Virgin River Makes a Big Mistake Getting Carried Away With Side Plots
The show faltered in its final season.
Since its premiere in 2019, Netflix's Virgin River has been the most popular melodrama in the streaming giant's library. Fans quickly became invested in the story of LA nurse Mel, who moves to a quaint Northern California town in hopes of a fresh start. The show's first season remains its best, with fans continuing to revisit it on a regular basis due to the compelling romance between Mel and ex-Marine Jack.
However, the quality of the recent seasons has disappointed the Virgin River fandom. The abundance of unnecessary subplots and contrived plot twists have become overwhelming, detracting from the show's overall narrative.
Too Many Storylines
The show's latest season garnered more acclaim than previous installments, with fans appreciating the storylines centered around a massive forest fire threatening the lives of Virgin River's residents. However, Season 5 still drew a significant amount of criticism.
Fans didn't like it that the writers began to focus more on the supporting cast, with characters like Charmaine and Preacher often overshadowing Jack and Mel.
It would appear that the writers fail to realize that viewers watch Virgin River for Jack and Mel's story, not Charmaine's frivolous endeavors.
Hope for Improvement
With Virgin River already renewed for Season 6, fans hope that the writers will heed their feedback and concentrate more on the romance between Mel and Jack rather than the unnecessary crime subplots and Charmaine's adventures, which hold little appeal for the fandom.
Additionally, the absurd cliffhanger regarding the identity of Mel's birth father has been poorly received by fans, as it mirrors a plot from a soap opera, not a high-budget melodrama. The writers should stick to their strengths—crafting memorable scenes between Mel and Jack without attempting to give every supporting character a moment in the spotlight.