As Swisher told Parade.com about what fans will see when Season 2 debuts, “There is no time jump. You will literally pick up right after the accident, and then just hold on to your hats cause the next 10 episodes are gonna be a wild ride.” Maddie and her girlfriends will be pouring it out by the “gallons” in the sophomore season, which is full of new drama, and even sets up Sweet Magnolias for a possible (fingers crossed!) Season 3. “You are not leaving Season 2 without wondering what the heck is gonna happen in Season 3,” Swisher teased. “I can assure you that. Far more than who’s in the car.” That’s not all Swisher talked about; she’s also teamed up with Hill’s Pet Nutrition to help get the word out about their Clear the Shelters pet adoption campaign. And the best part is, there’s an easy way that you can help spread the word about this month-long event, which aims to support 1,000 animal shelters across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. “From now until September 19, we’re encouraging everyone to take a minute and, instead of posting about all the other things in the world, post about your pet, and use the hashtag #HillsForLife, and talk about your love for them,” Swisher explained. “With every #HillsForLife that is put on our social channels, Hill’s Pet Nutrition will donate $1 up to $10,000 to greater good charities, which will directly go to help shelters and shelter pets in North America. It’s an opportunity for us to brag and love on our furry loved ones, and it’s also directly going to pets that are in need and helping support shelters that work overtime to help animals that are looking for a better life.” Continue reading to find out what else Swisher dished on Season 2 of Sweet Magnolias—plus, find out about her love of animals and her work with the Clear the Shelters pet adoption campaign, which runs through Sept. 19.
How has being a pet owner brought meaning to your life during this difficult time?
Oh my goodness, in every way. I mean, the comfort and just companionship that animals bring to your life without a pandemic at play is remarkable [and] my furry kids were delighted to have us around a lot.
What’s your advice for a person or a family who’s considering starting the dog adoption process but isn’t sure of what to expect?
It’s bringing a new life into your home, a new personality. In order to cohabitate, you have to understand that we’re all coming from different places [and] it’s welcoming a new family member into your life. So I say, do it with knowing that you’re making a commitment to a little life coming into your home, but knowing that the rewards will just be so apparent instantly.
They bring so much love into a house. Now switching gears, I of course need to talk to you about Sweet Magnolias.
Yes!
It’s been reported that Season 2 will premiere sometime next year. Will fans have to wait until the summer, or might it be early 2022?
Our hope is that it’s sooner rather than later… We trust that it’s gonna come out at the exact right time, but obviously we’re just so excited to share it with everybody, so I can’t wait. I hope that we have a definitive date soon and that we can start looking forward to it in that way. I hope that people will find it well worth the wait.
I love that Maddie and her girl group “pour it out.” Is that something you do with your own friend group?
Yes! Probably more than we should. Of course, everyone needs to pour it out. I don’t care what you’re pouring out! Sometimes you just need to go there, whether it’s tea, water, a little wine, some margaritas, whatever it is. Spending time with friends or family, your partner, whether it be celebrating a great joy, or getting through a tough time, I think pouring it out is super important.
Is there more for the ladies to pour out next season?
Yeah. There’s like gallons of pouring [it] out.
How do you think Maddie has grown in Season 2?
I think that she’s finding her voice, and she’s finding her sea legs. She was sort of hit like a Mack truck with life. What I love about her is that she’s not a victim, and she obviously went through a very tough time and a difficult thing, but she’s always looking for the meaning and the reason. I think that that is such a great way to go through life and she’s not doing it alone, which is one of the beautiful parts of the show, but I love that she’s finding her voice and finding what she’s passionate about and connecting to herself in that way.
What types of challenges will we see Maddie encounter next season?
One of her biggest struggles is kind of resetting and trusting life, trusting in the great, wonderful things that flood her life and are presenting themselves to her, but then also being brave and, you know, kind of… I’m like trying to word this in a way that’s not gonna you know, say too much… She finds her voice again!
What sets this character apart from others that you’ve played?
Oh, that’s such a good question. It’s not so much what sets her apart, it’s really just sort of where we have found her and this moment of just utter despair and devastation… It’s not just about the loss of a relationship with her husband, it’s really about mending her relationship with herself and kind of where she let her life get to. I have not gotten the opportunity to play a character like that and so [I’m] really leaning into that and getting into the juice of that.
How do you think fans are going to react to next season? Are there going to be shocking moments like that Season 1 finale?
Yes! I can say that. I think I can say that?! I’ve said that before. I was shocked. I didn’t really ask too much in advance. I sort of rode the wave. So, I was tickled by finding out the answers to some of the larger question marks in Season 1. And then I was just also really excited to see something happen for all the different characters. It was very rewarding and then I was just kind of like, ‘Oh gosh, here we go’ with all of the new drama that unfolds and the question marks that we are left with at the end of Season 2.
Do you want to see Maddie end up with Cal in the future?
They have a really beautiful love story, and getting a chance to really dive into that was one of the greatest joys of Season 2, because they kind of saved each other. You never know when a person comes into your life if it’s for a season or a lifetime, but whatever it is, it’s a very monumental relationship for Maddie and a very monumental relationship for Cal and it’s a beautiful love story. And just like personally I love working with Justin [Bruening] so I would not be sad if they rode off into the sunset together, but I also would not be surprised if there [were] some bumps in the road.
The Season 1 finale had fans waiting and expecting a second season. Does the Season 2 finale set up a possible third season?
Yes. Yes!…That doesn’t mean we’re gonna get a third season [laughs]. But, Lord a living, you are not leaving Season 2 without wondering what the heck is gonna happen in Season 3, I can assure you that. Far more than who’s in the car!
The show doesn’t follow the books exactly, so I’m assuming that the second season, like Season 1, won’t be following the books this time around?
Yes, you are correct. It is inspired by, but takes its own leaps.
I think what I love so much about the show, aside from the girlfriend group and the romance, is that it’s really about this woman, Maddie, who is coming into her own and finding herself again. Is that something that you can relate to, or something that drew you to this show?
Absolutely. These are such important stories to tell. There are such gifts that come with different decades of your life [and] you learn new things and things become meaningful to you at different times in your life… It’s really an opportunity to continue to grow and to continue to deepen and continue to learn more about yourself and more about life. I’m so happy to be a part of a show [that ’s] really about a coming of age and reinvention of yourself, or an opportunity for you to kind of celebrate who you are in the moment; what a gift, right? This is a celebration of a new faith and life and one that a lot of people can relate to and I think a lot of the success of the show has to do with that. This interview has been edited for length and clarity Next, Addicted to Mel and Jack’s Drama? Everything to Know About Virgin River Season 4
