Netflix is bucking one of their most hated trends in a big way with the romantic dramaVirgin River. While the streamer has gained itself a reputation for prematurely canceling many series too early, the early Season 7 renewal ofVirgin Rivermade it the platform’s longest running original drama series ever.
Season 6 arrived on December 19, but fans already knew that the show has another 10 episodes coming sometime next year thanks to Netflix putting a lot of faith in the series and granting it anearly renewal back in October. Now, with the sixth season scoring a huge win on the streamer’s TV chart, overtaking othertrending shows such asLa PalmaandNo Good Deed, it seems that Netflix’s decision is one that is going to really pay off in the long-term.
With Season 7 guaranteed,Virgin RiverovertakesHouse of CardsandThe Crown, which both ended after six seasons, to become the longest-running English-language drama Netflix has ever commissioned. While the comedy seriesGrace and Frankie, and comedy/dramaOrange is the New Blackboth also ran for seven seasons, their comedy status means thatVirgin Riverholds the record in the drama category. The only show on Netflix to have run longer is the Spanish-language teen dramaElite, which has eight seasons but 10 fewer episodes (it ran for 64 episodes).
‘Virgin River’ Has Been a Consistent Hit for Netflix
Virgin Riverquickly became a fan favorite on its debut in 2019. Based on Robyn Carr’s book series, the show follows Mel Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse practitioner who moves to the quaint town of Virgin River in Northern California to rebuild her life, and soon becomes caught up in the lives of others in the town. This includes Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a local bar owner who quickly becomes her love interest in the series.
One thing that the series has going for it is the cost. Netflix does not like to shell out a lot of money on big fantasy shows that may not be able to sustain an audience, andVirgin Riveris the exact opposite of a big budget, special effects-laden spectacle. The show is mostly set in a bar and a few other contained places, involves very little post-production work compared to other series, and does not have any Hollywood megastars on its books. Having topped the Netflix chart in dozens of countries with all of its seasons, it is hardly surprising why the streamer is happy to have given it an early renewal ahead of the current season.
10 TV Shows to Watch if You Like Virgin River
These heartwarming and comforting shows are sure to resonate deeply with fans of Virgin River.
Season 5 left fans eagerly awaiting the resolution of several cliffhangers, and some of these have now been resolved with the arrival of Season 6 at the end of last week. How longVirgin Rivercan continue is yet to be seen, but with the new season once again topping the chart with an incredible viewership worldwide, it would not be surprising to see Season 8 being announced sometime next year.
Virgin River
A television adaptation of the romantic novel series from Robyn Carr, Virgin River sees nurse practitioner Melinda Monroe accepting a new job in the titular northern California town to escape her past. But Melinda’s small-town expectations are checked when she realizes that adjusting to this new and straightforward way of life is a tricky balancing act - with the possibility of new love on the horizon.
