If you're tired of action-packed movies and simply want to watch something ‘nice' then Sweet Magnolias is for you.
Packed with Southern charm, this drama is about three south Carolina women who are lifelong friends living in the town of Serenity.
The friends in question are Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan and Helen Decatur. Each has her own personal and professional difficulties, but all come together to sort their troubles out over sweet tea and a few margaritas.
Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) is in the process of getting divorced from her cheating husband (Chris Klein) who got his new girlfriend pregnant. She is also juggling being unemployed with having three children including two teenagers.
Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) is also separated from her husband and is the owner and head chef of a restaurant called Sullivans. She too has a teenage daughter.
Helen (Heather Headley) is an accomplished lawyer and though single has decided that she wants to have a child before time runs out.
Knicknamed the ‘Sweet Magnolias' since childhood, these three friends decide to embark on a new project.
They buy an old house and renovate it, turning it into a spa. Because they simply don't have enough on their plates!
Sweet Magnolias Official Trailer
Is Sweet Magnolias Worth Watching?
Similar to Firefly Lane, this is very much a drama based on friendship and family.
Sweet Magnolias season 1 did a great job of introducing us to our three leading ladies.
It's cute, filmed beautifully, and is packed with normal day-to-day issues that most people can relate to.
That said, it really is overly sweet. There are so many life lessons and southern phrases thrown in that I've nearly started saying ‘Y'all' in my own house.
The stories are simple, the problems easily rectified and it doesn't require much in the way of brainpower to watch.
There are love triangles, family breakdowns, teenagers going slightly off the rails, bitter rivalries from high school and problems at work.
They even managed to make the new girlfriend, Noreen, sympathetic and likeable – a change from the villainous caricatures we usually see.
Overall Sweet Magnolias is a really lovely show to watch. Very Hallmark in style, it reminds me of The Client List, Virgin River or Good Witch with a little more sass.
Is There A Season 3 Of Sweet Magnolias?
Currently, there are only two seasons of Sweet Magnolias. The good news is that it was officially renewed and season 3 is on the way.
Though there is no release date yet for the third season, we do know it is being filmed and we should see it very soon.
The show was developed by Sheryl J. Anderson and is based on the Sweet Magnolias novels by Sherryl Woods.
Woods, who also wrote Chesapeake Shores, has 11 instalments in the Sweet Magnolias books series, so there is plenty of material for additional seasons.
Sweet Magnolias Book Series
Though the Netflix series won't follow the books exactly, they do give you a great idea of what happens to our favourite best friends.
The Sweet Magnolias Series is as follows:
Stealing Home (2007)
A Slice of Heaven (2007)
Feels Like Family (2007)
Welcome to Serenity (2008)
Home in Carolina (2010)
Sweet Tea at Sunrise (2010)
Honeysuckle Summer (2010)
Midnight Promises (2012)
Catching Fireflies (2012)
Where Azaleas Bloom (2012)
Swan Point (July 29, 2014)
Sweet Magnolias Cast
JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Maddie Townsend, recently separated and going through a divorce with her husband, Bill.
Brooke Elliott as Dana Sue Sullivan, a chef, and owner of a restaurant called Sullivan's.
Heather Headley as Helen Decatur, an attorney and best friends with Maddie and Dana Sue.
Carson Rowland as Ty Townsend, Maddie's eldest son who is a junior in High School and a star pitcher on his school baseball team.
Logan Allen as Kyle Townsend, Maddie's younger son who has a talent for acting.
Anneliese Judge as Annie Sullivan, Dana Sue's daughter. She is pals with the Townsend brothers and has a crush on Tyler.
Justin Bruening as Cal Maddox, Ty's baseball coach and Maddie's love interest.
Chris Klein as Bill Townsend, Maddie's ex-husband and a family doctor.
Jamie Lynn Spears as Noreen Fitzgibbons, Bill's pregnant girlfriend.
Dion Johnstone as Erik Whitley, the sous chef at Sullivan's.
Brandon Quinn as Ronnie Sullivan, Annie's father and Dana Sue's estranged husband.
