Virgin River Loses Two Cast Members, But Gets Season 8 Renewal
Netflix isn't ready to say goodbye to Virgin River just yet.
The streaming giant has officially renewed the series for Season 8, fresh off the completion of production on Season 7. And while the next season will mark a big shift for the cast, it also sets a new record for Netflix — making Virgin River the longest-running original scripted series in the platform's history.
The show debuted in 2019 and quietly became one of Netflix's most reliable performers — a low-cost, low-drama romantic series based on the novels by Robyn Carr. According to Deadline, the newly announced eighth season will consist of 10 episodes.
Virgin River breaks Netflix records
By getting an eighth season, Virgin River surpasses Netflix veterans like Grace and Frankie and Orange Is the New Black, both of which ended after seven seasons. The Spanish teen drama Elite also ran for eight, but had far fewer episodes overall.
Here's how the numbers stack up:
- Virgin River (after Season 8): 84 episodes, approx. 70+ hours total runtime
- Elite: 64 episodes
- Grace and Frankie: 94 episodes, but with shorter runtimes (approx. 45+ hours)
Two cast members won't return
Not all the news is celebratory. Season 7 will be the last for two familiar faces:
- Lexa Doig (Paige Lassiter) – Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith told TV Insider there are "no plans" to bring Paige back.
- Mark Ghanimé (Dr. Cameron Hayek) – Smith confirmed to TVLine that Cameron won't return as a series regular in Season 7.
Here's what showrunner Patrick Sean Smith said: "I love Mark, who plays Cameron, and I love the character of Cameron. He will always be a part of the world, and I would love to see his character back, but he won't be a series regular in Season 7, unfortunately."
He added:
"I would love and can definitely imagine several opportunities of how we could bring Cameron back into our world."
Despite the departures, Netflix's confidence in the show hasn't wavered. It remains a cost-efficient hit with a loyal fanbase, filmed primarily in Canada with minimal effects and a familiar set of locations — a formula that continues to work.
Season 8 is coming. And for Virgin River, that's history in the making.