SPOILER ALERT: The story includes details about Season 6 of Netflix‘s Virgin River.
Wedding preparations could be stressful for the bride-to-be. When she has to go through them while also trying to get to know an aloof stranger she just had discovered was her father, that is a whole other level.
That was Mel’s (Alexandra Breckenridge) journey during Season 6 of Netflix’s hit romantic drama Virgin River. When her newly found father has a heart attack the night before the wedding, everything comes crashing down on her. Despite agreeing to proceed with the wedding, Mel can’t go through with it, and Jack (Martin Henderson) whisks her away to the place by the river where he took her back in Season 1. His reassuring — and heartfelt speech — calms her nerves as both embrace their ghosts and get married.
In an interview with Deadline, Breckenridge shares her surprising reaction when they went back to that riverbank place to film the scene. She reveals what was her favorite moment of the wedding, how she really felt about Mel proceeding with the nuptials after her father almost died, what was the first scene she and Henderson filmed in their wedding attire (it is not the one where Jack first sees Mel in her wedding dress), the personal touch she put on Mel’s vows, and her go-to karaoke song. Breckenridge also addresses the big romantic moments of the season — including that shower sex scene — and why she doesn’t think they define Mel and Jack’s relationship.
She speaks of Mel’s frustration having to navigate “two grumpy men that refuse to communicate” in Doc and Everett, the prospect of Mel becoming a mom, her idea for how Mel’s story should end and her hopes for the character next season. (Hint: they involve less crying)
You can watch some of Breckenridge’s answers on video throughout the story. For a deep dive on all of Season 6’s burning questions and what to expect in Season 7, read Deadline’s interview with showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.
DEADLINE: Mel and Jack’s journey to the altar featured classic romantic movie moments –snuggling in front of a fire, sex in the shower, a little striptease by Jack capped by a runaway bride (and groom) on horseback. How did you feel about this very romantic movie-style season for them?
BRECKENRIDGE: I hadn’t even really thought about it like that. I think for me, when I was going through the season with my character, as my character, the thing that stuck out to me the most was the deeper connection that Mel and Jack have come to actually in such a short time, if you look at how long the series has gone for versus how long the timeline of the show has gone. Their communication is so different now, and the way that Jack’s been able to open up to Mel is so different.
They see each other on such a deeper level, and I think that that is what you can really build a relationship on. And so for me, it felt like that was the most important stuff that I loved because all the other stuff, oh, we’re in front of a fire. It’s really cute, we’re in the shower, which, by the way, is impractical in reality — It’s cute, it looks sexy, but it’s not really practical.
Yes, we had all of those big TV romance moments. But at the heart of it, you have two people that really love, respect and understand each other on a level that will stand the test of time, that will get them through their marriage. That honeymoon phase is still happening, but they do talk to each other, and that is so important.
DEADLINE: What about Mel’s last-minute cold feet? It was much deeper than that, as she said, all the loss was rushing back. What did you think of Jack taking her back to the spot of their first date and gave that moving “I got you” speech?
BRECKENRIDGE: It was so sweet. What happened with Mel’s father the night before the wedding triggered all of the loss that she’s experienced. One of the reasons why she was pushing Jack away in the beginning of their relationship, she didn’t want to have to go through a loss again, she was terrified that if she would let someone else in, she would lose them. I think that happens to most people who have experienced that, it’s a real thing, it’s a real struggle.
She thought she had gotten over it but all of it just came back to her. I think she also really wanted this clarity, and this fresh start with Jack when they get married. She wanted to be able to leave all of that behind, and he helped her see that you don’t have to leave all of that behind — all of those things that happen to you are a part of who you are, and it’s a part of why I love you.
That’s really powerful, and I think that goes along with what I was just saying about how connected these two people have become, and how much respect and love they have for each other. He’s there for her in that moment, and he’s not mad. He’s not anything but loving and anything but like, I’m gonna carry you through this and help you and do whatever you need me to do. If you don’t want to get married today, that’s fine. If you want to get married, let’s get married.
I really love the way that they shaped all of those moments for the characters, because it’s something that I think we should all look for in love. It’s not just fairytale moments, it’s real understanding and connection with the other person.
DEADLINE: Did you film the riverbank scene in the same location where you shot in Season 1? How was it going back years later?
BRECKENRIDGE: You know what was so crazy? Apparently it was the same spot, but it looked completely different. They said it was because the river had risen so high, so it felt like I was in a different place. I was like, this isn’t the same spot. Actually, the first time we shot that scene was the first time we wore our wedding attire. It was the first time I’d walked out on set with the dress and everything.
So it was unrecognizable to me, and I had to think back to what it had looked like and connect the dots as to why we’re coming full circle back to the same space.
But it was really powerful and really beautiful. The river was just gorgeous, and Martin was so lovely, and his delivery of that speech, which was essentially his vows, was just so endearing, and I’m so happy that they did that in a private moment.
DEADLINE: Speaking of seeing somebody for the first time. Your reaction when Mel sees Jack in his uniform at the altar, which was a surprise to her, looked almost unscripted: there was a little shock, and then a smile. What can you tell me about it?
BRECKENRIDGE: His character had been struggling with his relationship, to the turmoil and how he was feeling about his time in the military and the ghosts that his character had been going through at that time, and that was all coming up for him this season as well. And so when she sees him in that uniform, she sees that he is also coming into this marriage with all of his ghosts. So they’re really both saying, I’m here, all of me, and they’re both accepting each other one hundred percent.
DEADLINE: Mel “stole” a little bit of Jack’s riverside vows for the actual ceremony. Hers were pretty short. Did you did want her to have a longer speech?
BRECKENRIDGE: Once we got to the wedding, I think it’s a delicate balance because I think what you get at that riverside, that’s the most impactful moment. The vows, I personally just wanted to be talking from the heart. I didn’t want anything to be super scripted, but some of it was scripted.
I think originally it was very much, she’s type A so she wrote everything out and she’s gonna rehearse it. And I said, I don’t feel like that’s going to really resonate with people, and it’s not really coming from the heart. So I think the beginning of it was, she says, ‘You’re my fisherman, my baseball coach,’ all of those things. But then I really tried to just have Mel speak from the heart at the end. And I’m actually glad that it wasn’t a very long speech, because it didn’t need to be.
DEADLINE: Mel tells Jack at the very end of the wedding that her favorite moment was the two of them in the barn by themselves. For you, what was your favorite moment of that day?
BRECKENRIDGE: When I got to take the wedding dress.
DEADLINE: That’s very relatable.
BRECKENRIDGE: I mean, I wore that dress for eight days. Going back to the river edge scene, I thought that was my favorite moment. And I actually, in hindsight, kind of wish that that’s what she said. Darn it. It’s a little late.
DEADLINE: A quick side note. I felt Mel was a bit too nonchalant about that text from Charmaine that she couldn’t do her hair for the wedding after she had been getting threats and had to get a restraining order.
BRECKENRIDGE: I totally agree with you. Yeah, I think it was also, well, her father almost just died, and she’s like, I’m getting married now, I’m getting married. I think it was all quite a lot.
DEADLINE: Switching back to the bachelorette party. It seemed like you had a lot of karaoke fun with Spice Girls’ “Wannabe”. You were a teenager when that song came up. Was it something you grew up with, and was it fun to film that scene?
BRECKENRIDGE: You know, I did not listen to the Spice Girls when that was out, I was probably goth at the time. I was probably listening to Nine Inch Nails, I was not doing the Spice Girls, I was not doing the Britney Spears. I was more all the edgy stuff, I was loving Tortoise Head. I grew up listening to Queen and David Bowie and Rush. Only later in my life have I really gotten into like, I love myself some Beyonce. If I do karaoke, I usually do Salt-N-Pepa, because that was my first concert I ever went to.
DEADLINE: One of the finale’s cliffhangers involved Mel possibly becoming a mom sooner than anybody expected as she was approached by her patient Marley about adopting her unborn baby the morning after the wedding. What could that do to Mel and Jack’s relationship as they face the prospect of becoming an instant family?
BRECKENRIDGE: What could it do? That’s a great question. I think Mel was pretty shocked at the end when Marley showed up but suddenly hopeful and moving forward. I don’t know what that looks like; I’m sure it’s probably very messy and very complicated for all of them, depending on what actually is going on with the potential adoptive parents.
But that being said, I think that in Season 7, the next thing on Mel’s plate, besides the clinic — which this is all unbeknownst to her, she doesn’t really know what’s going on with that in terms of the threat to the clinic — she’s really looking forward to getting all of her paperwork in order to adopt, and getting out to that farm and settling in and starting her own family. But yeah, I don’t know what’s going to happen with that baby.
DEADLINE: As Mel tried to build a relationship with Everett, he got scared and pulled away, it got overwhelming for him. Then there was the health scare and that beautiful ending with his finished song being the first dance at Mel and Jack’s wedding. Talk about that trajectory of that storyline through Mel’s eyes.
BRECKENRIDGE: I always say this about Mel, she’s very stubborn, and she wasn’t going to take no for an answer when it came to Everett and how he was pulling away. It was very painful for her to have him pull away the multiple times that he did. There were so many emotions going on for her when she found out she had a biological father, knowing that her father didn’t know, and then finding out that he did know that he wasn’t the biological father, and then trying to — which we didn’t actually explore last season, how she felt about her father versus how she now feels about the father that is her biological father whom she doesn’t know, who’s a little bit of a recluse, and seems very sweet, but also is a little weird.
But she desperately wants to have that connection to her mother, and she wants to have a family. If Mel could have a giant family, she would. I think that a lot of that comes from the loss of her parents at a very young age, and the loss of her husband and the loss of her daughter, and I think it’s a really big deal for her to find this person and this family connection, and she’ll stop at nothing to have it.
But beyond that, she really develops a relationship with him throughout this season, and I think that they end up with a really sweet connection by the end of the season, and I hope that that translates into more for them in the next season. The situation between Everett and Doc was so complicated, and now it seems to have been put to rest. So hopefully, for Mel, she will eventually get this giant family that she wants. And that would be the end of the show, you’ll just see them all at the farm, and Mel will just be looking wistfully, and she’ll be like, I got it. There’s a tear down her cheek.
DEADLINE: You just wrote the series finale.
BRECKENRIDGE: I did.
DEADLINE: What about Mel and Doc’s relationship, which went through a very rough patch this season?
BRECKENRIDGE: I think they always get into it, the two of them, but the love and respect that they have for each other at the end of the day is pretty strong. It’s really very frustrating for her because neither [Doc and Everett] will speak to her about what happened. I think most of the reason for that is that Everett doesn’t want to admit to anyone what he was actually doing that night. And it really pisses her off, actually, just to deal with these two grumpy men that refuse to communicate, shocking. Like that’s never happened.
DEADLINE: Ahead of her wedding to Jack, Mel sent back her late husband Mark’s ring. Do you think that she is finally ready to let go and move on from her past? She still kept his name.
BRECKENRIDGE: Well, I think that’s sort of the point at the end of the show, right? I think she wants to move on from her past, very desperately. But within keeping her husband’s name as her middle name, I think she’s acknowledging that part of her life. And yes, she wants to let go of it, but it’s a very push and pull for her. But then by the end of the season, it really is about I want to let go of my past, but I do have to acknowledge that it is a part of me, and it will always be a part of me, and it’s a beautiful sentiment, I think, for anybody, just to be able to accept yourself for who you are.
DEADLINE: We touched upon this a bit but what are your hopes and expectations for Mel, her relationship with Jack and what happens next season?
BRECKENRIDGE: I hope that she ends up being able to be the mother to Marley’s baby, I think that that would be really lovely for her. Would it be too soon, right after they got married? Maybe, entirely possible. They are building a house. They’re almost ready, but who knows. And then there’s the threat to the clinic shutting down, there’s a lot going on that is outside forces threatening the internal society of Virgin River.
I’m not in the writers room, so I don’t really know what’s going to happen. I just hope that I don’t have to cry about too many things cause that’s always difficult.
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