Sweet Magnolias season 3 recap guide: All 10 episodes explained

Sweet Magnolias season 3 episode 6 recap

We jump to the day after the Magnolias’ intense fight and it’s clear things are fractured between them. Helen opts not to join Maddie and Dana Sue at the Corner Spa to meet with a new hire, sending Trotter in her stead. Genevieve — yes the one we met last episode getting flirty with Erik — interviews for a position at the spa and easily impresses the trio, but Trotter isn’t fooled by the tension between the Magnolias.

After the interview, Dana Sue goes to see Helen to check in on her. Helen confesses she isn’t angry but hurt, to which Dana Sue encourages her to come to margarita night so they can pour it out and talk things out. Later, she goes to drop off parfaits at the spa and things get intense between them. Still, Dana Sue holds out hope that they can come together to talk through things at margarita night. Ultimately, they both end up ghosting Dana Sue and flake on margarita night

As she processes the rift that is forming with Dana Sue and Helen, Maddie confides in Cal about the fight with the Magnolias. At first, Cal is afraid that she’s running away from something in trying to fix everything else around her; however, Maddie assures him she is happier than she ever has been. It’s her happiness that is fueling her decisions as she regrets wasting so much time in pain and wants to help others jump over that quicksand and feel safe.

Meanwhile, Helen and Ryan decided to head out of town for the day to enjoy some time together outside of Serenity.

After enjoying a busy day and making the most of their hotel room, the pair begin to enjoy some pillow talk. Ryan tells Helen she is wasting her glory on Serenity, that they could be doing great and important things out in the world. Helen tells him he’ll find his place in Serenity, which prompts him to ask her if she’s happy. She says yes, but when she asks him the same question, his answer is telling as he replies that he’s happy when he’s with her.

When they return home from their trip, Ryan drops in on Helen and thanks her for their perfect time in Charleston and over the years. He tells Helen she is his definition of love and that when he’s with her, he wants to change the world. She says she loves that which is when he says she has created a rich life here in Serenity and is content, telling her he can’t join her here.

As the writing on the wall hinted, he’s no good staying in one place and living with the peaks of the perfect day. That he’s not the man she deserves. He says he will always love her but it’s clear they want different things. Helen says she is done and kicks him out as the episode comes to a close.

Odds and Ends From the Episode

• Dana Sue and Ronnie pass their homework test and Pastor June agrees to officiate their vow renewal.
• Cal gets a new job working with Skeeter and his crew.
• Harlan finds his dad on the floor and races him to the hospital, where they learn he had a stroke. Cal and company all rally behind him, with Dana Sue getting the idea to use the new foundation to help Harlan and his family.
• Genevieve and Erik continue to grow closer, as do Kathy and Bill.
• Isaac continues to come into his own as a chef, impressing Dana Sue in Erik’s absence at Sullivan’s.
• The divide between Jackson and Annie seems to be growing as the pair hardly have any time to see one another, as we again see glimmers of Ty having feelings for Annie.
• Ty talks with Maddie and CAl about college with Maddie encouraging him to take some time before making a final choice.
• Things begin to get tense between Kathy and Erik after Kathy shoots down his menu ideas saying they’re not good enough and won’t win them any Michelin stars.