Looking Forward to Gilmore Girls Season 9? Check Out This Highly Rated Netflix Series Recently Renewed for Season 7

Fans of Gilmore Girls continue to hold out hope for a ninth season, but until that dream comes to fruition, Netflix offers a wonderful alternative: Virgin River. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the beloved teen comedy-drama originally aired for seven seasons on The WB and later on The CW, concluding in 2007. Almost a decade later, Netflix revisited the world of Stars Hollow with a four-episode revival titled Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, which many consider the unofficial eighth season. Despite its cliffhanger ending, as of 2024, a ninth season remains unconfirmed.

In 2016, Sherman-Palladino reunited with almost the entire original cast, featuring Lauren Graham as Lorelai, Alexis Bledel as Rory, Scott Patterson as Luke, and Kelly Bishop as Emily, for this revival. Their return reignited nostalgia among fans, leaving many yearning for more stories from this iconic series.

Discover Virgin River: A Comparable Comfort Show to Gilmore Girls

Season 6 of Virgin River Premiered in December 2024

For those craving the essence of Gilmore Girls, Netflix’s Virgin River is an excellent choice. This romantic drama, developed by Sue Tenney, is inspired by Robyn Carr’s book series of the same name. It follows Mel Monroe, a nurse practitioner and midwife who seeks a fresh start by relocating from Los Angeles to the picturesque, fictional town of Virgin River in Northern California. However, upon her arrival, Mel discovers her new life may be more complex than she expected.

Virgin River Cast	Role
Alexandra Breckenridge	Melinda “Mel”Monroe
Martin Henderson	Jack Sheridan
Colin Lawrence	John “Preacher”Middleton
Jenny Cooper	Joey Barnes
Lauren Hammersley	Charmaine Roberts
Annette O’Toole	Hope McCrea
Tim Matheson	Vernon “Doc”Mullins
Ben Hollingsworth	And Brady
Sarah Dugdale	Lizzie
Zibby Allen	Brie Sheridan
Mark Grazzini	Mike Valenzuela
Kai Bradbury	Denny Cutler
Moths McClure	Kaia Bryant

Both Gilmore Girls and Virgin River share a warm, inviting small-town vibe. Both series are enriched by romantic storylines, including love triangles, engaging tales of heartwarming and heartbreaking nature, and a cast of quirky supporting characters. Moreover, they showcase strong female leads who resonate with audiences, even if they occasionally prompt frustration. Ultimately, Virgin River offers a more mature perspective compared to its predecessor, making it an ideal comfort show for die-hard fans of the 2000s classic while they eagerly await Gilmore Girls season 9.

Virgin River’s Renewal for Season 7 Rivals the Longevity of Gilmore Girls

Gilmore Girls Originally Aired for Seven Seasons

As reported by Variety, Netflix preemptively renewed Virgin River for its seventh season two months prior to the release of season 6 on December 19, 2024. Showrunner Patrick Sean Smith will return for this new 10-episode season, while Alexandra Breckenridge and Martin Henderson will reprise their roles as Mel and Jack, respectively. With this renewal, Virgin River is set to match the original run of Gilmore Girls leading up to its revival.

If the series continues to an eighth season, it will equal the success of Gilmore Girls when considering A Year in the Life. Of course, this would change if Gilmore Girls were to be renewed for a ninth season before that. Regardless of potential developments, Virgin River will officially become Netflix’s longest-running scripted series, a notable achievement that highlights its quality and broad appeal among viewers, particularly fans of the classic Gilmore Girls.

Is Another Season of Gilmore Girls on the Horizon?

Premiering in 2016, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life Captivated Fans

While Virgin River provides solace for those awaiting the next chapter of Gilmore Girls, the question of whether more episodes will ever be produced remains uncertain. Amy Sherman-Palladino has expressed a desire to revisit the beloved universe of Stars Hollow. In a 2023 interview with Rolling Stone, she shared her thoughts on potential storylines:

“There were a couple of things [I wanted to explore] but we just didn’t have the time. I really never liked the way Lane’s life shook out. I would have liked to have spent more time on her, especially since she’s patterned after my best friend. Sorry, Helen [Pai]. And I think it would be interesting to see a baby and a kid and what that next Gilmore Girl round would be.”

Several cast members are also open to reprising their roles, including Kelly Bishop and Lauren Graham, as noted by What’s on Netflix. Unfortunately, any plans for a continuation remain unannounced, and Netflix’s streaming license for Gilmore Girls is set to expire in 2026. This expiration could impact the possibility of a ninth season on the platform unless a new licensing agreement is reached, leaving fans with the hope that the series will find a new home if needed.

Sources: Variety, Rolling Stone, What’s on Netflix

Source & Images