Virgin River fans point out ‘missing detail’ Mel and Jack never mention (Image: NETFLIX)
A Virgin River fan has been left baffled by a key detail missing from Mel Monroe (played by Alexandra Breckenridge) and Jack Sheridan’s (Martin Henderson) surroundings.
Netflix’s beloved small-town drama is one of the streamer’s most popular shows, with millions expected to tune in to the upcoming sixth outing this December.
The series follows nurse practitioner Mel, who decides to move to the small town in Northern California following a tragedy and quickly falls for bar owner and former Marine Jack.
It’s recently become Netflix’s longest-running English-language series after being renewed for a seventh season, but some eagle-eyed viewers have managed to point out several flaws over the years.
One of the recent complaints involves the wildlife, or lack thereof, as Virgin River is filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia.
“Having lived in BC for a few months (where VR is filmed) this summer I’m on a rewatch and I’m amazed at how bears don’t even get a mention in the show,” they said on Reddit.
“I went to ‘Jack’s Bar’ in Squamish and there was fresh bear scat right outside it. Everywhere I hiked, never solo, we carried bear spray and local friends said that they’d even carry a firearm for protection in the back country.
“Meanwhile Mel, Brie (Zibby Allen), Cameron (Mark Ghanimé), Jack and Denny (Kai Bradbury) are all out there running and fishing on the trails without so much as a bottle of water between them.
“Mel is even wearing earbuds so wouldn’t be able to hear approaching wildlife. She and Jack think a rustle in the bushes is a squirrel.”
The series has just become Netflix’s longest-running English-language drama (Image: NETFLIX)
Although the adaptation of Robyn Carr’s bestselling novels aren’t set in British Columbia, this fan argues bears should at least get a mention, as they do in the novels.
“Now I’m reading the books for the first time and there’s the thing they left out: Jack’s Bar has hunting trophies all over the walls and Jack tells Mel how he had to shoot a mother bear who was charging him when he was fishing at the river,” they continued.
Relaying a line of dialogue, they add: “‘You don’t take a minute to load your rifle if a bear is charging you. Bear fish in the same rivers we do.’”
Virgin River may look like the perfect little town but, in reality, California is teeming with 25,000 to 35,000 black bears which could be a nuisance for humans.
Should Mel keep her eyes open for bears? (Image: NETFLIX)
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Although, one viewer argued: “Because it’s set in Humboldt County, CA. We have bears here too, but they don’t roam that freely and aren’t seen that often.”
And another said: “Never been a bear attack here ever. Bears are smart and have manners and know how to cohabitate peacefully with the humans that are squatting on their land.”
Even so, some viewers may find it strange that this detail has been completely overlooked by the series, especially when Mel goes running through the wilderness by herself with no protection.
Virgin River season 6 will be released Thursday, December 19 on Netflix.