Why wasn’t Annette O’Toole in Virgin River season 3?

Virgin River season 3 finally premiered on Netflix and brought all of the drama we have been waiting for. But the new season had one very glaring absence by way of Annette O’Toole’s Hope.

If you found yourself missing Virgin River‘s busybody mayor with the biggest heart, you definitely weren’t in the minority. Annette O’Toole’s presence and energy was missed in Virgin River season 3. But why wasn’t she in the new episodes?

Unfortunately, O’Toole didn’t appear in scenes in person with her cast members. Rather, Hope popped up only a couple times in video calls with Doc. Of course, that means we didn’t get to see Doc and Hope’s vow renewal ceremony, but we did get some pretty tragic twists.

For more details on why Annette O’Toole wasn’t in Virgin River season 3 and whether Hope will return if the series is renewed for season 4, continue reading, but be forewarned: Spoilers ahead!

Why wasn’t Hope in Virgin River season 3?

Within the show, Hope’s absences from her beloved town is attributed to the mayor taking a trip to care for an ailing aunt in South Carolina. While in the south, Hope gets caught in a terrible hurricane and loses contact with Doc for multiple episodes.

When Hope sets her sights on returning home for the funeral of one of her best friends (more on who dies in season 3 here), she winds up in a near-fatal car accident and fights for her life in a season-ending cliffhanger. Let’s hope Hope pulls through!

Is Annette O’Toole leaving Virgin River?

According to showrunner Sue Tenney, who spoke with EW about the new season, O’Toole’s absence in season 3 came down to limitations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tenney calls O’Toole not being able to travel and return to set in Vancouver a “pandemic pivot.” However, there’s a bit of good news, as Tenney told EW:

"We’ve worked very hard to make sure she was still very much in the show. If we have a fourth season, everyone is now vaccinated and the pandemic is not what it was. So, I would hope that we would have Annette back."

So, there you have it. Annette O’Toole doesn’t appear to be leaving the series, even if Hope’s condition looks rather grim in the Virgin River season 3 finale. Keep your fingers crossed that Hope recovers and she and Doc will be able to renew their vows in season 4.