Sweet Magnolias
Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Premiere – The Aftermath of Chaos and Emotions
When Sweet Magnolias concluded its second season, emotions were running high for several reasons, including Ryan’s spontaneous proposal to Helena and all the way to Cal’s supercharged outburst of anger when Stu threatened Maddie.
All those feelings bubbled up to the surface, making the aftermath of the evening the perfect pick-up point for the Season 3 premiere.
There’s a lot to work through right off the bat, so thankfully, the creative forces didn’t opt for a time jump, instead, throwing fans into the situations in real-time.
Let’s start with Cal, who is being awfully hard on himself in a situation where everyone was largely understanding about why he lost his cool. Stu came on strong and the situation escalated quickly, so Cal went into defensive mode. No one blamed him for what happened, nor did they think less of him or love him any less.
The situation naturally freaked Maddie out as she assumed she went from one volatile relationship to another, but as the girls assured her, Cal and Bill weren’t even in the same realm of problematic—if you can even call Cal that.
Cal was being his biggest critic, which is actually a sign as it shows that he’s self-aware even despite living in denial about his anger management this whole time. Cal suppressed a lot in order to be the man he thought Maddie needed, but it was all slowly eating him up inside and waiting for a spark to ignite. And when it finally did… boom.
Erik helped Cal work through all those complex feelings by assuring him that there’s work to be done, though it may require him to confront some of his inner demons., While Cal likely would’ve rather kept his outburst on the down-low, if we’re looking for a silver lining, it was a good thing the situation with Stu happened as it allowed him to finally be himself and stop pretending that he didn’t have problems in front of Maddie. It broke a wall as they both finally acknowledged that they have some work to do, respectively, while also emphasizing that there’s nothing wrong with being a work in progress. It was a healthy development for their relationship, even if it was unnerving at first.
Next up is Helen, who slightly disappointed me. The one thing I wished wouldn’t happen was for Helen to hurt Erick, and sadly, that’s exactly what she did. Not intentionally, of course, but he’s seemingly collateral damage in her on-again-off-again romance with Ryan.
Helen should’ve been straightforward with Erick the moment Ryan proposed. It was a bombshell moment that took her by surprise, but it was obvious that the fact that she even needed to “think” about her answer meant that she was considering it and not all the way in with Erick.
It’s clear Helen never loved him the way he loved her, but it was heartbreaking to see him come to that realization at the same moment he felt like a fool for being in a relationship with a woman who was already one foot out.
The truth is that those two were always really good friends but they lacked the intimacy and the spark—he could never break through her walls because she didn’t want him to.
But he deserved better. And considering everything, I’m surprised at how composed he remained when you could see all of those emotions coursing through him. I would’ve been fully understanding had he just blown up on her or uttered a few curse words, but instead, he just said that it was “all he needed to know” like the gentleman that he is. It was the equivalent of your parents telling you that they aren’t mad, they’re disappointed. It cut deep. And it was a way of protecting his peace, which is so key.
I don’t think anyone is jealous of the situation Helen found herself in. When you have two really great men who love you and want to give you the world, someone’s eventually going to walk away with a broken heart. But I hope that simply means that Erick is on the cusp of finding the right woman.
Though I wasn’t a fan of how Helen went about the situation, she did the right thing in the end because she listened to her heart. And even though Ryan betrayed her and hurt her one too many times, she knew that he was her person regardless and she couldn’t just ignore this advance without looking back on it and possibly regretting her decision.
She took a leap of faith by ending things with Erick and seemingly wanting to give Ryan yet another chance, and I’m hoping that he won’t burn her this time, He has a lot to make up for without having the greatest track record, but I genuinely believed him when he said that he was finally ready to commit to a relationship and a family.
The scene of Helen telling Ryan about the miscarriage was devastating, especially as it was followed by the revelation that there’s a slim chance that she’ll be able to carry a child right as Ryan realized that he wanted to have children with her. I understand the feelings of sadness that accompanied this scene, but it would’ve been a really great moment for them to acknowledge that if this is what they both really want moving forward, it doesn’t have to mean the end of their plans of expanding a family. There are so many ways they could have a child now that it doesn’t have to feel like a complete loss.
Dana Sue and Ronnie are still finding their footing, and it’s clear that they have a lot to work and talk through. For starters, they need to get on the same parenting page. Differences are par for the course, but they were in complete disagreement about Annie’s future, which gave us a glimpse as to why their marriage didn’t work out in the first place.
It’s evident that they want to be together and make this work, however, they are still walking on eggshells and not fully trusting one another. Ronnie assumed Dana Sue didn’t trust him to know about the check Ms. Francis gave her, while Dana Sue assumed Ronnie didn’t tell her about Kathy coming to town—and neither was true. They both just assumed the worst based on prior experiences, and they have to build that trust back up by changing how they approach certain situations. They’re going to get there, though, I have no doubt about it.
We thought Mary Vaughn was the town’s biggest problem—and there’s still the issue of the recall—but we finally got more insight into the tire-slashing madwoman that hates Dana Sue, and her name is Kathy. I initially assumed it was Ronnie’s ex, but it turns out Kathy is his estranged sister that no one seems to get along with. We don’t know much about what went down between the trio, but it was enough for the parents to want. to keep her away from Annie. She mentions Dana Sue stealing Sullivan’s from her, so I imagine she’s in town to claim what’s hers.
The worst part is that she set her sights on Bill Townsend, the man who literally cannot keep it in his pants. The moment any woman gives him even a smidge of attention, Bill is sold. Kathy dug her claws into him when she saw him out on the town alone, and my guess is that it’s only going to make people hate him even more. Also, he’s so oblivious that he has no idea his ex-wife’s best friend had beef with this woman. Like where was Bill throughout his whole marriage to Maddie? Thank god she’s no longer involved in that.
Other Developments in Town:
- Maddie found out—and accepted—that Ty is done playing ball. She didn’t like finding out last, but she respected his decision.
- Jackson and Annie are sneaking around and meeting up at the cemetary at night since their moms are at war. It’s a modern-day Romeo & Juliet, though, hopefully with a happy ending.
- Isaac is still coming to terms with the revelation that Bill is his biological father. And I don’t blame him for having trouble accepting it.
- He’s also super supportive of Noreen as she navigates motherhood as a single mom; it’s so cute to see him with his baby sister! Also, why isn’t Bill making an effort to see his new daughter since he’s obviously in town?
- The town is also rallying behind Noreen, bringing the phrase “it takes a village” come to life.
- Bill offered to vouch for Cal to undergo a review to possibly keep his job as Coach, which was awfully nice of him. Maybe he is trying to do better after all. He sure has a lot to make up for.
What did you think of the premiere? What are you looking forward to most this season?
Sweet Magnolias Season 3 hit Netflix on Thursday, July 20, and finally gave fans some clarity on a cliffhanger from season 2—who is Kathy?
In the final episode of season 2, a nameless woman confronted Annie and asked her if she was Dana Sue’s daughter before commenting that she looked like “something she’d spit out” right before calling her mother a “home wrecker.”
We then saw the same woman popping the tires of a Sullivan’s food truck, and once the Magnolias saw the video, they all let out a deep sigh and declared: “She’s back.”
Now, we finally have our answer.
SPOILERS AHEAD *** Stop reading if you haven’t watched the new season yet ***
Kathy (portrayed by Wynn Everett) blows into town like a hurricane, setting her sights on destroying Dana Sue and her brother, Ronnie. There’s plenty of animosity between the siblings as audiences learn that Kathy still holds plenty of resentment for the fact that Dana Sue and Ronnie got Sullivan’s instead of her; she believes they “stole” it from her.
And naturally, she wants revenge, even after all these years. She sets her sights on Erik, propositioning him to join her restaurant, Z’s, where she’s an assistant manager. She attempts to poach him from Dana Sue’s business so that he can help elevate the place and make it a Southern destination, clearly hoping to put Sullivan’s out of business.
Erik is in a low place after his split from Helen, so he takes some time away from Sullivan’s and agrees to work with Kathy without knowing the backstory of her feud with Dana Sue.
Kathy also sinks her claws into Bill, whom she meets at the restaurant while he’s dining alone and who has no idea who she is. They seem to be kindred spirits in the fact that they’ve hurt a lot of people and don’t have anyone to turn to—they are lonely, and it’s a situation of their own making.
In later episodes, Kathy crashes Annie’s sweet 16 party to hurl nasty comments at everyone, including Maddie and Helen. It’s unhinged behavior and a clear indication that she hasn’t found peace or moved on with her life, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
When Erik turns in his resignation letter—after learning that she’s related to Ronnie and hired him out of spite, something he feels very guilty about—she retaliates by trashing Sullivan’s kitchen. It’s clear she wants attention from her estranged brother, and when he meets her to talk, she promises that she won’t leave town until she gets what she’s owed.
Ronnie determines that it’s a hefty check, later informing Dana Sue that Kathy only understands money.
Kathy decides that it’s a sufficient payout to leave town, but Bill’s pretty disappointed with the news, informing her that running away isn’t the answer and it isn’t going to fix all the pain she’s caused—and he’s someone who would know a thing or two about hurting people in Serenity.
In a surprising twist, Kathy and Bill show up at Dana Sue and Ronnie’s vow renewal with a thoughtful gift in hand—she hands her brother a vintage tea set that belonged to their mother because she understands what it feels like not to “get what you want.”
She then apologizes to everyone she’s crossed paths with, while Dana Sue shows plenty of grace, informing her that she wishes they could’ve been friends all these years.
Kathy and Bill then leave town “for a bit” to find themselves and get back on the right track.
It’s unclear if we’ll see this random couple in the future if/when Netflix decides to renew Sweet Magnolias for the fourth season, but if so, hopefully, they’ve made good on their promise to “do better.”
You can read all of our Sweet Magnolias Season 3 reviews right here!
Sweet Magnolias just dropped its third season on Netflix with 10 exciting episodes taking fans back to the town of Serenity alongside Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Helen (Heather Headley), and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott).
SPOILERS AHEAD *** Stop reading if you haven’t watched the new season yet *** SPOILERS AHEAD
While the third season ended on an uplifting note that would suffice as a series finale, fans absolutely don’t want the story to end as they are heavily invested in all of the friendships and relationships that have formed over the course of three seasons.
And thus, the question on everyone’s mind remains—will there be a fourth season of Sweet Magnolias?
As of writing, Netflix has not renewed the series for a fourth season, or any additional seasons, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean it won’t. Previously, the streaming giant waited a few months after the arrival of a new season to give a renewal verdict.
Season 2 was confirmed two months after the first season was released, while Season 3 was three months after the second season aired.
The gap likely gives Netflix enough time to gauge audience interest and assess how well the previous season performed.
This time around, it’s possible that Netflix won’t be issuing any renewal news during the current writer’s and actor’s strikes, which don’t seem to have an end in sight.
Things in the TV world, both streaming and primetime, have come to a bit of a standstill amid contract negotiations between studios and the unions representing writers and actors.
And that all means we may have to wait a little longer to find out if and when we’ll be able to spend some more time with our favorite residents in Serenity.
There’s definitely an interest in feel-good, Hallmark-esque shows on Netflix, however, which is a good sign that Sweet Magnolias may stick around for at least one more season so we can find out if Helen and Erik will give their love another try, whether Isaac will tell Noreen about Bill (and confront Bill about being his son), and get more insight about the future mayoral candidates of Serenity—while also getting justice for the town that was mistreated and taken advantage of by the Lewis family!
You can read all of our Sweet Magnolias Season 3 reviews right here! And we’ll update this post accordingly if we hear any news about the fourth season!
Let’s pour it out for Dana Sue and Ronnie… and the three leading ladies of Serenity.
Sweet Magnolias Season 3—through all of its bumps and hiccups—continued to be a love story not only between three best friends, but between them and their significant others, their significant others with each other, and their found families within the community.
It’s a love story for Serenity, highlighting everyone’s dedication and commitment to the charming small town.
Much of the season finale, Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 10, was focused on Ronnie and Dana Sue’s wedding, one that was picture-perfect and the epitome of love and renewed beginnings.
Dana Sue and Ronnie recommitted to each other in front of the whole town, with their loved ones by their side—and may I say, everyone seriously dressed to impress. The wardrobe team really outdid themselves as all of the Magnolias rocked dresses that complimented them, their personalities, and their personal styles. And I dare say that Maddie stole the show in that baby blue dress!
One of the season’s overarching storylines came to an end, a positive one at that. Kathy showed up at the reception, as expected, with Bill in tow, announcing their relationship of sorts to the public, but instead of bringing pain and destruction, she offered an apology and gave her brother their mother’s tea set as a peace offering. Everyone seemed rather surprised that this change of heart was brought upon by Bill, though, in his defense, he did tell Maddie he was going to do better.
And this is his start. He’s trying to turn his life around and find meaning in his life while finding his place amid a family that he’s hurt and that has moved on all while he’s been trying to hold on. It’s not doing anyone any favors that he’s just there, randomly popping in, so he has to figure things out for himself before he can be there for others. Bill’s been quite the pain, but at least he’s aware—that’s all we can ask. He’s putting in an effort to make this second half of his life as a father be a little more intentional and meaningful.
His relationship with Kathy may have been surprising to everyone, and vengeful on her part at the beginning, but in a way, they are good for each other—two villains trying to claw their way back to the top and find peace and love.
There were many unspoken, off-screen moments that we didn’t get to see that I feel would’ve made the storyline stronger. Why didn’t we get to see Bill finding out who Kathy is? Are we to assume he wasn’t phased by it at all.
Dana Sue and Ronnie deserve this second chance, and I’m glad it wasn’t tainted by Kathy’s antics yet again. She’s done enough damage, and for nothing, when they all could’ve simply been a family. You could tell it meant a lot to Ronnie that his sister finally acknowledged that she was the problem.
Dana Sue and Erik also figured things out prior to the vow renewal, which meant that she had her kitchen team back together and someone to make a scrumptious cake. All’s right in the world.
It seems that in Serenity, it’s all about moving forward with grace, love, and forgiveness—and this season taught us that simply being there for people and giving them the space to accept to reach out for help when they are ready is essential. It’s an important reminder to everyone who always wants to leap into action and fix things.
Dana Sue didn’t hound Erik, ultimately letting him come to her when he was ready.
Helen and Erik also cleared the air, starting over fresh as friends, though there’s so much unspoken love and longing between them. I truly believe that their biggest obstacle was always timing… and Ryan. Helen couldn’t fully give herself over to Erik and envision a future with him because she didn’t close the chapter on Ryan; she was still holding onto that hope for their fairytale ending. But now that she’s gotten closure and Ryan is officially out of the picture, it’s clear that she and Erik are like two magnets pulling towards each other; it’s inevitable, especially after Helen caught the bouquet and they locked eyes across the space. Though this time, I hope they take their time and honor each other’s feelings, first and foremost.
Genevieve, who?
It didn’t help that she didn’t attend the event, telling Erik that she works with the Magnolias and doesn’t feel ready to party with them, which is fair. I fully expect things to get messy in the Erik, Helen, Genevieve love triangle next season, and I’m ready to see these two women fight it out for him. May the best woman win.
Maddie and Cal remained unproblematic this season, and they couldn’t be more in love, constantly supporting each other at every turn. It’s just nice to see her finally find a man that treats her the way she deserves to be treated as we know that was never Bill’s strong suit. Even now, she’s doing much of the heavy lifting when it comes to parenting, with Cal subbing in when necessary. Maybe next season, we’ll get to attend their wedding!
Also finding love again—Noreen and Jeremy! The way my heart melted when he was just walking around with Rebecca as if she was his own daughter. He’s a keeper! After everything Bill put her through, Noreen deserves a good man who will step up to the plate. Look at Maddie and Noreen, both finding good men after Bill.
And in the spirit of love, Ty is head over heels in love with Annie. He’s surrounded by CeCe and his new tutor friend, and yet he only has eyes for her. I think he’s slowly coming to the realization, but since Annie is nursing a broken heart, it’s not exactly the right time.
Annie broke up with Jackson, and though it hurt like hell, she realized she deserved so much better than to have to lie to all her loved ones to be with him. She needed him to grow up and stand up to his mother, and he was too scared, and it took a toll on their relationship. Jackson was admittedly shocked, but I don’t think anything hurt more than Annie turning around and running straight into Ty’s arms for comfort. It’s clear that her heart is also with her childhood best friend, even if she’s not entirely aware of it right now.
Love was definitely the theme of the episode as Peggy showed up with Charles, her journalist friend helping her dig up dirt and evidence against the Lewis’, which sadly wasn’t revisited much this season (I know, I know, they’re building a case), while Pastor June brought her date from bingo, and Paula came with her good friend and the man who continuously commissions her work, Jimmy. Or should I say, recently divorced Jimmy who planted one heck of a smooch on her at Sullivan’s and then basically asked her to move in with him into his new house—under the guise of commissioning her to paint. Listen, Paula, get it girl. Isaac’s face was a mirror reflection of mine, but as Maddie noted, she deserves to find joy, and if it means letting her mother fly free, so be it.
As for Peggy, Helen was adamant that she needs to run for office, even offering to run her campaign for her. And to that I say, Team Peggy and Helen has my vote!
It’s exciting to see everyone getting invigorated and involved, trying to do what’s best for the town and the people living in it.
Another storyline that wasn’t addressed was Isaac and Bill, though, after a heart-to-heart with Paula about lies, Isaac decided that he wanted to tell Noreen the truth about his birth father. It’s going to be quite a bombshell, but I don’t think anything can shake their friendship—if anything, it will bring them closer together.
Annie seems to have found her “sisters”—the friends for life she wished for—in CeCe and Lily, who is also putting the moves on Kyle. I definitely wouldn’t mind seeing some episodes focus heavier on the teen Magnolias… yep, that’s what I’m calling them.
Other Moments
- Bailey is truly one of the best supporting characters!
- Erik and Helen have a lot in common including blaming and being hard on themselves and running away from their problems.
- Wayne is home—and Skeeter and his men were there to greet him and lend a helping hand. I love the small scenes depicting the true realities of small towns.
- I hope Maddie decides to publish her novel even though she said she’s just doing it for fun.
- And you know the Magnolias treasured being by each others’ side during the wedidng so much more after their big fight. They won’t ever take their friendship for granted again!
This wasn’t my favorite season of Sweet Magnolias, but it did have a sweet ending that gave us potential for new, and old, relationships, while also showcasing plenty of character growth for everyone, including Serenity’s least-liked residents.
Whenever we finally get another season, I hope that we’ll explore Erik and Helen’s rekindled spark, Isaac telling Noreen and finally confronting Bill, and all the drama with the Lewis’.
What did you think of the season? Did you enjoy the finale?
Featured3 weeks agoPat Sajak Kicks Off Final Run on ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Season 41
Virgin River3 weeks agoWhat Happens to Mel and Jack’s Baby on ‘Virgin River’ Season 5?
What to Watch3 weeks ago2023 Fall TV Schedule—Here are the 17 Shows That Need to Be on Your Radar
Wilderness2 weeks agoWho Dies on Prime Video’s ‘Wilderness’?
What to Watch3 weeks ago2023 Fall TV Schedule—16 Reality TV and Game Shows That Are a Must-Watch
What to Watch3 weeks ago‘Sullivan’s Crossing’ Is The CW’s Most Promising New Show—And It Stars Chad Michael Murray
Only Murders in the Building2 weeks agoWill There Be a Season 4 of ‘Only Murders in the Building’?
Coffee Table News2 weeks agoWhen Will ‘The Drew Barrymore’ Show Return for Season 4?