Is Hope coming back to Virgin River?
Virgin River: Netflix releases trailer for third season  FREE now for the biggest moments from morning TV SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up fornow for the biggest moments from morning TV We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info  Virgin River returned for series three last week on Netflix and has already been binge-watched by many subscribers. Season two ended on a massive cliffhanger which left viewers worried for Jack Sheridan as he was found lying in a pool of blood. However, since dropping on the streaming service, attention has quickly turned to another key character in the romantic drama. WARNING: This article contains spoilers from Virgin River. The mayor of Virgin River Hope (played by Annette O'Toole) isn't in the third season of Virgin River. She is seen video chatting with Doc (Tim Matheson) but she is physically missing from the drama. Doc says that she left town because of a sick aunt but there is concern when he learns of a hurricane approaching where she is and cannot get hold of her. Thankfully, he is able to eventually get in touch with Hope but the hurricane was going to delay her return home. Virgin River: Hope is played by actress Annette O'Toole. While her absence was explained in the series, Hope didn't reappear by the end of the season three finale. The real reason behind the mayor not being in Virgin River is not because of a hurricane but the coronavirus pandemic. Showrunner Sue Tenney told Us Weekly: "We were affected by COVID like every other show, and it was impossible for Annette to come and join us up here in Vancouver." This meant some of the storylines planned for season three had to be scrapped. Virgin River: Hope has been in the drama from the very beginning. Trending  Virgin River: Hope is expected to return for season 4. Hope and Doc were supposed to have their vow renewal ceremony during this series. However, this couldn't go ahead with actress O'Toole not being able to travel for filming so has been postponed. Tenney continued: "Two episodes of plot on that. When we get to that point, which is a re-commitment ceremony, we definitely are going to want to see that. "But we have some drama going on with both of those characters that puts that on the back-burner, but also heightens their commitment to one another." [EXPLAINER]  Even though Hope has taken a back seat for series three, she is expected to return. Virgin River has already been given the green light by Netflix for a fourth season. So far, it is unclear how Hope's story will play out but Tenney has said her story will make her return to the town but is going to experience some "complications". Series four probably won't be on our screens until next year though.