Virgin River Season 2 Roundtable
Virgin River Season 2 landed on Netflix on November 27th. Lots of us here at FANdemonium Network have binged the season so we decided to have a little discussion. Joining me (Clare) for this chat are Rike, PurpleBrina and Sophie. Here we go!
Virgin River Season 2 upped the stakes with multiple new characters and more drama for everyone. What was the biggest surprise for you?
C – That Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth) isn’t actually as dumb and reckless as I thought he was! I was genuinely surprised by the final episode when Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) produced the “proof of life” video of Spencer for Jack (Martin Henderson) and said that Brady had helped get him and his family out of town.
PB – Preacher (Colin Lawrence) wanting to leave Jack’s bar and moving to San Francisco.
R – I agree with PurpleBrina. I didn’t think he would consider leaving Virgin River behind. All those memories. But when you think about it, he got a point. A fresh start, away from the whole drama and a better job. However, with Christopher’s (Chase Petriw) return he will most likely rethink his decision.
S – I think I’m gonna have to agree with the above, Preacher wanting to leave, I see his point of view though. Jack wasn’t exactly open to the idea of making Preacher a partner even though he would be totally lost without him. I wasn’t surprised that Brady didn’t kill Spencer, he is a bit of an idiot but not that much.
What do you think Doc’s (Tim Matheson) mystery medical condition is?
S – I think it’s gonna be serious but I’m hoping manageable. It would be funny to see Hope (Annette O’Toole) telling him off for eating things he shouldn’t like he had to when she had a heart attack. They deserve a happy ending.
C – Well it’s clearly not his heart after that surprise. I really have no idea, but it better not be anything serious cos him and Hope getting back together was the sweetest thing.
PB – I think he is gonna have cancer. He was so serious when he was trying to talk to Hope about it.
R – I am with PurpleBrina on this. It’s most likely gonna be cancer and I don’t want this. I just want Hope and Doc to be happy, now that they are finally back together. Always here for them teasing each other most of the time.
Why do you think Paige (Lexa Doig) has sent Christopher to Preacher?
PB- I think her brother in law threatened to take Christopher. But honestly I feel like there is so much more to her storyline that we haven’t heard yet. She is hiding something more than what she is saying.
S – I think, she thinks Preacher will keep him safe no matter what, but like Preacher said he will have no legal hold over Christopher so I hope this doesn’t backfire. Whatever Vince’s message was it clearly has her scared.
C – That was one of the weirdest things for me. I was so confused as to why she would send him back into dangerous territory. Wouldn’t it have been better to send for Preacher to come to her?
R – With Vince being there it’s still dangerous. She probably thinks that Christopher is better off with Preacher. Obviously she’s still hiding some things from her past. There’s so much more to tell. Maybe she ended up in prison, or she’s planning something and doesn’t want Christopher to know anything and maybe even get involved. Drama incoming, that’s for sure! But Preacher will do everything to protect both of them. Paige and Christopher.
How did you react to Mark’s sister’s request?
S – I did not react well… In the slightest…. I think Mel handled it far better than I would have. I would have just thrown her out on her ass and told her to never come back. So insensitive especially after saying ‘oh by the way, we are holding a memorial for Mark but you are not invited’. I cheered when Mel shot her down.
C – I wanted to punch her. That was the most spectacularly insensitive thing a person could have said. “Oh yeah, sorry the love of your life is dead, can I have the ring he gave you to symbolise that love back?” Errrr how about NO! I was cheering when Mel shut her ass down!
PB – I am with C on this. She needed some sense slapped into her. I mean how freaking rude and unkind. She can say whatever she wants about what Mark told her and the family cause He isn’t here anymore for her to ask him. His family never liked her and it still shows now even 1 year after his death.
R – There’s only one possible reaction: What the actual hell? How dare she ask for this kind of thing? It’s a big NO from me. You can’t do that. She lost her husband a year ago and here she is, asking her to give her the ring. It remains very important, particularly for Mel. Thank god, that she came for her neck. I really wanted to punch her. Damn. Have some respect, please.
There were a bunch of new characters in Virgin River Season 2, who was your favourite?
C – I did like Jamie (Carmel Amit), it was kinda cool to see another “Big City” woman coming in and shaking things up. Less thrilled at the prospect of her stealing Preacher away, but who knows if that will happen now he has Christopher to worry about.
R – To be honest with you, there wasn’t any new character I really did like. I mean, those people are not bad at all (okay Stacie and Lizzie are “kinda” annoying), but they didn’t convince me either. Most of the time I was like: “Why did x/y do that?” Maybe things will change next season – IF there is one. Maybe there will be a new character competing with my favorite Brady (and Mark).
PB – I am not sure I have a favorite but I do like the Brady storyline and how he isn’t as bad as we thought he was.
S – I think I agree with Clare, I liked Jamie. She did a good job of keeping Preacher distracted, although don’t really like that she wants him to move. Also PurpleBrina, I’m loving the Brady storyline.
And your least favourite?
R – Stacie (Melinda Dahl). I really thought that Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) would be hard to beat, but here we are. They are both at the top of my list, that’s for sure. Charmaine a bit longer – ever since she first appeared on screen. With Stacie it’s just her whole appearance and the way she’s behaving. It’s just a big UGH, am I right? About Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale): She’s definitely not the perfect girl, but not as bad as other characters.
PB – I am not liking Lizzie! She is a pain in the a** and I don’t like how she is messing with Ricky’s head.
C – I am totally with you PurpleBrina. Lizzie needs a serious wake up call to stop behaving like a total brat. Anyone else feel like maybe we have a teen pregnancy storyline coming?
S – Charmaine and Lizzie are on equal footing for me, can not stand them. The sooner they go away the better. Charmaine is clearly living in some dream world where she hears the exact opposite of what Jack is telling her and she is just gonna break his heart.
What are your thoughts on Jack’s PTSD and drinking problem? Do you think he will have to hit rock bottom before he gets help?
PB – I feel like he really needs some help, someone to talk to about what is really bugging him. I would hate for something to happen to him or someone he loves but I feel like that might be the wake up call he needs.
R – I really do think he needs someone professional to talk to, or a moment which will turn everything upside down. Not sure IF him getting shot is kind of a flash point. Maybe things will get better after this. Maybe he will admit that he needs help. At least I do hope so. Let’s see!
C – Oooh good question. I was surprised we didn’t get more of that this season, although he definitely seems to be on a downward slope. I kinda thought maybe finding out that Charmaine is having twins would make him deal with it, but apparently it’s just made it worse. Perhaps in the aftermath of getting shot (because Mel is totally going to save him… right?) he will be more open to dealing with it?
S – I think the combination of the PTSD, Charmaine being a… well Charmaine and then Mel running out on him tipped him over the edge. I really hope that with Mel by his side he will start to deal with his demons.
What do you think of that big Season 2 Cliffhanger and who do you think shot Jack?
PB – I totally believe it was Calvin or one of his goons. I can’t see anyone else shooting him unless it was another random addict looking for money or drugs. But then again it could have been Brady and maybe Calvin needed him to ”prove” himself some more.
C – I never expected him to get shot, I kinda thought the season might end with Charmaine in labour or something, but considering she’s pregnant with twins she’s barely showing right now! I’m thinking it was one of Calvin’s goons, maybe Calvin himself after a struggle. I can’t see that there is anyone else with enough motive
S – I was in shock. I sat there mouth open like a fish. For like 5 minutes! Calvin might have ordered it but wouldn’t do it himself. I really hope it wasn’t Brady cause we only just found out that he isn’t as horrible as we thought. If it was Brady maybe Calvin was stood there making him do it.
R – I didn’t see this one coming. Not at all. But to be honest, I’m not afraid that he’ll die. I mean, they won’t kill off THE main character. This would lead to Mel reliving everything all over again. No. There are some names in my mind, when I think about, who could have shot Jack. Calvin, Brady, Charmaine or Vince. With Calvin I just don’t think he would do the dirty work all by himself. He would ask someone else to do it. But IF he would have done it, then Jack wouldn’t be alive right now. He would have finished it. But maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Calvin threatened Brady, so that he would do it. BUT he wouldn’t kill him and that’s why he shot him in a “less dangerous” area. Hoping that someone finds him fast enough. Charmaine. She might be hurt enough to do something drastic. Okay, let’s be real, this one is kinda not true at all. Vince. Maybe he was looking for Preacher and shot Jack instead as some kind of last warning.
What are you hoping to see in Season 3?
C – More on Paige’s story for sure. Also I really hope that Jack is able to deal with his PTSD.
R – That we get to know more about Paige’s past. What’s really going on in her life? What happened in the past? What is she still hiding from everyone? Can we get a Preacher and Paige love story, please? Furthermore we need some more cute and adorable Hope and Doc scenes. I hope that Doc will be alright sooner or later. They will fight. Together. Last but not least, I want to see how Jack keeps handling his PTSD and drinking problem. Maybe Mel and Jack will find a way to “fix” each other.
PB – Jack getting his life on track and dealing with his PTSD. We have to know more of Paige’s storyline.
S – Paige, I need to know what happened. She disappeared then sent her son back. What did Vince do that was bad enough for her to do that? Mel needs to save Jack, now he has been shot he needs to deal with his PTSD and at least start talking to someone about it.
So that’s what we though about Virgin River Season 2. We’d love to know what you guys think, so feel free to let us know in the comments below or via social media.
Both seasons of Virgin River are available now on Netflix.
