After almost quitting Virgin River, one fan theory fixed my biggest complaint, offering me a new enjoyment of the series. Based on the Virgin River book series by Robyn Carr, the Netflix romantic drama follows a nurse named Mel who creates a home in the idyllic town of Virgin River, California. The show has run for six seasons, with a seventh on the way. I was introduced to Virgin River when season 4 came out. As much as I want to like it, I have a love-hate relationship with the Netflix show.

Virgin River’s characters and their relationships with one another are enjoyable to watch; however, the inconsistent timeline bothers me so much that I’ve nearly quit watching the show about a dozen times. One or two inconsistent elements can be forgiven with a suspension of disbelief. However, I need some degree of realism in a drama TV show that faces gritty, real-life tragedies instead of idealizing the world. Luckily, one interesting fan theory fixes my complaint, stopping me from quitting Virgin River altogether.

Virgin River’s Timeline Makes Zero Sense Even After 6 Seasons

The Events Of Virgin River Don’t Create A Consistent Timeline

Based on Charmaine’s pregnancy and Lily’s age, the best estimate of the Virgin River timeline is about a year from the first episode to Jack and Mel’s wedding. Theoretically, every season lasts approximately one month. There are 3 weeks between the end of seasons 2 and 3. Three months are between the end of Virgin River season 5, part 2 and the Christmas episodes. Another three-month jump occurs between the Christmas episodes and season 6. However, this timeline makes other events of the show even more confusing.

Jack somehow recovers from a severe gunshot wound and moves in with Mel in a matter of three weeks. Hope nearly dies in a car accident and experiences the aftermath of a moderate TBI, but she recovers by the end of one season. Mel might as well have gone to a drive-through for IVF because she returned to Los Angeles, made an appointment, had the embryos implanted, and went back to Virgin River in only three days.

Virgin River season 6 only makes me even more frustrated. Doc goes from getting accepted to a clinical trial to having a clean bill of health in less than three months, which seems incredibly fast. Denny and Lizzie also argue about testing their baby for Huntington’s when Lizzie’s in her third trimester, when tests can only happen between 10 and 20 weeks. Preacher’s trial also feels rushed because they went from finding a body to finishing the trial in three months. Ultimately, the inconsistency of how time moves in Virgin River gives me mental whiplash.

Fan Theory About Virgin River Taking Place In The Afterlife Completely Fixes The Show’s Timeline Issue

Virgin River Doesn’t Need To Be Realistic If It’s Set In The Afterlife

After watching season 6, I felt done with the show, as the Virgin River’s timeline prevented me from enjoying the story. However, I found a three-year-old fan theory on Reddit that fixes the issue. A user named u/PapaBear_kr says that they sometimes think the entire show takes place in the afterlife. If Virgin River exists in the afterlife, there’s no reason to hold it to realistic standards. The fantastical element allows more leeway for nonsensical and downright contradictory events.

Time can seem to stand still, and Jack can heal from a gunshot wound almost immediately. Charmaine can remain pregnant for five seasons, while Preacher goes to trial for murder in less than one. There are no rules about how long a TBI takes to heal or when genetic testing can occur. Since learning this theory, I’ve started rewatching parts of the show, and I no longer feel constant frustration at how the timeline works.

Virgin River Happening In The Afterlife Explains More Than The Timeline’s Inconsistencies

The Afterlife Theory Can Explain Oddities About Virgin River

When explaining their theory about the show, u/PapaBear_kr brings up a few other aspects of the show that could be explained by Virgin River taking place in the afterlife. The show seems to take place in a world where technology isn’t as prevalent and advanced as the real world. Like the timeline, this aspect of the show can be forgiven in a mystical setting. The striking visuals throughout the show also have a dreaminess to them that could be explained by Virgin River‘s existence in the afterlife.

The population of the romantic drama also seems unrealistic, with only a few dozen citizens permanently in the town, and the others appear and disappear without much explanation. If the town exists in a purgatory-like plane, characters coming and going from the show could very well be arriving in the afterlife and moving on to a different plane. Ultimately, the afterlife theory isn’t perfect. Multiple flaws exist that could make it less gratifying for others. However, I’m happy that I can finally enjoy Virgin River again by using the deus ex machina of the show existing in the afterlife.