Virgin River fans won’t be getting special holiday-themed episodes this season, but something even better is (finally) in store: Mel and Jack’s long-awaited wedding.
Of course, the road to “I do” won’t be without its twists and turns, as we’ve seen from the official trailer. For instance, someone is airlifted in a helicopter, Denny and Lizzie face the reality of welcoming a baby while he manages his Huntington’s diagnosis, and Jack looks a little concerned in the moments before he walks down the aisle.
However, none of that compares to the romance and soap opera-style developments we’ll get this season. Kaia and Preacher heat things up, Brie and Mike get more serious, and Mel and Jack are more in sync than they’ve ever been. We’ll also be transported to the magic and mystique of Virgin River in the 1970s as Mel’s father, Everett, meets Mel’s mom for the first time.
Veteran actor Annette O’Toole, who plays Hope McCrea, tells Glamour that she’s most excited for viewers to see “the way the entire town is invested in the happiness of Mel and Jack.” And in typical Hope fashion, O’Toole says these new episodes will be “a glorious opportunity for Hope to be at the heart of the action of Virgin River.”
But more than anything, O’Toole wants viewers to know that season 6 is a happy season, with an emphasis on happy. “But with a few bumps along the way because duh, it’s Virgin River!” O’Toole says.
All 10 episodes will drop in full on Netflix on Thursday, December 19. It’s a big season for Brady, so be sure to check out my conversation with Benjamin Hollingsworth, but only after you’ve binged all the eps. (Same goes for showrunner/EP Patrick Sean Smith, who will also give his insight into all the developments this season.) Look for those interviews on December 19 and 20, respectively. And if you need a refresher on what happened in season five, check that out here.
If Virgin River isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other offerings this week, from Disney’s Mufasa to CBS’s An Evening with Dua Lipa. And Only Murders in the Building‘s Martin Short hosts Saturday Night Live this weekend, which you know will be one of the season’s best.
On that note, have a great week ahead, and I’ll see you back here next Sunday.
Sunday, December 15
Christmas on the Alpaca Farm (Lifetime): Jess (Kirsten Comerford) is the “Queen of Christmas sweaters,” so she quits her job at the hottest fashion label in New York, intent on winning a Christmas competition with her own line of sustainable luxury knits. She teams up with Andrew (Matt Wells), a single dad and struggling alpaca farmer, as she helps bring Christmas joy to the farm and perhaps a little romance. 8 p.m. ET/PT
White House Christmas 2024 (HGTV): During the one-hour special, First Lady Jill Biden will give a tour of the White House to hosts Brian and Mika Kleinschmidt (100 Day Dream Home) and share how this year’s White House holiday theme—“A Season of Peace and Light”—is reflected in each room and design element. 6 p.m. ET/PT
An Evening with Dua Lipa (CBS): The concert special (filmed October 17 at Royal Albert Hall in London) will feature live performances from Dua Lipa’s latest album, Radical Optimism, along with her greatest hits. Also on tap: a special duet with Elton John. 8:30 p.m. ET/7:30 p.m. CT, 8 p.m. PT
The Wonderful World of Disney Presents The Sound of Music (ABC): It’s not the holiday season without this classic film back on broadcast television. Starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, the heartwarming film features fan-favorite songs including “Edelweiss,” “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” “Do-Re-Mi,” “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” “The Lonely Goatherd” and “The Sound of Music.” 7 p.m. ET/PT, 6 p.m. CT
Monday, December 16
The Chelsea Detective (Acorn TV): The crime drama, which stars Adrian Scarborough (Killing Eve, The King’s Speech, 1917), returns with an all-new Christmas special, which serves as the first episode of the series’ third season. Streaming
Little Big Town’s Christmas at the Opry (NBC): The star-studded music special will feature some of country’s biggest names alongside Grammy Award-winning country superstars Little Big Town. The event takes place in front of a live audience at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, and will feature performances from Dan + Shay, Kelsea Ballerini, Sheryl Crow, Kirk Franklin, Josh Groban, Kate Hudson, and Orville Peck. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
Wednesday, December 18
The Secret Lives of Animals (Apple TV+): In this 10-part docuseries narrated by Hugh Bonneville, you’ll get an up close look at 77 unique species in 24 countries, revealing stunning, never-before-seen animal behaviors and highlighting the remarkable intelligence of the natural world. Streaming
A Saturday Night Live Christmas (NBC): Revisit the most memorable Christmas and holiday-themed sketches from SNL‘s 50 seasons in this two-hour special. 9 p.m. ET/PT, 8 p.m. CT and streaming on Peacock the next day
The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot (ID/Max): The two hour doc takes an in depth look 30 years after Wanda Holloway was convicted of trying to hire a hit man to kill her daughter’s cheerleading rival. 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT and streaming on Max
Thursday, December 19
Virgin River (Netflix): Season 6 is finally here. Take a look at the trailer below, and come back to Glamour immediately after you’ve watched all 10 episodes to get answers on all your burning questions. (Trust me, you’ll have ’em.) Streaming
Fast Friends (Max): This is the ultimate competition event for die-hard Friends fan. From racing through Rachel and Monica’s apartment to darting across the hall to Joey and Chandler’s bachelor pad to grabbing a coffee at Central Perk, fans will re-live their favorite moments while being put to the test with trivia, puzzles, and games that will keep even the biggest know-it-all on their toes. The quickest team will win the title of Ultimate Fast Friends Champion. Comedian Whitney Cummings hosts the weekly series. Streaming
Laid (Peacock): The twisted eight-episode romantic comedy stars Oscar nominee Stephanie Hsu alongside Zosia Mamet, Michael Angarano, and Tommy Martinez. Hsu plays a woman who finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward. Guest stars include Olivia Holt, Chloe Fineman, and more. Streaming
Ghosts (CBS/Paramount+): It’s a one-hour Ghosts-mas special! In part one, titled “A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 1” (followed by “A Very Arondekar Christmas Part 2”), viewers will meet Jay’s parents, Champa and Mahesh, as they join Sam and Jay for Christmas along with Jay’s sister Bela. However, a leaky water heater mishap threatens to ruin holiday plans. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
Friday, December 20
Mufasa: The Lion King (Disney): Told in flashbacks, the story, which blends live-action filmmaking techniques with photoreal computer-generated imagery, introduces Mufasa as an orphaned cub, lost and alone until he meets a sympathetic lion named Taka—the heir to a royal bloodline. The chance meeting sets in motion an expansive journey of an extraordinary group of misfits searching for their destiny where their bonds will be tested as they work together to evade a deadly foe. The film features Aaron Pierre, Kelvin Harrison Jr., John Kani, Tiffany Boone, Kagiso Lediga, Preston Nyman, Mads Mikkelsen, Thandiwe Newton, Lennie James, Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Seth Rogen, Billy Eichner, Donald Glover, Blue Ivy Carter, Braelyn Rankins, Theo Somolu, Folake Olowofoyeku, Joanna Jones, Thuso Mbedu, Sheila Atim, Abdul Salis, Dominique Jennings, and Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. Barry Jenkins directs the film, which features original songs by award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda. In theaters
The Talk (CBS/Paramount+): The series finale of the long-running talk show will air live today. The Talk originally debuted 14 years ago, on October 18, 2010. 2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. CT/PT, and streaming on Paramount+
Outlander (Starz): Episode 713, titled “Hello, Goodbye,” sees Brianna as she works to thwart a treacherous plot that endangers her family. Meanwhile, a surprise encounter brings new understanding to Roger’s journey in the past. And Ian and Rachel take a big step in their relationship—as the Revolutionary War rears its head once again. Streaming and on linear
National Christmas Tree Lighting (CBS): This beloved American tradition (which first began in 1923 during President Calvin Coolidge’s term) is presented by the National Park Service and National Park Foundation. It will see the official tree lighting on the Ellipse in President’s Park in Washington, D.C. Four-time Grammy-nominated country music artist Mickey Guyton will host, and there will be performances by artists Adam Blackstone, Muni Long, Stephen Sanchez, Trombone Shorty, James Taylor, The War and Treaty, and Trisha Yearwood. 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT and streaming on Paramount+
The Six Triple Eight (Netflix): After a limited run in theaters, Tyler Perry’s best-reviewed film, based on the article “Fighting a Two-Front War” by Kevin M. Hymel in WWII History Magazine, begins streaming on Netflix today. The Six Triple Eight is inspired by the first and only Women’s Army Corps unit of color to serve overseas in WWII. Given an extraordinary mission and united in their determination, these unsung heroes delivered hope and shattered barriers. Kerry Washington, Ebony Obsidian, Milauna Jackson, Kylie Jefferson, Shanice Shantay, Sarah Jeffery, Pepi Sonuga, Moriah Brown, Jeanté Godlock, Jay Reeves, Jeffery Johnson, Baadja-Lyne Odums, Donna Biscoe, Gregg Sulkin, Scott Daniel Johnson, Susan Sarandon, Dean Norris, Sam Waterston, and Oprah Winfrey star. Streaming
Juror #2 (Max): Also making its streaming debut today is Juror #2, which follows family man Justin Kemp (Nicholas Hoult), who finds himself struggling with a serious moral dilemma…one he could use to sway the jury verdict and potentially convict—or free—the accused killer. Toni Collette, J.K. Simmons, Chris Messina, Gabriel Basso, Zoey Deutch, Cedric Yarbrough, Leslie Bibb, and Kiefer Sutherland star. Clint Eastwood directs. Streaming
Saturday, December 21
A Carpenter Christmas Romance (Lifetime): Starring Sasha Pieterse and Mitchell Slaggert, and written and executive produced by Grey’s Anatomy vet Sarah Drew, this original Lifetime movie sounds like the perfect night-in: When novelist Andrea (Pieterse) hints her upcoming book may be taking a heartbreaking turn, her fans begin protesting, demanding their favorite character doesn’t get killed off. Needing a haven where she can finish her novel, Andrea flees to her family’s farmhouse in the town of Wildwood. Much to her surprise, she ends up running into her ex-crush, Seth ( Slaggert), an artisanal woodworker who’s helping rebuild the town after it was nearly destroyed by a fire. It doesn’t take long for sawdust and sparks to fill the air once the two team up and work together to reignite the town’s Christmas spirit. Is this romance just a holiday fling that ends when her trip is over? Or can the two build a love that is made to last? 8 p.m. ET/PT, 7 p.m. CT
Saturday Night Live (NBC/Peacock): Martin Short will return for his third individual SNL hosting appearance and fifth overall. Hozier will take the stage for the second time as musical guest. 11:30 p.m. ET/10:30 p.m. CT, 8:30 p.m. PT and streaming on Peacock
The post What to Watch the Week of December 15: Virgin River Season 6 Will Deliver So Many OMG Moments appeared first on Glamour.
