Virgin River Has One Very Disturbing Feature That Only Becomes Apparent upon Rewatch
The romantic drama doesn't make much sense when you think about it.
Summary
- Virgin River has many exciting love stories.
- The show's portrayal of love is questionable, to say the least.
- There is virtually no couple on the show whose romance is compelling.
Premiering in 2019, Virgin River became an instant hit with audiences around the world thanks to its affable main character, widow Melinda Monroe, who moves to the titular California town in search of a new life and happiness. There, Mel finds a job as a nurse at the local clinic, makes new friends, and strikes up a relationship with Jack Sheridan, the town's heartthrob bar owner and confirmed bachelor.
As they get together, part ways, and reunite over the course of the show's five-season run, viewers can't help but get invested in their love arc. Plus, there are plenty of other romances to root for on Virgin River. But while it's exciting to watch all these love stories unfold, there's a very disturbing problem with them.
Love at First Sight?
On Virgin River, the romances are cloaked in so much drama that the viewer can't help but feel that the characters have lost the love of their lives when the relationships end. All this drama makes you believe that the love stories are serious, meaningful and heavy. Of course, you see it as a tragedy when the romances don't work out.
Meanwhile, Virgin River is notoriously slow-paced, which means that the characters whose love stories you lament haven't known each other for very long. For example, Mel just moved to the town and met Jack in Season 1, but she thinks she loves him by the end of the first installment, which kind of undermines the integrity of their entire arc.
Certainly, Virgin River is supposed to be a nice romantic story, but it's not implied that Mel and Jack fall in love at first sight. On the contrary, they develop their deep feelings for each other over time. But since they've only known each other for a few months before deciding to be together against all odds (Charmaine's pregnancy with supposedly Jack's twins for one), this presumed depth is practically nonexistent.
Supporting Characters' Nonsense
Mel and Jack are the main characters, and their romance is explored throughout the five seasons of Virgin River, but the love stories of the supporting characters cannot be excused that way. Lizzie and Denny's entire arc is nonsensical. Even though they've had an affair, they barely know each other. But now that Lizzie is pregnant with Denny's baby, they act like they are meant to be together. Sweet? Cloying!
Anyway, that's Virgin River, and if you like it that way, you have every right to enjoy it.