Patrick Sean Smith, the new showrunner of Netflix’s instant comfort classic Virgin River, offers a brief timeline tease heading into season 5. The series, adapted from Robyn Carr’s novels of the same name, premiered on Netflix on December 6, 2019 and has quietly become one of its most popular shows. Season 4 was released on the streaming giant on July 20, 2022, dethroning Stranger Things for the top spot and racking up over 105.4 million viewing hours.
The season 4 finale featured plenty of cliffhangers that left audiences eagerly awaiting the next installment. This trend has become a staple of the show, with seasons 1 through 3 all leaving viewers hungry for more. In September 2021, Netflix renewed Virgin River for seasons 4 and 5 simultaneously. Though seasons 1-3 featured ten episodes each, season 4 contained twelve episodes, with season 5 likely to follow suit. However, the new season could look a little different, as Sue Tenney, who headed up the show for the first four seasons, will be stepping away to focus on other projects.
In a recent interview with Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings, discussed his plans for Virign River season 5. As a fan of the show, he also mentioned his enthusiasm for the work ahead. Smith said:
The cast cares so much about the show and the fans, and they want to put on the best show possible. I think they’ve done that for the past four seasons, so it just makes it easier for me to pick up the ball and keep running into Season 5 and beyond. There is a lot going on, and it took me a while to get my head around what [the characters have] all been through, where they’re heading and where I’d like them to go. I wanted it to be as seamless as possible. Season 5 picks up right after Season 4. There’s no time jump between four and five.
Speculation about what exactly Virgin River season 5 holds is already well underway, and Smith’s confirmation that there will be no time jump bodes well for getting swift answers on those season 4 finale twists. Though an official release date has yet to be announced, production began in July. Based on the release schedule of previous seasons, that puts season 5 down for a potential July 2023 release. Of course, nothing has been confirmed and considering that season 4’s trailer dropped just weeks before the show's return, it may be a long wait before any footage is released.
A showrunner switch is not an unusual move for a television series, especially longevity. With over 20 books to pull material from and plenty of viewer , the series is a strong contender for a lengthy Netflix run. There are often concerns with new showrunners entering an established series about remaining loyal to the tone and formula. Luckily, with most of the original cast expected to return and Smith’s iration for the previous seasons, it looks like Virgin River season 5 is in good hands.
Source: TVLine