Tuning in to Virgin River is like curling up on a chilly afternoon with a cup of hot cocoa — spiked with whiskey, if that’s your thing. The show’s stranger-comes-to-a-small-town vibe is a reminder of the life-affirming power of starting over, even if you wind up smack in the middle of a drama-filled love triangle. If you’re wondering what other shows (or movies) might offer similar feelings of warmth and chaos — and feature a main character with the strength of Alexandra Breckenridge’s nurse practitioner Mel — look no further than the following list to keep you sated after you finish streaming Season 6.
Along for the Ride
Based on the novel by Sarah Dessen, Along for the Ride starts with newly minted high school grad Auden (Emma Pasarow) driving into the seaside town of Colby, where, as her new “friend” Eli (Belmont Cameli) loves to put it, there are “no strangers.” The setting is very similar to Virgin River, except maybe Colby’s internet runs a little bit quicker. But both Auden and Mel learn to grow and heal thanks to their new surroundings, as Colby offers a similarly nurturing ambiance to Virgin River, and makes for an ideal environment to aid a life-changing journey.
Bridgerton
Gossip on Bridgerton spreads like wildfire, due to the sharp quill of one Lady Whistledown — plus a society full of mamas eager to find husbands for their daughters during the London season. But there’s an argument to be made that rumors pass through Virgin River even more quickly — the perils of living in a small town, after all. Also akin to Bridgerton, Virgin River’s ensemble of characters experience plenty of pining and romance before cementing any true love matches.
Call the Midwife
Mel isn’t only a nurse practitioner — she’s a midwife, too, who was inspired to become a nurse after her mother died from cancer. Her desire to help as many people as she can is a goal shared by the nuns who work at Nonnatus House in Call the Midwife. Spanning 11 seasons, Call the Midwife offers plenty of opportunities to see caregivers helping and connecting with their community, just like Mel and Doc. One big difference, though, is that Call the Midwife is set in 1950s London, rather than in present-day northern California, but why quibble?
Emily in Paris
Sure, Paris might be a little more cosmopolitan than Virgin River, but both series feature women who seek to use their skill sets in a new environment — Mel, with her medical prowess, and Emily (Lily Collins), with her marketing know-how. Not to mention, when they arrive in their new digs, these ladies also unknowingly become embroiled in love triangles with their new suitors. A chef? A bartender? These men sure know how to whip up the drama for these out-of-towners.
Firefly Lane
Firefly Lane has the same compelling combination of sugar and spice as Virgin River. Just as Mel is cautiously hopeful for her future following a painful past, Firefly Lane’s Kate (Sarah Chalke) and Tully (Katherine Heigl) are in the same boat, constantly seeking reinvention at the start of each new era of their time-hopping story.
Gilmore Girls
Where Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory (Alexis Bledel) lead, we will follow. And Virgin River does, too. Gilmore Girls is primarily the story of a mother-daughter duo who are more like sisters, but it also follows the comings and goings of all sorts of people who populate the close-knit, small Connecticut town of Stars Hollow. One notable difference between the show is that Lorelai and Rory talk, oh, at least 10 times faster than Mel. But, the simmering romance between Lorelai and Luke (Scott Patterson) gives Mel and Jack’s dynamic a run for its money. Not to mention, both shows share love triangles galore.
Ginny & Georgia
Just like Virgin River’s Mel, Ginny & Georgia’s Georgia (Brianne Howey) starts off her series with a move to a small town. Each woman is looking for a fresh start and each feels a little out of their depth, but soon enough they both find ways to make a mark on their newfound homes. Also? Both shows feature love triangles, with both Georgia and daughter Ginny’s (Antonia Gentry) storylines boasting plenty of romantic drama, making this an ideal watch if you didn’t get enough of seeing Mel and Jack (Martin Henderson) make googly eyes at each other.
Grey’s Anatomy
If you’re craving explosive workplace confrontations peppered with medical professionals giving each other longing looks in between nursing wounds — literally and figuratively — then Grey’s Anatomy has you covered once you’ve gotten your fill from Virgin River. The show also has an epic soundtrack, featuring some famous needle drops, echoes of which can be heard in the plucky Grey’s Anatomy-esque folk music accompanying Mel’s arrival to Virgin River in the show’s pilot.
Outlander
Finding a way to be with the one you love against all odds? Check. Breathtaking landscapes that feel like an escape every time you click play? Double check. Outlander may primarily take place in the mid-1700s and feature the Scottish highlands instead of the California redwoods, but like Virgin River, this epic romance embodies the notion that real love stands the test of time. And, for a fun Easter egg on your next Virgin River rewatch, Doc and Mel make a joke about Outlander in Season 3, Episode 2.
Sweet Magnolias
If you swapped out northern California for South Carolina, Virgin River would look an awful lot like Sweet Magnolias. The central trio in Sweet Magnolias is focused on helping each other through all of life’s hardships, including diving into the dating pool again after losing a husband — the same thing Mel is experiencing. And Sweet Magnolias isn’t just about relationship drama; the pals also join forces professionally, something Mel does with Doc (Tim Matheson) in Virgin River.
