TRAILER Netflix Drama "Sweet Magnolias" featuring Heather Headley

Award-winning actress of stage and screen Heather Headley stars as one of a trio of lifelong best friends in a small close-knit (gossipy) Southern town who decide to open a spa together and help each other through life's ups and downs. Joanna Garcia Swisher (Reba) is Maddie and Brooke Elliott (Drop Dead Diva) are the the other BFF's. It's almost like "Vampire Diaries" grown-up and without the vampires. Released on Netflix May 19, 2020 Though much of Helen's personal life and space is weirdly absent, she is truly the town fixer showing up everywhere, for everyone! There's lots of nice touches of the modern south for those who are into that, and there's a charming young adult storyline with Maddie and Dana Sue's kids and their friends etc in high school. The cast refreshingly and seamlessly reflects the diversity of real life. Many shows achieve diversity but it comes off somewhat awkwardly or not really believable. They did a good job here though admittedly, for the Black teen and tween girls, there isn't any representation (actually there aren't any teen girl of color). There are several adult Black female characters, who all hold important positions in the town. There's also some romance novel eye candy archetypes included- hot chef, hot baseball coach, hot carpenter, hot (mess) small town doctor to keep things interesting. Plenty of cute Draper James-ish fashion. For those into nostalgia it also stars Justin Bruening, from classic soap "All My Children" (who was also very good in "Grey's Anatomy" and "Good Behavior") who is very much all grown up now and early aughts heartthrob Chris Klein who turns in a very effective performance, and another early aughts favorite, Jamie Lynn Spears gives a layered, touching performance. Overall, it's a nice weekend binge if you like soapy drama thats neither too flimsy nor too heavy or dark; think somewhere between Hallmark Channel and Lifetime.

Added 20 May 2026