Sweet Magnolias season 3 episode 6 brings the first day of school and a deeper wedge among friends.
Get the latest news for Sweet Magnolias with SERENITY SCOOP Volume S3E6 ‘And a Star to Steer Her By’.
Breaking News
We learn that mystery woman Genevieve is an esthetician who used to provide services at NASCAR, of all places. Now she is hoping to give facials at the Corner Spa. Genevieve interviews with Maddie, Dana Sue and Trotter, who is filling in for Helen’s vote. All three are very pleased with Genevieve and they offer her the job. Genevieve is ready to start the next day. She is divorced with grown children, so no strings attached. This makes her flirtation with Erik at Z’s all the more interesting.
Coach Bixby’s dad falls seriously ill on the eve of the first day of school. Harlan waits at the hospital surrounded by his basketball buddies and the Sweet Magnolias. We learn Harlan, his wife Carla and baby Margaret are living with his parents. There were medical concerns for his mom. But now we learn that his dad had a stroke. Harlan spends the night in the hospital with his dad and still manages to get home, shower and be there for his students on the first day of school at Serenity High.
Isaac is showing great leadership at Sullivan’s while Dana Sue is able to attend to other things. He is also getting raves about a new quail dish he added to the menu.
Sadly, the wedge among the Sweet Magnolias grows deeper and Helen is devastated after a conversation with Ryan.
Read on for more scoop on Sweet Magnolias season 3 episode 6.
Town Council Notes
There is no news on the town council front in episode 6. We trust that acting Mayor Vernon is busy working on that pile of community requests that Maddie handed over last episode.
The Lewis family has settled in Castlewood and there is no update on the financial review of Trent’s mayoral administration.
Who do you think would make a great mayoral candidate?
Small Town Life
Despite their current differences, the Sweet Magnolias all agree that supporting the Bixby family will be the first project for their “Feed Serenity” foundation. Skeeter and Ronnie will build a ramp for Mr. Bixby as he currently has some paralysis on one side. The Bixbys will receive help with meals and anything else that arises in their time of need.
Cal shows interest in helping Skeeter with the ramp and ends up taking a job with him. Cal is excited to share this news with Maddie and the kids on what would normally have been his first day back at school. Katy is particularly excited that Cal now has his own toolbelt.
The Townsend kids share news of their first day of school over dinner with Cal and Maddie. It is fun seeing them acting as a family unit. Might this become official at some point? We are all waiting to see. Helen also enjoys getting a first day of school report from CeCe, which includes sharing that she and Annie are lab partners for Chemistry.
It’s all “relative”
Harlan tells his students that he will keep his cell phone on in class for news of his dad’s discharge. He reminds them that their phones are still off limits in the classroom.
Bill makes a surprise visit to Maddie’s house to take the kids out for pizza. Kyle answers the door on his way out to meet with Sophie and Willow. He tells his dad that Katy and Ty are not there. Bill is left alone on the porch.
Ronnie’s sister Kathy seems to be up to something. We see her looking at information online about Sullivan’s and the Corner Spa. Also, when she meets with Erik about his menu suggestions, she shows great disappointment and begins describing a vision completely different from what she originally asked of him. Even fishier, is the way she looks intently at Erik’s key ring when the keys fall to the floor and he returns them to the table.
Margarita Chatter
Helen makes some passive agressive comments when talking to Maddie and Dana Sue about the foundation helping the Bixby’s. She makes a point of saying that Maddie will know what they need and Dana Sue will know what their feelings should be. Maddie and Dana Sue insist that Maddie’s inquiry came from a place of love. They do not want Helen to be angry. Helen says it’s more than anger, she feels hurt.
Later, Maddie and Dana Sue try to figure out how to smooth things over with Helen. But when Dana Sue suggests that Maddie basically told Helen “I told you so” about Ryan, Maddie grows frustrated with Dana Sue and they push further apart. Dana Sue’s private chat with Helen does not bring any progress either, but she still insists there will be Margarita Night at her home that evening.
We then see the saddest Margarita Night in history as each friend sets up their own little Margarita Night menu alone. They each sit or stand in silence and everyone looks sad.
Counseling Corner
Maddie and Cal talk to Ty about the boarding school that has reached out to him about playing baseball. Maddie probes trying to find out if Ty has really had a change of heart or he is afraid to go after something else. Cal also reminds him that his value is not dependent upon his success with baseball. Both Cal and Maddie offer to take Ty for a visit at the school.
Cal spends a lot of time trying to cheer up Maddie and encourage her. He advises her that one person cannot help everyone no matter how much she wants to. He also points out that sometimes people seem to have a hard time hearing you if they simply do not want to believe what you are saying.
Ronnie and Dana Sue have their next counseling appointment with Pastor June. They report back on their “love languages” homework and then ask her if she will officiate at their renewal ceremony. June happily agrees.
Ryan makes an attempt at convincing Helen that they should be more adventurous and explore the world together. He plans a romantic day trip to Charleston, which they both enjoy. The problem comes when it is time to return home to Serenity for “curfew”. Helen has committed to not leaving CeCe alone overnight and she is also excited to hear about her first day of senior year. Ryan does not want to leavea and it is obvious that he is growing frustrated.
Romance Review
Bill and Kathy are still seeing each other, spending time together at either Kathy’s or Bill’s place, I am not sure which.
Genevieve flirtatiously invites Erik to go to dinner at a restaurant near her house, and he accepts.
Jackson and Annie have an all too brief reunion outside of Sullivan’s on her work break. Between the commute time to and from Serenity and Annie getting her break later than expected, the two teenagers have less than 5 minutes to spend together. They share a kiss and Jackson heads back to Castlewood as they try to keep their relationship under wraps. Annie looks sad and disappointed after he leaves.
Annie and Ty find out they have chemistry class together. As they enter the room, they find their hands grabbing the door handle at the same time. Ty stops to remind Annie that he will not give her any more rides to Castlewood. Inside the classroom, Ty seems like he is trying to avoid sitting near Annie.
Ryan brings milkshakes to Helen’s house. She is excited for an unplanned visit. The discussion goes from bad to worse. Ryan admits that he is not able to settle down in Serenity and says that she deserves someone better. Helen is devastated at the realization that it will never work with Ryan. She shouts at him to leave telling him that it is completely over between them.
Helen cries as she grabs her phone and sees all the messages from Maddie and Dana Sue. Even still, she cannot bring herself to call them in her time of need. It feels awful seeing her all alone.
Mystery Musings
Is Kathy gaslighting Erik? Why the change in menu theme? And why is she looking at his keys?
Speaking of Erik, is there something igniting between Genevieve and him?
Will Ty remain interested in the boarding school? Is he trying to get away from Annie or something else?
Of course, the biggest question of all is how the Sweet Magnolias can reconcile. And how long can we survive seeing them apart?
As always, so many questions in Sweet Magnolias!
Watch for our next edition of ‘Serenity Scoop’ for S3E7.
All 10 episodes of Sweet Magnolias are available on Netflix. Follow our continuing coverage of the series at So Many Shows.
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