The show would’ve been better without it altogether.

Throughout its five-season run, Netflix’s Virgin River has been one of

the streaming service’s most popular romance dramas.

There’s a simple explanation for that. The show is brimming with exciting relationship arcs that continue to draw hordes of viewers years after its premiere.

While Virgin River centers on Melinda Monroe, a newcomer to the titular town trying to rebuild her life after the sudden death of her husband, and her volatile romance with local man Jack Sheridan, there are plenty of other love arcs to get invested in. For example, the troubled romance between Doc and Hope McCrea is a major source of drama. Brie’s love triangle with Dan Brady and Mike, and Muriel and Cameron’s unconventional affair continue to divide fans of the show. But there’s no relationship arc that viewers absolutely hate more than Preacher’s romance with Paige.

Preacher and Paige’s Tumultuous History

One of the original characters on Virgin River, Paige led a very secretive life with her son Christopher, running a small bakery business. In Season 1, she formed an unlikely bond with the local good guy, Preacher, and began a relationship with him. Having found trust in him, Paige revealed that she was hiding from her abusive husband, who had come to Virgin River in search of her and their son. Seemingly unaffected by the news, Preacher continued the relationship, and when Paige accidentally killed Wes after a physical altercation on the stairs, Middleton helped her hide the body.

There couldn’t be a more consistent and comprehensible way to explain this story, but it still doesn’t make sense because it seems unbearably far-fetched. Perhaps this is why fans hate this plot so much.

Indeed, this relationship arc was strange to say the least. And even though it’s long over, most people wish it had never happened in the first place.