She also said yes.
DEADLINE:Lets start with that last, cut off line by Mels biological father.
What can you tell us about the nature of that important something he tells her?
(L to R) Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe, Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan in episode 511 of Virgin River.Netflix
Does Mel have more half siblings were not aware of besides Joey?
I grew up in a small town, everybody knows everybody, so everybody has an opinion of everybody.
DEADLINE:Does that mean that Everett will be part of Mels life?
(L to R) Annette O’Toole as Hope, Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins, Kai Bradbury as Denny, Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie,Martin Hendersonas Jack Sheridan, Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel Monroe in episode 512.Netflix
Is the actor playing him,John Allen Nelson,joining the cast as a series regular?
SMITH: I dont know as far as in what capacity, but he will [join].
It is a big thing that were exploring in Season 6.
DEADLINE:Going back to the cliffhanger, how big of a bombshell is Everetts reveal?
You said perhaps about Mel having more half-siblings.
That felt like weve bit off enough to chew, we dont need more.
DEADLINE:Did you ever consider having one of the existingVirgin Rivercharacters be the father?
Youve probably seen the fan speculation about Doc.
DEADLINE:Will that paternal competition change who will walk Mel down the aisle?
SMITH: Were figuring that out in the room so Ill let you know when it all is realized.
DEADLINE:Will Everett have ties to other main characters?
SMITH: Its something that were exploring.
How many weddings are we going to see next season?
SMITH: Well have to see.
it seems like its a great opportunity for a wedding season, doesnt it?
DEADLINE:It does.
SMITH(laughs): Okay, it felt like Charmaine had been through enough already.
Lets give her an easy pregnancy to balance and [a happy ending] on Christmas.
DEADLINE:Her four-season pregnancy has became a running joke among fans.
SMITH: Yes, that was a wink to, we know.
What can you tell us about the prognosis and how Doc and Hope will go through the trial?
So hell get a good prognosis out of it, but other challenges will arise.
DEADLINE:Did you say good prognosis?
SMITH: Were going get to see Doc in a good place.
DEADLINE:In terms of the procedure being successful?
Will they continue to be happy and content or will that resurface, him having ambitions beyond Virgin River?
SMITH: I think it plays out in a lot of different ways.
DEADLINE:I have to ask.
How many seasons will Lizzie be pregnant?
SMITH: Thats an excellent question.
Youll just have to wait and see.
DEADLINE:The time jump helped a little bit.
It will be fewer than four, I assume?
I dont know exactly how many months but it wont be a direct pickup from the holidays.
SMITH: Well find out what he says.
But then well have a jump in some way.
And maybe Lizzie already will have had the baby?
SMITH: Shell be closer to it.
DEADLINE:And Docs trial will be over by then?
DEADLINE: Virgin Rivers villains dont go away.
What is that is bringing them back into the story?
SMITH: They had such a presence for such a big portion of the series.
DEADLINE:Are you setting up Jimmy to be a villain next season?
He has been in danger for most of the last few seasons.
Is he back in danger next season?
Are we back to a love triangle?
SMITH: Weve been calling it a rectangle, with Brie, Mike, Lark and Brady.
For me, I love them as a couple, and I think that spark will always be there.
DEADLINE:So there is a possibility for Brady and Brie to be together again?
DEADLINE:Okay, note to self, no Mark and Brie wedding next season.
SMITH(laughs): You never know.
The show likes super big twists and cliffhangers, so you never know.
DEADLINE:Another long suffering character, Preacher, also hasnt been able to find love.
How much will that impact his storyline on a criminal as well as on a personal level?
And then this is reality coming back into these choices to see if shes making the right choices.
And that will be tested in the first part of the season.
DEADLINE:Will you handle the Wes body storyline in the first half of Season 6?
But then theres the law and then there is Preachers moral compass, which is strong.
So I think thats a lot of what were getting into with his character.
DEADLINE:The storyline with Cameron and Muriel is defying stereotypes.
One of the Christmas specials cliffhangers did allude the age gap which hadnt been addressed before.
How will this come to a head, with Cameron and Murial being in different stages in their lives?
We are definitely going to address all of that in Season 6.
Thats all I can say.
DEADLINE:How did the idea come about pairing those two characters up?
So we kind of ran with it.
DEADLINE: Obviously, Teryl is a great performer.
SMITH: I did not.
Teryl choreographed the whole number.
We get to see her on the stage.
We get to see them dancing together, and it just felt really romantic and sweet.
DEADLINE:Part 1 ended with Mel and Jack deciding to buy Lillys burnt out farm.
I dont remember that being addressed in the Christmas special.
Did the farm purchase happen during the time jump?
Where are Mel and Jack on their plans to rebuild the farm and start a family there?
SMITH: Their pursuit of parenthood will play prominently in Season 6.
DEADLINE:Where are you in the writing process?
I believe you had half of the season written before the strike.
Are you ready with with the scripts for the second half of the Season 6?
SMITH: We were halfway through when we broke for the strike.
So coming back to it, were finishing the second half.
But also, we have the privilege of getting some audience reactions to Season 5.
So were able to go back into the first half and do a little bit of course correcting.
DEADLINE:What surprised you about what resonated and what didnt in Season 5, your first as showrunner?
Theyre always game, theyre incredible.
DEADLINE:What has been the experience of taking over a very successful show?
SMITH: It was.
And I was like, that shouldnt be controversial.
DEADLINE: Virgin Riveris already five seasons in.
At this point in the run of a show, people typically start thinking about the endgame.
SMITH: No, I dont know if I would do the holidays again.
I think were probably looking at a 10-episode season moving forward.
But theres no plans of wrapping anything up.
