Everyone loves a good romantic drama, and Virgin River checks all of the boxes. Over the last two seasons, viewers have witnessed major moments, highs, and lows. The series has also given us one heck of a love triangle between Jack, Mel, and Charmaine. Before Mel came along and thrust her smart, broody, beautiful self upon Jack, Jack was taking it easy with good old hometown gal, Charmaine. Of course, the new girl in town turned his head, but not before Char told Jack that she was pregnant with his offspring!
Season two continued the triangle, as Jack continued to pine for Mel but support Charmaine in her pregnancy. Who knows what will happen in a possible third season? The second installment left fans with much to ponder. Like the one Jack experienced in the finale, life-altering moments make a person sit down and assess where their life is headed. If Jack makes it out of danger, will he stay the course with Mel or return to Charmaine’s arms? Here is the case for both characters.
Charmaine Has His Babies
Families come in all shapes and sizes, and gone are the days of only traditional families existing. Some families consist of one parent, others have two married parents, while others contain moms and dads who co-parent.
Jack and Char seem to be going a non-traditional route, raising the kids together while not being romantically involved. A case can be made for these two rekindling their romance, though, so the twins can grow up in one home with both parents.
Mel Is Adored By The Town
Mel is immediately taken in by so many Virgin River residents. Well-intentioned and meddling, Hope loves Mel, and she grows on Doc over time as well. These two would love to see Mel and Jack end up happy together, as would Preacher, Michelle, and so many of Jack’s other pals.
Charmaine is less loved by the gang in Virgin River. Hope especially dislikes her, not that Char seems to care much. Mel would be the better choice in regards to Jack’s social circle.
Charmaine Has Less Emotional Baggage
Charmaine is no perfect human being, not by a mile, but she might have less emotional baggage to work through compared to Mel. Sure, Charmaine is needy and unrealistic in her expectations of Jack, but she doesn’t run off or shut down like Mel tends to do.
Mel is working through a lot of loss; her baby and her husband both passed before she left for Virgin River. Sorting out major life woes like those can take a toll on a new relationship.
Mel And Jack Have Undeniable Chemistry
Before Mel rolled into Virgin River, Jack and Charmaine had been carrying on for some time, but Jack made it clear that he didn’t want to get serious to take things to the next level with her. If these two were meant to be together, Jack would have already committed Charmaine.
When Mel moves into town, the sparks between Mel and Jack fly fast and furiously. There is no denying that these two have legit chemistry between them, which perhaps lacked between Jack and Charmaine.
Charmaine Has A Similar Career Path
Both Mel and Charmaine have careers going on. Charmaine is a self-employed hairdresser, and Mel works with Doc as a nurse practitioner. Both occupations are commendable, but perhaps Charmaine and Jack’s employment choices are more similar.
Jack owns a bar, and he and Charmaine have both put in the elbow grease to own their own space in the world. They worked hard and are their own bosses, so to speak.
Mel Gives Jack His Space
Charmaine really wants Jack to be a family with her and the twins, but Jack clearly doesn’t want that same thing. He has always felt a bit suffocated by Char and has made it a point to keep her at arm’s length for the duration of their courtship.
While Charmaine can be quite suffocating, Mel has always given Jack the space that he needs. Mel understands, because of her history, the desire to step back and breathe.
Charmaine Is Sure About Jack
Jack has made it clear that he isn’t bent on having a romantic relationship with Charmaine, but Charmaine is certain about him. Jack told Charmaine Mel was his choice, and still, Charmaine loved him.
At the end of the first season, Mel freaks and leaves Virgin River for a few weeks to clear her head. No one, not even Jack, hears from her. Mel is obviously having second thoughts about life with Jack, which Charmaine never seemed to have.
Mel’s Worldliness Makes Her Assess And Consider
Jack and Charmaine have spent their lives in the small town, which means that their dating pools have always remained narrow. It’s easy to settle when you are in this type of situation.
Had Mel never come to Virgin River, Jack might have settled for a quiet life with Charmaine and their babies. Mel comes from the big city, and she is a more worldly character. She has met more people and even been married. Because of this, she has likely considered all of the options with Jack. Considering he still has her heart might be saying something.
Charmaine Is Family Oriented
Never mind that she is literally trying to build a family by having two of Jack’s babies, but Charmaine knows the importance of family, generally speaking. While she is catching a lot of flack for considering up and moving away from Jack, she only considers this because she wants to be close to family and knows that she will need their support.
Mel, on the other hand, is a bit of a lone ranger. We have seen some family pop into Virgin River, but Mel always looks like she can’t wait for them to go home. Charmaine’s family values might be good for bachelor Jack.
Mel And Jack Have Depth
With Charmaine and Jack, there always seemed to be only a physical connection between them. Jack felt that there was nothing emotional or substantial to the two of them, and they simply saw each other for fun.
Charmaine clearly saw things differently and hoped for a different outcome. Jack and Mel have something entirely different going on. They don’t even go the full distance until the second season, which meant that there was a lot of time between meeting and intimacy to discover, relate, and connect.
