The series surpasses the seven seasons of both Grace and Frankie and Orange Is the New Black, and also surpasses the Spanish teen drama Elite: Virgin River clocks in at 84 episodes compared to Elite's 64. While Grace and Frankie has the most episodes, with 94, these are half-episodes (30 minutes), while Virgin River has hour-long episodes, amounting to over 70 hours of produced content compared to around 45 hours for Grace and Frankie.
It's no surprise that Virgin River, one of Netflix's "blue sky" series and known as a "comfort show," has enjoyed such longevity. Based on the popular books by Robyn Carr, the series has a simple yet enduring premise (the relationships between residents of a small town), and is supported by a strong cast, starring Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson, and veterans Tim Matheson and Annette O'Toole.
Furthermore, filming is relatively inexpensive in Canada, primarily in a limited number of locations, with few stunts or special effects. A short filming session in Mexico for season seven marks the first time the series has left Vancouver; this likely involved only a few cast members, including Breckenridge and Henderson.
Another reason for the quick order of season eight—besides its excellent ratings—is the desire to shorten the wait between seasons. After recent delays, partly caused by the 2023 strikes, streamers like Netflix are trying to get production moving faster through early renewals to accommodate impatient fans.
