Aahana Swrup
The Netflix show ‘Virgin River’ takes the audience to a small Californian town, where the narrative follows Mel Monroe, a newcomer nurse who gradually becomes an instrumental part of the town’s tight-knit community. In following the journeys of her and numerous other characters—including bar owner Jack, resident doctor Vernon Mullins, the mayor, Hope, and many more—the story naturally creates a map of familiar local landmarks. The Grace Valley Hospital—an establishment in the next town over—is one such landmark. Over the course of different episodes, the story finds various characters visiting the hospital for one reason or another. However, while the place’s narrative significance is clear, is there any real-life resonance behind it? SPOILERS AHEAD!
Grace Valley Hospital is a Creation of Robyn Carr’s Imagination
Much like most elements of ‘Virgin River,’ the Grace Valley Hospital is also a detail based on author Robyn Carr’s work. Carr is the author behind the original ‘Virgin River’ book series, which is the main inspiration for the eponymous show. Despite the diversions that the show’s plot takes from the narrative of the book series at times, the base framework for the on-screen tale remains reminiscent of the world Carr builds in her books. Consequently, Grace Valley Hospital can also be traced back to the source material.
Similar to the show, Grace Valley is also a California town that is neighboring the town of Virgin River in the books. The former town sports a big central hospital that the plot frequently visits. In fact, some of the characters from Grace Valley’s hospital left such an impact that they become the protagonists in Carr’s spin-off ‘Grace Valley Trilogy.’ Thus, even though the on-screen Grace Valley Hospital doesn’t play as significant of a role in the show ‘Virgin River’ as it does in the author’s literary world, its origins reside in the books.
In the on-screen adaptation, Grace Valley Hospital is only equipped as an occasional spot for the plot to unfold. Since the place’s appearance requires a medical emergency, Mel and Doc’s storylines often find them in the Hospital alongside Mike and Brie. In season 6, the establishment’s narrative resonance grows as it aims to target Doc Mullins’ clinic in an attempt to branch its franchise into the town of Virgin River. Therefore, the audience can expect to see more of Grace Valley Hospital in potential future seasons.
Narratively, the establishment serves the purpose of highlighting the small-town nature of the titular town. Since Doc’s clinic is the only healthcare place in the community, characters often have to be rushed to the next town if they require any elaborate treatment. This accentuates the coziness of the area, furthering its identity as a small and homey community. Ultimately, while one may be able to find similarly christened Hospitals, the Grace Valley Hospital remains confined to Carr’s work and the show.
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