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Virgin River is one of the most-watched shows on Netflix. The drama series follows Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) and her now-fiancé Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson). The series also centers on the other small-town residents who buzz around the happy couple.

Hope McCrea (Annette O’Toole), the town’s mayor, has been a major character since Season 1. However, she was largely absent from the third season of the show. Now O’Toole is explaining exactly why she was not in that season.

Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea and Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins dressed in carnival costumes in 'Virgin River'
Annette O’Toole as Hope McCrea and Tim Matheson as Doc Mullins in ‘Virgin River’ | Netflix

Hope was a major character in ‘Virgin River’ Season 5

After being mostly absent from Virgin River Season 3, Hope returned to Virgin River after having a terrible car accident and worked diligently to regain her footing following a head injury. Now, after Season 5 aired, fans could see her major transformation.

“I would like to see her — and I believe this is going to happen — be more of a mayor, be more involved in her work,” Annette O’Toole told The List. “We see her walking around, showing up, and she can go anywhere.”

Annette O’Toole revealed the reason she was absent in Season 3

Former showrunner Sue Tenney said that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was the reason for O’Toole’s absence in season 3. However, the actor is now talking in depth about why she sat out the third season of the series.

“Season 3 took place at the worst time of Covid,” she expressed to Hello! Magazine. “There was no vaccine, and being away from my family for the first time, kind of ever, was a real issue. Normally, I could fly back and forth. But my mother is going to be 97 in a couple of weeks, and at the time, she was 95, and I was very concerned about being able to get back to her because I’m her only child and she depends on me for a lot.

But that was the issue. It wasn’t fear about the virus so much; although that was scary, it was mostly about being separated from my family. My whole life, I’ve had to be away from my family, and it doesn’t get easier; it actually gets harder.”

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Fans were convinced Hope will die in ‘Virgin River’ Season 5

As thrilled as fans were to see Hope get back to work and hopefully see her reconnect with Jack, there was also a rumor swirling that she would die in season 5.

“Hope is going to pass away,” one Redditor explained via Express. “It was hinted throughout S4 that her health was deteriorating, and with the home health aide thing, I’m thinking she will die surrounded by loved ones, and Doc/Denny will live together.”

However, in season 5, Hope fights to return to normalcy, struggling to confide her struggles to family and friends. Sarah Dugdale portrays a character, Lizze, who helps Hope cope.

Will we see more of O’Toole’s character in Season 6? Yes! Netflix renewed Virgin River, so we’ll see more of Hope in the future. Series showrunner Patrick Sean Smith hinted that filming would occur in 2024.

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