OF THE BEST NETFLIX

SMALL TOWN DRAMAS

VIRGIN RIVER

A big-city nurse (Alexandra Breckenridge, right, with Martin Henderson as Jack) finds love in the country in Netflix’s picturesque series. The romance is waylaid by side plots, but it’s still cosy good fun.

HEARTLAND

In 2014, Heartland became Canada’s longest-running one-hour drama, and you can see the nine most recent seasons here. It’s warm, life-affirming stuff about a family ranch in the foothills of the Rockies, with a lot of great scenery, plenty of character evolution and good horsey moments.

GILMORE GIRLS

Before she wrote The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, Amy ShermanPalladino made her name with this witty tale of a mother and daughter (Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel, above) in a chocolate box town. Netflix revived it for a miniseries, A Year In The Life, in 2016.

CHESAPEAKE SHORES

A brief trip to see family is extended – for five seasons – when lawyer Abby realises what’s important while visiting home. Desperate Housewives hunk Jesse Metcalfe (above, centre) is a big part of why she stays.

RIVERDALE

There’s a dark, Twin Peaks edge to this story, which unfolds after a murder in a seemingly wholesome community. It’s based on the Archie comics, and stars KJ Apa as the troubled golden boy (left, with Camila Mendes as Veronica).