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Virgin River is returning to Netflix for season 4 and it looks like this batch of new episodes could be even more dramatic than the last.
Through the last three seasons of the drama, based on the romance novel series by number one New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr, fans have followed the story of nurse practitioner Mel Monroe who moved to Virgin River from Los Angeles following the death of her husband.
In search of a fresh start, Mel believed she'd found a peaceful, idyllic location to settle down but it wasn't long before the complexities of Virgin River made themselves known.
Throughout the seasons, fans have seen Mel and her fellow Virgin River residents navigate life and love in their fictional small town.
So, what's in store for the season? Newsweek has everything you need to know about Virgin River season 4 on Netflix.
When Is the New Season of Virgin River Being Released?
A recent trailer confirmed that the new episodes of Virgin River will be arriving on Netflix on July 20.
There will be 12 one-hour-long episodes in season 4.
Who Is in the Cast for the New Season of Virgin River?
Fans will be delighted to know that most of the Virgin River favorites are back for the next installment. Here are the returning cast members:
Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe
Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
Colin Lawrence as Preacher
Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine
Tim Matheson as Doc
Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan
Grayson Gurnsey as Ricky
Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie
Annette O'Toole is also returning as Hope McCrea, after missing out on most of season 3 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, Mark Ghanimé joins the cast as the town's new doctor, Cameron Hayek, while Kai Bradbury returns as Denny Cutler, Doc's grandson.
What Happened in Virgin River Season 3?
The last season of Virgin River ended with it being revealed that Hope had been involved in a very serious car accident on the way to a funeral and required life-saving surgery. The episode concluded with the character in a medically induced coma, fighting for her life.
Virgin River left fans with another huge cliffhanger as the mysterious grandson of Doc (Tim Matheson) turned up looking for him and carrying a huge secret.
Elsewhere, Mel discovered she was pregnant—but is Jack the father? Before Jack's proposal at the end of the season, Mel and Jack had called it quits and Mel was seen visiting a fertility clinic in Los Angeles that had the embryos she and her late husband Mark (Daniel Gillies) had frozen. Viewers were left in the dark over the baby's paternity as exactly what happened during Mel's visit to the clinic was never revealed.
Meanwhile, Brady, who struck up a romance with Jack's sister Brie (Zibby Allen) was arrested, suspected of being the man who shot Jack in season 2 of Virgin River.
What Is the Plot of Virgin River Season 4?
The official synopsis from Netflix says: "Despite not knowing whether her baby belongs to her deceased husband, Mark, or Jack, Mel begins season 4 with a sense of optimism. For years she yearned to be a mother and her dream is one step closer to reality. While Jack is supportive and excited, the question of paternity continues to gnaw at him. Complicating matters is the arrival of a handsome new doctor, who's in the market to start a family of his own.
"Hope is still healing from her car accident and the lingering psychological effects of her brain injury will have profound consequences for both her and Doc. Brie, intent on proving the innocence of the man she loves, unexpectedly finds herself in a closer relationship with Mike and one step closer to Calvin's violent criminal web. Even as Preacher forges a new romantic connection, he can't help but hold out hope for being reunited with Christopher and Paige."
Is There a Trailer for Virgin River Season 4?
A trailer for Virgin River season 4 has been released by Netflix and it has teased a lot more dramatic storylines for the characters.
In the footage, it is made clear that Mel and Jack do not yet know who the father of Mel's baby is. Jack tells Mel that he doesn't want to find out in case it makes him feel differently about raising the child and he seems to be coping well with the impending arrival—until he begins drinking, that is. Jack is the owner of a bar in Virgin River and viewers know that he has struggled with post traumatic stress disorder in the past. Could his drinking turn into a bigger problem this season?
It is also hinted that Brady may not be Jack's shooter after all, despite being sent to prison for the crime.
Fans will no doubt be desperate to binge the new season but even after they've done so they don't need to fret—Virgin River has already been confirmed to return for season 5 so more episodes will be on their way next year.
Virgin River returns to Netflix on July 20.
About the writer
Laura Donaldson is a Newsweek Film and TV Reporter (SEO), based in Edinburgh, U.K. Her focus is on reality TV. ... Read more