Rolling My Eyes Every Time Sweet Magnolias Overlooks This Character

Since its premiere in 2020, Netflix's Sweet Magnolias has been following the story of Maddie Townsend, Dana Sue Sullivan, and Helen Decatur, three friends residing in the fictitious town of Serenity, South Carolina, as they decide to run a spa together.

Over its four-year run, the show has attracted a large and loyal fan base, who have just finished watching its recently released third season.

Over the course of the show's three seasons, we've seen the characters grow, achieve success and experience setbacks. Maddie has overcome her husband's betrayal and regained control of her life. Dana Sue has managed to sort out her romantic life and keep Sullivan's restaurant running successfully. Meanwhile, Helen… She seems stuck in a rut, failing to tap into her vast potential, and it's just driving me insane.

As I noted in my other pieces about Sweet Magnolias, Helen is my favourite character in the show. She's kind, talented – if you haven't heard her sing, you should! – and also the most intellectual of the trio. After all, she's a successful attorney. Yet, the show's writers have completely neglected her character arc.

In all candour, I can't understand why the show's creators chose to make Helen's love life so chaotic. A little drama is fine, but why does she keep making the same mistake time and time again? I'm talking about her obsession with Ryan Wingate. Whenever the man appears on the horizon, she just drops everything and makes him the top priority of her life. Not only does this make little sense from a purely rational standpoint, but it's also completely out of character for Helen, so I just can't understand why the show keeps rehashing this stale and tired pattern.

In my view, what's even more disturbing is Helen's apparent inability to build meaningful relationships with anyone other than Maddie and Dana Sue. The latter two have had no issues making friends with other people like Pastor June or Eric, for example. Helen certainly has lots of potential in this department. Her relationship with Peggy, whose candidacy she endorsed for mayor, is very mature and respectful, but the show's writers never give it the attention it deserves.

There is also precious little in the show about Helen's desire to become a mother: while she can't have kids herself, she could consider adoption. Sadly, this arc is never properly explored.

I'm fully aware that my ranting and raving can hardly change anything, but I've got so much pent-up frustration about Helen's wasted potential in Sweet Magnolias that I would probably explode if I were to keep it all bottled up inside me. And now that I've vented, I guess I'll just have to wait to see what happens to Helen in Season 4 if it ever gets released.