Virgin River debuted on Netflix in December 2019, and the fifth season of the series just concluded with the release of two Christmas episodes. The first half of the fifth season, which consisted of ten episodes, was released in September. According to Deadline, showrunner Patrick Sean Smith (Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, Chasing Life) spoke about Virgin River, specifically plans for season six and whether or not it will be the series’ final season.
In an interview with Deadline, Smith was asked whether or not the sixth season of Virgin River will include Christmas episodes like season five.
Smith stated, “No, I don’t know if I would do the holidays again. 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 added, “I think we’re probably looking at a 10-episode season moving forward.”
In addition, Smith revealed that season six will involve a time jump, stating, “But we do intend to do another time jump from the holidays to when Season 6 starts so we can anticipate a bit of a time jump. I don’t know exactly how many months but it won’t be a direct pickup from the holidays.”
When asked about the writing process and whether or not scripts have been completed, Smith explained, “We were halfway through when we broke for the strike. So coming back to it, we’re finishing the second half. But also, we have the privilege of getting some audience reactions to Season 5. So we’re able to go back into the first half and do a little bit of course correcting. Not an overhaul at all, but it’s just nice to know what resonated for the fans and what did what.”
Smith was also asked by Deadline whether or not he is preparing for season six to be the series’ final season. Smith replied, “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.”
The series is based on the novel franchise of the same name by author Robyn Carr (What We Find, The Wanderer). The premise revolves around Melinda Monroe, played by Alexandra Breckenridge (She’s the Man, This Is Us), and her life in a small town called Virgin River.
The completed fifth season of Virgin River can now be streamed on Netflix.