Aahana Swrup
‘Virgin River’ Season 6 opens with a slight time jump, finding the residents of the namesake town in spring after the holiday season of the season 5 finale. As such, the months-long fast forward pushes Mel and Jack closer to their wedding, grants Doc Mullins the time to recover from his eye treatment, and progresses Lizzie further along in her pregnancy. However, it also affects the storylines of some characters in more subtle ways. This remains most prominent in the case of Muriel, who finds herself newly single in Cameron’s departure from the town. Naturally, fans are bound to notice the absence of the young doctor—who was previously a town staple—and grow intrigued about his fate within the show. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Cameron Breaks Up With Muriel After Season 5
As season 5 concludes, it leaves Cameron and Muriel at a fairly secure place in their relationship. Their romance takes off soon after Muriel begins working at Doc’s clinic, handling the administrative side of things. While it takes the pair some time to come around their feelings and start a relationship together, their love blooms with ease and swiftness. However, the arrival of Cameron’s ex-fiancé, Michelle, forces his relationship with Muriel to confront a significant question. Initially, the doctor broke off his engagement with Michelle and moved to Virgin River because of her drinking problem.
While Michelle’s alcoholism was an issue all on its own, a notable side-effect of it remained the threat it posed to the possibility of a happy, loving family. Nonetheless, once Michelle visits him at Virgin River, she informs him that she has been working on her sobriety since he left. Furthermore, in light of her recovery, she hopes for reconciliation between her and Cameron. Even so, the doctor turns her down, instead choosing to find his future with Muriel. Still, this compels Muriel to bring up a much-needed conversation about children. Given her age, Muriel isn’t at a point in her life where she wants to have children—which she thinks is bound to be a problem for Cameron.
Even though Cameron insists that he is okay with the prospect of a future without children, Muriel maintains that it is a topic he needs to think about properly. She doesn’t want Cameron to wake up one day and realize he has made a mistake by signing himself up for a life he didn’t want. As it turns out, Muriel was right in her concerns. Due to the time jump in season 6, Muriel and Cameron’s breakup isn’t an on-screen affair. Still, it’s established that the pair broke up so that Cameron can give himself the chance to be a father. For the same reason, he left town and returned to Michelle to give their relationship another chance.
Mark Ghanimé is Still a Part of the Virgin River Family
Fans will be pleased to know that Mark Ghanimé, the actor who plays Dr. Cameron Hayek, continues to remain a part of ‘Virgin River’ in Season 6. Even though Cameron is no longer a town resident, he hasn’t entirely cut himself off from the lives of his old friends and coworkers. Therefore, while he isn’t a regular character in Season 6, he still manages to make an appearance. Jack and Mel’s wedding is a grand affair in the town of Virgin River and even attracts former town residents to stop by. Cameron is one such ex-resident who is in town for the Sheridan-Monroe wedding.
Cameron also has other entanglements in town, including the issues Doc Mullins is facing with Grace Valley Hospital. Additionally, his presence also allows him to become a friendly shoulder for Muriel, who receives a cancer diagnosis shortly after his arrival. Cameron still has a lot of love and respect for Muriel, who reciprocates his feelings. Nonetheless, the pair seem to have embraced the inevitable end of their relationship. Thus, they now exist as amicable exes-turned-friends.
Therefore, given the numerous connections Cameron has sustained in the town, it’s possible his character will continue to be a part of ‘Virgin River’ in differing capacities. In fact, Doc’s newfound trouble with Grace Valley Hospital, which is trying to get his practice shut down, might just bring Cameron back to town to extend his aid to his former colleague. As a result, it seems probable that Mark Ghanimé’s collaboration with ‘Virgin River’ will continue in the future.
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