Picture Credit: Netflix
Season 7 of Virgin River places Brie Sheridan in the most emotionally jagged position the character has faced since her frantic arrival in town. She is currently suspended between stability and passion, safety and vulnerability. Her arc this year isn’t just about a romantic triangle; it’s a forensic look at the lingering effects of trauma and the terrifying prospect of actually trusting one’s own instincts.
I sat down with Zibby Allen to dissect Brie’s psychological landscape, the “horse metaphor” that cracked the character open, and why the Mike vs. Brady debate is actually a mirror for Brie’s own identity crisis.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity and length.
At the start of the season, Brie tells Mike she wanted to love him but simply couldn’t give him her whole heart. From your perspective, was that a moment of clarity, finally winning the race?
Absolutely. Clarity finally caught up with her. She’s been exhausting herself battling between her head and her heart for a long time. Look, she and Brady have an undeniable, almost cellular chemistry. When she’s physically near him, she feels this strange paradox: the most abandoned and the most trust at the exact same time.
The real hurdle is the “day-to-day.” Can she trust what a functional relationship with Brady actually looks like? She’s been negotiating between a stable, “safe” life with Mike and something with Brady that could upend her world. When she finally tells Mike the truth, the words almost beat her to the punch. It came out before she was ready to say it because admitting it meant mourning the “practical” choice.
The fandom has become almost tribal over the Mike vs. Brady rivalry. Do you think this story was ever really about choosing a man, or was it about Brie choosing which version of herself she was willing to live with?
That is perfectly put. That is exactly it. It’s a choice of identity. Each relationship invites a different side of her personality to the table. Brady is the dangerous route, no question. But for Brie, he is certainly the more interesting version of her life.
Virgin River S7. (L to R) Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan and Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan in Episode #707 of Virgin River S7. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
There is a pivotal moment involving a horse this season. Clay points out that Brie handles the animal the same way she handles her life: with far too much control. Did that metaphor click for you immediately?
It clicked instantly. Brie has deep-seated trust issues, and they are entirely justified. We have to remember she landed in Virgin River after a massive betrayal by a partner who then assaulted her. She isn’t just struggling to trust men; she’s struggling to trust her own internal compass. In the viewer’s timeline, that trauma was seasons ago. In Brie’s life timeline? Those wounds are still incredibly fresh. Trust is the gravity of her entire story.
When Brie finally declares her love for Brady, is she officially clocking out of “survival mode”?
She has to let go of that instinct to leap, but the survival mode never truly vanishes. That’s what makes the reconciliation compelling, she’s choosing Brady even while the alarm bells in her head are still ringing. Fans often scream at the screen, “Just make a decision!” She does. But she isn’t doing it because she’s 100% certain it will work. She’s doing it because she’s willing to take a leap of faith to find that sense of abandon she’s denied herself her whole life.
Virgin River S7. Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan in Episode #706 of Virgin River S7. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
Brie’s trauma is rarely portrayed through “TV outbursts.” It’s shown through hesitation and her fierce empathy for people like Charmaine. How do you keep that trauma feeling lived-in rather than performative?
Most people carrying trauma don’t live in a permanent state of high-octane emotion. It’s a tint on the lens through which you see the world. It shows up as a second-guess or a subtle flinch in an everyday conversation. I try to bring Brie’s entire history into every frame, even when the dialogue doesn’t explicitly mention her past.
When Brie goes into “Lawyer Mode”, defending Preacher or assisting Charmaine, she becomes incredibly composed. Is that her safest identity?
It’s where she’s most confident. It’s also a Sheridan sibling trait she shares with Jack. They both have this inherent need to fix things; they both have a bit of a hero complex. For Brie, legal work is a channel for her strength. Helping Charmaine this season was her way of reclaiming power that was stolen from her.
Season 8 is already in the works. Do you want to see her stay in this state of emotional surrender, or do you think she’ll retreat back into control?
I’m limited in what I know, but I’ve told the writers I hope she keeps surrendering. She finally made a real choice. Of course, Brady’s accident throws a massive wrench into that. You just hope the trauma of that accident doesn’t scare her back into her shell.
Virgin River S7. (L to R) Zibby Allen as Brie Sheridan and Marco Grazzini as Mike Valenzuela in Episode #706 of Virgin River S7. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
There has been talk of a potential time jump. Do you think that would benefit the characters?
I don’t know the writers’ plan, but a time jump could be a fascinating way to see how these people evolve outside of the immediate crises we usually follow.
Looking at the long-term horizon, is there an experience Brie hasn’t had yet that you’re itching to play?
I’m curious about Brie’s motherhood. She’s tough, but seeing that nurturing side could be a beautiful evolution. Many people heal their past through the families they build. Seeing her go through that alongside Jack would be a very full-circle moment for the Sheridans.
Beyond the River: Zibby Allen’s Portfolio
Outside the scripted drama of the Sheridan family, Allen is aggressively constructing her own creative slate. Her primary focus right now is The Hollywood Rush, a benefit event scheduled for March 28th at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles. The project is deeply personal; Allen founded the original event 15 years ago following the loss of her brother to suicide. What began as the “Baby Dragon Fund” to fuel support programs in his memory has evolved into a massive industry collaboration.
The logistics of the “Rush” are a pressure cooker for creatives: five writers, five directors, and 25 celebrity actors gather to conceive, write, and rehearse five ten-minute plays, all within a single 24-hour window. “It’s one of those really wild, novel, one-night-only, fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants nights of theater,” Allen explains. This year’s roster includes several Virgin River mainstays, with Alexandra Breckenridge, Benjamin Hollingsworth, and Kandyse McClure all confirmed to hit the stage. Every cent of the proceeds from ticket sales and donations goes directly to FosterMore, a nonprofit dedicated to improving outcomes for foster youth.
Beyond the stage, Allen is developing a television adaptation of the book Ladies of the Canyons. The series is a historical “female Western” following four women who abandoned the stifling Victorian society of the early 1900s to forge new, unruly lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico. “I love acting more than anything,” Allen says of her multi-hyphenate career, “but I also love creating. I can’t just sit and wait for the phone to ring”.
As for the podcast with co-star Alexandra Breckenridge, the reality is one of logistical burnout rather than a lack of interest. Because the duo produced the entire first season independently, handling every technical and creative aspect themselves, the workload became unsustainable alongside their filming schedules. While they are proud of the “special season” they captured with the Virgin River cast, a second season is unlikely. “There’ll be something around the corner,” Allen teases, noting they already have five new collaborative ideas in the works, “maybe not another podcast, though”.
