Sweet Magnolias Stars React to ‘Beautiful’ Finale Endings, Reveal Their Hopes for Potential Season 4
From the infamous car accident in Season 1 to Helen’s jaw-dropping proposal in Season 2, Sweet Magnolias has never shied away from a classic finale cliffhanger — until now.
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The Netflix drama’s third season, which pits the residents of Serenity against some of their toughest challenges yet, instead chooses to end on a high note. Though Dana Sue and Ronnie’s vow renewal ceremony is certainly eventful, their big day feels like the end of a chapter, and not just for the happy couple.
“I think the poor fans would kill us if there was another cliffhanger,” Heather Headley (aka Helen) tells TVLine with a laugh, adding that she’s glad the season ended with a period, “or even an exclamation point. Maybe it’s a dot, dot, dot… question mark.”
Whichever punctuation you feel is most appropriate in this scenario, we can all agree that while several of the show’s storylines were wrapped up nicely, there’s plenty more drama to be mined in this little town.
TVLine spoke with Headley, Brooke Elliott (Dana Sue) and JoAnna Garcia Swisher (Maddie) about where their characters — as well as those in their orbit, whether they like it or not — ended up, and where they think things might go if Netflix renews Sweet Magnolias for Season 4.
Grade the finale, as well as the season overall, in our polls below. Then read on for the cast’s thoughts on that finale, and drop a comment with your full review of the season.
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HELEN & ERIK
With that flip-flopper Ryan officially out of Serenity (hopefully for good!), Helen is now free to pursue the romantic relationship with Erik that she should have been enjoying all season. The fact that the estranged duo actually spoke in the finale is a hopeful sign, not to mention Helen catching the bouquet at Dana Sue and Ronnie’s wedding, but let’s not forget that there are other forces at work here.
“They have to try it out,” Headley insists of Helen and Ryan. “In the beginning of the season, Helen says, ‘I have to see this through with Ryan. I have to punctuate it.’ That also needs to happen with Erik at some point. She has to see it through. It will always be something. They’ve got this energy between them. Even if Gertrude, Gwynevere — whatever her name is — comes into the fray, I do think they need a chance to see it through.”
MADDIE & CAL
Maddie may not have caught the bouquet at Dana Sue and Ronnie’s wedding, but that doesn’t mean she left the big event empty handed. After a season of self-reflection, she and Cal are still going strong — possibly even stronger than ever.
“I think they’re in a new place of understanding that,” Swisher says of Maddie and Cal. “They fell in love quickly, and it was this swooping, wonderful gift in their lives. Then the dust settled, life happened, and they had some things to grapple with. They’re catching their breath and enjoying life, celebrating that they made it over a big hurdle. I’m excited to see what the future holds for them.”
DANA SUE & RONNIE
Of all the couples in Serenity, we’re the least concerned about Dana Sue and Ronnie’s future, which is something we never thought we’d be able to say. After everything they’ve been through, including the return (and eventual departure) of his wack-a-doodle sister Kathy, they’re finally together and happy. And Elliott wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I thought it was a brilliant combination of a happy ending but also hope for more,” she says. “That was the brilliance in the way it was written,” she says. in my opinion. “The finale did have some closure, but if you dig in, you can see that there are still stories to come. There are other pieces that could be revealed. Hopefully we get more [seasons]. That would be great.”
BILL & KATHY
Get a load of these troublemakers.
Bill and Kathy were uninvited guests at Dana Sue and Ronnie’s wedding, but instead of making a scene like at Annie’s birthday, they were only there to say… goodbye.
“When Bill is walking away, Madde has this realization that there’s so much she’s going to have to explain to her kids,” Swisher says, the least of all being that Isaac is her kids’ half-brother. That said, Maddie is “done explaining for him. She’s done with him. He’s made his bed. But it’s hard because at the end of the day, regardless of whether she’s washed her hands of it, their kids are still going to be affected. There’s a lot of emotion there.”
TY & ANNIE
Then there’s the Ty-and-Annie of it all.
Maddie’s son spent much of Season 3 helping Dana Sue’s daughter conceal her relationship with Jackson, but now that those two are on the outs, it looks like Ty might finally be ready to tell Annie how he feels about her. And if you’re eager to see that happen, know this — you’re not alone.
“I think Dana Sue would love it, but she’s very protective, so it might cause some friction that Maddie and Dana Sue would have to work out,” Elliott says. “Dana Sue loves Ty, and she holds him in high esteem, but I think she would look at him slightly differently if he’s dating her daughter. She would be a mama bear and would make him prove himself in a way he hasn’t had to do before.”
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