by Tiffany Willson, Student Reporter
In the Netflix original series “Virgin River” released last month, viewers follow Melinda Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge) as she begins a new life.
After facing a trauma in her own life, revealed to us throughout the season, she sells all her belongings and moves to the small, rural town of Virgin River, California.
Her move is encouraged by the promise of working with the town doctor and living in a fabulous cabin. Once there she finds that nothing is as it seems in the tight-knit community.
Working as a nurse practitioner and midwife in Los Angeles, California prior to the move, Mel is used to the fast-paced life of the emergency room, she struggles to find routine and momentum in her new home.
What appears to begin as a typical Hallmark-style movie, featuring the business-minded woman and her small-town love interest, quickly revolves into a web of interconnected stories, secret partnerships, and inquisitive neighbors that create rifts between friends and families.
Every episode introduced a new problem that threatened Melinda’s future in Virgin River. With a boss who did not hire her, a possible love interest, and nowhere to return to, will Melinda remain in Virgin River?
Breckenridge, known for her roles in well-known television series “The Walking Dead” and “American Horror Story”, shows us a different character as Melinda Monroe.
Breckenridge and co-star Martin Henderson, who portrays Jack Sheridan, builds a true down-to-earth friendship that viewers hope is the start of a romantic relationship. Snarky comments and sarcasm are abundant as the actors portray the development of relationships in this new age.
I give this series a 4.5 out of 5 stars. All the actors and actresses did a beautiful job portraying their characters earnestly. After watching season 1, knowing the direction the producers and directors wanted to take the show, I only wish they would have introduced the first episode in a less cliché way.
Viewers who are looking for a fast-paced, unexpected series will find it in Virgin River if they can make it through the first episode. The atmosphere and interactions of small-town living was brought to life through the world of Virgin River and I am patiently awaiting the second season, to be released mid-2020.