So I knew that I totally wanted the holiday episodes to feel particularly lighter, given the weight of the events of season five. And I think that’s something the show does incredibly well, which has been to embrace the soapiness to keep the show interesting and twisty and high stakes, but then have the characters feel grounded and emotional in what they’re going through. When we were exploring the storyline, it felt like a bit of a soap trope. What was the thought process behind doing a merry scavenger hunt around Virgin River to find him? It was just fun to first imagine what it would look like visually, and not going so big that it feels over the top, but still be aspirational enough that you see a place and you’re just like, “I would like to sit on that couch next to that fire with that cup of cocoa, or that cup of mulled wine, and just be around all this drama.”Ī major storyline of the holiday episodes (the final two episodes of season five) was Mel finding her birth father.

You know, it’s such a natural extension of the show already, with it being cozy and a feeling of family and warmth. And of course, there’s no Virgin River seasonal event - this time, the Christmas tree decorating contest - without some challenges.īut as Smith looks ahead to the already renewed next season, he admits that his “intention was never to have subsequent seasons match the intensity of season five.” Below, Smith also talks The Hollywood Reporter about the importance of displaying real struggles - including Mel’s miscarriage and Jack’s PTSD - accurately balancing romance and crime his favorite couple and what fans can expect from season six.Īudiences finally got to see Christmas in Virgin River. Still, the beloved small town couldn’t escape at least some drama this holiday season, including Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) tracking down her biological father, who also lives in Virgin River. 'Virgin River' Star Alexandra Breckenridge on a 'Very Draining' Season 5, Mel's Miscarriage and the Difficulty of Birthing Scenes

Virgin river full cast and crew