Pour yourself a cup of tea, curl up under a blanket, and get ready for more drama, romance, and small-town charm — because Virgin River isn’t going anywhere. Netflix has officially renewed its beloved comfort series for Season 7, and with this milestone, the show is set to make streaming history.

The Virgin River cast surprised fans on Instagram with the early renewal, confirming that ten new episodes are already in the pipeline, even before Season 6 drops on December 19, 2024. And the news comes with an unexpected twist: Virgin River is now poised to become the longest-running English-language drama series in Netflix’s history.

Breaking Records With a Whisper, Not a Bang

When Virgin River first premiered in 2019, no one could have predicted that its quiet charm — built on rustic scenery, emotional healing, and heart-melting relationships — would outlast high-octane political thrillers or royal dramas. But that’s exactly what’s happening.

With 74 episodes expected by the end of Season 7, Virgin River will surpass House of Cards (73 episodes) and leave The Crown (50 episodes) in the dust. The only Netflix series to surpass it in episode count is Orange Is the New Black, which ended with 91 episodes — but it falls under the comedy-drama category. That makes Virgin River the unrivaled leader in the English-language drama genre on Netflix.

A Long Road Still Ahead

Part of Virgin River’s staying power is thanks to the Robyn Carr book series, on which it is based. With 22 novels in the original saga, the show still has plenty of narrative territory left to explore — not just for Mel and Jack, but for the entire tight-knit community of Virgin River.

While Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed a Season 8, the writing is clearly on the (log cabin) wall. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith has expressed a desire to keep the story going for as long as the fans want it:

“There’s no plan to wrap anything up,” he told Deadline. “As long as these characters are living, there are always going to be stories to tell.”

A Gift That Keeps Giving

So this holiday season, while fans unwrap new episodes in December, they can also unwrap the comforting knowledge that Virgin River still has a long life ahead. And as the snow falls on its picturesque mountain setting, the series continues to prove that the most powerful stories aren’t always the loudest — sometimes, they’re the ones that feel like home.