My new not-so-guilty pleasure: Virgin River

 

Courtesy of Rotten Tomatoes

One of my friends had been nudging me to watch Virgin River for quite a while. She even threw in that an actress from Degrassi was on the show. Somehow, I couldn't make the time commitment to watch it...until now. (And it took some additional nudging from my sister and a few more friend recommendations.) In 2020, I had Schitt's Creek. In 2021, I had Ted Lasso. This year, my comfort show is Virgin River! I am so, so, SO much in love with this show. I just finished all four seasons and am going through withdrawal, big time! I can't stop thinking about it either, especially since the season four finale leaves us with a big question...

Here are some reasons why I love Virgin River so much:

1. It is as cozy as sitting in front of a fire with a comfy blanket on a chilly autumn day with a cup of hot cocoa and a plate of freshly baked apple pie. 

2. The very short title sequence always has a beautiful landscape to look at. I especially love when they show waterfalls.

3. It's like Stars Hollow meets Schitt's Creek (the latter for the quirky factor), and then some. I love the small-town feel that is portrayed on this show. Everyone knows each other and looks out for one another. There are these tight-knit circles of friends, one main hangout place (Jack's), fun festivals, little shops, etc. The doctor's office is a house and Mel lives in a cute little cabin. Have I said enough? It also reminds me of Where the Heart Is, which is one of my favorite movies. It just has a similar feel.

4. Most of the actors are unknown to me. I may have seen one or two in other shows or movies, but it's not like a star-studded series either. I was able to recapture the feeling from This is Us because Alexandra Breckenridge, who played Sophie on TIU, stars as Mel. Doc is played by Tim Matheson, who played Rebecca's dad on a few episodes of TIU. Another common thread is that the actors who play Mel's love interests were both in Bride and Prejudice in the early 2000s. There's even a Riverdale link, as the actor who plays Preacher was the football coach in the earlier seasons. And I found out that the actress who plays Charmaine was Felix's sister on Orphan Black.

5. They actually have an episode where they do a Renaissance Faire. Like they really go all out with costumes, decorations, etc., and it's as authentic as the ones I've been to. 

6. The characters have so many layers to them. It takes a while to figure out if you're going to like them or not, but it's worth watching to see what their arc is like.

7. Most of the men on this show are in touch with their feelings and totally sweet and sensitive. 

8. There's a subtle level of humor. I've found myself laughing from various lines and certain moments. 

9. There's also the serious factor, as a lot of the characters deal with grief and/or PTSD. It is handled honestly and sensitively, which I appreciate. 

10. It's just sooooooooooooooo good! Totally addictive and binge-worthy. Season five can't get here fast enough.

Check out the trailer for season one, if you haven't seen this show yet. For those of you who are fans like I am and are done with all four seasons, my thoughts (with spoilers) are below the trailer.

Thoughts with SPOILERS:

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I can't really pick out favorite episodes (aside from the Ren Faire one), but I do want to share my thoughts on a bunch of the characters and possibly about some of the situations. Here goes...

Mel: Obviously I love that she and I share a nickname. (I actually told my sister that my nephew could call me Auntie Mel, thanks to this show.) Mel is so easy to love throughout the series. She's kind and relatable. I felt her stress at trying to acclimate to a new town where everything is going wrong. Especially since she's dealing with a lot of grief from losing a baby and losing her husband. I don't blame her for being scared to make new commitments. The only thing I'd change is that she can be condescending sometimes. Like she talks to people as though she's their kindergarten teacher. 

Jack: He's the quintessential Hallmark movie romantic lead. I've never seen a Hallmark movie, but that's just the impression I get. Why wouldn't he be the one that the lead character slowly falls in love with? He's sexy, romantic, in touch with his feelings, and of course he has his own demons to deal with. While it's probably cliché for Jack and Mel to become a couple, I still wanted them together nonetheless. I was even cheering the first time they kissed! I did get annoyed with Jack for drinking away his problems instead of getting therapy for PTSD. I'm glad Mel and Preacher finally put their feet down with him about it. I still think he has things to work out, but I'm still glad that he and Mel and engaged and having a baby together. Especially in light of what we just found out in the season four finale...

Preacher: It is literally impossible to not like Preacher. He's just so amazing in so many ways. I love how he was helping Paige and then looking after Christopher like he was his own son. I'm glad he stuck around at Jack's and got the partnership he deserved. I also hope things will work out with Julia, after the situation with Paige gets sorted out. 

Doc: At first, Doc is just so frustrating! Like he won't let Mel do anything at the clinic. However, I love how he softens up over time and becomes more like a father to Mel. He's so sweet to Hope and I'm glad they are back together now. He's just a genuinely good person that anyone would want in their corner. I feel bad for him in not knowing that he had a son and now finally meeting his grandson only to find out that their time together will be short-lived. (I don't know if Doc knows the entire truth about Denny's health, but I'm guessing he does.) 

Hope: Hope is probably one of the more difficult characters on this show. I appreciated that she stood up for Mel when Doc was not letting her do anything. However, she can get really pushy and annoying about stuff. There are times I feel sorry for her and other times where I want to tell her to get over herself. She's very stubborn and gives off this "annoyed teenager" facial expression a lot. It was strange not having her around for the entire third season, other than in a quick video chat. And she does have good intentions most of the time. I was also sad for her when Lilly died and she didn't get to say goodbye. She's been through a lot and she still has her spirit, so that's good at least.

Charmaine: While Charmaine can be a total beyotch most of the time, she does have some nice moments where she's actually likable. However, she ruined that with her season four finale reveal. Arrggghh!!! I also hated how she treated Mel when Mel was trying to help her and her babies get through a rough period in the beginning of the pregnancy. Jack isn't into you that way, Charmaine. Get. Over. It! (He made it clear from the beginning that they were just friends with benefits.) I do feel bad for her with how Todd is all controlling and then he missed the baby shower and now he's leaving possible hints that he's been cheating. But still....

Connie: There are times when Connie is a total shrew, but I love how she came through for Preacher and helped him look after Christopher and she seems to have softened toward Lizzie. I remember that she had a difficult situation in her past, as well. She does genuinely care about her friends and looks after all of them. 

Paige: I had a feeling Paige was hiding from an abusive situation and I don't blame her for being scared or guarded. It was horrible when Wes found her and I was actually thrilled that she managed to accidentally push him down the stairs. I also hated that her best friend betrayed her because of Vince's manipulation and that she had to put herself in harm's way to protect her son once again. While I used to ship Paige and Preacher together, she and her son really do need to take on new identities again and find a new place to live. I feel like she'll never be safe otherwise.

Ricky: Ricky is genuinely sweet and has the best of intentions, but I didn't like how he lied to Lizzie about wanting to join the marines and I don't blame her for being mad at him while still caring about him. I also got annoyed when he was constantly obsessing over what Connie would think when he and Lizzie were sneaking around to be together. I was actually hoping he'd get off the bus last minute and go back home. I feel so bad for his grandma being there without him. 

Lizzie: At first I thought Lizzie would be a troublemaker, but I really like how much she's grown and become part of Virgin River. She also doesn't take being lied to or manipulated and she is good at standing up for herself. I'm glad Denny finally told her the truth, even though it's a sad one to face. I wonder where things will go for Lizzie in season five. 

Brady: I really didn't like Brady for quite some time, but then he met Brie and he became really sweet and romantic. I actually felt bad for him when he got framed for shooting Jack and had a feeling he wouldn't have done such a thing to begin with. I love how he loves and cares about Brie. They're so sweet together. I'm still worried about his current situation with Emerald Lumber and the drug trafficking going on. (Can I also say that I hate that they named an evil character Melissa?) 

Brie: At first I wasn't sure how she fit into everything else that was going on in the show. Like she just kind of showed up. We know that she's Jack's sister, but it took a long time to really get her backstory. And now I feel so bad for her but am also applauding her for not caving to the guy who raped her. I love how she was working with Mike to help clear Brady's name. She's also just really likable in general.

Muriel: She reminds me of an older version of Kristin Chenoweth. Mostly just in looks, but it helps that she's an actress too. I didn't think I would like her, but she has really grown on me and she's been such a good friend to Hope and Doc. I appreciated when she admitted to Hope that she was lonely and didn't have anyone looking out for her well-being. It just added this new layer of vulnerability. Her baked goods look so delicious too. I want some of that strawberry cheesecake! 

Tara: Now that Lilly has passed on, I hope Tara will get more of a story arc that's focused on herself instead of just about grieving and taking care of her baby sister. Like she should find romance or something that's just hers. Side note: Tara is the one who is played by the actress from Degrassi (Stacey Farber, who played Ellie.)

Mike: He's another eligible bachelor on the show. Very attractive too. I know there's something dark in his past and I'm waiting to find out what that is. Especially since he comes across as a good guy who is trying to help out his friends through his role as a sheriff. And then there's this theory. I feel bad for him because I know he likes Brie but she just reaches out to him when she wants help for Brady. Maybe he and Tara can get together next season? 

Cameron: I'm annoyed with him. He chose to air his personal issues about Jack and now he is leaving the practice because he can't deal with Mel staying with Jack. I had a feeling he was into Mel from the moment he arrived in Virgin River and then Brady even noticed it at Joey's wedding. He seemed nice otherwise and has been a good doctor. He's also somewhat attractive. 

Denny: His appearance in Virgin River was definitely a surprise and I know Doc didn't see that coming at all. I was all worried that he was going to be a grifter and that he was lying to Doc about everything, but it turns out that he's actually a good person but in a really terrible situation. Too bad because he and Lizzie would have been really good together otherwise.

Joey: Mel's sister took on a bigger role in the first couple of seasons but only showed up every once in a while later on. I didn't like how she was constantly pushing Mel to come back home, but I also felt bad for her when she got divorced. I'm glad she found happiness again and I hope she'll continue to show up for Mel.

I know there are still a lot of side characters I didn't mention (JoEllen, Burt, etc.), but I'd be here all day if I shared my thoughts on each and every one of them. I like the new girl who is working at Jack's. I think her name is Hannah. I also liked Jamie, the woman who was trying to recruit Preacher to work at a different restaurant. I found out that the actress who played her is from Israel. I totally hate Mel's mother-in-law. What kind of person sues for access to embryos?!? I'm glad Mel's sister-in-law is being nicer now. Then there's obviously the villains like Calvin, Jimmy, Melissa (arrgghh!) and Wes/Vince (twins played by the same actor). They add to the intense factor of the show. 

I should have played a drinking game for every time someone had to call 911 about something. There were a lot of accidents and emergencies going on throughout the four seasons (of the show, not nature-related). 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on Virgin River, if you got this far!

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