By Gabrielle Gillen
Netflix just renewed VIRGIN RIVER for an eighth season before its seventh season release, making it one of the streamer’s longest-running shows.
Star Alexandra Breckenridge, who plays the series’ main character, celebrated on Instagram, “#virginriver keeps on keeping on!”
Roughly based on the book series of the same name, VIRGIN RIVER follows Melinda “Mel” Monroe, a nurse practitioner who moves from LA to a remote Northern California town. The series was developed by Sue Tenney and stars Alexandra Breckenridge, Martin Henderson, Tim Matheson, Annette O’Toole, Colin Lawrence, Benjamin Hollingsworth, Zibby Allen, Sarah Dugdale, Kai Bradbury, Kandyse McClure and Marco Grazzini.
VIRGIN RIVER premiered in 2019 and was met with positive reviews. After its first season, Telltale TV writer Esme Mazzeo wrote, “Virgin River proves that drama can be emotional without being emotionally manipulative. Predictability doesn’t have to be a bad thing… Everyone involved in Virgin River — including its fans — knows they aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel. That’s what makes it delightful despite heavy topics like grief and war.”
Movieguide®’s Season 1 review praised the show for its strong moral worldview, where characters leaned on each other and their community to heal through past and current trauma. Many fans have found the show — and the beautiful Canadian scenery where the show is filmed — a welcome addition to Netflix’s catalogue.
Another refreshing aspect of the show is its portrayal of romance between 40-somethings. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith shared, “Getting to tell love stories between two people at that age is something that television never does. Or if they do, it’s for comic relief or something. So the more that we get to grow those characters and dig into them, it just feels special. It feels like nothing else anybody is doing on television.”
Related: VIRGIN RIVER Season 6 Episode 1
Release dates for Season 7 and 8 haven’t been announced yet, but the showrunner teased what’s ahead for fan’s favorite characters.
“Season 7 will find Mel and Jack taking their first steps into marriage as they start to plan for and build a life and family together. Meanwhile, Doc and Hope will work together to protect the clinic and the integrity of the town from outsiders,” Smith told Tudum.
Fans of the show expressed their excitement for the show’s continuation. Many love Mel and Jack’s love story and praise the actors’ chemistry and believability. Others mention the show’s re-watchability, with one user sharing, “I never get tired of watching this show.”
In a time where viewers never know if their beloved show may be canceled, it’s a comfort to see that Netflix is listening to its fans, continuing a wholesome show that warms viewers’ hearts.
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