In the original ending, Mel and Jack face the heartbreak of a miscarriage and the uncertain path to adoption. What I would change: make the miscarriage reveal happen earlier in the season, not as a shock at the end.
This gives the characters space to grieve, separate, reflect — and by the finale we’d see them tentatively rebuild rather than just plunge into the next unknown. The emotional beat would land stronger.
I’d also shift the focus away from the romantic finale of “Mel and Jack live happily ever after” and instead emphasise the town of Virgin River itself as a character.
The ending should show the entire community — Doc, Hope, Preacher, Denny, Lizzie, Charmaine — facing their own crises, so that Mel & Jack’s story feels part of something bigger.
The final shot: the town sign “Welcome to Virgin River” being boarded up for repairs, symbolising the whole place is damaged but rebuilding.
Finally: Charmaine. She has too little agency in the ending. I’d give her a bold decision: she leaves the town for a while — not just wandering grief‑stricken, but goes to a new city and returns stronger.
That sets up the next season with real stakes for her and for Mel & Jack. Because in our beloved show, every character deserves a dramatic arc, not just the leads.
