5 movies and shows to watch if you like Virgin River

2. Hart of Dixie

Not only does The CW’s one-time hidden gem Hart of Dixie share a premise with Virgin River, it also shares a very important cast member. Rachel Bilson stars as Dr. Zoe Hart, a cardiothoracic surgeon who loses out on a major opportunity in New York City and must instead assume co-ownership of the family practice her birth father left her in BlueBell, Alabama. Zoe tangles with the headstrong Dr. Brick Breeland (Tim Matheson, who also plays Doc on Virgin River), but hits it off with golden boy George (Scott Porter) and bad boy Wade (Wilson Bethel).

Obviously, Zoe isn’t running away from something or holding onto to a secret from her past like Mel Monroe, but she’s a city girl in for a huge culture shock. Unlike Mel, Zoe has a much harder time integrating into the quirky small town and winning over its close-knit community. For all of the heart (pun intended) and romantic intrigue of the Netflix fan-favorite, fans should look into taking a trip to BlueBell. But act fast: Hart of Dixie will be leaving Netflix in December.

1. Sweet Magnolias

No matter how you slice it, Sweet Magnolias and Virgin River were cut from the same cloth. One’s light and frothy, and the other one’s… a little less light and frothy. Simply put, both Netflix original series are perfect for a laugh, a cry and sometimes both at the same time. It’s no wonder they have each amassed a loyal following since their releases on the streaming platform.

Based on the series of novels by Sherryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias centers on three lifelong best friends, Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley) and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), who stick together through thick and thin. When life throws them curveballs, they decide to join forces and open a women’s spa in their small hometown of Serenity, South Carolina. From ship-worthy romantic entanglements to a shocking cliffhanger, Sweet Magnolias has the feel-good factor, too.

Which shows and movies will you be watching? Sound off in the comments!

Virgin River season 2 is now available to stream on Netflix.