We're addicted to drama (of the TV variety at least), which means we couldn't wait for both parts of Virgin River season 5 to land on Netflix. We'd been waiting a long time to check back in on Mel Monroe and the other residents of Virgin River, and the tension-filled new season certainly didn't disappont.
Virgin River is one of the best Netflix series around, and we already know that there's a sixth season on the way. Frankly, we're sure the Virgin River cast will need some time to recover after a packed season, featuring the usual romantic troubles and the addition of an enormous wildfire, as if there wasn't enough drama. It might not be super-sophisticated, but we think it's one of the best TV series around, so here's everything you need to know about the fifth season.
Who's in the Virgin River season 5 cast?
Alexandra Breckenridge returned to play Mel Monroe in Virgin River season 5, as did Martin Henderson, who plays Jack.
All of our key favorites were back for another dose of drama, including Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins and Colin Lawrence as Preacher. You just can't keep these guys away from Virgin River, however much drama befalls them.
The Virgin River season 5 cast list:
- Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe
- Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
- Colin Lawrence as Preacher
- Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes
- Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea
- Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins
- Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan
- Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts
- Ben Hollingsworth as Dan Brady
- Marco Grazzini as Mike Valenzuela
- Mark Ghanimé as Dr. Cameron Hayek
- Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler
- Grayson Gurnsey as Ricky
- Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie
- Kandyse McClure as Kaia Bryant
Virgin River season 5 release date and reviews
Virgin River season 5 arrived on Netflix on Thursday, September 7, 2023, with two holiday specials completing the season on Thursday November 30, 2023.
Thus far, the reviews for Virgin River season 5 have been overwhelmingly positive, with some saying that it's the best season yet. For example, Adam Lock of Ready Steady Cut wrote: "It's evident that the writers have learned from their past mistakes and have really thought about the structure and emotional core of this new season. This dedication pays off, and fans of the series will not be disappointed."
When it came to the specials, TV Fanatic had some nice things to say, writing that these episodes "delivered some sugar, spice, everything nice, and a dash of drama". What more can we ask for?
What is Virgin River season 5 about?
In Virgin River season 5, Mel adapts to a differently-paced life, Jack tries to grow his business, and the town's secrets begin to surface.
One big question we had after season 3 involved the baby daddy drama surrounding Mel's pregnancy. Thankfully, a test proved Jack is the father of the baby girl, but a major season 4 cliffhanger saw Charmaine reveal that her twins are, in fact, not Jack's. Season 5 continues this thread, and deals with Jack reckoning with the fact that he's not a father to the twins. Mel tries to help him come to terms with it, but he's not so easy to crack at first.
Elsewhere, Paige finally managed to lead herself and Christopher to safety with a little help from Preacher, who knocked Vince out before he could kill Paige. Season 5 picks up directly after this, showing the aftermath of this confrontation. Vince isn't dead, but he has been arrested. This is also a huge deal for Jack, who Vince shot earlier in the series.
Of course, as you can tell from the trailer, Virgin River catches fire, causing mass panic and a huge disaster. This is pretty chaotic, to say the least, and a good chunk of season 5 is spent in the aftermath of this as well as rebuilding the town after the tragedy.
Is there a Virgin River season 5 trailer?
The Virgin River season 5 trailer was released on August 9, 2023.
You can watch the trailer below. Virgin River fans were worried about Brady, which is understandable, as we saw him bloodied 47 seconds into the footage. You can also catch glimpses of Jack's anxiety surrounding parenthood, as well as the major fire that rips through Virgin River.
Where can you watch Virgin River season 5?
You can watch every episode of Virgin River season 5 on Netflix, including the two holiday episodes, right now.
Virgin River has always been a staple offering on one of the best streaming services and should continue to be there for as long as the show will run.
If you've already had your fill of Californian drama, you can also check out our comprehensive list of everything else new on Netflix this month.
How many episodes does Virgin River season 5 have?
Virgin River season 5 has 12 episodes, with the original run of 10 now joined by two Christmas specials.
This falls in line with season 4, which saw an increase on the ten-episode structure of the first three seasons. Netflix has used a two-part release structure often in 2023, including with The Witcher season 3, so we're not surprised that Virgin River got in on the act this time around.
Will there be a Virgin River season 6?
Yes, Virgin River season 6 is happening. Netflix has ordered 10 more episodes of the hit show.
Netflix announced it had renewed the show back in May 2023. At the moment, we don't know when the Virgin River season 6 release date will be, but we'll be sure and keep you updated.
If you're after more for your Netflix price, we've got a list of the best Netflix movies you can stream now. You can also check in on Wednesday season 2 and find out why Netflix viewers can't stop watching Tom Holland's saddest movie.