Does Netflix's Sweet Magnolias Match Up to the Books? Fans Don't Think So!
In the case of Sweet Magnolias, 'the books are so much better' is no exaggeration.
In its three years on the air, Sweet Magnolias has managed to become one of Netflix's romantic hits. The stories of Maddie Townsend, going through a major change in her life including divorce, a new job, and issues with her three children, and her two best friends hooked viewers worldwide.
However, fans on Reddit are sure that the show could do a lot better if it were to go in a different direction, following Sherryl Woods' source material more closely.
In the eyes of readers, screen adaptations often fall short of their source material — and that's probably natural since a novel allows for much more creative freedom and time to explore characters and their arcs. But in the case of Netflix's Sweet Magnolias, the show seems to have taken nothing at all from the beloved novel series by Sherryl Woods, other than its premise.
'This show is not at all on the same track as the books except for the initial idea of the Sweet Magnolias and their kids,' a fan wrote on Reddit. 'Other than that concept and the character names, nothing is the same.'
Unfortunately, this major departure from the source material hasn't served the show well, according to many fans. Season 3, which premiered on July 20 this year, was confusing and full of plot holes and dropped storylines. The show's characters and their constant preaching became as annoying as ever, which never happened in the novels, even though there are 11 of them.
'I'm reading [the books] now. So far a lot is different,' another fan said. 'The books are better SO SO SO SO SO MUCH BETTER and so far without any random gospel monologues.'
On top of that, people note that the Netflix show lacks the heartwarming small-town vibe of the book series.
'It seems like the author actually has experience with a small town like Serenity, the people in it,' a reader explained. 'But the show just feels like what someone imagines a small town would be like without ever stepping foot into one.'
Many viewers felt confused by the third season of Sweet Magnolias, so if you're having the same problem, try reading Sherryl Woods' eponymous book series. You may not get the explanation of everything that happens on the Netflix show, but you'll definitely get the atmosphere and relationships that were missing on screen.