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Welcome back,Virgin Riverfans!
Youre up to speed, so lets recap.
And indeed, the store owner admits that shes given Mel the Vanna, not Ophelia.
Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson.Credit:Netflix
More puzzlingly, the woman doesnt seem to care, despite Brie stating, She hasreceipts.
The shop owner, who is clearly unconcerned about her Yelp reviews, suggests that they alter the Vanna.
Not to bring this recap to a dead stop already, butwhatttt?
Kai Bradbury as Denny Cutler and Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie.Netflix
Mel paid for the Ophelia!
What do you mean shes going home with the Vanna?
Will there at least be some kind of refund?
Colin Lawrence as Preacher and Kandyse McClure as Kaia.Netflix
Rivers of complimentary champagne for the group?
Store credit toward Mels third wedding?
(JK on that last one.)
Tim Matheson as Doc and Annette O’Toole as Hope.Netflix
Were reminded once again that Brady and Brie broke up because he kept things from her.
To be fair, he had reasons!
Reasons that involve Bries new boyfriend Mike (Marco Grazzini), which adds salt to that still-open wound.
Martin Henderson.Courtesy of Netflix
Anyway, what Kaia takes out of this conversation is that secrets ruined his relationship.
But he should be.
Meanwhile, Doc and Hope are still going strong.
Grayson Gurnsey as Ricky and Sarah Dugdale as Lizzie.Courtesy of Netflix
His eye treatment was successful.
Theyre canoodling like teenagers.
So thats how much time has passed, apparently!
Callum Kerr, Jessica Rothe.Courtesy of Netflix
It is April, and hope springs eternal, she says.
Hes relieved that hell be able to keep practicing thanks to his renewed eyesight.
Mels having less luck with both father figures in her life.
Zibby Allen, Colin Lawrence.Courtesy of Netflix
And nothings going to keep him from the Rolling Stones concert hes headed to.
In the present, Mels shocked that this is her parents meet cute.
Everett describes her mom as beautiful and sharp as a tack.
Ben Hollingsworth as Dan Brady.Netflix
Gee, kinda like a certain strawberry blonde we know.
As the episode unfolds, Mel learns the rest of the story.
(We also see the mechanics red-headed kid: a very young Bert!)
Annette O’Toole as Hope, Christina Jastrzembska as Lydie and Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen.Courtesy of Netflix
As night falls, they settle into folding chairs with a fire, whiskey, and Everetts guitar.
Its no treatise on the designated hitter, but it gets Sarah to kiss him already.
Thankfully, he listens to his heart once again and wades into the crowd to find her.
Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel.Courtesy of Netflix
Ugh nooooo, sheSerendipitydit!
Also, she described Bob Dylans singing voice as sounding like a cat complaining.
I dont see these two making it work.
Martin Henderson, Alexandra Breckenridge.Courtesy of Netflix
Of course, present Everett doesnt feel anything but love for his long-lost Sarah.
Geez, Mel reallycando anything.
Phil and Darla are the adoptive parents of her baby.
Kandyse McClure as Kaia and Colin Lawrence as Preacher.Courtesy of Netflix
Romance is also in the air for Muriels, whos been fixed up by her well-meaning friends.
Oh gosh, were getting a Muriel breast cancer story this season, arent we?
NOT MURIEL!!!
Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel and Martin Henderson as Jack.Courtesy of Netflix
Hopes not present for the pre-date festivities because shes barely left Sugars side.
Did… did we know any of this before?
I dont recall talk of Hopes ex or a ranch history.
Teryl Rothery as Muriel and Mark Ghanimé as Cameron.Netflix
He wants to do emergency medicine, and interning at the clinic lets him get started right away.
Now to the serious stuff: Preachers trial.
Courtesy of Netflix
At first, Jacks testimony is fine.
Colin Lawrence as Preacher, Marco Grazzini as Mike, and Zibby Allen as Brie.Netflix
He and Preacher served in the Marines together, which is where his friend earned a Purple Heart.
Then a text comes in from Brady that reads, Thinking of you and Preach.
First, I dont seeMiketexting his girlfriend exactly when she most needs it.
Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel.Courtesy of Netflix
Second, Im intrigued that Brady texts with punctuation and capitalization.
This show and this couple are going to be the death of me.
When Brady gets home, he finds Lark in tears because her mother needs dialysis but has no insurance.
Jessica Rothe as Sarah.Courtesy of Netflix
He immediately asks if theres anything he can do, but Lark just asks him to hold her.
When she positions herself in his arms facing away from him, the distress vanishes from her face.
(He gave Jacks phone to Jenkins the night he got shot.)
Zibby Allen as Brie and Marco Grazzini as Mike.Courtesy of Netflix
Jack says its a coincidence, but Mel suggests that all the pain in their past brought them together.
She then shares a quote Jack recognizes fromA Farewell to Arms: The world breaks everyone.
Afterward, many are strong at the broken places.
Elise Gatien as Lark and Ben Hollingsworth as Brady.Courtesy of Netflix
That’s him, she says.
Stronger because of the damage.
The alternative is a jury trial, where hed face 25 to life.
Tim Matheson as Doc, Annette O’Toole as Hope, Martin Henderson as Jack, Alexandra Breckenridge as Mel.Courtesy of Netflix
Furthermore, a plea could embolden the prosecution to go after Paige next.
Hes going to testify.
He got Jacks invite to the wedding, and hes preparing to ship out in a few weeks.
Martin Henderson as Jack.Courtesy of Netflix
Lydies elated, of course, and Jacks delighted too.
Not good, my guy!
Really, really not good, my guy!
Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson.Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix
Good grief, Pony gothuge.
Do dogs grow that fast?
Anyway, Mel asks Everett to continue his story about falling in love with her mom.
Tim Matheson, Alexandra Breckenridge.Courtesy Of Netflix
Life pulled them apart over and over, but they always found their way back to each other.
Life before the internet was weird.
Everett tells Mel that they helped each other heal, and out of that came you.
John Allen Nelson.Courtesy of Netflix
At the clinic, its time for Denny to start his internship.
Sure, go ahead and invite the doctors college-age grandson who has no training or qualifications!
Love him, hate her, somebody save Brady!
Despite being a rookie, Brady offers to get lowered in for the rescue.
After all, he did three tours in Iraq, and Jake knows him.
Im relieved to see Brady put on his thinking face at this news.
Jenkins lawyer-splains to Brie that a murder conviction comes down to character, and Preacher’s a proven liar.
But actually, no.
A murder conviction comes down to beyond a reasonable doubt based on evidence.
They didnt call the police because Weswasthe police.
Preacher says he did what he did to protect Paige.
Hes furious that she was just granted sole custody.
Jack tells Calvin to beat it, leaving Charmaine to beat herself up for all her bad choices.
The jurors leave to deliberate, and everyone scatters.
Jack gets a visit at the farm from Ricky, whos drinking and driving and slurring his words.
He was strong enough, and Ricky will be, too.
Rest assured, this kills the mood and leads to nothing nothing.
Jenkins says make it 300 and shes got a deal.
They have a deal.
The trial’s over.
You know what that means, right?
Everyone gathers at Jacks, where we get a ton of forward plot motion.
Muriel tells Mel that she scheduled her biopsy and rescheduled the date she cancelled with Walt Booth.
Queen Hannah is wise.
Mel breaks the news to Doc that she wants Everett to walk her down the aisle.
Docs disappointed, but he understands and agrees to do a reading instead.
Brie enters to applause and heads to the bar, where Bradys making a Shirley Temple for Hazel.
Brie orders the same, but with alcohol, then tells Brady she heard he went allMission Impossibleearlier.
Liddys there, too, and tells Jack that shes scared about Rickys deployment.
Then Preacher and Brie start talking about bachelor and bachelorette parties, and the mood lightens again.
Episode 4: Brothers & Sisters
Grab your feather boas and your protective goggles its party time!
Everybodys ready to let off some steam at Jack and Mels goodbye to singledom parties!
The dress code is urban cowgirl for the women and fatigues and combat boots for the men.
They confess their fears about the crossroads theyre facing.
If so, good for them!
Lizzie in turn says shes scared to become a mother but doesnt know how to tell Denny.
Being scared just means shell be a good mom.
Sidenote:Virgin Riveris one of the most gorgeous shows on television.
(As youll recall, Denny has been diagnosed with Huntingtons Disease.)
That evening, he cant stop worrying about what this means for Lizzie.
Doc says, Loving you is never a burden and promises to always support him.
A+ grandpa work there.
So lets catch up with those partygoers.
They have a quick were good, right?
To celebrate Mel, Brie and Kaia planned stops at places representing her past, present, and future.
(Mel insisting that Joeys actually amatronof honor doesnt help things.)
Next stop is axe throwing to represent Mels present as a farm-dwelling horse-owner.
(Horse babysitter, Mel quickly says.
Hope’s finding Sugar a permanent home!)
This means canceling the stripper, and Brie asks Kaia, Are you good to call the firefighter?
Brie doesnt quite look convinced, but she raises her glass to the stable men theyre with now.
Happily, the original third stop was Jacks bar to represent Mels future.
Everyone points to the newly single Muriel as the replacement bride-to-be.
This leads to an enthusiastic performance by the dancer, much to the delight of all involved.
Joey admits that its hard to see Mel with a new sister and a new dad.
Mel, of course, says Joey means everything to her.
Cop or firefighter, though?
At this point, let’s rewind to catch up with the male half of the festivities.
Lark blames her mother for not following doctors orders and guilts Brady for not trusting her.
You know you’re able to tell me anything.
I’m not Brie, she says.
You’re definitely not!
Brady clearly agrees with me because he makes a hasty excuse and bails.
He says no, but that doesn’t erase the glower from Brady’s face.
Mike tries to make an elaborate attack plan, but Brady ignores him and dives in like a berserker.
Over a dinner of ribs, Mike jokes that Brady went rogue again and tanked the paintball mission.
But Mike screwed him over then just like he did with…
Here, Brady stops himself before he says Brie," muttering that they should just drop it.
But Mike gets in his face to say that Brady’s the one screwing up his own life.
The men leap at each other and have to be separated.
All good suggestions, but might I also add: therapy.
Its delightful to watch the lads being lads.
Instead of confessing her schemey scheming ways, Lark says shes falling in love with him too.
Many thumbs down from me.
Brady’s leaving the BNB where Lark and Hazel are staying when he gets a voicemail from Brie.
As we all suspected, she chose the firefighter!
Finally, a tipsy, giggly Mel gets dropped off at home, where Jacks there to greet her.
They agree that their nights hit rough spots but ended well.
Mels only regret from the night was not getting a stripper.
Its the perfect end to their celebratory night.
Episode 5: Love Story
Whos up for a drive-in movie?
To be fair, the choices arePorkys, Texas Chainsaw Massacre,andEnter the Dragon.
A few of the wedding party members are having rough mornings after the revelries of the previous night.
Bries also having an unpleasant morning, although this one involves regrets of the I left a voicemail forwho?
This gives Brie the opportunity to call Brady.
Friends, I do think it’s something Brie ought to worry about.
Lark continues to look uneasy about this deception she’s trapped him in.
When Brie spots Brady’s girlfriend with one of his sworn enemies, it gets her wheels turning.
But the calls glitchy, so hes on his own to take care of the subdural hematoma.
This involves a portable electric drill and a queasy college-aged intern.
just take a second to processthatthought.
Well, Im sure thats the end of that, right?
Most entitled men with a grievance give up and go away quietly, right!
Docs less upbeat when he arrives at Twin Lakes.
Is… is that how it works liability-wise in a medical setting?
Bless Hopes heart, though.
eyebrows eyebrows
Jack and Mel are also down when they meet for the movie.
Mels upset that she pushed Everett too hard, but Jack assures her that she didnt do anything wrong.
They promise that theyll do better by their own kids.
Ooookay, its time for the next round ofBut Daddy I Love Him: The Brie and Brady Story.
She was visiting Hazels dad Jimmy in prison.
A guard even confirmed that Lark is Jimmys girl.
Brady doesnt take the news… shall we say… well.
Then he immediately deflates at the realization that Larks been playing him for the insurance money this whole time.
Of course, a hug is dangerous with these two.
When they pull away, Brady kisses her, then immediately apologizes, but Brie pulls him right back.
After that, it’s on.
Also, I see you,Virgin Rivermusic supervisor.
Taking place between two people already in relationships?
Listen, Im sorry that I am the way I am about these two, but…shhh.
Let me enjoy this.
(Okay, fine, Im also sorry that Brie cheats on Mike here.
Hes not a bad dude; hes just not Brady.
Lark, however, can kick rocks.)
Too little, meet too late.
Also Kaia got her popcorn and M&Ms.
(I would love to hear this womans work stories.)
Looks like Jack’s headed to Sacramento for an awkward visit!
This leaves Hope and the wedding committee to their last-minute plans.
In other ex news, Camerons in town for the wedding!
Cameron assures Doc that hes got nothing but good things to say.
NOT MURIEL!!!!
Two things about this scene: one, Cameron looksgreat.
The grey-flecked beard is doing the work.
How bittersweet that he’s also the first person to learn her life-shaking news.
Lizzie and Denny arent exes… yet.
But they seem to be headed in that direction thanks to their lack of communication.
With Docs encouragement, Denny tries to talk about how they’ll manage his Huntingtons in the future.
Sorry about the additional upheaval in that child’s life, butbyeeeee, Jimmys girls!
And hellooooo, Jacks former love!
Is it me, or do Mandy and Charmaine look more than a little alike?
Behold, Jacks pop in before Mel!
We also learn that Mandys maintained a close relationship with Jacks mom.
I will always love her for the role she played in my life, Amelia concludes.
And isnt that lovely?
That night, Mel watches in delight as Jack sweet-talks Charmaines twins.
Jack didnt even bother to read the letter that came with it, saying it doesnt matter.
What happened still happened.
Mel suggests that the medal says otherwise.
Shes also decided to make her married name her middle name when she marries Jack and become a Sheridan.
He threatens to hurt anyone who tries to keep him from his kids.
Time for a million restraining orders!
And what Jacks got is a lawyer sister.
(They, uh, used to call me the little horse whisperer, she says unconvincingly.)
This frees up Hope to be a tyrant to the wedding planning committee.
Lizzie shouts right back, unimpressed with Hopes Im old, and that beats pregnant argument.
They make up and decide to throw all that rice at the printer that messed up the programs.
(Hope makes plans to sweep it up afterward as an exasperated Lizzie says, Its a legend!)
Shes now a critic forFood & Winemagazine and pops into Jack’s while she’s in the area.
Heres hoping she takes him up on the suggestion!
Jacks all How hard can it possibly be?
which means hes clearly not aYellowstonewatcher becausePEOPLE DIE.
Jack is, unsurprisingly, taken aback.
Jack suggests that this is a result of her ongoing trauma from being sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend.
So instead of Xanax, she’s doing Brady.
(Um, ouch.)
And part of that, Jack says, means Brie believing that she deserves a good guy like Mike.
(Tell me again how Brady’s such a terrible guy?)
Lark begs him to give her the benefit of the doubt, but fool me once, ya know?
Mikes there to ask if Brady knows about any illegal activities Calvin might be up to.
Whats the emergency, you ask?
Why, a rockslide, of course!
But first, Mel and Everett need to make up.
He confesses that he never did finish the song he wrote for her mother.
Also, his run-in with Doc at the drive-in convinced him to stay out of Mels life.
It’s more Mr. Hyde than Dr. Mullins than Mel’s used to.
But she freaks out when she sees Brady because she blames him for Jebs death.
Once everyones been treated, Doc curtly takes his leave, leaving Mel confused.
But Everetts proud of her and offers to continue their journey to her mothers special place.
He even puts a tentative, yet paternal, hand on her back as they head to the vehicle.
Hi again, Jimmy’s girl.
Bries nothing to see here!
face continues to need some work, but Mikes happy to make out with her anyway.
Is breaking a horse that easy?
Are hospitals liable for what unaffiliated small-town doctors do?
OnlyVirgin Riveris brave enough to ask these questions.
The Everett of today told Mel that he hadnt been back since Sarah died.
My goodness, this love story is heartbreaking!
But Mel and Jack look for the good and pick some of Sarahs wildflowers for their rehearsal dinner.
Doc says he wants to keep her from getting hurt, and Mel snaps, Its not your job.
Youre not my father.
Reader, I gasped.
I slapped my hands to my cheeksHome Alone-style.
And I dove into the next episode.
Episode 8: Going Overboard
Know who can hold a grudge?
Know who else can hold a grudge?
If all else fails, Hope says, Jack needs to put on his sad puppy dog face.
(As Queen Hannah puts it, its all now rotten pork yogurt.)
Amelia and Sam then hassle the young couple about marriage and grandchildren.
For Bries sake, I hope the riverboat has an open bar.
When Doc arrives for the fake medical emergency, he and Everett immediately start sniping at each other.
She then gets an emergency call a real one this time and makes her exit.
Seems like this seasons setting the stage for a future Mel/Jack adoption, no?
Doc and Everett use this break in the wedding action to scrub the air.
He’s blamed Everett ever since.
But today, Everett admits that he drove into that tree on purpose.
He was despondent over Sarahs death and her husbands refusal to let him get in contact with Mel.
So that’s the story.
Hopefully both of Mel’s remaining dads can find harmony moving forward.
Denny and Lizzie finally have an honest conversation about their future that leads to a compromise.
She also jokes about needing a copy ofWhat to Expect When Youre Expecting a Catastrophic Demise.
Ooooh, Doc and Mel would be mad if they knew!
Brady and Lark aresighback together andsiiiighhhhhfull speed ahead.
Brady visits Jimmy in prison to smugly say hes going to take good care of both of Jimmys girls.
Good thing, too, because Lark says Hazels already picked out the earrings she wants him to wear.
He agrees, then adds, Not the purple ones.
Time for the rehearsal dinner!
The riverboats about to pull away when Doc comes running down the pier, shouting for them to wait.
He says that his talk with Everett made him realize how important Mel is to him.
Bries whole body cringes away from this knowledge as Mike jokes, Nothing gets by me.
For Bries sake, lets hope thats not the case.
(Okay, Im actually torn on that.
And even if itwasa one-time thing, are there still feelings there, and does that change her calculus?
Ethics are hard!)
Alone in his home, Everett strums and sings his way into completing his song for Sarah.
I finished it, baby, he tells his well-worn photo of her.
Then he starts sweating and coughing, and he grabs at his arm as he falls to the floor.
But first, weve got a medical crisis.
Jack kicks open Everetts door, and in her panic, Mel shouts, Dad!
Hes loopy from the drugs but says he saw Sarah while he was non-response.
He insists that they not postpone the ceremony So I came back from the dead for nothing?
he retorts when she suggests this and promises that both he and Sarah will be with her.
Everetts next visit is with Doc, who agrees to walk Mel down the aisle in Everetts place.
Then the men start to make plans to surprise Mel at the ceremony.
Hayes is downright giddy to add more evidence to Docs negligence case.
This leads to a blow-out fight between Hope and Doc.
Hes livid that shes so flippant about jeopardizing his legacy and snaps, Youre just too much."
This wounds Hope to the core, but Doc refuses to apologize.
No idea where Doc would get the idea that she’s too much.
Denny has hearts in his eyes as he thinks about her parenting their daughter like that.
Bries day starts over breakfast with Mike and her parents.
That was her other sister, Donna.
I do hope we get to meet these mythical Sheridan siblings today!
And if Sams trying to be a better man for Amelia, she owes him the chance to try.
Yet again, Bries conflicted thinking face speaks volumes.
When she swings by Paiges Bakeaway to grab coffees for the bridesmaids, she bumps into Lark.
Well, that’s gonna be awkward when Lark shows up at the wedding on Brady’s arm…
I understand its a busy day after a draining night, but hello?
Recent restraining order against her terrifying ex?
Is not one of these women concerned?
(His presence is a gift from Hope.)
They have some lovely sister moments as Joey gets her ready to walk down the aisle.
None of this was Mel’s idea, but what Hope wants, Hope gets.
As Mike says, thats classic Jack: no man (or horse) left behind.
The elusive Donna and Mary Sheridan are in the house!
Shes a woman who was… committing… a con.
(Thank you, show, for letting the cast be funny in moments like these.)
I was, he says.
But she didn’t want me.
Yes, she did, Brie whispers.
When Brady asks Brie if she still loves him, her non-answer is that shes with Mike.
Since the moment he saw her.
And he’ll never love anyone the way he loves her.
He chose her immediately and forever; the question was always whether Brie would choose him back.
Ohhh, this is bad, Brady.
With the ceremony ready to get underway, Mels starting to panic and sends for Jack.
Hes overwhelmed at the sight of her in her dress (the sewing circle really did work miracles!)
but is immediately concerned when she admits that shes drowning in anxiety over all the losses in her past.
Mel says it’s not that she doesn’t want to marry him.
Jack reminds her that he accepts her as she is, broken places and all.
We both bring a life thats been lived, he says.
I get you, and Ive got you.
I’ve got you too, she replies.
Forget about any words they’ll speak in front of their wedding guests;theseare their true vows.
Then they walk arm in arm toward Mels future.
He tells Jack how proud of him he is and how much he loves him.
And they enlist Jack to help them pull it off.
Courtesy Of Netflix
Kaia and Brady meet at the bar, havingbeen through itat this wedding so far.
Bradys rattled from the conversation with Brie and from Larks coldness to him afterward.
(She got sarcastic about the long lemonade line and alluded to how plans can change.
As he speaks, Kaia visibly melts.
Next, they cut the cake my kingdom for a taste of whatever deliciousness is happening there!
and launch into their first dance.
But instead of the song theyve chosen, its Everett playing and singing the now-finished song for Sarah.
Gotta say, that man looks good for someone who was dead 24 hours ago.
Yep, this is the best example of pulling a Hope!
Mel’s overwhelmed that her father made it after all.
This better not be the last time these two see each other, show!
Thats good enough for Preach, and they step into the photo booth to capture some memories.
That may be technically true, but his omissions could fill a phonebook.
She delivers them playfully but OH MY GOD RED FLAG RED FLAG RED FLAG.
Outside of the barn, Mel and Kaia find Brie crying.
Then Mel adds that if she cant do that, she needs to let both of them go.
While the women hear Bries confession, Jack and his Marine buddies are chatting around a fire.
Instead of answering, Brie admits that she slept with Brady.
I have SO MANY QUESTIONS.
So they want Doc out of the way.
Big mistake, Grace Valley Hospital!
Oohh, convenient… assuming Mel and Jack are really ready for that step.
And thats where we leave things at the end of season 6!
The good news:Virgin Riversalreadyrenewed for season 7, making it Netflixs longest currently running scripted series.
So we’ll see each other again… when the river carries us home.
