Sweet Magnolias: Joanna Garcia Swisher Shares Why Season 4 Was Her Favorite Season For Maddie

This season of Candy Magnolias centered so much on Maddie Townsend (Joanna Garcia Swisher). Maddie and Cal had a Halloween-themed marriage ceremony after which dealt along with her ex-husband’s dying shortly after.

By means of all of it, the Townsend-Maddox household handled it collectively. This was additionally the primary season the sequence explored extra profession choices for Maddie.

Due to this fact, we have been keen to talk with Joanna Garcia Swisher since she teased that this was her favourite season. As all the time, it was satisfying speaking to her as she talked about her love of Candy Magnolias Season 4 and her delight in her TV kids.

She cherished how they approached Invoice’s dying and the epic storylines that got here from that.

Take a look at the interview beneath.

Hello, Joanna. It’s nice to see you once more. So, Candy Magnolias Season 4 felt like Maddie’s season. You teased it was your favourite earlier. What did you’re keen on most about it?

Oh, it’s nonstop. It’s like a curler coaster trip. A lot occurs from each finish of the spectrum. It’s extraordinary. It’s a enjoyable season.

 It’s, certainly. Followers waited a very long time for a Cal and Maddie marriage ceremony. Inform me what you considered filming that Halloween-centric occasion.

It was enjoyable. It was a exceptional entry into it, and it was tremendous celebratory. I used to be anxious about how a lot bother Maddie would face with Helen and Dana Sue. So, I had that little little bit of concern of considering they have been going to kill me.

However I assumed it was romantic, beautiful, and a cherry on high for Maddie and Cal.

Do you and Justin Bruening like Halloween?

I like Halloween for my children. I don’t normally costume up, nevertheless it was enjoyable for everybody to decorate up in numerous characters. All people would stroll out at varied occasions out of their hair and make-up trailer, they usually have been feeling it. It was like they have been embodying it, and everybody seemed incredible.

So, if I had somebody to organize me for Halloween and present me how our hair, make-up, and wardrobe division obtained us prepared for the Halloween episode, I might all the time costume up like that. Nevertheless it was like Halloween 2.0. It was an additional entertaining Halloween.

 It was a lot enjoyable — particularly the dancing scenes.

Sure, these have been the very best.

Do you assume the sequence realistically depicted a blended household? I preferred a few of these scenes all through the sequence.

I don’t know if there’s any practical approach to mix a household. I believe it’s all the time a dance. The wonder is that it’s sudden, and you need to make it your personal. All people’s story is completely different, and all of the circumstances and issues always change.

A part of what I like a lot about it and why I believe it really works so effectively is that it’s sincere. It’s rapid-fire, real-life taking place always, so all of the dynamics work that method. However I’m pleased with how we navigate our blended household on Candy Magnolias.

Sure. What have been a few of your favourite household moments from this season?

Maddie noticed super progress in her children this season, which was distinctive. I had particular person moments with every of them that gave me nice delight, however they have been additionally heart-wrenching.

A part of what made Invoice’s dying so tough for me, portraying the character, was eager about what this was going to do to my children and watching them navigate that.

Lots of these moments have been actually about being in awe of my kids and the individuals they have been rising into.

I observed that you just had extra moments with all the children this season. Often, you have got so much with Ty.

Yeah, it was beautiful. They’re getting older, so so much is occurring of their world, and extra parenting is occurring proper now.

Completely. Had been you stunned that they killed off Invoice after which revealed that he was Isaac’s beginning father practically on the identical time?

It didn’t shock me as a result of Maddie knew that Invoice was Isaac’s father. What most likely doesn’t shock Maddie is that issues will all the time come out most absurdly, as they all the time do in Serenity. There’s all the time lots of drama connected to that.

I used to be stunned that he was gone, however I additionally thought that it labored for the journey of everybody’s relationship with Invoice, how he betrayed them, and the way he navigated the fallout of all of that. In the end, you see that he genuinely tried to vary his life.

The household skilled lots of closure along with his dying as a result of he was gone. However, it lent itself to good storytelling and a possibility for everybody to discover that closure and are available to phrases with that and their relationships with him.

I used to be sorry he died, however I loved the epic storytelling that resulted from it. I’ve all the time preferred Chris Klein, so I missed seeing him.

I felt the identical method. He’s an exquisite particular person.

However the tales have been nice. I additionally preferred how Candy Magnolias Season 4 centered on conquering everyone’s goals.

Sure. It units them up for the longer term. Folks realized and have become conscious of their goals, so absolutely fashioned ideas have been taking place. I believe the longer term is vibrant with watching them come true.

Completely. We see you have got extra of a profession as each a author and a publicist this season. Yeah. How did it really feel to be Serenity’s spokesperson?

It was natural. It occurred naturally for Maddie. That’s the great thing about it. It was one thing that she had not linked with essentially, nevertheless it got here naturally to her. So, when she had the chance, she kicked into gear.

Lots of Maddie’s journeys have been about stunning herself. She thought her life would make certain, and he or she was good at making certain all that occurred.

However then life blew up, and it was about navigating the ups and downs and the curler coaster of all of that. Watching her acquire confidence inside all of that has been gratifying.

Completely. I loved seeing everyone struggle for the city of Serenity when it was in monetary bother and in the course of the storm.

They banded collectively. It’s about group and delight of their city.

Do you assume Maddie’s new job will have an effect on the Magnolia’s friendship?

When it comes to proximity and geography, that is perhaps the brand new regular. They’ll nonetheless keep shut and linked, they usually’ll all the time be household. That may even lend itself to some nice storytelling. Nevertheless it’s going to be lovely.

Do we expect we’re going to see this? Do you assume there can be a fifth season?

I might like to do a fifth season of the present, and I believe that, given the chance, everyone would agree. Lots of thought has gone into it, and it might be one other nice season.

So, you consider there are nonetheless extra tales to inform? The journey isn’t over?

The journey just isn’t over.

Hallelujah. That’s what I need to hear. I’m nonetheless in love with Serenity and all of you and all of the tales.

I really feel the identical method. So, I’m proper there with you. I would like it as a lot as everyone else does.

The friendship between the Magnolias will all the time be my favourite a part of the sequence. I like watching the three of you.

Me too. They’re my favourite scenes. We’ve a lot enjoyable collectively. The margarita nights are huge scenes, in order that they’re all the time lots of work, however being with Brooke Elliot and Heather Headley fills my cup. So, we do many scenes collectively, however these are simply ours.

The vibe is so enjoyable, and we love being on set. These days are satisfying, and now we have lots of laughs. So much goes on to the chopping room ground, nevertheless it’s enjoyable.

What would you prefer to see for Maddie if there’s a fifth season?

Anytime I think about it, I get instructed an concept and assume, “I by no means even considered that. That’s so good.” You possibly can all the time assure that there can be continued progress and people realizations checking again in.

I don’t assume she’ll ever solely lose her method once more. If she does stumble within the path of the unknown, you’ll see her recalibrate, and that comes with all the trauma she’s skilled.

I don’t doubt that there can be curveballs and issues to dodge and navigate sooner or later right here. However I take nice delight and pleasure in watching how she does it. It’s enjoyable.

If she takes the job, I hope she’ll return to Serenity so we are able to see all the things.

I don’t assume these bonds will be damaged, so I think about you’re going to get your fill of Helen, Dana Sue, and Maddie on the identical display screen.

That’s a reduction. I can see why this season was your favourite.

I wasn’t kidding. I’ve been teasing that since we have been taking pictures it for a 12 months. I mentioned that is the very best season but. However what a pleasure it’s that we will be this far in, and I might nonetheless be having fun with it this a lot and saying that.

Candy Magnolias Season 4 is streaming on Netflix. Keep tuned for extra unique interviews with Heather Headley, Dion Johnstone, and Anneliese Choose.

This interview has been edited for size and readability.

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