Summary
The scavenger hunt takes up most of “The Searchers,” leading to some wholesome and harmless fun with plenty of PG humor. These almost robotic comedy moments, as are the forced friendships and kooky camaraderie, are cringe-inducing.
We recap the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 3, “The Searchers,” which contains significant spoilers.
Everyone seems to be getting a little hot and bothered in the latest installment of Sweet Magnolias. Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott) and Ronnie (Brandon Quinn) are the best they’ve ever been together, Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher) and Cal (Justin Bruening) are struggling to keep their hands off of one another. While Helen (Heather Headley) and Ryan (Michael Shenefelt) are happily in love once again as well.
Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 3 Recap
Love is clearly in the air in the opening moments of “The Searchers.” Maddie and Cal enjoy a water fight while washing the car together. Dana Sue, and Ronnie discuss their ‘love language’ while doing the dishes. And Helen and Ryan contemplate the first official date of their new chapter together.
But the main event of episode three is the Forager Festival and the hallowed scavenger hunt. Everyone will be taking part in this annual event, and they all want to win the trophy.
Maddie decides to go with Cal, but her mother Paula offers to go as a chaperone to keep them from breaking their friendship agreement.
All three best friends meet up to discuss the festival, with some terrible trash talk going on. In the meantime, Dana Sue is desperate to win the trophy, but Maddie is also ultra-competitive too. Helen decides to get in on the action and promises to compete with Ryan.
Then the festival is underway. There’s a real party atmosphere, with live music and the entire town gathering together for this wholesome event. The teams all meet, leading to further painful trash-talk.
What are the teams for the scavenger hunt?
Maddie, Paula, and Cal are a team. Isaac is with Noreen and Annie. Brothers Kyle and Tyler lose a team member, so they decide to join other trios. Helen, Ryan, and Tyler work together, while Kyle, Dana Sue, and Ronnie round out the teams.
The Mayor kick starts the event, quickly going over the rules. They have three hours to find as many items from the list as they can.
The winning team will be the one to find the most items. He then rings the ceremonial cowbell to get the hunt started.
In the other subplot, Kathy puts her own devious plan into place. She tells Erik that she is the new assistant manager at Z’s Place, and she wants to poach the chef from Sullivans.
Kathy wants to take a key member from the rival restaurant and put them in charge of her new business. Erik instantly declines the offer.
What is Kathy’s pitch to Erik?
Erik does eventually change his mind though. While jogging around the town center, he sees Helen and Ryan enjoying a loving moment together. This motivates Erik. He asks to meet with Kathy again. She cancels a dance with Bill and heads over to Erik straight away. Kathy makes her pitch to Erik. She wants to make the place a tourist destination. Kathy gets across her passion, and she sweet-talks Erik. Will he join the enemy, though?
Meanwhile, the scavenger hunt heats up. The three main trios all clash outside a church. They are looking for a specific fox ornament, but nobody can find it. The three women start to argue. Tyler manages to calm them down, de-escalating the situation with apparent ease.
As the night draws in, the hunt comes to an end. The lists are handed in and the scores are totted up. In the meantime, Cal shares a few private stories from his past, opening up to Maddie some more. Whereas Dana Sue, and Ronnie continue to gloat about their reignited love instead.
Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 3 Ending Explained
Helen and Ryan agree that the festival counts as their first date. Dana Sue tells Maddie that Kyle is a wonderful child. Maddie tells Kyle how proud she is of him. Then Paula hands Cal the missing fox item. She stole it for a little bit of mischief.
Who wins the scavenger hunt?
The Mayor reveals the winner of the scavenger hunt. Isaac, Noreen, and Annie are the winning team. They collect their trophy. Then the Mayor announced that he would be resigning from his position, effective immediately. Mic drop.
What did you think of Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias Season 3 Episode 3? Comment below.
