This season of Candy Magnolias centered quite a bit on Maddie Townsend (Joanna Garcia Swisher). Maddie and Cal had a Halloween-themed wedding ceremony after which dealt together with her ex-husband’s dying shortly after.
By way of all of it, the Townsend-Maddox household handled it collectively. This was additionally the primary season the collection explored extra profession choices for Maddie.
Subsequently, we had been keen to speak with Joanna Garcia Swisher since she teased that this was her favourite season. As at all times, it was pleasant speaking to her as she talked about her love of Candy Magnolias Season 4 and her delight in her TV youngsters.
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She liked how they approached Invoice’s dying and the epic storylines that got here from that.
Take a look at the interview under.
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 like most about it?
Oh, it’s nonstop. It’s like a curler coaster experience. 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 wedding 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 nervous about how a lot hassle Maddie would face with Helen and Dana Sue. So, I had that little little bit of concern of pondering they had been going to kill me.
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However I assumed it was romantic, pretty, and a cherry on high for Maddie and Cal.
Do you and Justin Bruening like Halloween?
I like Halloween for my youngsters. I don’t normally gown up, nevertheless it was enjoyable for everybody to decorate up in numerous characters. All people would stroll out at numerous occasions out of their hair and make-up trailer, and so they had been feeling it. It was like they had been embodying it, and everybody regarded unbelievable.
So, if I had somebody to arrange me for Halloween and present me how our hair, make-up, and wardrobe division bought us prepared for the Halloween episode, I’d at all times gown 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 had been the very best.
Do you assume the collection realistically depicted a blended household? I preferred a few of these scenes all through the collection.
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I don’t know if there may be any life like solution to mix a household. I believe it’s at all times a dance. The sweetness is that it’s sudden, and you should make it your personal. All people’s story is totally different, and all of the circumstances and issues continually change.
A part of what I really like a lot about it and why I believe it really works so nicely is that it’s sincere. It’s rapid-fire, real-life occurring always, so all of the dynamics work that method. However I’m happy with how we navigate our blended household on Candy Magnolias.
Sure. What had been a few of your favourite household moments from this season?
Maddie noticed super development in her youngsters this season, which was distinctive. I had particular person moments with every of them that gave me nice delight, however they had been additionally heart-wrenching.
A part of what made Invoice’s dying so tough for me, portraying the character, was fascinated by what this was going to do to my youngsters and watching them navigate that.
A lot of these moments had been actually about being in awe of my youngsters and the individuals they had been rising into.
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I seen that you simply had extra moments with all the children this season. Normally, you have got quite a bit with Ty.
Yeah, it was pretty. They’re getting older, so quite a bit is occurring of their world, and extra parenting is occurring proper now.
Completely. Had been you shocked that they killed off Invoice after which revealed that he was Isaac’s start father almost 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 at all times come out most absurdly, as they at all times do in Serenity. There’s at all times numerous drama hooked up to that.
I used to be shocked 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.
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The household skilled numerous closure 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 at all times preferred Chris Klein, so I missed seeing him.
I felt the identical method. He’s an exquisite particular person.
However the tales had been nice. I additionally preferred how Candy Magnolias Season 4 centered on conquering all people’s goals.
Sure. It units them up for the longer term. Folks realized and have become conscious of their goals, so absolutely shaped ideas had been occurring. 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 fantastic thing about it. It was one thing that she had not related with essentially, nevertheless it got here naturally to her. So, when she had the chance, she kicked into gear.
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Numerous Maddie’s journeys have been about shocking herself. She thought her life would make sure, 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 achieve confidence inside all of that has been gratifying.
Completely. I loved seeing all people combat for the city of Serenity when it was in monetary hassle and throughout 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 likely to be the brand new regular. They’ll nonetheless keep shut and related, and so they’ll at all times be household. That may also lend itself to some nice storytelling. Nevertheless it’s going to be stunning.
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Do we predict we’re going to see this? Do you assume there can be a fifth season?
I’d like to do a fifth season of the present, and I believe that, given the chance, all people would agree. Numerous thought has gone into it, and it will be one other nice season.
So, you consider there are nonetheless extra tales to inform? The journey isn’t over?
The journey will not be 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 need it as a lot as all people else does.
The friendship between the Magnolias will at all times be my favourite a part of the collection. I really like watching the three of you.
Me too. They’re my favourite scenes. We’ve got a lot enjoyable collectively. The margarita nights are huge scenes, so that they’re at all times numerous work, however being with Brooke Elliot and Heather Headley fills my cup. So, we do many scenes collectively, however these are simply ours.
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The vibe is so enjoyable, and we love being on set. These days are pleasant, and now we have numerous laughs. So much goes on to the reducing room flooring, 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 thought and assume, “I by no means even considered that. That’s so good.” You possibly can at all times assure that there can be continued development and people realizations checking again in.
I don’t assume she’ll ever totally lose her method once more. If she does stumble within the route 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.
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If she takes the job, I hope she’ll return to Serenity so we will see every part.
I don’t assume these bonds may 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 aid. I can see why this season was your favourite.
I wasn’t kidding. I’ve been teasing that since we had been capturing it for a 12 months. I stated that is the very best season but. However what a pleasure it’s that we may 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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