Summary
“Trial by Fire” is an action-packed installment. A few of the subplots may be a little preachy at times, but they are all well-meaning nonetheless. There is tension and major developments as we reach the halfway mark in the season. The show is definitely gearing up and finally offering some genuine drama to get behind.
We recap the Netflix series Virgin River Season 5 Episode 5, “Trial by Fire,” which contains significant spoilers.
Now and again, Virgin River focuses on an event that brings the whole town together. In season five, that major event happens to be a wildfire.
“Trial by Fire” concentrates on the beginnings of this deadly event as the fire enters town. We see the consequences of this fire from all of the townsfolk’s differing perspectives.
Virgin River Season 5 Episode 5 Recap
Both Kaia and Preacher are the first to hear of this spreading wildfire as they wake the next morning together. Kaia is called by her chief, and Preacher sees a wildfire alert on his phone.
A mandatory evacuation is brought in. Kaia must go to work, and Preacher warns his friends Jack and Mel immediately.
The lovebirds are heading back, as Preacher calls them. Mel asks to drive to the clinic to help with the coming influx of patients. They speed over while Brie prepares for her trial over in Sacramento.
How does Brie’s trial go?
During the trial, Brie refers to her ex-boyfriend Don as a rapist, accusing him of sexually assaulting her. She is forced to recount the event, although Brie also questions herself. While she testifies, her dependence on Xanax is brought up.
Brie defends herself valiantly and openly talks about her fears of pressing charges. After the trial, Brie bumps into Mike, who is also testifying but in a different trial. They are then informed of the wildfires in the Virgin River.
At the clinic, a man is brought in who is suffering from smoke exposure. Mel wastes no time at all in helping the man out. Meanwhile, Doc asks Jack for a favor. He wants him to convince the illegal campers to move out before things get dangerous.
READ: Virgin River Season 3 Episode 10 Recap and Ending Explained
Jack accepts this mammoth undertaking but decides to bring in Brady for backup. Brady is down at the lumberyard with Melissa Montgomery. She wants the yard to burn down so that they can claim the insurance from it. Brady and Jack head into the fray together.
Why is Hope angry?
Elsewhere, Hope tries to convince Lydie to evacuate her home, even though she isn’t in the danger zone just yet. Hope is furious that acting mayor Nick isn’t following her fire readiness plan. They head to the rendezvous point at Jack’s Bar to try and influence all of the major decisions.
Nick tells Hope that he is following the firefighters’ directions. Hope decides to go behind Nick’s back and formulates her own plan. Lizzie and Denny offer to help. They start by driving out to Bert’s home to warn him first.
Back at the clinic, Mel sees the steady flow of patients. During a break, she discovers that she has had a miscarriage. Mel is heartbroken by this tragedy, but she chooses to hide her true emotions instead, keeping the devastating news to herself for now.
Doc and Cameron are ushered off to deal with an injury out in the field, leaving Mel in charge of the clinic in their absence. Ava calls, worried that the nearby smoke could affect her baby niece’s health. Mel urges Ava to bring the baby in for monitoring.
Do Jack and Brady save the missing girl?
Jack and Brady manage to convince the campers to leave the area, but one of the campers’ daughters, named Hazel, has gone missing. Jack and Brady search through the smoke and rescue this missing girl. Abandoned ammunition causes explosions in the surrounding area as the fire worsens. They all evacuate in the nick of time.
Lizzie and Denny drive through the smoke, gathering up citizens. They convince Lydie to evacuate and then press on for Bert’s house. They lose cell service, though, meaning that they aren’t updated on the ever-widening evacuation zones. They drive straight into the chaos.
Hope worries for their safety. She tells Nick, who is angry, that Hope went behind his back. Nick tells Hope that even the firefighters are being evacuated now.
Hope made a terrible mistake; Nick doesn’t think she is fit to be the mayor anymore.
Virgin River Season 5 Episode 5 Ending Explained
Out in the forest, Doc and Cameron see the injured firefighter, Jay. Kaia is there by his side. They return to the clinic, but Jay gets into further trouble. This subplot concludes with Doc performing compressions on Jay.
When Ava doesn’t show up after a lengthy amount of time, Mel decides to drive out to check up on her. Mel texts Jack to update him on the situation. She then drives to Ava at Lilly’s farm.
The fire is closing in, and Mel hears a baby crying inside the home. She rushes on in. Jack receives her text message and drives after her as well.
The fire is getting out of control now, and many of the cast members are in imminent danger as the fifth installment ends.
What did you think of Netflix’s Virgin River Season 5 Episode 4? Comment below.
