netflix has already dropped the first ten episodes of Virgin River season five, which premiered on September 7.

The new installment is being split into two parts and following these first ten eps, two special holiday episodes will debut on November 30. (FYI, this latest season was helmed by a new showrunner: Patrick Sean Smith.)

With the premiere of Part 1, a message was posted to the official Virgin River Instagram account, which read: “Todays the day! Virgin River S5 (Part 1) is now streaming only on Netflix. Who’s binge watching it right now?!”

virgin river season 5 preacher
Courtesy of Netflix

2. What Is Virgin River About?

Virgin River tells the story of Melinda “Mel” Monroe, a nurse practitioner who is looking for a fresh start after losing her husband, Mark. The first two seasons follow Mel as she adjusts to small-town living, while the third and fourth installments further explore her relationship with Jack. The fifth season picks up right where the finale ends, with Charmaine’s paternity bombshell and Preacher’s battle with Vince.

virgin river season 51
Courtesy of Netflix

3. Who’s in the Virgin River Season 5 Cast?

Virgin River features an all-star cast, including Alexandra Breckenridge (Mel), Martin Henderson (Jack), Colin Lawrence (Preacher), Lauren Hammersley (Charmaine), Tim Matheson (Vernon, or “Doc”), Annette O’Toole (Hope), Jenny Cooper (Joey), Lexa Doig (Paige), Ben Hollingsworth (Brady), Daniel Gillies (Mark), Zibby Allen (Brie), Sarah Dugdale (Lizzie) and Nicola Cavendish (Connie).

Executive producer and writer Richard Keith previously revealed that season five would feature some new faces. “There’s some new characters coming to Virgin River this season that will mix things up a bit,” he told Tudum.

Now with these first ten episodes, we've been introduced to these new characters, like Kaia (Kandyse McClure) and Ava (Libby Osler), while other rarely-seen figures, like Melissa (Barbara Pollard), have become more central to the story.

4. Is There a Trailer for Virgin River Season 5?

The new installment picks up right where the previous one ends—with Mel and Jack preparing to welcome a baby. Due to her high-risk pregnancy, Mel decides to take a leave of absence from work.

Of course, there’s drama on the horizon. When a wildfire threatens the town of Virgin River, the residents are forced to prepare for the worst.

All of these instances and more are teased in the trailer for Part 1, which is embedded above. However, we don't have a trailer for Part 2 of season 5 (yet).

5. Are There Behind-the-Scenes Photos From Virgin River Season 5?

Last year, Henderson shared a selfie on Instagram to kick off Virgin River season 5. “Jack’s back! Day 1 of shooting #virginriver,” he wrote in the caption. “Season 5—feels good to slip back into Jack’s boots.”

Leading up to the Part 1 premiere, various cast members teased the new installment with updates on their respective Instagram accounts.

Meanwhile, with the arrival of the first ten episodes, a celebratory slideshow was posted to the official Virgin River IG, featuring a BTS thirst trap of stars Lawrence and Hollingsworth.

How Did Season 4 End?
Courtesy of Netflix

6. How Did Season 4 End?

There’s a lot to unpack, so get ready. Preacher is caught in a love triangle with Paige and his new fling, Julia. Melissa is replacing Calvin as the town’s newest villain. Denny comes clean about his Huntington’s Disease diagnosis. Brie is trying to escape the wrath of her ex, Don. Charmaine also reveals the unthinkable: Jack isn’t the father of her twins.

vr hero
Netflix

7. How Does Virgin River Season 5 Compare to Previous Seasons?

No spoilers here, but let's just say that Virgin River season five certainly lives up to the hype. Fans of the romantic drama will not be disappointed, but they should be warned that this season is a little more serious than past ones.

In her 4.5-star review, PureWow’s senior editor for news & entertainment, Greta Heggeness, wrote: “We’ve been waiting more than a year for Virgin River season five to premiere on Netflix, and—to no surprise—it didn’t disappoint. Although we hoped for more feel-good moments, the entertainment value is at an all-time high. And that’s all we ask.”

Heggeness also adds that season five hits a different tone than past seasons. “While past seasons have pulled at our heartstrings, [season five’s] changes make the new episodes feel more dramatic and—dare we say—emotional than previous installments.”

We'll be streaming over and over.

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greta
Greta Heggeness

Senior Editor

Greta Heggeness is a California-based editor at PureWow and has been writing about entertainment since 2015. She covers everything from awards shows to exclusive celebrity...
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