Virgin River Season 7 Ending Explained: Do Jack & Mel Become Parents?

Warning: This article includes MAJOR SPOILERS for Virgin River season 7!

Virgin River season 7 explores major storylines such as Mel and Jack becoming parents and Doc’s suspension, culminating in an ending that’s equally satisfying and nerve-racking. Because of Virgin River season 7’s massive cast, the episodes weave together many storylines.

Jack and Mel are considering adopting Marley’s baby, and the journey is fraught with road bumps. Doc’s suspended, and Grace Valley’s attempting to expand into Virgin River. Preacher considers expanding the bar, but Jack doesn’t agree. Brie rejects Mike’s proposal, but they’re investigating Charmaine’s disappearance together. Lizzie struggles to adjust to motherhood.

These stories built over the season, leading to an interesting ending that provides some happy endings and some conflicts that will bleed into Virgin River season 8.

How Mel & Jack Become Parents In Virgin River Season 7

Mel and Jack’s journey to parenthood has been difficult. However, they finally become parents at the Virgin River season 7 when Marley gives birth to their son.

Marley initially chose them as the baby’s adoptive parents after the previous couple backed out due to money. She knew Mel could be calm and comforting under pressure. She became more confident in her decision after seeing Jack’s patience and compassion with Sugar. They turned her down out of fear that it was too soon, so Marley looked at other adoptive couples.

When Mel and Jack changed their minds, Marley was torn about whom to choose. However, the turning point comes when Mel asks how she is doing with the adoption. This is the first time any prospective parent has asked about Marley, and it shows Mel is different from the others.

Ultimately, Mel and Jack prove that Marley was right to pick them as the adoptive parents when they find out that the baby has a congenital heart defect. Marley tells them that they can back out. They keep her calm, assuring her that they are going to focus on the baby’s health.

Even though it’s going to be hard, Mel and Jack agree that that’s their son, and they’ll fight for him. Mel has the same calmness under pressure that she showed at the rockslide. Jack displays the same compassion that he had for Sugar. What’s more, they refuse to give up their son, no matter how emotionally trying his early life would be.

What Happened To Charmaine & The Twins In Virgin River

The mystery of what happened to Charmaine and her twins is a driving force in Virgin River season 7. The start of the season reveals that the police find Calvin’s dead body in Charmaine’s home, and she and the twins are nowhere to be found. Brie and Mike team up on the investigation, and it takes until the end of the season to uncover the shocking truth.

Charmaine tells the salon owner that Calvin's goons are following her, not knowing he's secretly obsessed with her. He was the one who murdered Calvin in her house. He thinks that Charmaine will get blamed for it, so he kidnaps her and the twins. He fails to see how her disappearance makes her look more guilty.

Luckily, Mike and Brie figure out that the owner knows where she is, so they follow him home. They’re able to get Charmaine and the twins out safely, and the salon owner is arrested.

The Status Of Brie’s Love Triangle In Virgin River Season 7, Explained

In Virgin River season 6, Brie cheats on Mike with Brady, and then Mike proposes to her, knowing about the infidelity. Season 7 fills in a lot of the blanks. Mike figured out that she cheated because of the tension between Brady and Brie on the night of his promotion, and because she suddenly asked him to move in.

His solution was to propose to her, saying he could forgive her if she fully committed to him by marrying him. This makes the proposal less an act of love and more an ultimatum. He doesn’t seem to realize that getting married is a terrible solution to infidelity.

Brie takes the time to think about his proposal, but she comes to the conclusion that she can’t give him her whole heart. This slips out during a fight, and he breaks up with her.

She spends most of the season in the uncomfortable position of being friends with Brady and working with Mike, but not being in a relationship with either of them. Both are obviously still hung up on her. While she seems to have lingering feelings for Mike, it’s clear that Brady is the person she loves.

Although it takes her a while, Brie finally acts on her emotions once Brady tells her that he can’t be friends with her anymore. She realizes that she is going to lose him, and that gives her the push she needs to be brave. They have sex and get back together. However, at the very end of Virgin River season 7’s finale, Brady gets into a motorcycle accident, and it’s not clear whether he will survive.

Why Preacher Decides To Leave Jack’s Bar

Since the start of Virgin River, Preacher has seemed mildly unsatisfied with the dynamics at Jack’s bar. He knows that the bar wouldn’t be nearly as successful without his cooking. He is the backbone of the business, but he’s still living in Jack’s shadow. This is why he tells Jack he wants to become a co-owner in Virgin River season 3.

Preacher communicates what he wants directly, and, unfortunately, Jack brushes him off until he learns that Preacher is leaving. While Jack comes around, the initial tension lingers and only builds over time. Jack leaves while working all the time, but Preacher isn’t given that same courtesy. He’s always there managing the bar and the employees.

Whenever Preacher makes a decision for the bar, Jack seems to question it and act like he’s the final decision maker. This is especially obvious in Virgin River season 7. Preacher is worried about Jack getting mad that he gave a couple of free drinks, as if he’s not allowed to make decisions about business. He says they need to hire more help, and Jack doesn’t respond well.

To make matters worse, Jack questions the new foods Preacher is making at the bar and their pricepoints, even though Jack knows absolutely nothing about the kitchen side of the bar. Jack instructs him that he can’t get too fancy, rather than have a conversation. They’re all small things, but they add up over time.

It really only felt like a matter of time before Preacher decided to leave Jack’s Bar to open his own place where he would have creative and business control. Even if he doesn’t want to open a big fancy restaurant anymore, Preacher stepping away would make sense. However, we won’t know his decision until Virgin River season 8 because they don’t show whether he signs the papers for Jack to buy him out.

Doc’s Partnership With Grace Valley Hospital, Explained

Dr. Hayes is the major antagonist in Doc’s storyline, as he reported the doctor to the California Medical Board at the end of Virgin River season 6, leading to a suspension and investigation. In Virgin River season 7, he starts campaigning to expand Grace Valley Hospital into the town.

Doc and Hope push the town to pass an ordinance that would keep corporations out. This makes it all the more surprising when Doc announces in the Virgin River season 7 finale that he has partnered with Dr. Hayes and Grace Valley Hospital.

Two key moments really changed Doc’s perspective about his nemesis. Dr. Hayes reveals that he wants to fix small-town medicine because his brother died due to a lack of resources. This allows Doc to understand why the Grace Valley medical professional has worked so hard on the expansion.

Additionally, Doc and Mel scan Marley to discover excess amniotic fluid, which indicates a problem with the baby. They don’t have the resources to scan the baby for any birth defects, but Dr. Hayes’s traveling clinic has what they need. When they asked for Dr. Hayes’s help, he could have been petty.

Instead, he brings them to the machine and steps back so that Mel can do the scan. This act proves that Dr. Hayes isn’t coming from a place of malice, and there’s a world in which Grace Valley and Doc’s clinic work together instead of the hospital taking over. The incident also proves that Doc lacks the resources to provide his patients with the best care.

How Lizzie & Denny Handle Parenthood In Virgin River

Lizzie and Denny are so happy to welcome their baby, Fumiko, to the world. However, this immediately seems off. Lizzie starts isolating herself from the world around her. She won’t take the baby out. Even when Koko has a check-up, she over-prepares to a neurotic degree. Lizzie also won’t let anyone else hold the baby, except Denny and, occasionally, Hope and Doc.

Denny repeatedly tries to help her so that she won’t have to do all the parenting. He moves Koko’s bassinet so that he can take the night shift and Lizzie can rest. He tries to take Koko from Lizzie to give her a break. However, she even seems resistant to that.

This builds and builds until Lizzie has a breakdown in the bathroom of Jack’s Bar. Like so many moms before her, Lizzie is experiencing postpartum anxiety. Luckily, Mel gives her resources, and Denny steps up to help Lizzie cope. He gives her patience and makes suggestions without forcing them on Lizzie. Eventually, Lizzie decides, despite her initial hesitation, she will take the medications Mel recommended.

Why Brady Lets Lark Keep His Money

Lark stole Brady's money and then disappeared. Brady spends the early part of Virgin River season 7 searching for Lark, determined to get his money back. However, after confronting her, Brady says that Lark can keep the money as long as she uses it to give Hazel the life that neither of them had. He wants Hazel to have everything she ever needs.

Over the past six seasons, Brady has changed and grown as a person. He used to be selfish and uncaring, and Brie deserved better. However, he has become a better version of himself. His decision to let Lark keep the money solidifies that Brady is now a selfless and kind person. It also proves that he is finally worthy of Brie.

How Virgin River Season 7’s Ending Sets Up Season 8

The end of Virgin River season 7 sets up many storylines for season 8, which is perfect because the show has already been renewed. Jack and Mel’s son has a congenital heart defect that requires an operation as soon as he’s born. This season ends with Mel and Jack getting into the ambulance with their son as they head to the Heart Institute for his surgery.

Additionally, Preacher realizes he doesn’t want to open a super-fancy restaurant. He only got caught up in the idea because of Jamie. At the end of the finale, he is sitting in the office at Jack’s Bar with the papers for Jack to buy him out. All he has to do is sign them, but he’s hesitating. Virgin River season 8 will need to reveal whether Preacher is leaving the bar.

Virgin River season 7 also ends with Brady getting into a motorcycle accident as he’s driving home to Brie. Season 8 will need to answer whether he lives or dies. If he lives, they’ll need to explore how he recovers from his injuries.