10 It Doesn’t Claim to Be Perfect

But Comfort Shows Can’t Always Be

As mentioned, Virgin River does have an unusual timeline, which is best seen by Charmaine’s (Lauren Hammersley) pregnancy. She announces her pregnancy at the end of season one, and gives birth to twins in season five, which realistically have three or four years between them; however, in the show, it seems only five months have passed. Even Charmaine says at one point: “I feel like I’ve been pregnant for years.” This shows that even the showrunners and writers have some sense of humor about their potential timeline conundrum.

9 It Covers More Than Just Romance

Friendship Is Often at the Heart of the Show

While Mel and Jack’s romance is the main plot point of most seasons, their relationships with other people are also emphasized and developed. Mel and her sister Joey (Jenny Cooper) become even closer through conflict in a couple of seasons; Jack and his sister Brie (Zibby Allen) establish a better and closer relationship after she moves to Virgin River. Beyond Mel and Jack, there’s the “Sewing Circle,” a group of women who have been best friends for decades and their friendship is often put to the test, especially when Hope (Annette O’Toole) starts arguing.

8 It Showcases Characters of All Ages

Though There’s an Emphasis on Older Characters

A small town in Northern California will naturally have people of all ages living there, and Virgin River actually shows that. Its characters range from their childhood years to the late sixties, with the majority being older town residents; this can be rare for a romantic series, which often puts people in their mid or late twenties as the protagonists. Even the romances are varied and between people of all ages, with Doc Mullins (Tim Matheson) and mayor Hope McCrea being the second most represented couple in the series.

Women like Connie and Lydia, who are part of the Sewing Circle and Hope’s best friends, are also frequently represented; another member of the Sewing Circle, Muriel (Teryl Rothery), engages in a romance with a younger man, Doc’s clinic coworker Cameron (Mark Ghanimé), giving her some necessary screen time as one of the most likable characters on the show. Beyond Virgin River being an “old” town, people like Lizzy (Sarah Dugdale) and Denny (Kai Bradbury) are in their early twenties and their development is frequently shown in the later seasons. Virgin River gives attention to people of all ages, and a chance to learn from a situation, grow, and become better after it.

Well, Fairly Realistic, Anyway

Another reason the aforementioned Virgin River timeline feels illogical is the development of Mel and Jack’s relationship. They get engaged in season four, meaning they were together only several months before deciding to tie the knot. This makes the show’s main romance a little bit unrealistic, though not impossible. However, the best part is how everyone in a relationship in Virgin River decides to go about it. Mel has a hard time moving on after her husband’s death, and she often considers herself a burden with all her “ghosts”; Jack has PTSD from his time in the war, and refuses to address it, but drowns in alcohol instead.

6 Its Side Characters Make the Series Feel Wholesome

And, Most of All, They Make It Feel Complete

Despite Jack and Mel being the main romance, and “It” couple, Virgin River isn’t all about them. It most often revolves around brilliant side characters with developed lore and histories; from the Sewing Circle ladies all having their own problems and Preacher (Colin Lawrence) aspiring to become a professional chef, to Doc running his clinic and Lizzie and Denny learning more about themselves and each other. All of this doesn’t even include the smaller appearances that make each episode unique, proving that Virgin River is a show about finding a loving and supportive community.

Some of the best episodes of Virgin River don’t revolve around Mel and Jack specifically; the season five finale is a mix of everyone’s Christmastime adventures, while Mel’s bachelorette and Jack’s bachelor party episode in season six follows other characters, their bonding, frustrations, and resolutions as much as it does the two leads. Without these side characters, Virgin River wouldn’t be all it is.

5 It’s A Romance Between Two People In Their 30s and 40s

This Is a Rare Occurrence In Many Shows

Though Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson are around eight years older than their series counterparts (41 and 48, respectively), they both look youthful enough to play slightly younger people. Besides that, Mel and Jack have previously been married, too; depicting people’s second marriages is another rare occurrence on TV, but the situation itself is quite realistic. People can be happy and find love again after a divorce or a loss; this just shows Virgin River loves love and emphasizes its importance and impact on people of all ages.

A Quality That’s Comforting and Desirable At Times

In season six, the community comes together to give Mel and Jack the perfect wedding; the Sewing Circle ladies go into emergency mode when Mel can’t find the perfect wedding dress; Hope organizes the entire event (including ice sculpture carving); Preacher does the cooking, and so forth. The entire community steps up for the two and their wedding is the main event in season six. Whether it’s a life-threatening emergency or a celebratory life event, the Virgin River residents come together, making the show feel wholesome.

3 The Show Is Visually Stunning

We Have Canadian Landscapes to Thank for That

The show is cozy because of the lovely establishing shots and events that take place in nature, like the Lumberjack games in season three or when Doc and Denny go fishing (or when Denny does literally anything because he’s very outdoorsy). Even if many viewers can’t be in such natural landscapes all the time, they can at least enjoy the serene and soothing images of it throughout (currently) 74 visually stunning Virgin River episodes.

2 It’s a Comfort Show

That’s Why Its Plot Holes Can Be Forgiven

More than anything, Virgin River is a comfort show. All its characters are kind people who enjoy spending time with each other; the cozy environment makes the show and its events feel healing and comforting; the gentle resolutions of numerous events, no matter how stressful, provide the general feeling that things are going to be alright. Fans like the feeling of co-living with a gentle community and Virgin River provides them with the necessary cozy feelings they’re looking for.

1 Netflix Thinks So, Too

That’s Why It’s Their Longest-Running Series

Netflix is known for canceling shows after three to four seasons. More recently, they’ve canceled a bunch of shows after one season only, potentially seeking a fast turnaround in different kinds of content; this has been going on for a while. Virgin River defies all odds because of that – it’s been renewed for season seven just ahead of its season six premiere in December 2024, becoming Netflix’s longest-running original series, and most watched for the fifth year in a row.