As Virgin River moves toward its seventh season, veteran actress Annette O’Toole—who plays Hope McCrea—is opening up about dramatic new developments for her character. After years of serving as the town’s fiercely protective, outspoken mayor, Hope is heading into a pivotal period of self-discovery, emotional growth, and shifting loyalties. Her journey is about to take some compelling detours as the show deepens her backstory, tests her relationships, and gives viewers more reason than ever to re-evaluate the character they thought they knew.

Season 6 began healing old wounds for Hope, especially after her traumatic brain injury and a serious accident. O’Toole described how her character has “never been in a better place since the very beginning”—not fully recovered, but gaining empathy and perspective she lacked earlier reddit.com+15salon.com+15thelist.com+15. Still, O’Toole emphasized that Hope remains layered, stubborn, and dynamic—no simple transformation here. As one cast insider put it, Hope is less volatile but still intent on being involved in everyone’s business—because she cares deeply about her town .

Looking ahead to Season 7, O’Toole teased some of the biggest shifts yet. First, the show plans to further explore Hope’s past—particularly the legacy of McCrea Cabin, which has long resonated beneath the surface. While glimpsed in earlier seasons, we’re promised a deeper dive into her family history and what shaped her values and sense of community . That means more flashbacks or heartfelt dialogue, giving fans insight into why Hope is the matriarch she is—both in her strength and her shortcomings.

The second major arc comes in the form of resurfacing relationships—old, unresolved, and emotionally charged. Season 6 introduced Hope’s ex-husband Roland, prompting O’Toole to reflect, “I thought she was twice widowed… but this change makes sense dramatically” reddit.com+14wetsatinpress.com+14commstrader.com+14. O’Toole suggested Roland may return, providing a new test for her current romance with Doc Mullins (Tim Matheson). Expect the love triangle to strain the couple’s “honeymoon phase,” igniting friction that the actress says will make the upcoming season far more emotionally complex reddit.com+4wetsatinpress.com+4commstrader.com+4.

Thirdly, O’Toole confirmed that Season 7 will challenge Hope’s sense of purpose. Having stepped down as mayor in Season 6, she now emerges as a former office-holder—no small identity shift for someone so used to control and community leadership spoilerverse.info+1parade.com+1. Viewers can expect Hope to explore new roles: perhaps as a private community advocate, challenger in local politics, or someone working behind the scenes to shape Virgin River’s future.

That transition is matched by tension and tenderness in her relationship with Doc. O’Toole and Matheson have crafted Hope and Doc’s connection with ongoing depth, preparing scenes together to maintain authenticity usmagazine.com+12wetsatinpress.com+12parade.com+12. But an old flame racing back from her past—combined with Doc’s medical troubles and career uncertainty—may surface conflicts that test their bond more than ever before.

Alongside personal arcs, Hope’s place within the knitting circle and the wider town will evolve. O’Toole praised the season’s balance of realism and community warmth, and hinted that Hope’s increased empathy and leadership will emerge through more community-based concerns and shared experiences with friends like Muriel as they confront aging and health challenges together commstrader.com+1wetsatinpress.com+1. This storyline elevates Hope from quirky busybody to grounded protector—someone viewers can respect even if she sometimes frustrates them.

Fan reactions have often been heated—some criticize Hope’s over-the-top habits, others find her polarizing presence essential to the show . O’Toole is unbothered, believing Hope’s big feelings and strong opinions are exactly what make her compelling and memorable . For the upcoming season, she’s more than ready to lean into that complexity.

What makes this transition exciting is how it ties into Virgin River’s larger narrative expansion. As Season 7 dives into Mel and Jack’s married life and Mel’s parents’ debut prequel, Hope’s redefined place in the town rounds out an evolving ensemble focused not just on romance—but also legacy, loyalty, and leadership in a small, close-knit community ew.com+1countryliving.com+1.

In sum, Annette O’Toole says Hope McCrea is entering her most dramatic, transformative chapter yet

• Her roots and family history come into sharper focus as the McCrea legacy is explored.

• Her heart is torn by the reappearance of her ex-husband, complicating her relationship with Doc.

• She embarks on a new identity journey after stepping down as mayor—finding her place outside elected office.

• Her evolving empathy, collaboration, and influence reflect a changed woman—still bossy, still opinionated—but wiser, deeper, and more nuanced.

Season 7 promises to reveal the full dimension of Hope McCrea—the woman, the legacy, the mayor, the friend, and the complicated romantic. For fans eager for emotional storytelling and character growth, this promises to be Virgin River at its most profound.

Here’s hoping the next season gives Annette O’Toole plenty more room to shine—and shows us sides of Hope we’ve never seen before.