“He’s in trouble again,” Hollingsworth teases about Brady’s rocky ending in Season 6.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Virgin River Season 6.
Brady, the perpetual underdog of Virgin River, has once again found himself at a crossroads. After a tumultuous relationship with Lark (Elise Gatien), things take a devastating turn for Brady (Benjamin Hollingsworth) by the end of Season 6. Despite his attempts at a fresh start, the romance ends in betrayal, leaving fans wondering what’s next for the troubled mechanic.
Lark’s Betrayal
Brady’s relationship with Lark seemed promising, especially as he tried to be a steady presence for her young daughter, Hazel. But after Lark overhears a heartfelt conversation between Brady and his ex, Brie (Zibby Allen), at Jack and Mel’s wedding, cracks begin to show. When Lark confronts Brady about his lingering feelings for Brie, he lies, breaking the trust he had promised to build.
Soon after, Brady discovers that Lark has vanished with Hazel — and all the money in his bank account. While the show leaves room for speculation about Lark’s motivations, Hollingsworth and showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirm that her actions stem from heartbreak and premeditation.
“Lark was kind of planning to do this all along,” Hollingsworth tells Entertainment Weekly. “So yeah, he’s in trouble again.”
The Consequences of Dishonesty
For Hollingsworth, Brady’s dishonesty with Lark marks a regression to old habits. “What he didn’t do is follow through on his promise to be honest,” Hollingsworth explains. “He should’ve stopped dancing around the truth and told her, ‘I still have feelings for Brie. You deserve better.’ That would’ve been the standup thing to do.”
Instead, his deception creates a cascade of consequences. “From Brady’s perspective, he thought she conned him,” Smith explains. “He let her back into his life, and she completed the con.”
Brady’s Complex Motivation
So why did Brady pursue a relationship with Lark if he wasn’t over Brie? According to Hollingsworth, it was about striving to be better. “He wanted to be the guy Brie always wanted him to be,” he says. Brady’s relationship with Lark, though genuine in its own way, was also motivated by a desire to create stability for Hazel and prevent her from experiencing the troubled upbringing he and Lark endured.
“That’s how I played it throughout the season,” Hollingsworth shares. “As much as he was falling in love with Lark, it was a different kind of love than what he felt for Brie.”
The Dream of a Bike Shop
Despite this setback, Brady’s passion for motorcycles remains a beacon of hope. Throughout Season 6, Brady shared his aspiration to open a mechanic shop, a dream tied not only to his personal interests but also to helping troubled local youths find purpose.
“Bikes are his passion,” Hollingsworth says. “The idea of using the shop to give back to the community makes you love Brady even more. He’s not just thinking about himself; he wants to help others in tough situations.”
Though Lark’s betrayal leaves him financially strained, Brady’s dream isn’t dead. “He still has the bike shop dream,” Smith says. “But he’s starting from a significant financial deficit.”
Collaboration, Not Competition
One potential challenge for Brady could have been local mechanic Bert (Trevor Lerner), but the show assures viewers there’s no rivalry brewing. “Bert thinks the more the merrier,” Smith says. “He’d support Brady.”
Adds Hollingsworth: “Maybe Bert handles the trucks, and Brady takes care of the motorcycles. That’ll be the understanding.”
A Silver Lining for Brady
While Lark’s actions leave Brady reeling, Hollingsworth sees a potential upside. “He’s used to seeing a zero balance in his bank account,” he jokes. “Having money can be overwhelming for someone who’s never had it before. Now he’s back to square one, and maybe that’s a good thing for him.”
Ultimately, Hollingsworth believes in Brady’s resilience. “He’s a survivor,” he says. “The odds have been stacked against him his whole life, and he always finds a way.”
Fans can catch all the drama, heartbreak, and redemption of Brady’s journey as Virgin River Season 6 is now streaming on Netflix.
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