Sweet magnolias on netflix

By Naylii Sophea

The show is based on a series of novels, which you can tell because the first episode packs in, no exaggeration, a dozen plots that makes it feel like the Netflix equivalent of a Sunday brunch buffet. You’ll have a side of divorce drama with a few scoops of a scandalous Instagram account, just a thing of small business drama topped with some vandalism, all next to the main course of opening up a spa (with a dash of fertility woes). All these ingredients make up a Netflix casserole that should be way too much to tackle in one sitting, but it all goes down smooth. You’ve seen every single one of these plots before, but that just makes Sweet Magnolias pure comfort food.

A plot this stuffed, though, would be borderline unwatchable if the show wasn’t powered by three absolutely charismatic leads, each one of whom could, should get their own holiday movie franchise out of this. JoAnna Garcia Swisher, Heather Headley, and Brooke Elliott essentially divide the show into thirds, making it part family drama, legal drama, and restaurant drama and all three shows are infinitely watchable on their own. But then these three get together and, watch out, it’s fun. 

Sweet Magnolias isn’t prestige TV and it ain’t trying to be, either. But it’s an excellent soap, one that is worth watching if you need some comfort right now.