Virgin River season 1, episode 8 recap: Into the Light

The town comes together at Jack’s Bar after a power outage during a storm, providing the perfect conditions for drama and reconciliation on Virgin River.

Mel has a nightmare about her husband’s death, except when she looks down at him it’s Jack instead. Clearly she’s feeling a little anxious about having feelings for someone again on Virgin River. She awakes to a power outage and a storm, reminding her of the night she lost her husband in a car accident during a rainstorm. Mel admits to Joey that she likes Jack, but she’s not ready to get close to anyone.

With the power out, the residents usually convene at Jack’s Bar where there is a generator and heat. Mel doesn’t feel like seeing Jack after her nightmare and she doesn’t want to go out in the rain, so she stays in bed under the covers until it gets too cold. She doesn’t want to drive in the rain, so she walks and ends up drenched when her umbrella breaks.

Everyone stares at her when she comes into Jack’s soaking wet. Jack takes her to his room where she can change into some of his clothes while hers dry. Jack’s room is pretty sparse, but he’s got some pretty heavy reading on his nightstand – Great Expectations and Kierkegaard among them.

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Connie makes peace with Hope and asks her to come over to their sewing circle to help with a baby blanket for Lilly and Chloe. Then Charmaine has Hope meet her secretly outside to take a box of Jack’s things with a letter addressed to him. Charmaine doesn’t want to see Jack or anyone else right now.

Predictably, Hope violates both Jack and Charmaine’s privacy by reading the letter and she is shocked by whatever is in it. I can only think of one thing that could possibly be in that letter that could be that shocking and important, so I’m guessing Charmaine is probably pregnant.

Preacher Googles Paige’s real name and discovers she is wanted for kidnapping. Meanwhile, Calvin comes into Jack’s Bar and shows off his money to Brady. Looks like he’s trying to recruit him and Brady is all about fast and easy money.

Mel finally meets Bert, the tow truck driver, and he’s a super pleasant guy. But it looks like he broke his hand in a towing accident and Mel has to convince him to let her set it. He doesn’t have health insurance, so he was just going to let it heal on its own, which could have lost him full function of his hand.

Doc confirms Mel’s diagnosis, but he’s already had two whiskeys so he lets Mel take care of Bert. Jack drives them over to the clinic and Bert takes a moment to say how sorry he was that he didn’t get to them that day before they got in trouble with Calvin and his people. Mel doesn’t understand why he feels so guilty about something that’s not his fault, but that’s a lesson she could take for herself. It’s not her fault that her husband died, she just feels like it is.

Jack takes Mel out for a surprise. Her cabin is finally finished and it’s gorgeous. She realizes that Jack did it all for her, to convince her to stay. She kisses him and he considerately asks her if she’s sure this is what she wants. As an answer, she kisses him again.

What did you think of this episode of Virgin River? Be sure to tell us in the comment section below!