Netflix’s Virgin River is consistently one of the streaming platform’s most popular releases, but not all of its seasons live up to the show’s potential. Based on the books by Robyn Carr, Virgin River tells the story of nurse practitioner Mel, who is attempting to start a new life in the titular town while carrying baggage from her old life in LA. The Netflix show also follows several other townsfolk, such as bar owner Jack, his old flame Charmaine, Mel’s boss Doc Mullins, and mayor Hope, who all carry secrets of their own.
Netflix’s Virgin River has a plethora of endearing qualities, namely its compelling characters and their relationships, that keep audiences returning season after season. At heart, Netflix’s Virgin River is a Hallmark-esque show that delivers plenty of drama, but its treatment of its storylines and character arcs can lead to varying degrees of quality among the show’s four seasons. Here is every season of Virgin River, ranked from worst to best.
4 Season 3
While not completely irredeemable, Virgin River season 3 is certainly the weakest of the Netflix show’s seasons. Season 3 exposes the greatest pitfall of Virgin River’s premise, which is its pacing. It seems bizarre that after three seasons, only a few months appear to have passed. Much of what is most compelling about Virgin River, namely Jack and Mel, continues to be, but several subplots serve only as headscratchers. Many of the choices in Virgin River season 3, such as Lilly’s cancer and death, Charmaine’s increasing irrationality, and Hope’s car crash, come across as drama for drama’s sake, and the show is weaker for it.
One bright spot in season 3 is the introduction of several new characters to Virgin River. Added to the character roster are Jack’s sister Brie, Doc’s surprise grandson Denny, and Charmaine’s new boyfriend-turned-fiance-turned-husband Todd. These new characters add interesting depth to pre-existing Virgin River characters while also offering storylines of their own, such as Brie’s relationship with Brady. However, not all the new Virgin River characters are positive additions, with Todd bringing out the worst in Charmaine, making her an even more unrealistic and unsympathetic antagonist.
Perhaps the most bizarre element of season 3 are the character arcs. Hope is completely absent in Virgin River season 3 save for a few phone calls, and while for some viewers that is welcome, it’s a strange change to the dynamics. The most strange plotline in Virgin River season 3 sees Mel randomly decide to get a round of IVF in LA, which leaves her pregnant and unsure of whether her baby is Jack’s or her dead husband’s. Though there are still interesting stories in Virgin River season 3, the fun drama of previous seasons turns to melodrama and loses focus on what makes Virgin River so enjoyable.
3 Season 4
Virgin River’s most recent season fixes the more wobbly story elements of season 3, but it doesn’t quite reach the heights of the first two seasons. Season 4 of the Netflix show brings about new storylines as well as the conclusion of some of its biggest ones, like the mystery of Jack’s shooter. The fourth season of Virgin River benefits from a change to its original ending, but it continues to suffer from pacing issues and melodramatic storytelling like the season before it, preventing it from reaching its potential.
Virgin River season introduces more characters and continues the arcs of its previous ones. The biggest addition is Dr. Cameron Hayek, a handsome new doctor at Doc’s practice with feelings for Mel. After the revelation of Mel’s pregnancy in season 3, her relationship with Jack becomes more serious, and they get engaged, leading to Cameron's resignation. It's revealed that Jack isn’t the father of Charmaine’s babies in season 4, concluding that multi-season storyline. Other arcs continued from previous seasons include Hope’s struggles after her crash and a revisiting of Preacher and Paige’s story. However, in spite of strong storylines, many of season 4’s arcs verge on cliché, thus hurting the season’s quality.
2 Season 2
Season 2 of Virgin River is an enjoyable and worthy followup to its solid first season. Most of Virgin River season 2 continues the plotlines introduced in its first season, such as Charmaine’s pregnancy, the relationships between Doc, Hope, Jack, and Mel, respectively, struggles with the pot farm’s leader Calvin, and Preacher and Paige’s story. The Netflix show also reveals more of Mel’s past, both in flashbacks and in the present when she gets a visit from her sister-in-law. Virgin River season 2 also adds intrigue of its own that continues in later seasons when Jack is shot by an unseen assailant in the season finale.
Virgin River season 2 continues to have solid characters and arcs, both new and old. Doc and Hope’s secret relationship adds new depth to their characters, particularly Doc. It is also interesting to see Mel and Jack negotiate their new relationship among his obligations to Charmaine. Additionally, season 2 introduces a new character, Connie’s niece Lizzy, who quickly begins a relationship with Ricky. Not every arc is strong, however, as season 2 sees Charmaine make increasingly bizarre choices surrounding Jack and her pregnancy. Weaker arcs like Charmaine’s and Hope’s unwillingness to commit to Doc hold Virgin River season 2 from reaching the heights of its predecessor.
1 Season 1
The best season of Virgin River by far is its debut. Season 1 of the Netflix show does a phenomenal job of establishing the setting, plot, and characters in an instantly gripping way. Whereas some of Virgin River’s subsequent seasons suffer from weak plots and pacing issues, the plot of season 1 stays focused on Mel’s introduction to the titular town, her role as a nurse practitioner, and her complex past. Though the pot farm is continually a weak spot, it is balanced out by other strong plots in season 1, such as the exploration of Doc and Hope’s history, Mel’s burgeoning relationship with Jack, and Lilly’s baby.
The first season of Netflix’s Virgin River also has a solid character roster and corresponding arcs that make the town feel lived in. Jack’s complicated dynamic with Charmaine is introduced in season 1, and Charmaine comes off much more realistically than she does later. Hope’s heart attack that pushes her and Doc back together adds both tension and a more sympathetic lens for two initially prickly characters. Even periphery characters like Preacher and Paige receive interesting arcs that expand their characters without feeling like a distraction from more interesting plots.
Virgin River season 1 demonstrates that the show is at its best when it centers stories around its central characters, resulting in engaging and focused stories. It also offers healthy doses of drama that feel fun and entertaining without being too melodramatic, as was a pitfall for later seasons. Though each season of Netflix's shocking Virgin River has something to offer, season 1 is still a shining example of what makes Virgin River so enjoyable.