

Sweet Magnolias
What We Want to See on ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 2
We’re all going to need some of Erik Whitley’s specialty cinnamon ice cream after that cliffhanger!
For a show as sweet as a brownie from Sullivan’s revolving around the quaint and charming small town of Serenity, Netflix’s latest bingeable series, Sweet Magnolias, delivered a shocking and life-altering ending.
*** SPOILER WARNING – Stop reading if you haven’t seen Sweet Magnolias Season 1 and don’t want spoilers!***
Audiences weren’t the only ones shook by the car accident in the finale moments of the season.
Joanna Garcia Swisher, who plays Maddie Townsend, told GoodHousekeeping the cast was equally as “shook” with the idea of Maddie’s child (or children) in the car.
She said that the cast filmed the scene without knowing who else was in the car with Kyle so that they could be in the dark like the audience.
“Actually, I’ve asked to not know, at least for the next month, so I can be in it with everybody else,” she explained.
If you watched all 10-episodes of the first season in one sitting, you’re likely already googling to find out when season 2 will become available.
And truly, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it may be a bit considering the coronavirus pandemic is responsible for all TV and film productions shutting down since mid-March. Even with many states lifting their “stay-at-home” orders, the new guidelines set in place by the entertainment industry to ensure safety for the cast and crew is bound to make things slightly challenge.
Not to mention, Covington, GA, which is the backdrop for the series, will likely be in high demand as Legacies will begin filming their third season. And yes, if you didn’t know by now, Serenity on Sweet Magnolias is also Mystic Falls on The Vampire Diaries/ Legacies (read more about that here!)
However, we’re going to keep it optimistic and think about all that we want to see happen in Sweet Magnolias Season 2.
Who Is The Passenger?
Alright, so the most obvious question on everyone’s mind is about the passenger in the car wreck. There are a handful of possibilities here since there were so many people at the party who ran after Kyle when he stormed off.
The most obvious guess is Tyler since he’s Kyle’s brother. If it was Ty, it would hinder his baseball career, which would make for enough drama to carry a season. However, I think it’s almost too dark for the series, so I don’t think it was Ty.
It could be Annie since she’s best friends with Kyle, but my money is on Nellie. She was one of the first people to run out after Kyle and her involvement would further the rift between Maddie and Mary Vaughn Lewis, the Mayor’s wife who thrives on drama.
She wouldn’t hesitate to blame the accident on the Townsend’s divorce. After all, don’t you remember how she tried to leverage Maddie’s romance with the coach into unfair treatment for her bratty son Jackson, who is the reason this whole mess happened in the first place?
Are Kyle and the Passenger Okay?
Kyle was unconscious when he was removed from the vehicle while the paramedics and first responders were struggling to get to the passenger when Maddie, Bill, and the rest of the family arrived on the scene. Will Kyle and the passenger be okay? How will this change things for the Townsend family moving forward?
Where Are All the Other Kids?
And more specifically, what happened that led to this accident? We saw Kyle bolt out of the house and everyone else ran after him. Why did he get into the car? How did the car end up flipped on the side of the road? And aside from the mystery passenger, where is everyone else that was at the party? Did they all go after Kyle? Why didn’t they run back to get their phones?
The ending reminded me of a Big Little Lies type of twist because we’re going to need to backtrack the events of the evening to figure out what led to this devastating moment.
And here I was worried that the fist fight between Ty, Jackson, and CeCe would cause Ty to sustain an injury that would ruin his shot at playing baseball professionally.
Bill Needs to Accept Responsibility for His Actions
Seriously, Bill needs to grow up. He acted like a man-child for most of the season until he realized that the problem isn’t everyone else, it’s him. Bill reaped what he sowed; he did this to himself. He thought the grass was greener on the other side and learned very quickly that it wasn’t the case.
Bill didn’t do right by Maddie when he cheated and destroyed his whole family (and I love how Ty assumes Noreen destroyed his family rather than acknowledging his father pulled the trigger, but I digress), so he decided to do right by Noreen instead. And while that may be the Southern way of doing things, everyone knows that it’s not going to lead to a happy life. The longer Bill was with Noreen, the more he regretted letting Maddie go.
When Noreen finally left his sorry ass behind (you know it’s true), he decided to ask Maddie for a second chance. Bill, are you even hearing yourself? He takes one-step forward and two steps all the way back. All he cares about is himself. He didn’t care how Maddie felt when he was happy with Noreen, but the moment he was single, he came crawling. Maddie would be a complete fool if she too him back.
Swisher seems to agree because she told GH: “It really surprised me that fans are actually wondering if I’ll choose Bill or Cal. It’s something that I never even imagined that people would be contemplating.” She believes Bill “has a long way to go.”
Now, Cal on the other hand.
Maddie Needs to Patch Things Up with Cal
The town hunk has been patient, kind, and the perfect man (the man Bill could never be) so we’re rooting for Maddie and Cal to patch things up. Maddie wants to take things at a slower pace, which is understandable for someone coming out of a long-term marriage. She’s also rebuilding her trust after her husband cheated on her and ripped apart their family. Cal has been cognizant of that and very respectful. While Maddie obviously overreacted about the scout situation and assumed the worst of Cal due to the trust issues, it isn’t something to end a blossoming relationship over.
Seeing how much they both care about each other, I think there’s definitely room for them to course-correct, however, Bill’s proposition may hinder the relationship a bit. Again, I don’t think Maddie is considering it, but if Bill is determined, it has the potential to create a rift between her and Cal, who was already starting to feel like the other man.
Is Noreen Coming Back?
Noreen may have been the other woman, but it takes two to tango. Noreen made one mistake, but she meant well. So it was hard not to feel bad for her when she so badly wanted to fit in and be accepted by the judgey towns people. Moreso, she just wanted to be happy. And when she realized her happiness wasn’t with Bill, who barely paid her any attention and treated her like an afterthought to his family, she made the best choice for herself and her unborn child to leave him and Serenity.
Jamie Lynn Spears, who plays Noreen, may have been considered a guest-star, but I believe she’ll return in some capacity. Maybe not to be with Bill, but she is going to have his child and audiences will want to see that play out. Bill might not have common sense, but he is the father and deserves to be in the child’s life.
Erik Whitley Shooting His Shot
The sweetest thing about Sweet Magnolias is Erik Whitley. While I liked Ryan and Helen together, I wasn’t a fan of their torrid history. It made Ryan a turn-off. Plus, he was never around, and while Helen loved him, she wasn’t getting the kind of love she wanted. The final straw for the relationship came when Ryan stood firm on his “no children” stance. Sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, you have to accept that it just isn’t meant to be. Helen and Ryan wanted very different things in life and it wasn’t fair for either of them to compromise their wants or beliefs.
On the other hand, things with Erik seem so easy even if Helen is oblivious to the fact that he’s in love with her. I’m talking puppy dog eyes in love! Erik has had some trauma in the past with losing a child, so he likely won’t object with wanting to try again with the woman he loves. He’s always been so respectful and affectionate towards Helena, and even stepped back when he saw her and Ryan together.
But make no mistake, that man wasted no time shooting his shot once Ryan was out of the picture. I love a man who knows what he wants and goes after it. Eventually, Helen will come to realize the future she’s been wanting has been right in front of her this whole time!
Dana Sue’s Love Life
All three of the Sweet Magnolias have very active and thrilling love lives, especially for a small town, but Dana Sue takes the cake! There is so much sexual tension between her and Ronnie. Whew! Correct me if I’m wrong, but we never found out what happened between them that led to their divorce, right? Therefore, a reconciliation isn’t entirely out of the picture. Dana Sue doesn’t seem to want to give in, but Ronnie seems open to it.
But then there’s Jeremy! They hit it off right away, they have so much in common, and he seems like a breath of fresh air for Dana Sue. When have you ever seen her so giddy? If a man can do that, he’s a keeper!
Is Dana Sue Isaac’s Mother?
Poor Isaac has been on the hunt for his birth parents since stepping foot into Sullivan’s. And his assumption that Dana Sue and Micah are his parents wasn’t entirely out of the realm of possibility. Dana and Micah kept alluding to a wild past, Dana said Micah and Isaac have a lot in common, and they all cooked together like a family. Plus, Isaac has such a sweet relationship with Annie!
Isaac clearly surprised Dana Sue with his bold paternity question, but she also didn’t reject the possibility the way Erik Whitley did when Isaac asked him if he was his father. It’s possible Dana Sue gave up a child up for adoption early in her life before she was ready to be a mother. We won’t know for sure unless the series gets a second season, so let’s hope that a renewal is on the way!
What do you want to see on Sweet Magnolias season 2? Let us know in the comments!
Sweet Magnolias
Who Is Kathy on ‘Sweet Magnolias’?

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
The Fate of ‘Sweet Magnolias’ Season 4 Finally Revealed—Will There Be Another Season on Netflix?

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?
On October 19, 2023, Netflix officially renewed the hit series for season 4, which means we’re now officially going to be spending more time with our favorite residents in Serenity.
Yet another season means that fans 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!
Season 2 was confirmed two months after the first season was released, while Season 3 was three months after the second season aired.
There’s currently no premiere date set just yet, and with the SAG-AFTRA strike still looming large, it might delay the upcoming season just a smidge, but with the WGA strike finally over, at least the writers can get back to penning a worthy script to move things along when the time finally comes to start filming again!
You can read all of our Sweet Magnolias Season 3 reviews right here!
Sweet Magnolias
Sweet Magnolias Season Finale Review – Save My Place (310)

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?
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