Virgin River switched a major storyline from Robyn Carr’s books to sign a huge deal with Netflix to produce Season 6 of the hit series.

Based on Robyn Carr’s book series, the hit show Virgin River just dropped its sixth season on Netflix. Although the series deviated quite a bit from the books throughout its entire course, the difference is highlighted in Season 6. In it, the show veers a little from Mel and Jack’s storyline to give a backstory to her parents.

Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson as Mel and Jack in Virgin River | Credit: Netflix

In the books, her parents are never a big part of the story, hence never being properly introduced. But the show decided to focus on them as new characters, and the results have reportedly been marvelous.

The main reason behind that is the show creators’ idea to expand the Virgin River universe given the show’s popularity. And according to reports, they have already signed a deal with Netflix to make it happen.

Virgin River Season 6 ditched the books to produce a prequel

One of the main plot points Virgin River has deviated from the books, according to Screen Rant, is obviously Mel’s relationship with her parents. In the books, they do not show up at all, and as a result, their impact on Mel’s life has been infinitesimal.

In the show, though, Mel, played by Alexandra Breckenridge, is shown trying to come to terms with her mother’s death, along with her first husband’s demise.

Add New PostMartin Henderson and Alexandra Breckenridge in Virgin River | Credit: Netflix

This is what poses a huge obstacle to her diving headfirst into a marriage with Jack (Martin Henderson). Capitalizing on this theme, Season 5 of the show introduced her father, Everett, played by John Allen Nelson. Who, unbeknownst to her, has been living in Virgin River all along.

After their initial introduction, Season 6 focuses on Mel trying to build a relationship with her long-estranged father. Eventually, their conversation turns to her mother, Sara, who passed away when she was just a child.

While Mel finds it difficult to remember the woman Sara was before her illness, her father enlightens her on the woman he used to be so deeply in love with. This gives the show a chance to delve into their story, as the scene shifts to days past narrating a young Everett, played by Callum Kerr, and Sara’s, played by Jessica Rothe, first meeting.

This gives Mel a chance to connect more deeply with her parents, and in turn, provides her with the courage to embark on a new life with Jack by marrying him. It also helps the show set the premise for the next season which is going to dive into Sara and Everett’s story. And as reports suggest, it is already in the works.

Virgin River creator speaks of deciding to follow Sara and Everett into next season

Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith said in an interview with Variety recently that they had plans to expand the universe, but had to be cautious while casting. According to him, the idea of expansion itself came from watching John Allen Nelson portray present-day Everett in Season 5 of Virgin River.

Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda Monroe in Virgin River | Credit: Netflix

As the outlet reports, the creators knew they needed to delve deeper into his character and the relationship he shared with Sara, the first time they saw him.

He was in two scenes, and he was perfect.

As a result, they needed to be faithful in casting actors for a young Everett and Sara, who could portray the intensity of their relationship properly. Especially because according to Smith they always intended to establish their introduction in Virgin River Season 6 as a “back-door pilot”. Thankfully for them, they found Callum Kerr and Jessica Rothe soon enough.

We did chemistry reads with them and a couple of other actors who were really incredible. But Jess and Callum had such a spark together, such a fire together that it felt like we had hit gold in casting them.

Smith also disclosed that along with delving into Sara and Everett’s relationship, the next season will focus on how Virgin River came to be back in the 1970s.

Fortunately for fans, they probably will not have to wait very long for the next season to arrive as according to Deadline, it is already in the early stages of development.

Virgin River Season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.