Virgin River Sinks In Mourning: Actress Sarah Dugdale (Lizzie) Dies After Car Accident md20

When the leaves start to change and there’s a slight chill in the air, it offers the perfect opportunity to stay inside, cozy up with a hot mug of tea, snuggle up under a big blanket, and turn on your favorite streamer for a comforting binge-watch of your favorite show. But what if there was another fall alternative to your annual celebration of Gilmore Girls?

Netflix’s cozy romance Virgin River provides the perfect autumnal comfort watch with a story that evokes the same warm feelings you get when watching Gilmore Girls‘ classic mother-daughter duo. Virgin River follows Mel Monroe, played brightly by Alexandra Breckenridge, who answers an ad to work as a midwife and nurse practitioner in a remote Northern California town. Believing it to be a perfect place to start fresh and escape a life of trauma, Mel soon discovers that small-town life is not what she expected. Virgin River is a low-stress, heartfelt romance that offers Hallmark vibes on a Netflix budget.

Come for ‘Virgin River’s Favorite Couple: Mel and Jack

Right from the start, it’s evident that Virgin River‘s main character will fall into an emotional and romantic entanglement with Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson). As her source of introduction to the town, Martin takes an early interest in Mel, serving as a close confidante. As the series goes on, their relationship deepens and becomes even more romantic than it is at the beginning. Not only are Mel and Jack the central couple we root for, but their journey shares similarities to the greatest love story of Gilmore Girls: Luke and Lorelai (Scott Patterson and Lauren Graham). Like Luke with his diner, Jack owns the local bar, which serves as a familiar haunt for our characters to convene, gossip, and vent. Both men have hard exteriors, but deep inside, they are big softies. Lorelai and Mel have overcome major personal challenges, but don’t let their past prevent their future. In the end, love wins, though Mel and Jack make it to the altar much faster than Luke and Lorelai.

Most strong comfort shows keep romance central. Rather than push a will-they-won’t-they narrative through multiple seasons, Virgin River allows two individuals with personal baggage to understand that they need one another to be whole again. The tension may be comparatively occasional, but Virgin River has other stories of struggle to tell instead. There certainly are complications in Mel and Jack’s relationship, something viewers can relate to, but their enduring love is the epitome of romance —the primary draw of the show.

Stay for the Wonderful Supporting Characters of ‘Virgin River’

Image via Netflix

Once you’re pulled in by Mel and Jack’s relationship, Virgin River is filled with wonderful and endearing supporting characters. The series boasts a close-knit community where their primary purpose is to support one another. Unafraid of exploring deep, personal struggles, including trauma, illness, and loss, Virgin River is an idealized portrayal of small-town life where everybody knows your name and your problems.

The characters are not cookie-cutter archetypes, either. You have the unique dynamic of Hope McCrae (Annette O’Toole) and Doc Mullins (Tim Matheson) as the town’s wise elders with a rich past. Preach (Colin Lawrence) is not only Jack’s right-hand man and chef at the bar, but is easily the most endearing human in town. There are some town troublemakers, like Charmaine (Lauren Hammersley) and Lizzie (Sarah Dugdale), but they have redeemable moments. The list goes on, as the colorful cast of characters provides a nuanced, layered ensemble that keeps the series flowing.

Netflix’s ‘Virgin River’ Is Still an Underrated Hit

Image via Netflix

You might be questioning how you can classify Virgin River as an underrated series, but the reality is, despite six released seasons, with Season 7 likely coming next year, and consistent viewership, it’s rarely mentioned in the same category as other mega hits on Netflix like Squid Game and Stranger Things. As one of the most comforting options out there, Virgin River is escapism at its finest. It’s sweet, charming, and while it does push those difficult conversations to the forefront, it’s an easy watch.

Virgin River has been one of Netflix’s steadiest series thanks to its picturesque cinematography and wholesome charm. You almost wish you could be whisked away to the titular town and look at its mountain views for yourself. With six seasons, you could truly spend every weekend on your couch watching until Christmas.

Virgin River is available to stream on Netflix.