As Virgin River continues to warm hearts with its small-town charm, longtime fans are revisiting the drama’s early seasons — and many still have strong feelings about one of the show’s leading men. Jack and Charmaine: A Romance That Never Was?
Before Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson) fully fell for Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), Virgin River kicked off with a complicated entanglement between Jack and Charmaine Roberts (Lauren Hammersley). While the bar owner saw their connection as casual, Charmaine clearly envisioned something deeper.
Now, as Season 6 prepares to arrive on Netflix, fans are doing a bit of emotional housekeeping — and they’re not holding back.
“I’m re-watching Virgin River and Jack’s emotional immaturity is really off-putting,” one Reddit user vented, sparking a wave of agreement.
Jack’s Military Past or Just Poor Communication?
Some viewers were quick to chalk up Jack’s aloofness to unresolved trauma from his time in the military. But others think that’s no excuse.
“He’s what we’d call a ‘slipper’ where I’m from — someone who just coasts along in relationships and avoids even the simplest communication,” the same user added.
The criticism stems largely from how detached Jack seemed during his time with Charmaine. Even in the most intimate scenes, fans say he looked disinterested — or worse, bitter.
“I remember watching and wondering if he even liked Charmaine at all,” another fan chimed in. “He always looked slightly repulsed.”
A Shift After Mel?
Once Mel entered Jack’s life, his entire demeanor changed — a fact that hasn’t gone unnoticed by the fandom.
“The way he treats [Charmaine] after meeting Mel is not nice,” a fan remarked. “It’s like she stopped existing for him.”
And while fans have largely embraced Jack and Mel as endgame, Charmaine’s early heartbreak — and later pregnancy bombshell — left many wondering if Jack ever truly respected her in the first place.
What’s Next in Season 6?
With Charmaine now moving forward with her new fiancé, Todd Masry (Patrick Sabongui), the drama continues to evolve — but her twin pregnancy, still unresolved, hangs in the balance. Will Jack finally take accountability? Or will Charmaine get the closure she deserves?
The Verdict?
While Jack’s character has grown into a more emotionally present partner for Mel, Virgin River fans aren’t forgetting where he started.
“He’s come a long way,” one viewer noted, “but that doesn’t erase how he treated Charmaine.”
As the series moves into its next chapter, fans will be watching not just for romance — but for redemption.
