Sweet Magnolias
| Sweet Magnolias | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Romantic drama |
| Based on | Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Woods |
| Developed by | Sheryl J. Anderson |
| Starring |
|
| Music by | James Jandrisch |
| Opening theme | "Destination" by Nickel Creek |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 30 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producers |
|
| Cinematography | Brian Johnson |
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 43–54 minutes |
| Production company | Daniel L. Paulson Productions |
| Original release | |
| Network | Netflix |
| Release | May 19, 2020 – present |
Sweet Magnolias is an American romantic drama television series, developed by Sheryl J. Anderson and based on the Sweet Magnolias novels by Sherryl Woods. It stars JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Brooke Elliott and Heather Headley. The series premiered on Netflix on May 19, 2020.[1] In July 2020, the series was renewed for a second season.[2] The 10-episode second season premiered on February 4, 2022.[3] In May 2022, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on July 20, 2023.[4][5] In October 2023, the series was renewed for a fourth season [6], which will premiere on February 6th, 2025. [7]
Premise
[edit]Sweet Magnolias follows "three South Carolina women, best friends since childhood, as they shepherd each other through the complexities of romance, career, and family."[8]
Cast and characters
[edit]Main
[edit]- JoAnna Garcia Swisher as Maddie Townsend, a recently separated woman with three children in Serenity, South Carolina who is trying to get back in the workforce while going through a divorce from her husband, Bill. She's the leader of a friend group that calls themselves Sweet Magnolias.
- Brooke Elliott as Dana Sue Sullivan, a chef, and owner of a restaurant called Sullivan's. She is Helen's and Maddie's best friend and part of the Sweet Magnolias.
- Heather Headley as Helen Decatur, an accomplished attorney. She is Dana Sue's and Maddie's best friend, and one of the Sweet Magnolias. She bought a mansion which she converted into The Corner Spa with Maddie and Dana Sue.
- Logan Allen as Kyle Walter Townsend, Maddie and Bill's younger son who is a freshman at Serenity High School with a talent for acting. He had a crush on Annie but later shows interest in Nellie Lewis.
- Anneliese Judge as Annabelle Lenore Sullivan, Dana Sue's daughter. She is friends with the Townsend brothers and an avid photographer. She and Tyler are childhood best friends and whom she kissed after having too much to drink at a party while being oblivious to Kyle's feelings. Annie is pursued by Jackson, whom she later ends up dating. The two break up later on in the series.
- Carson Rowland as Tyler "Ty" Townsend, Maddie and Bill's eldest son who is a junior at Serenity High School and a star pitcher on his high school baseball team
- Justin Bruening as Cal Maddox, Ty's baseball coach and Maddie's new love interest. He is a former professional baseball player.
- Chris Klein as William "Bill" Townsend, Maddie's ex-husband and a family doctor at Serenity Family Physicians
- Jamie Lynn Spears as Noreen Fitzgibbons, Bill's pregnant fiancée, a nurse in his office who became his mistress[a]
- Dion Johnstone as Erik Whitley (seasons 2–present;[9] recurring season 1), the sous chef at Sullivan's and a mentor to Isaac
- Brandon Quinn as Ronald "Ronnie" Sullivan (seasons 2–present;[9] guest season 1), Dana Sue's estranged husband and Annie's father
- Chris Medlin as Isaac Downey (season 3; recurring seasons 1–2), a member of the kitchen staff at Sullivan's. He recently moved to Serenity to find his birth father and mother. We later discover that his parents are Peggy and Bill.
Recurring
[edit]- Bianca Berry Tarantino (seasons 1–2) and Ella Grace Helton (season 3)[10] as Katie Townsend, Maddie and Bill's only daughter and youngest child
- Frank Oakley III as Harlan Bixby, the assistant coach of Serenity High School baseball team
- Allison Gabriel as Mary Vaughn Lewis, the wife of Trent Lewis, Mayor of Serenity and main adversary of the Sweet Magnolias
- Simone Lockhart as Nellie Lewis, Mary Vaughn's daughter. She has a crush on Kyle.
- Brittany L. Smith as Peggy Martin, owner of the newspaper The Centinel of Serenity.
- Tracey Bonner as Pastor June Wilkes, pastor[11] of the church of Serenity
- Charles Lawlor as Collins Littlefield
- Harlan Drum as Caroline "CeCe" Matney, Ty's love interest
- Sam Ashby as Jackson Butler Lewis, Ty's baseball rival teammate and Mary Vaughn's son. He previously dated Annie.
- Hunter Burke as Trotter Vidhyarkorn, Cal's best friend who works at The Corner Spa as a yoga instructor
- Al-Jaleel Knox as Gabriel Bridges Weatherspoon, Ty's best friend and baseball teammate
- Michael Shenefelt as Ryan Wingate, Helen's on-and-off boyfriend
- Michael May as Simon Spry, Annie's friend
- Caroline Lagerfelt as Paula Vreeland, Maddie's mom
- Chase Anderson as Jeremy Reynolds, produce supplier for Sullivan's restaurant
- Janet Hubert as Bev Decatur, Helen's mom
- Jason Turner as Zeke Decatur, Helen's brother
- Wynn Everett as Kathy Sullivan, Ronnie's sister and new girlfriend of Bill Townsend
- Paul Rolfes as Trent Lewis, former mayor of Serenity
Episodes
[edit]Series overview
[edit]| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | May 19, 2020 | ||
| 2 | 10 | February 4, 2022 | ||
| 3 | 10 | July 20, 2023 | ||
| 4 | 10 | February 6, 2025 | ||
Season 1 (2020)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Pour It Out" | Norman Buckley | Teleplay by : Sheryl J. Anderson | May 19, 2020 | |||
|
Maddie and Bill are getting a divorce, and are having an argument about who is going to keep the house. Luckily for Maddie, Helen helps her keep the house. Meanwhile, their friend Dana Sue is seen firing her assistant, Brad, at her restaurant, because of stolen wine. She has a fight with her daughter, Annie, because Annie's behavior in town is not what Dana Sue expected. At the same time, Tyler is going through an emotional phase because of his parents' divorce and also talks about giving up on his dream of becoming a baseball player. Dana Sue and Helen get an idea of opening their own spa, with Maddie managing it, but it is too overwhelming for Maddie. | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | "A United Front" | Norman Buckley | Shelley Meals | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 3 | 3 | "Give Drink to the Thirsty" | Kelli Williams | Anthony Epling | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 4 | 4 | "Lay It All Down" | Kelli Williams | Francesca Butler | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 5 | 5 | "Dance First, Think Later" | Norman Buckley | Caron Tschampion | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 6 | 6 | "All Best Intentions" | Norman Buckley | Shelley Meals | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 7 | 7 | "Hold My Hand" | Laura Nisbet Peters | Anthony Epling | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 8 | 8 | "What Fools These Mortals Be" | Laura Nisbet Peters | Francesca Butler | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 9 | 9 | "Where You Find Me" | Norman Buckley | Caron Tschampion | May 19, 2020 | |||
| 10 | 10 | "Storms and Rainbows" | Norman Buckley | Sheryl J. Anderson | May 19, 2020 | |||
| ||||||||
Season 2 (2022)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Casseroles and Casualties" | Norman Buckley | Sheryl J. Anderson | February 4, 2022 |
| 12 | 2 | "So Much to Say" | Norman Buckley | Anthony Epling | February 4, 2022 |
| 13 | 3 | "The More Things Change" | Mykelti Williamson | Valerie C. Woods | February 4, 2022 |
| 14 | 4 | "Walk of Faith" | Mykelti Williamson | Caron Tschampion | February 4, 2022 |
| 15 | 5 | "Great Expectations" | Norman Buckley | Shani Am. Moore | February 4, 2022 |
| 16 | 6 | "Find It in Your Heart" | Norman Buckley | Anthony Epling | February 4, 2022 |
| 17 | 7 | "Fragile Things" | Yangzom Brauen | Valerie C. Woods | February 4, 2022 |
| 18 | 8 | "The Rules of the Game" | Yangzom Brauen | Caron Tschampion | February 4, 2022 |
| 19 | 9 | "Dear Heart" | Mary Lou Belli | Shani Am. Moore | February 4, 2022 |
| 20 | 10 | "If Thou Wilt, Remember" | Mary Lou Belli | Sheryl J. Anderson | February 4, 2022 |
Season 3 (2023)
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 1 | "Meaning to Tell You" | Norman Buckley | Sheryl J. Anderson | July 20, 2023 |
| 22 | 2 | "Meet Me Where I Am" | Norman Buckley | Caron Tschampion | July 20, 2023 |
| 23 | 3 | "The Searchers" | Lauren Petzke | Anthony Epling | July 20, 2023 |
| 24 | 4 | "Be Bold" | Lauren Petzke | Barret Helms | July 20, 2023 |
| 25 | 5 | "On This Foundation" | Norman Buckley | Shani Am. Moore | July 20, 2023 |
| 26 | 6 | "And a Star to Steer Her By" | Norman Buckley | Teleplay by : Caron Tschampion Story by : Anthony Epling | July 20, 2023 |
| 27 | 7 | "Somebody I'm Longing to See" | Joy T. Lane | Anthony Epling | July 20, 2023 |
| 28 | 8 | "Beat Me at My Own Game" | Joy T. Lane | Shani Am. Moore | July 20, 2023 |
| 29 | 9 | "A Game of Telephone" | Mary Lou Belli | Barret Helms | July 20, 2023 |
| 30 | 10 | "Save My Place" | Mary Lou Belli | Sheryl J. Anderson & Sara Jumel | July 20, 2023 |
Season 4
[edit]| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 1 | "The Other Side of the Veil" | TBD | Barret Helms[12] | February 6, 2025 |
| 32 | 2 | "Abundant Grace" | TBD | Anthony Epling | February 6, 2025 |
| 33 | 3 | "Dance Your Sugarplum Off" | TBD | Kale Futterman | February 6, 2025 |
| 34 | 4 | "Do Not Be Afraid" | TBD | Bianca Sams | February 6, 2025 |
| 35 | 5 | "Hide and Seek" | TBD | Barret Helms | February 6, 2025 |
| 36 | 6 | "How Great Thou Art" | TBD | Anthony Epling | February 6, 2025 |
| 37 | 7 | "Practical Dreams" | TBD | Alex Rubin | February 6, 2025 |
| 38 | 8 | "Ring That Bell" | TBD | Kale Futterman | February 6, 2025 |
| 39 | 9 | "True North" | TBD | Sara Jumel | February 6, 2025 |
| 40 | 10 | "Walls and Doors" | TBD | Sheryl J. Anderson | February 6, 2025 |
Production
[edit]Development
[edit]On September 27, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given the production a series order for a first season consisting of ten episodes. The series was based on the Sweet Magnolias book series by Sherryl Woods and executive producers were expected to include Woods, Sheryl J. Anderson, and Dan Paulson. Anderson was also set to serve as the series' showrunner. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Daniel L. Paulson Productions.[8] The series premiered on May 19, 2020.[1] Norman Buckley directed six of the episodes and served as co-executive producer.[15] On July 23, 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a second season which premiered on February 4, 2022.[2][3] On May 4, 2022, Netflix renewed the series for a third season which was released on July 20, 2023.[4][5] On October 19, 2023, Netflix renewed the series for a fourth season.[6] On December 19th, 2024, Netflix announced the release date for the fourth season, February 6th, 2025.[16]
Casting
[edit]On May 20, 2019, Monica Potter, Brooke Elliott, and Heather Headley were announced as the leads.[17] On July 1, 2019, it was reported that Chris Klein, Jamie Lynn Spears, and Justin Bruening had joined the cast as series regulars.[18] On August 1, 2019, JoAnna Garcia Swisher was cast as Maddie Townsend, replacing Potter who was originally cast as the lead.[19] On May 4, 2021, Dion Johnstone and Brandon Quinn were promoted to series regulars for second season.[9] On June 9, 2023, it was reported that Ella Grace Helton joined the cast in a recasting, replacing Bianca Berry Tarantino for the third season.[10]
Filming
[edit]Principal photography for the series began on July 8, 2019 in Covington, Georgia.[8][20] Filming for the fourth season started on February 20, 2024 and wrapped on May 30, 2024.[21][22]
Reception
[edit]For the first season, review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 78% based on 9 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10.[23] The second season has an 80% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 5 reviews, with an average rating of 8/10.[24] The third season holds a 57% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 7 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[25]
In its first 30-days on Netflix, season 2 was watched globally on Netflix for 161.3 million hours.[26]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Jamie Lynn Spears is credited as "Special Guest Star" in season 1, but is a Series Regular.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Mallenbaum, Carly (April 22, 2020). "Netflix in May 2020: Everything new ('Hollywood,' 'Dead to Me' Season 2) and expiring". USA Today. Archived from the original on April 22, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ a b Swift, Andy (July 23, 2020). "Sweet Magnolias Renewed for Season 2". TVLine. Archived from the original on July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ a b Swift, Andy (December 14, 2021). "Sweet Magnolias Season 2 Sets Netflix Premiere Date — 2022 FIRST LOOK". TVLine. Archived from the original on December 16, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ a b Schneider, Michael (May 4, 2022). "Netflix Renews 'Sweet Magnolias' for Season 3 (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 4, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ a b Swift, Andy (May 25, 2023). "Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Sets July Release Date on Netflix — First Look". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (October 19, 2023). "'Sweet Magnolias' Renewed For Season 4 By Netflix". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ https://deadline.com/2024/12/sweet-magnolias-season-4-premiere-date-netflix-trailer-1236238118/
- ^ a b c Petski, Denise (September 27, 2018). "Netflix Orders Romance Drama Series 'Virgin River' & 'Sweet Magnolias' Based On Novels". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 27, 2018. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ a b c Petski, Denise (May 4, 2021). "'Sweet Magnolias': Jamie Lynn Spears, Dion Johnstone & Brandon Quinn Upped To Series Regulars For Season 2". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (June 9, 2023). "'Sweet Magnolias': Ella Grace Helton To Play Maddie's Daughter Katie In Season 3 Of Netflix Series In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
- ^ Potter, John (2020-06-01). "A faithful witness". Living Lutheran. Retrieved 2024-08-25.
- ^ https://directories.wga.org/project/1190809/sweet-magnolias/
- ^ "'Sweet Magnolias' Season 4 Episode Titles Revealed Ahead of Netflix Release". 30 August 2024.
- ^ https://deadline.com/2024/12/sweet-magnolias-season-4-premiere-date-netflix-trailer-1236238118/
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (August 1, 2019). "JoAnna Garcia Swisher to Replace Monica Potter as Star of Netflix's 'Sweet Magnolias' in Recasting". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved May 25, 2020.
- ^ https://deadline.com/2024/12/sweet-magnolias-season-4-premiere-date-netflix-trailer-1236238118/
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 30, 2019). "'Sweet Magnolias': Monica Potter, Brooke Elliott & Heather Headley To Headline Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 30, 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Petski, Denise (July 1, 2019). "'Sweet Magnolias': Chris Klein, Jamie Lynn Spears & Justin Bruening Join Netflix Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 2, 2019. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (August 1, 2019). "'Sweet Magnolias': JoAnna Garcia Swisher To Star In Netflix Series In Recasting". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
- ^ Clark, Jeff (July 8, 2019). "Sweet Magnolias Blooming in Covington". Stomp And Stammer. Archived from the original on August 14, 2019. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ Buckley, Norman [@norbuck] (February 20, 2024). "First day of shooting on #SweetMagnolias season 4. Showrunner Sheryl Anderson, writers Anthony Epling and Sara Jumel, executive producer Dan Paulson and co-excutive producer Matt Drake, and me with director of our first block Lauren Petzke". Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024 – via Instagram.
- ^ Soares, Isabella (May 31, 2024). "Netflix's 'Sweet Magnolias' Just Got an Exciting Season 4 Update". Collider. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
- ^ "Sweet Magnolias: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
- ^ "Sweet Magnolias: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- ^ "Sweet Magnolias: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 28, 2024.
- ^ Moore, Kasey (March 2, 2022). "'Sweet Magnolias' Season 3: Netflix Renewal Status and What to Expect". What's on Netflix. Archived from the original on March 9, 2022. Retrieved March 9, 2022.
External links
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Categories:
- 2020 American television series debuts
- 2020s American drama television series
- 2020s American romance television series
- 2020s romantic drama television series
- American romantic drama television series
- American English-language television shows
- Netflix television dramas
- Television shows based on American novels
- Television shows set in South Carolina