Season 4 of “Sweet Magnolias” is action-packed from beginning to end.
The latest season of the Netflix show features a surprise wedding, the sudden death of a main character and a tempting job offer that could shake up the whole future of the show.
In other words, it was well worth the almost 19-month wait since Season 3.
What happens in Season 4 of ‘Sweet Magnolias’?
Early on in Season 4, Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) and Cal (Justin Bruening) shock their friends when they stage a surprise wedding at their Halloween party.
The season takes a bit of a somber turn when Maddie’s ex-husband Bill (Chris Klein) suddenly dies, leaving his children with a lot of mixed feelings since they didn’t have the best relationship with him.
Throughout the season, Maddie and her besties Helen (Heather Headley) and Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) gather together to “pour it out” during their regular girls’ nights as life takes twists and turns.
Read on for what happens at the end of “Sweet Magnolias” Season 4.
Maddie decides to take a job in New York City
Over the last few seasons, Maddie has been laser-focused on the local spa she runs with her two BFFs. This season, she gets the chance to put her marketing degree to use when she serves as a makeshift town spokesperson during some TV news interviews.
Soon enough, an independent book publishing house takes notice of the interviews and reaches out to Maddie asking if she’d be interested in working on their marketing team. The only caveat? The company is located in New York City and would require Maddie to relocate.
Since she recently married Cal and her children are embedded in the Serenity community, Maddie consults her family to see how they feel about the potential move. Everyone is supportive and encourages her to follow her passion.
When Maddie tells Helen and Dana Sue, they’re shocked and a bit sad, but excited for her. Helen even helps Maddie negotiate her salary before she accepts the job offer.
Erik proposes to Helen
For years, “Sweet Magnolias” viewers have been waiting for Erik (Dion Johnstone) and Helen to get their happy ending. After plenty of bumps along the road, they reunite in Season 4 and get engaged in the season finale.
With the help of Helen’s mother, Erik plans a surprise proposal and Helen gladly accepts. She skips wearing her ring to Christmas Eve service so she doesn’t upstage the mass, but later shares the exciting news with her friends at their Christmas celebration.
Dana Sue and Ronnie explore a new business
Life has been sweet for Dana Sue and Ronnie (Brandon Quinn) since their wedding last season. Ronnie and his buddies have taken over his wife’s restaurant, leaving her to focus on some passion projects. But Dana Sue worries that her husband is undergoing a midlife crisis when he starts acting a bit rebellious and impulsively buys a motorcycle.
When Ronnie starts talking about launching a new business involving guided road tours on e-bikes, Dana Sue has reservations. In the season finale, they make a connection to a potential investor and both seem optimistic about the future.
Noreen’s professional and personal life blossoms
When a dangerous storm hits Serenity, many members of the town step up to help residents in need of support, including Noreen (Jamie Lynn Spears), who has a background in nursing. Alongside local health professional Howie (Shawn Passwaters), Noreen starts conducting house calls on residents.
The pair is inspired to expand their services and take the first steps to open a mobile clinic. Noreen still plans to work part time at the spa, but will now have more time to devote to her passion for medicine.
In her personal life, Noreen’s romance with Jeremy (Chase Anderson) also evolves as he invites her and her daughter to move in with him.
Isaac finds a new love interest
When one of Isaac’s (Chris Medlin) former classmates shows up in town to work on emergency services following a big storm, he’s taken aback. The two never got along particularly but suddenly, there’s a vibe between them.
After some awkward moments, flirting ensues and the pair finally decide to go on a date. At a holiday event in the season finale, things heat up when they share their first kiss.
Annie gets accepted into an art school
For years, Annie (Anneliese Judge) has been honing her talent for photography and her hard work gets rewarded when she’s accepted to an art college in California. Although Dana Sue is initially worried about the tuition expenses and the distance, she tells her daughter she’s proud of her and says they will “find a way” to make it work.
Trouble is brewing for Annie and Ty
Ty (Carson Rowland) and Annie finally start dating this season. However, they spend more time apart than together when Ty leaves town to pursue a music career.
When he returns home before Christmas, Ty brings news that he will be going on tour in Europe that summer and into the fall.
Annie is heading off to school in the fall, but Ty asks her to defer her college journey by a semester so she can join him on tour. Neither of them are willing to give up on their dreams and they appear to be at an impasse.
An upset Annie then walks away after saying, “You took 17 years to tell me you love me. If we can’t last one more, maybe that’s our answer.”
Pastor June goes into labor
While delivering her sermon at Christmas Eve mass, a very pregnant Pastor June (Tracey Bonner) interrupts the service when she experiences contractions. She’s hesitant to leave her congregation in the middle of such an important day, but Helen and Erik convince her that she needs to get to the hospital right away.
Helen takes over to sing a beautiful rendition of “O Come, All Ye Faithful” and Pastor June later gives birth to a healthy, beautiful baby.
Kyle and Lily’s relationship woes subside
Kyle (Logan Allen) and Lily (Artemis) are enjoying each other’s company now that they’re officially dating. But when a new male member of their friend group monopolizes all of Kyle’s time, Lily grows frustrated. Kyle later tells his new friend they need to spend less time together so he has more time for his girlfriend.