Underrated 90s Show on Prime is a Must-Watch for Virgin River Fans

Summary

• Virgin River Season 6 won't be out for a while, so we'll just have to move on to other shows.
• One of the best substitutes might be Northern Exposure, which ran from 1990 to 1995.
• The show has a similar premise and can be watched in its entirety on Prime Video.

Virgin River fans, our hearts go out to you. You won't be able to watch the new season anytime soon, as filming doesn't begin until February 2, 2024, and will last until May 17. Best case scenario, Season 6 will hit Netflix in September, but knowing the VR production team's disregard for schedules, we wouldn't be so optimistic.

What can you do in the meantime if you need your Virgin River fix? The simplest answer is to re-watch all the available episodes. But what if you're not ready to go back to Charmaine's five-year-long pregnancy and Hope's ridiculous antics?

A great option could be one of the best comedy-dramas of its time but has since been almost forgotten. Let's find out what this show is all about and why Virgin River fans should definitely check it out.

A 90s TV Series That Defined Its Genre

The show in question is Northern Exposure, which aired on CBS from 1990 to 1995 and produced six seasons. This underrated series is about Joel Fleischman, portrayed by Rob Morrow, a neurotic young doctor from New York City who moves to Alaska to practice medicine because the state paid for his education. Much to his dismay, however, he finds himself not in the relatively big (by Alaskan standards) city of Anchorage but in the small rural town of Cicely, where a general practitioner is desperately needed.

Of course, it is not so easy for Joel, a man of the big city, to adjust to the new conditions, as he must not only curb his arrogance, but also find a common ground with the diverse and very eccentric residents of the town, consisting of other repatriates from the United States and Canada, as well as native Alaskans.

The show has become seminal in the comedy-drama genre for its emphasis on ensemble casts, its optimism and good-heartedness, as well as its simple humor about life even as the characters struggled to understand themselves. The first season has a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.

The Show Has Similar Vibes to Virgin River

Northern Exposure cannot be called identical to Virgin River, as it is more of a comedy than a drama. However, the themes and events are very similar, which can be a good argument for VR fans. Joel, like Mel, moves from the big city to a small town to practice medicine. He also immediately gets embroiled in the local mayhem and gets to know the diverse residents.

The narrative of the series is also largely based on the protagonist's love for a local resident.

How and Where Can You Watch Northern Exposure

All six seasons of the iconic comedy-drama, which garnered a slew of prestigious nominations and awards but faded into obscurity nearly 30 years after it ended, are available in HD quality in 2024.

For starters, Northern Exposure recently became available for streaming on Prime Video. This requires a subscription, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. For students and members of the EBT, Medicaid, and SNAP programs, the price is lower: $7.49 per month and $6.99 per month, respectively. Each of these options includes a 30-day free trial, after which you can cancel your subscription. We recommend taking this time to binge-watch all six seasons, especially since they are easy to watch and unobtrusive.

Northern Exposure is also available for purchase. On Prime, the first two seasons cost $19.99 in HD quality, and the next four cost a little more, $24.99. A single episode is $2.99 regardless of season. All six seasons are also available on other major platforms, including Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft Store and Vudu.