Virgin River: 5 Reasons Hope is Endearing (& 5 Reasons Why She’s Irritating)

While Netflix’s Virgin River focuses primarily on Jack and Mel, there are many other characters worthy of a critique. Virgin River, as a small and quirky town, boasts some unusual and quirky characters, including Hope McCrae.

In a sense, Hope is the mover and shaker of this small town. She’s the mayor and she cares about her community. However, there have been occasions where the fans have been a little put off by her personality as she can be meddlesome. Fans aren’t even sure where they truly stand with her as she can be endearing one minute and irritating the next. Just look at these for examples…

10 Endearing: Loves Doc

Hope was incredibly hurt by Doc when he cheated on her early in their marriage. Although time has passed, the hurt is still hard for Hope to get over. When the show starts, the two are very good friends but are separated. Later, they discuss divorce, and they nearly become divorced.

However, both of them love each other. For Doc, he’s not really interested in any other woman, and he tries to make up for the past. For Hope, she cares about Doc. The whole reason that she brought Mel to help Doc was because she knew that he needed it, even if he didn’t want to admit the truth. Despite her hurt, she’s willing to give Doc and their relationship another chance.

9 Irritating: Hides Her Rekindled Romance

When she and Doc rekindle their flame and start their romance again, Hope wants to hide it from the community. Part of this does make sense. After all, Virgin River is a small community, and she doesn’t want people in their business. Also, if people are watching their rekindled romance, there could be extra pressure on it, as if it were staged.

The initial nervousness is understandable, but Hope takes it too far. She encourages Doc to ask out another woman (Muriel) in the community, making Doc play with Muriel’s emotions. Hope reasons that this would distract people from noticing Doc and her romance, but it comes across as both silly and potentially cruel.

8 Endearing: Values Her Friends

Hope can be a difficult person at times. She seems harsh and uncompromising, but she values her friends above all else. She cares about them and will do nearly anything to be in their good graces. For instance, when her friendship with Jack hits a rocky road, Hope is torn-up inside. She wants to be friends again, and it hurts her when he says that he can’t trust her.

Mel convinces Hope to house Charmaine in order to make amends to Jack. This means a lot, especially since Hope doesn’t really like Charmaine. Later, when Jack warms up to Hope and asks her to help him find a bigger house, Hope is quick to come and bargain a better deal for him.

7 Irritating: Meddles in Others’ Affairs

Hope likes control, and sometimes she thinks that she knows what is best for other people. She has a very bad habit of meddling in her friends’ affairs. Jack doesn’t trust her because of this. In season 1, Hope sought out the information because she thought she knew best, and she is intensely curious.

In season 2, she tries to avoid some of this behavior, especially when it comes to Jack’s life. However, Charmaine tells her more than she needs to hear, and she’s nearly thrown into the same predicament as before.

6 Endearing: Is Capable and Strong

It’s suggested that early in her marriage with Doc that Hope didn’t have as much of an identity outside of her role as a wife. When they get back together, she won’t allow herself to be put back in that role.

As many fans know, Hope is the mayor of the town. She’s extremely capable and helps out her community. Hope puts on events, fundraisers, and is someone that people count on. If Mel needs a strong female role model, Hope is a good place to start.

5 Irritating: Is Judgmental

At her worst, Hope can be very judgmental of others. Viewers see this with how she perceives the other women her age. Muriel is her rival, but she’s harsh in her judgment of all the women in her former social circle. It could be that Hope hesitates to open herself up to them because she’s incredibly sensitive. It could also be that she’s judgmental as a form of protection.

Whatever the reason, her judgment is harsh and not always well-earned. While Muriel seems to deserve most of Hope’s judgment, one wonders if they could have been friends if Hope had been less critical.

4 Endearing: Gives A Lot Of Herself to Others

Hope cares about her community. While she’ll help friends (i.e. Jack) because she values them, she’s willing to help anybody. In season 2, Connie’s problematic niece comes to live in Virgin River. Partly to help Connie and partly for her pride, she meets with the niece, talking and treating her to a meal. She didn’t have to do this, but she did.

If anyone were to ask Hope for her help, she would do it even if she didn’t particularly like that person.

3 Irritating: Doesn’t Welcome Charmaine

In season 1, Hope was mean to Charmaine since Charmaine’s mother had an affair with Doc. On top of this, she doesn’t think highly of Charmaine and believes that Jack deserves better. In season 2, Mel asks Hope to house Charmaine since she was having a difficult pregnancy and needs to be close to the clinic until her health improves.

While Hope lets Charmaine stay with her, she doesn’t make her feel welcome. She even leaves the vacuum running when Charmaine has a headache and isn’t feeling well. It was all very petty.

2 Endearing: Reaches Out To Mel About Grief

When Hope learns that Mel is a widow and that she’s dealing with grief, Hope opens up to Mel about her own loss. Hope’s second husband died; she tells Mel, “I was devastated. For almost a year, I kept expecting him to walk through the door.” She shares her hurt in order to connect with Mel. On top of sharing her story, Hope listens to Mel’s. She doesn’t give advice or try to fix anything, just asks Mel a question and touches her hand.

In a later episode, Mel struggles with how to honor her late husband on the anniversary of his death. When she figures it out, she calls Hope. Without a second thought, Hope says to her, “I’ll grab my sewing kit and be right there.” Hope drops everything to be there for Mel. She brings Doc with her as she helps Mel create a small tribute for Mark.

1 Irritating: Holds Grudges

As much as Hope may get irritated at other characters holding grudges, like Jack, she has proven to be a bit of a hypocrite. Hope is a good friend until she gets hurt, and then it may take years or even decades for her to forgive.

For instance, she has a grudge against Charmaine because of what her mother did. While Doc did cheat on Hope, fans believe it’s not good to keep hold of something that happened decades ago. She’s held onto that grudge, and it’s only in season 2 that fans see her trying to overcome it. Hopefully, this will continue in season 3.

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