Conspicuously absent from season 3 of Virgin River (open in new tab), which premiered on Netflix on July 9, is the one and only Hope McCrea, played by Annette O'Toole. She is a well-spoken and loyal town mayor (open in new tab) and the fiancée (ex-wife) of Doc Mullins. Hope is frequently seen in video chats and her presence is greatly felt in the story, but in the third season of Virgin River, unlike Doc (opens in new tab), Hope's on-screen husband, she is physically present in almost every episode, even though and is never seen in person. To make matters worse, by the end of the third season, Hope is in a car accident that results in brain damage and near death. This has fans wondering: will Hope die in Virgin River? And will Annette O'Toole leave the show, or has she already left?

Don't worry, Hope McCrea fans: O'Toole couldn't fly to Vancouver to film season 3, but she is still part of Virgin River and will remain so. And all indications are that Hope will not only appear in Virgin River Season 4, but that she will be much more present than she failed to appear in the third season.

Unfortunately, O'Toole was unable to film with the rest of the cast in Vancouver due to COVID-19 restrictions. Showrunner Sue Tenney explained to Us Weekly: (Open in new tab) "We were affected by COVID just like any other show, and it was impossible for Annette to come to Vancouver to join us. Personally, I love Hope. I love that character so much that I got busy in the writers' room trying to figure out how to bring her to life on the show with the limited access we had"

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Even without O'Toole's actual presence, Hope has a very important place in the Season 3 storyline. Tenney told TV Line, "Even though she only appears in a couple of episodes in person, it was most important to keep her presence on the show." Spoilers ahead for "Virgin River" Season 3. First, Hope is caught in a hurricane while visiting her elderly aunt, and Doc, who cannot be reached, is terrified. Hope and her aunt are perfectly safe, but Hope is forced to stay with her aunt for a few more episodes in the hurricane's aftermath. Then, on her way back to Virgin River, Hope is involved in a car accident and is rushed to the hospital. In the final episode, as Hope lies in her hospital bed, Doc and Hope's doctor evaluate her chances of recovery. These storylines are what Tenney described to Digital Spy as "the pivot of the pandemic." (opens in new tab)

No, in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Tenney confirmed that Hope will survive the accident (opens in new tab). Tenney described Season 4 this way: "We move forward. For us, it's about her recovery and dealing with her traumatic brain injury. Going to recovery in the hospital is not where our show lives. But we are very committed to what the truth of something is.

Not only will Hope return in Season 4, but she has a fascinating new storyline ahead of her. In addition to dealing with the aftereffects of her brain injury, Hope will face off against Muriel. Tenney tells EW: "The more enjoyable relationship is the one between Muriel and Hope. In the slow burn category, there comes a moment when that relationship becomes open. [It's] fun to make enemies friendly."

There is also a possibility that a storyline that was supposed to be in Season 3 will be copied and pasted into Season 4. There were two lengthy episodes concerning Doc and Hope's wedding. When we get to that point where the remarriage ceremony takes place, we will definitely want to see it. "

Hope and Doc will not only have to deal with the effects of her car accident, but also the unexpected arrival of Doc's grandson. Tim Matheson, who plays Doc, told Entertainment Weekly: "Doc was never a father, so to have a grandson is pretty radical. Of all the drama of grandchildren, he added, this accident will only bring Doc and Hope closer together. Because if she is not well, it will divide who he can spend time with. Also, from her point of view, this grandson is not hers and means nothing to her," he said.

In interviews for season 3, the cast remained tight-lipped about a possible next season, but rumor has it that Netflix has already quietly approved a fourth season (open in new tab). This coincides with what happened with Season 3: According to the production list released by What's On Netflix, the third season of "Virgin River" was quietly approved by Netflix and production began ASAP. According to What's On Netflix, Season 4 has been quietly not only approved, but filming is expected to begin at the end of July. Our guess is that we can expect a fourth season of Virgin River in July 2022."