[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Sweet Magnolias Season 4.]
The city of Serenity skilled loads of joyful moments in Candy Magnolias Season 4 but in addition just a few devastating ones. By all of it, Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) remained a pillar of energy for her household, mates, and the remainder of the neighborhood.
By the top of the season, Maddie was getting the chance to show the web page on a brand new chapter of her life — one that would change every part. She was supplied a advertising job in New York Metropolis. She accepted the place, however will Maddie actually depart Serenity? Swisher spoke with TV Insider about Maddie’s future, that tragic dying, and Maddie’s “area of interest” marriage ceremony.
How did you react whenever you learn the script and realized Maddie and Cal have been going to be getting married so early on within the season?
JoAnna Garcia Swisher: I simply held onto my hat. I learn all of the scripts all of sudden this season, which I don’t usually do, and I felt like I used to be about to have a coronary heart assault. It was like, Episode 6, after which I used to be like, okay, I can breathe out. A lot was taking place and massive jaw-dropping moments on the finish of each episode, and the truth that a type of was Cal and Maddie lastly sealing the deal and having their second was so heartwarming. After which, in fact, rapidly adopted up with numerous drama and craziness.
There haven’t been many Halloween TV weddings.
It’s area of interest. It’s undoubtedly area of interest. That was so enjoyable. I used to be laughing. I used to be telling my husband, all people was popping out of their hair and make-up trailer of their costumes and proudly owning it and simply actually feeling it of their guts. I don’t actually costume up for Halloween in actual life, however with the expertise of our wardrobe, hair, and make-up division, I undoubtedly received into it. It was enjoyable.
Had been you stunned Maggie stored the marriage a secret, particularly from the Magnolias?
I used to be scared. I used to be afraid of what they have been going to say, actually. I used to be afraid that Heather and Brooke have been going to kick my butt, and I had nothing to do with it. However I received an earful about it from either side, from Helen and Dana Sue and Brooke and Heather. However we received via it.
This actually joyous event was adopted by the heartbreaking dying of Invoice. Had been you conscious of Invoice’s dying earlier than you learn all of the scripts?
I did find out about it beforehand, and I used to be equally shocked. That’s the reality. It was only a lot to soak up. It was very surreal. It was arduous. It wasn’t simple to say goodbye to a personality, and though Invoice has actually put all people via so much, there was a lifetime there that that they had collectively. Maddie stated the very best issues that they ever did, they did it collectively, and that was their kids. As a mother in actual life, I simply associated to that in a extremely lovely method. I additionally thought it simply allowed for all of us to sort of have a little bit closure. He’s triggered a lot chaos alongside the way in which. I don’t assume anyone would have voted for it, however I feel it was a terrific alternative for characters to actually come to grips with their relationship with him and the ache, the harm, the betrayal, and actually get the closure that they wanted. I assumed it lent itself to some actually particular storytelling.
Do you assume Maddie had discovered closure with Invoice earlier than he died? Was she at peace with that relationship?
I definitely felt that method. The final look that they shared on the finish of Season 3 was this look of we’ve been to hell and again. You’re in your method. I feel Maddie is an everlasting optimist and hopes for the very best and was grateful for the house that he was creating for her and for the kids. However I do assume in quite a lot of methods she had closure for that relationship, however then, in good Invoice vogue, he all the time can shock her.
Is Maddie nonetheless anxious about how Invoice’s dying will affect her youngsters shifting ahead?
There was this scene within the season the place I simply break down in mattress at evening, and Cal is there to carry me. I misplaced it whereas we have been taking pictures it and Justin, he’s additionally a father, we speak about our children on a regular basis. Our households are actually shut. I simply checked out him, and I used to be like, “Are you able to simply think about in your youngsters what this is able to really feel like?” It’s so messy, it’s so difficult, it’s so heavy, and it’s only a lot, and it’ll inform the remainder of their lives. I undoubtedly felt the gravity of that.
Maddie will get the chance of a lifetime on the finish of the season — a job in New York Metropolis. How do you are feeling about this second for her and what it might imply?
I’m excited for her. I like the concept we will proceed to find new issues about ourselves. To me, there’s a coming of age at each second in life. I feel that a lot of Maddie’s existence over the previous few years, since her and Invoice break up and discovering Noreen and that she’s pregnant and all of these items, she’s actually needed to reconcile quite a lot of issues in her life and a part of that was how she let that facet of her go. There’s one thing actually invigorating and thrilling about having the ability to be good at your job if that’s what you like to do. I feel she received away from that and satisfied herself that she possibly didn’t want that. I like the concept she’s going to get to step into these footwear and see what that appears like for her and the way that feels for her.
What are your hopes for Season 5?
I’m so enthusiastic about seeing Erik and Helen’s love story. I’m excited to see their household form up. I’d like to see that occur. I assumed this yr for Dana Sue was a yr of change. Her relationship is in a unique place. She’s experiencing profession change. She’s looking for herself in that method, after which additionally she’s trying down the barrel of an empty nest. I feel that’s actually wealthy storytelling to see explored, what that looks like and appears like. So I feel that may be actually cool, and I’m excited to see Maddie in New York Metropolis.
Candy Magnolias, Season 4, Streaming Now, Netflix