Even in the picturesque setting of “Virgin River,” where one might expect relaxation, the drama never takes a break (Season 6 is now available for streaming).

The sixth season of Netflix’s romantic drama largely spotlighted the wedding of Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson)—the local equivalent of a royal ceremony. However, the struggles of other residents, particularly Brie Sheridan, portrayed by Zibby Allen, also capture attention. At the season’s close, Brie found herself torn between two love interests: Mike Valenzuela (Marco Grazzini) and Dan Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth).

The series, inspired by the novels of Robyn Carr and created by Sue Tenney, chronicles the love story between nurse Mel and bar owner Jack in the charming but fictional Virgin River, set in northern California. Season 6 focused on Mel and Jack’s wedding and maintained a spot in Netflix’s Top 10 for several weeks after its release last month.

Brie, who is Jack’s sister, ended her relationship with Brady in Season 5, and while both attempted to move on with their lives, unresolved tension simmered between them throughout the season. This unresolved attraction reached a peak in a spontaneous encounter on the pool table at Jack’s Bar.

Interestingly, that scene was not part of the original plan; it was suggested by Hollingsworth himself.

“It was initially meant to happen in Brady’s bedroom at the bar, which felt too orchestrated,” Hollingsworth shared in a video interview with YSL News. “Setting it in the bar made it more sudden and instinctive. I see Brady and Brie like magnets—they’re always drawn to each other. If you put them close together, it becomes inevitable, and I wanted that tension to unfold in real time, making it feel more genuine.”

Brady or Mike: Who is Brie destined for?

Does this imply that Brady could be the right fit for Brie?

“I have no idea. They don’t reveal these things to us, and I haven’t seen any scripts,” Allen shared with YSL News. “I’m definitely receiving a lot of thoughts on what the audience wants. It’s a significant debate online right now. I know the writers are quite occupied and are considering viewer feedback.”

“Brie and Brady have an undeniable spark, which is rare,” Allen added. “However, that spark can fade quickly. Whether they can maintain a practical relationship remains unclear.”

Allen mentioned that due to the distrust lingering between them and the lack of support for their relationship from others in Virgin River, Brie finds herself questioning the situation. Still, she holds hopes that Brie will have a clearer view of Brady’s growth in the upcoming season.

As for Mike, Allen believes he offers Brie something “stable and genuine.”

“Mike acknowledging, ‘I know you were with Brady’ during his proposal is intriguing,” she noted.

Hollingsworth, on the other hand, expressed he’d be fine with a reunion between Brie and Brady, though he’s unsure of what lies ahead for them.

“I wish I had that insight,” Hollingsworth admitted. “They (the writers/creator) don’t share these details with us. However, I do notice that many fans support the idea of Brady and Brie reuniting, and I’d be open to that. They really do have excellent chemistry.”

Following his breakup with Brie, Brady began dating Lark (Elise Gatien), a single mother. Throughout Season 6, he attempted to be the person that Brie envisioned he could be, which Hollingsworth describes as a strange but meaningful endeavor.

“Brady’s trying to be the person Brie desires while in a relationship with someone else—that’s quite odd,” Hollingsworth explained. “But it makes sense because he’s still deeply in love with Brie.”

Despite these efforts, Brady continues to embody that “bad boy” persona.

“He will always have a rebellious streak, acting on what he feels is right, regardless of the law’s viewpoint. He possesses that lone wolf mentality,” Hollingsworth stated, emphasizing his desire to keep Brady unique compared to the rest of the cast in Virgin River.

‘Virgin River’: Will Brie accept Mike’s proposal?

“She sincerely wishes for it to succeed,” Allen explained. “We’ve all been in those situations—wanting something to work so strongly, yet it feels slightly off, and you’re grappling with it.”

What to anticipate in ‘Virgin River’ Season 7

Though both Allen and Hollingsworth were tight-lipped about the next season’s events, they did share their hopes for their characters’ development.

“I hope Brie finds a deeper connection with herself and regains her confidence to pursue what she truly desires,” Allen shared. “I believe it’s essential for her to take a step back and be authentic with herself to prevent dragging these guys into her emotional chaos.”

Allen described Season 6 as a significant identity struggle for Brie, illustrating her internal struggle between her feelings and logic.

“This stems from relocating to Virgin River with a traumatic past,” Allen stated. “Her sense of identity was once solid before her sexual assault.”

Introduced in Season 3, Brie had a promising legal career in Sacramento, but her life took a turn after being assaulted by her boyfriend and colleague Don.

“Even with this love triangle, her heart desires one thing while her mind hesitates,” Allen noted, highlighting the aspect of inner mistrust.

Nonetheless, Allen feels that Brie is making progress on her healing journey and is “further along than before.”

“I appreciate that the writers have avoided a straightforward recovery path—it’s not something that we can easily wrap up and forget,” Allen explained. “I hope Brie can turn her healing experiences into empowerment, whether in her legal career or advocating for others impacted by sexual violence.”

The writers have collaborated with RAINN, the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the country, ensuring they accurately depict this journey.

From Brady’s perspective, the last thing we saw was him alone, his finances depleted after Lark took off with all his money.

“That’s typical Brady,” Hollingsworth chuckled. “He constantly finds himself in difficult situations.”

Hollingsworth is eager for Brady to embark on a revenge mission to retrieve his money from Lark, but he also hopes the writers delve into his character’s relationships with others in the town, including Virgin River Fire Chief Kaia (Kandyse McClure), who also happens to be his supervisor, and local doctor Doc Vernon Mullins (Tim Matheson).

“I think it would be fascinating to have a scene with Doc and Brady,” Hollingsworth suggested. “Doc has had a rich life, and Brady lacks a father figure in his life; it would be interesting to see them interact.”

The two actors are currently uncertain about the premiere of the new season but believe it will follow the timeline of Season 6, with filming taking place in spring and summer and the season premiering at the end of the year during the holiday period.

“I hope the producers plan for a holiday launch,” Hollingsworth said. “I believe it’s a wonderful series to enjoy during Christmas time.”

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7 for survivors and their loved ones. Reach out in English or Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) or visit Hotline.RAINN.org and for Spanish speakers, RAINN.org/es.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter. Follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.