5 most disliked Virgin River characters, ranked (and there's a hot take)

Since its premiere on Netflix, Virgin River has grown into one of the streamer's top titles as fans flock to the romantic drama each time a new season drops. It's comfy and cozy, the perfect show to watch for something that's light but still has a bit of a bite to it. You can always count on Virgin River to make you cry and then make you smile right after.

But even though it's a beloved series, that doesn't mean we love every single character equally. Some annoy us more than others, and some have earned downright hatred from fans. For the purposes of this list, we're ranking five of the characters that get on our nerves the most from least to most grating. And yes, you will see a certain someone that everyone loves... Sorry in advance!

5. Jack

Sure, you're thinking, "WAIT! But I love Jack! How could he be disliked?!" And it's perfectly reasonable to have that reaction. There are a lot of "bad guys" in the show (none of which are on this list because that's too obvious), and Jack isn't one of them. He's otherwise a hero, the kind of guy who will fight on the front lines (literally) for the people he loves. He's nice and sweet and all the things that make for the swoony male lead in a romantic drama series. But...

As much as people love Jack, there are also fans of the show who don't like him at all, which is completely justified. There are valid reasons behind disliking Jack, including the fact that some of his masculinity can be toxic. He's such a proponent of holding it all together, being strong, repressing his emotions. That's so dangerous and tedious to watch, especially as it impacts Mel. A lot of the way that Jack's written is meant to manufacture some heart eyes for him. It works sometimes, but others times, you can just see right through it.

4. Cameron

Cameron was an addition to the cast in season 4 as a new doctor working with Mel and Doc. He's the handsome, mysterious, new young doctor in the small town, and everyone was talking about him. While Cameron isn't the worst, he's displayed some behaviors that are supremely annoying. Let's just say that he did not know Mel long enough to give her his two cents on her relationship with Jack. Like, what was that all about?! Yes, he had a crush on her, but sticking your nose in other people's business, even if you're concerned, should be handled with more care than he used. Ever since that debacle, Cameron's been on thin ice. Glad he's happy with Muriel, though!

3. Ricky

Ricky has been absent from the series since the end of season 4, but he's still one of the Virgin River characters who most got on viewers' nerves. He never did anything particularly horrible, but he's a frustrating character. Fans have called him immature, which isn't hard to see. Much of his storyline when he was in the show revolved around pining for Lizzie, and it wasn't very enjoyable to watch. Now that she's in a mature relationship with Denny, the difference between the relationships is night and day. More than anything, the show didn't really know what to do with or how to write for a teenage character like Ricky. Hopefully, he's finally found his place wherever he ended up.

2. Charmaine

Yeah, yeah... Everyone can't stand Charmaine. It almost feels like a cheap shot to include her on this list and have her this close to the top. Are we still annoyed with Charmaine? I mean, she was hardly even in the most recent fifth season and, to top it off, she finally gave birth, and that was one of the main criticisms of her character. All of that aside, Charmaine has truly been given a villain edit, which was hastily walked back for a redemption arc in season 5.

Charmaine was the main piece of the puzzle that gave Virgin River a soap opera twist when its pathos with a little too genuine. She would lie, deceive, and scheme like she was in an episode of Dynasty, and in that respect she was fun to watch. But when you pare it all down, she lied about the paternity of her children and made Jack believe he was going to be the father of her twin sons. That's a lot to put on someone! However, the length of her pregnancy was really out of her hands. You can't fault her for that one, but you might feel some kind of way about her season 5 change of heart.

1. Hope

She's part of the heart and soul of the town, but she's also a character that viewers find unlikable. As the mayor of Virgin River, it's Hope's job to be the seer and take control of certain things. But she's certainly prone to getting involved in things that have nothing to do with her. Like gossiping about personal lives and reading letters that aren't hers. Yeah, we still haven't forgotten what went down in the early days of the series, Hope!

In the more recent season, Hope has been through a lot. She suffered the loss of one of her close friends and a traumatic brain injury that nearly took her life. In the aftermath of the accident, Hope went through a difficult time of grief but also the very relatable reality of navigating a health crisis that demands you slow down and accept help. Those are two concepts with which Hope is unfamiliar. As much empathy as viewers had for her situation, sometimes she acted in ways that were unfair to her loved ones and others around her. Let's hope Hope will turn over a new leaf in season 6.