As Virgin River gears up for its seventh season, at least one cast member is bracing for a possible goodbye. Lauren Hammersley, who plays Charmaine, has openly acknowledged that she’s just as in the dark about her character’s fate as fans are — and she’s handling it with a dose of dark humor.
Following Virgin River‘s Season 6 finale — which aired in December 2024 and ended with Charmaine’s house mysteriously ransacked — Hammersley took to Instagram to share a tongue-in-cheek text exchange with showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.
“Am I dead?” she asked him. “It’s OK if I’m dead, I just need to know if I should start putting resumes out at Wendy’s or something.” She even suggested her ideal onscreen sendoff: “So… IF Charmaine dies this year, could you please drown her in the river? I think that would be EPIC.”
Season 7: Cliffhangers, Departures, and New Drama
Charmaine isn’t the only character in limbo. Season 6 ended with multiple plotlines left wide open. Mel (Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack (Martin Henderson) finally tied the knot — only to be faced with a major surprise when a local teen asked them to adopt her unborn baby.
Meanwhile, things got complicated for Brie (Zibby Allen) and Brady (Ben Hollingsworth), who rekindled their romance — despite Brie still being in a relationship with Mike (Marco Grazzini). After Brie confessed the affair, Mike shocked her by proposing.
One confirmed departure is Dr. Cameron Hayek. Actor Mark Ghanimé won’t return for Season 7, as Smith confirmed in late 2024. “I love that relationship,” Smith said, “and I think this season served as a bit of a sendoff for Cameron.” However, he left the door open for a future return, adding, “I’d love to bring him and his character back when the story calls for it.”
As for Charmaine’s fate? Smith only offered a cryptic tease: “Charmaine has found herself in the middle of a mess — which is kind of her thing — and it pulls multiple characters into it, not just Jack and Mel.”
What’s Ahead: Family History, Flashbacks, and the Virgin River-Verse
Looking forward, Season 7 is expected to dive deeper into Virgin River’s past. Season 6 introduced Everett (John Allen Nelson), who had a romantic history with Mel’s late mother, Sarah. Smith teased that this backstory is far from over.
“We’ll expand on Sarah and Everett’s story while also exploring Virgin River’s deeper roots,” he said. One long-standing mystery — the McCrae Cabin, mentioned by Hope back in the pilot — may finally get explored. “It implies there’s a legacy we haven’t touched yet,” Smith noted.
By delving into Everett’s connections and Sarah’s legacy, the show aims to introduce new storylines and relationships that enrich the Virgin River world — without overcrowding the present-day drama.
Virgin River Season 7 is currently in the works and streaming exclusively on Netflix. With high-stakes drama and lingering mysteries, it looks like more twists — and possibly a watery end for Charmaine — could be just around the corner.
