Yahoo Lifestyle Virgin River Boss Tackles the ‘Tricky’ Reveal of Everett’s Secret in Season 6 (Spoiler Alert: We All Guessed Wrong!)
Warning: This article contains mild spoilers from Season 6 of Virgin River, now streaming on Netflix.
“I’ve got something important I need to tell you…”
More from TVLine
It’s been nearly a full calendar year since Mel Monroe’s estranged father left her (and millions of Virgin River viewers) on that emotional cliffhanger in the Season 5 finale, and showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has relished the many theories that fans have conjured up over the hiatus.
“It was almost like sitting in a writers’ room,” Smith tells TVLine of scrolling through fans’ wildest guesses on social media. “I’d see all these pitches and was just like, ‘Nope, not doing that,’ or ‘Not on our show,’ or ‘Another show already did that.'”
With the Netflix drama’s 10-episode sixth season now streaming, fans finally have their answer. A flashback to Mel and Everett’s snowy reunion in the season premiere reveals his big confession: “Some people in this town aren’t going to like me being a part of your life,” he tells his daughter. “I’ve made some enemies, hurt people, done things I’m not proud of — things folks might not be able to move past. Some of those folks might be friends of yours. … Vernon Mullins, for one.”
Smith admits that when the Season 5 finale was initially written, he wasn’t exactly sure how Everett’s big secret was going to play out. As he puts it, “We had a direction, but it was tricky in execution. We were still honing in on what the best story was for Mel and Everett that also serviced Mel and Jack’s wedding.”
OK, here’s where things get a little spoiler-y: Everett’s checkered past is alluded to several times throughout the season, but it isn’t until his confrontation with Doc in Episode 5 that we begin to get the full story. “Because of you, a boy is dead,” Doc says, sending Everett off in a huff.
We learn in Episode 8 that the dead boy in question was named Jordan. He showed up to the clinic in need of emergency care, but Doc was busy on another call — specifically rescuing Everett, who allegedly drove drunk and hit a tree. Doc always blamed Everett for selfishly keeping him from the clinic when Jordan needed him. That’s when Everett drops the real bombshell. “I didn’t swerve off the road,” he tells Doc. “I drove into that tree on purpose. I wanted to die.”
Doc and Everett’s come-to-Jesus moment occurs at a critical juncture in the season, with Mel’s wedding looming and Doc at odds with the bride-to-be. Not only does this confession help salvage Everett’s reputation, but it also brings him closer to Mel.
Smith explains that his goal was for Everett’s secret to feel “cohesive” with the rest of the story. “It was really about finding the best way to bring it all together during the season, which I think we did well,” he says.
Were you surprised to learn what went down between Doc and Everett all those years ago? Grade the Virgin River premiere below, then drop a comment with your thoughts on Season 6.
Best of TVLine
Sign up for TVLine's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
