Sweet Magnolias season 2 premieres on Netflix bringing even more drama and higher stakes for its characters
By Tom Soares
Hold onto your margaritas because the Sweet Magnolias are back for a brand-new season on Netflix, promising even more drama and higher stakes for our favorite southern ladies.
Created by Sheryl J. Anderson and based on the novel series by Sherryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias follows the ups and downs of Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue Sullivan (Brooke Elliot) and Helen Decatur (Heather Headley), three childhood best friends who live in the little southern town of Serenity.
Sweet Magnolias season 1 premiered on Netflix in May 2020 and soon became a great hit among women and conservative-leaning audiences, as each one of its ten episodes address themes such as faith, family, divorce and female friendship.
Now back from an almost two years long hiatus, the series wastes no time diving deep into the drama, picking up exactly after season 1 jaw-dropping cliff hanger, and revealing the fate of the characters involved in that terrible car accident.
Sweet Magnolias season 2 also heats things up for the Magnolias themselves. Maddie, who spent much of the previous season dealing with her ex-husband’s sexual scandal and learning to navigate life as a single mother, is ready to move on and enjoy her relationship with coach Carl Maddox (Justin Bruening), but her happiness might be short-lived when her interests clash heads-on with those of Mary Vaughn Lewis (Allison Gabriel), the mayors wife.
Meanwhile, Dana Sue is forced to reconsider her future as a business owner, wife and mother when her estranged husband Ronnie Sullivan (Brandon Quinn) reappears, hoping for her forgiveness and an opportunity to rekindle their romance. As for Helen, she might be in for a life-changing surprise following her split from boyfriend Ryan Wingate (Michael Shenefelt).
Besides some great writing by Sheryl J. Anderson, Anthony Epling, Valery C. Woods, Caron Tschampion and Shani Moore, Sweet Magnolias season 2 once again brings strong and notable performances by its cast. Both JoAnna Garcia Swisher and Brookes Elliot, known for their past roles on Once Upon A Time and Dead Drop Diva, respectively, use their talents to elevate their character’s journeys, but it is Tony Award-winner Heather Headley who gives the most unfeigned performance of the season.
Additionally, executive-producer Anderson and her team of creators do a very consistent and successful job maintaining the cozy, heartwarming vibe built over the previous season, while not letting the characters go unchallenged.
From health issues to new romances to career moves, Sweet Magnolias season 2 proves that it can bravely deliver exciting, positive changes, and remain true to its original audience.
Indeed, Sweet Magnolias season 2 takes a step further and draws even closer to its conservative-leaning viewers by keeping sensuality and heavy language at a minimum, and not shying away from having its characters directly reference Bible quotes or receive counseling from their pastor, June Wilkes (Tracey Bonner).
Over the course of its ten episodes, Sweet Magnolias season 2 never fails to show why it quickly became a household title for streaming giant Netflix - and one of its most important investments to date - as it deepens its appeal for a primarily female and conservative fan base. With a strong leading cast and very relatable story, Sweet Magnolias season 2 is a must see for everyone who enjoys family centered entertainment.
Sweet Magnolias season 2 is now available on Netflix.