Virgin River showrunner confirms Ricky will be absent in season 5

When Virgin River season 4 premiered in July 2022, some fans of the series might have been shocked by the seeming departure of a main character. By the season’s end, Ricky (Grayson Gurnsey) left the small town for basic training with the Marines.

Of course, Ricky and Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale) had been in a rocky romance since her arrival in Virgin River in the second season, and their relationship continued to be rocky in season 4. Thankfully, they were able to settle their differences before he left for training.

While there could be a number of plot twists that could bring Ricky back to his hometown without being gone for too long, fans know the pacing of the series all too well. That being said, it could be a full season before Ricky returns for another shift at Jack’s Bar.

Since Ricky will be away from the titular small town, does that mean we won’t get to see what he’s up to in season 5? Here’s what the new showrunner recently confirmed about the character’s whereabouts in the upcoming new season.

Will Ricky be in Virgin River season 5?

According to showrunner Patrick Sean Smith, Ricky will be absent for much of (if not all of) Virgin River season 5. Based on that intel, it appears as though Ricky’s decision will stick and he won’t be returning home sooner than expected. But Smith did promise that Ricky could make a comeback in future seasons since he’s a beloved character.

Here’s what Smith shared with TV Line about Ricky in Virgin River season 5:

"“The timeline was set that he would be in basic training until December. I won’t say [you’ll have to wait until] Season 10, but he’s a fan favorite. Everybody loves him. We’ll probably see Ricky at some point down the road.”"

Let’s hope we don’t have to wait until season 10 to see Ricky again! Since Gurnsey hasn’t appeared in any behind-the-scenes photos from the season 5 set, we can assume he won’t be making an appearance in the season… unless it’s a surprise appearance in the finale.

Smith also teased what’s ahead for Denny and Lizzie in season 5, and if the new couple grows closer in Ricky’s absence, his unexpected reappearance sure could throw a wrench in their plans. We’ll have to wait and see what’s next for Ricky, Lizzie, and Denny.

Stay tuned for more Virgin River season 5 news and updates from Netflix Life!