Your favorite small town is in danger when Virgin River returns for Season 5 on Sept. 7. In addition to more romance, paternity drama, rural drug kingpins, and general small-town theatrics, a massive wildfire threatens to destroy the place the denizens of the quiet hamlet of Virgin River love most in the world. 

The series follows the residents of the titular Northern California town — including mayor Hope (Annette O’Toole), town MD Doc (Tim Matheson), bar proprietor Jack (Martin Henderson), nurse practitioner Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge), and chef Preacher (Colin Lawrence).

As you can see in the trailer above, Mel is prioritizing her high-risk pregnancy over her job, Preacher is getting a new love, and there’s some actual, literal mudslinging. But, as Hope tells her friends in the trailer, “We will rise from the ashes. That’s the power of Virgin River.”

Luckily, Christmas is coming early to the town in the form of two holiday episodes that will debut on Nov. 30.

In Season 5, we’ll see surprising new relationships, a shocking break-up, a difficult court trial, a heartbreaking goodbye, and a wildfire that threatens the town, bringing some residents of Virgin River together while tearing others apart. Issues of motherhood push Mel to make a big decision about her future at the clinic while her pregnancy unexpectedly sparks an emotional connection to her past. To further prove himself to Mel, Jack squares off with some long-overdue confrontations — with his own demons, and of course, with Charmaine. And as Doc and Hope’s respective impairments throw their identities into question, the doctor and the mayor must find solace in their community, in their young new family, and in each other.

New showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told Tudum when Season 5 began filming that he “couldn’t be prouder to join the Virgin River family. Together with its stellar cast and amazing crew, we’ve got great things in store for our fans worldwide.”

Read on to find out more about what to expect from the series’ fifth season.

When does Virgin River Season 5 premiere?

We’ll head back to the statuesque redwood forests of Virgin River when the first 10 episodes of Season 5 debut on September 7. An additional two holiday-themed episodes will debut November 30.

Can I see some new pictures from Virgin River Season 5?

You sure can. 

How did Virgin River Season 4 end?

There were three central mysteries in Season 4: Who’s the father of Mel’s baby? What’s the deal with Doc’s supposed grandson, Denny (Kai Bradbury)? And who actually shot Jack?

In true Virgin River style, all three were resolved. We found out that Jack is the father of Mel’s baby (and they’re engaged!) and Denny is exactly who he said he was (but he’s dealing with a terminal disease). As for Jack, he was shot by Vince, the ex-brother-in-law of Preacher’s crush Paige (Lexa Doig). It’s a long story, but Vince was searching for his brother/Paige’s ex Wes (who, by the way, is dead and buried), and ended up kidnapping his nephew/Paige’s son, Christopher (Chase Petriw). Luckily, Preacher was able to knock Vince out in a fight and Preacher’s cop buddy Mike (Marco Grazzini) is on his way to arrest Vince.

But it wouldn’t be Virgin River without even more questions being raised, like how drug dealer Calvin (David Cubitt) died in a boat explosion — or maybe didn’t. There’s also the fact that Jack and Preacher’s old war buddy Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth) is still entangled in a gigantic drug ring, which is run by Virgin River local Nick’s sister, Melissa (Barbara Pollard). Jack’s sister, Brie (Zibby Allen), is still in town and finally standing up for herself against the former co-worker who assaulted her. And Hope and Doc are both dealing with their own medical issues (a traumatic brain injury from a car accident and a degenerative eye disease, respectively).

The biggest cliffhanger of all? The revelation from Jack’s pregnant ex, Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley), that Jack isn’t actually the father of her twins after all. What?!

What is Virgin River Season 5 about?

The plot lines from Season 4 that demand to be dealt with include: What’s going to happen with Vince, Paige, Christopher and Preacher? What’s Denny’s prognosis? What kind of trouble has Brady gotten himself into this time? And who, exactly, is the father of Charmaine’s babies?

“What you can expect from Season 5 is a lot of answers to the questions you have been waiting for,” executive producer and writer Erin Cardillo told Tudum at a set visit last year. Hope’s recovery, Doc’s diagnosis, the Paige situation, Brie and Brady’s relationship — they’re all going to be addressed. 

Plus, executive producer and writer Richard Keith promised Tudum on the same set visit, “There’s some new characters coming to Virgin River this season that will mix things up a bit.” One of those characters is played by Battlestar Galactica’s Kandyse McClure.

Will there be a Virgin River Season 6?

Yes, Virgin River has been renewed for a sixth season to premiere on Netflix.

Every Twist and Turn of Mel and Jack's Relationship in Virgin RiverIt all started with a cosmo.