The sleepy town of Virgin River is about to be rocked by a revelation no one saw coming. According to leaked pages from the Season 8 script, the beloved small-town doctor, Vernon “Doc” Mullins, has been hiding a major secret for over four decades: he’s a retired CIA operative.

Yes, you read that right. The quiet man with a gruff demeanor and a stethoscope around his neck once carried a badge, a gun, and a top-secret clearance.

From House Calls to Black Ops

According to anonymous sources close to production, this shocking twist will surface mid-season when a mysterious patient arrives in Virgin River — unconscious, injured, and carrying classified documents. When the stranger whispers Doc’s old codename before flatlining, everything changes.

In a flashback-filled episode titled “Operation Evergreen,” viewers will see a younger Doc in action, played by a yet-to-be-announced younger actor. The scenes reveal his involvement in covert operations across Eastern Europe during the Cold War and a final mission that went wrong — sending him into early retirement under a new identity.

Why Now? A Long-Planned Plot Twist

Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith confirmed the twist had been “quietly seeded” since Season 1.

“There’s always been more to Doc than meets the eye. His discipline, his paranoia, the reason he never fully left medicine — all of it stems from a life he tried to bury,” said Smith. “Season 8 is where we dig it up.”

Hope Reacts… and the Town Shatters

In one emotionally charged scene already filmed, Hope confronts Doc after discovering an old briefcase marked “Top Secret.” The fallout is devastating. Trust crumbles. The town that once leaned on Doc begins to question whether their quiet guardian ever truly belonged.

“You were never just ours, were you?” Hope whispers, according to the leaked script. “You’ve always belonged to the shadows.”

Spy Drama Meets Romance? Enter Agent Charlotte Rivers

The twist won’t just focus on Doc’s past. A new character, Agent Charlotte Rivers — played by The Crown’s Vanessa Kirby — arrives in town, claiming to be an old flame from Doc’s agency days. Her presence stirs old feelings, unresolved missions, and possibly… a love triangle?

Fan Frenzy: “I Did Not Have CIA Doc on My 2025 Bingo Card”

The Virgin River fandom exploded online after the leaks, with #SpyDoc trending for hours.

@riverwatcher94: “So you’re telling me Doc Mullins went from heart checkups to Homeland Security? Give that man an Emmy.”

@MelLover101: “This better be a fever dream. I just wanted Mel to deliver babies, not dodge bullets.”

What This Means for Season 9

Insiders hint this plot will have lasting effects. Doc’s past may be linked to a hidden threat that has been silently creeping into Virgin River — one that might even involve Preacher’s military past or Brady’s shady connections.

Season 9 could shift the show into high-stakes drama, blending romance, espionage, and secrets that go far deeper than the town’s rivers.

Stay tuned for casting updates, exclusive on-set photos, and early footage leaks as the production of Virgin River Season 8 continues.