The focus on Mel and Jack’s wedding in Virgin River season 6 let other storylines go partially unnoticed, including one about Vernon that risks endangering him and his practice greatly in Virgin River season 7. Like other Virgin River seasons, some storylines faded into the background in favor of others. With Preacher’s trial looming large over the lives of those in the northern California town, Mel and Jack’s wedding right after and Mel and Everett trying to make up for lost time, focusing on the storylines of key characters like Hope and Vernon would only pull the focus from them.

One seemingly inconsequential story in Virgin River season 6, episode 5 nonetheless resulted in a major problem for Vernon, despite ending well for the patient. The house call Vernon and Denny made to the Bakers turned from serious into life-threatening, quickly realizing the emergency services would have gotten there too late. This prompted Vernon to decide on burr holes to relieve the pressure, a procedure also confirmed by the Grace Valley Hospital neurosurgeon in videocall. Vernon safely concluded the procedure and saved the patient, but that placed him under investigation from the medical board in Virgin River season 6’s ending.

Grace Valley Hospital Wanting To Steal Vernon’s Practice Sets It Up As Season 7’s Villain

Grace Valley Hospital’s Threat Against Vernon & Mel Came Out Of The Blue

Annette O'Toole as Hope in Virgin River season 6, episode 10

Dr. Hayes’s investigation into Vernon’s actions during the call at the Bakers was unexpected. Hayes told him about it straight away and doubled down when he learned from Hope that Denny, who assisted him, was still in college. Hayes pursued the investigation despite the patient being better and Vernon having been in contact with a Grace Valley neurosurgeon before the procedure. However, what made the least sense in Hayes’s campaign against Vernon was how Grace Valley Hospital had never before investigated him, despite Vernon’s renowned unorthodox approach to bureaucracy, which prompted him to move to Virgin River to practice medicine.

The attack on Vernon’s clinic only for [Grace Valley Hospital’s] profit makes Vernon and Hope’s upcoming fight in Virgin River season 7 one of the biggest to protect the practice and its role within the Virgin River community.

Hope’s discovery in Virgin River season 6’s finale explained Hayes’s actions at last, but it also set up Grace Valley Hospital as season 7’s villain after they seemingly pursued investigating Vernon only to suspend him the moment they looked to expand their network into Virgin River. Put together, their timing and previous actions were suspicious, and the attack on Vernon’s clinic only for their profit makes Vernon and Hope’s upcoming fight in Virgin River season 7 one of the biggest to protect the practice and its role within the Virgin River community, who always valued Vernon and his clinic.

Vernon Mullins’s Family Practice Has Never Been In This Kind Of Danger Before In Virgin River

Virgin River’s Family Clinic Faced Less Monumental Challenges

Tim Matheson as Doc Vernon Mullins in Virgin River season 6 Annette O'Toole as Hope in Virgin River season 6, episode 6 Annette O'Toole as Hope and Tim Matheson as Vernon in Virgin River season 6's finale Tim Matheson in Virgin River season 5 behind a desk Annette O'Toole as Hope in Virgin River season 6 episode 9

Vernon’s clinic never risked a takeover or for its key qualities to change radically, thus making Grace Valley Hospital’s expansion the biggest threat it ever faced. Its problems usually ranged from Vernon’s workload being too much, hence Hope’s decision to hire Mel in Virgin River season 1, to the prospect of Vernon losing his sight, which meant he had to find his successor, one that would understand how the clinic ran and supported the town so that they could implement those lessons in their daily practice after Vernon’s retirement.

Virgin River’s whole premise was that Vernon needed help from Mel as a nurse practitioner because he couldn’t do it all by himself, even if he didn’t want said help and fought Mel throughout season 1.

When Cameron moved back home and Vernon’s medical trial worked, Vernon had no reason to find a successor anymore. However, Grace Valley Hospital’s dishonest methods nonetheless hint at Hope, Vernon and Mel’s need to plan for a vicious fight, one that could benefit from Brie’s expertise after what she obtained for Preacher in Virgin River season 6. This makes Vernon’s fight for his clinic the biggest Virgin River season 7 story yet, one where the soul of the whole town is at stake, making it important for all residents to defend it.