Pour One Out for Dana Sue & Annie: Sweet Magnolias Season 5’s Men Were Anything but Sweet

Dana Sue and Annie Sullivan were put through the wringer during Sweet Magnolias Season 5.

Mother and daughter deserved better than the circumstances they were dealt. 

While Ronnie finally had emotional material to sink his teeth into, some of his actions made it seem as though he cared more about his new business than his family.

Similarly, Ty’s decision to stay overseas hurt Annie since not only did he miss her graduation, but he never even checked on her during her family’s crisis.

While Ronnie thought he was providing for his family, Ty needed time for himself. Both men disappointed the Sullivan women in different ways, and other men stepped up to comfort them.

Ronnie Went to Extremes to Make his Family Proud of Him

Brandon Quinn finally had an emotional storyline, but Ronnie wasn’t extremely likable during Sweet Magnolias Season 5. 

However, his motivation was understandable. All of his friends had steady careers that kept evolving, and Ronnie wanted to become a solid businessman, too, so that Dana Sue and Annie could be proud of him.

He just went about it the wrong way. I even questioned going into business with Dana Sue’s ex, but at least Jeremy seemed reliable. However, we knew nothing about Jimmy or his daughter, Courtney.

Courtney only cared about taking advantage of Ronnie, and Ronnie fell for it because he was desperate.

The E-bike business became his entire life, and while his family was proud of him, they missed out on time with him or conversations about other things.

He needed to learn better balance before his marriage took a real hit.

A Tragedy Only Poured More Gas On Dana Sue and Ronnie’s Marriage

Even if Ronnie used poor judgment in keeping extra E-bikes in the garage, you couldn’t blame him for the fire.

I’ve lived through a house fire. Adding on extra guilt after the Sullivans lost practically everything would have been undue punishment.

A tragedy like that either brings you closer together or tears you further apart. Like my parents, Dana Sue and Ronnie couldn’t process the tragic fire together, and it only made the wedge even larger.

Ronnie wanted to ensure his actions were covered up, get the insurance money, and find a new place to live, preferably in their old neighborhood, where he thought they had been happy.

Dana Sue needed time to process both the fire and their relationship. It was difficult to wade through charred belongings and memories.

She couldn’t keep going backward. They needed to move forward, and while she respected that he confessed the truth to him, that wasn’t enough.

I loved that Dana Sue confronted Courtney, fought for Ronnie, and might have stayed with him if he sold the business, but since he didn’t, she made a hard choice.

Was there anything worth saving in her marriage?

Ty Missed Annie’s Graduation and Her Family’s Fire

Annie must have grown weary of Ty’s promises to return home, only to disappoint her. I was disappointed that Ty never made it, but I appreciated that Annie and Maddie both worried about how the other would take the news.

Ty’s presence was still felt on Sweet Magnolias. It seemed like he couldn’t handle being home because of the reminders of his father. In that case, it made sense why he wouldn’t have played in the alumni game because that’s where I was sure he’d appear.

Ty should have returned to Serenity when the Sullivans’ home burned down. It didn’t matter if he and Annie were dating; they were family.

I was horrified that he didn’t check on her and only sent flowers. It seemed callous.

I wish the writers had timed things a bit better, since Ty tried to contact Annioe again during Helen’s wedding, and he should have known when it was. These little details matter.

Hopefully, that meant there’s still a chance for them, but I don’t blame Annie for needing a clean break for now.

Could These Relationships Recover, or Did the Sullivan Women Find Comfort Elsewhere?

Ronnie’s problem was that he never learned. Dana Sue wanted him to put their family first.

While he thought he did so by becoming a businessman, she meant it emotionally, by seeing to their needs.

While it was exhausting to see Dana Sue and Ronnie face so many challenges, it highlighted that they already had cracks in their marriage and had never addressed them.

Both were independent and often made business decisions without consulting each other. The only time I saw Dana Sue smile was when she was working on the new space at the Bellweather.

She thrived there and had chemistry with Clark, who had once been her rival. He respected that she always knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to start flirting with her.

I love Dana Sue and Ronnie, but I’m glad someone else was there for her.

Ann’e was a lot like her mother. She tried to forget her troubles with Ty by having a summer fling, but she realized she craved a serious connection.

She always wanted something like her parents had, so when she learns the truth about their separation, it’ll crush her.

I’ll always love Annie and Ty, but Carson Rowland wanted time off for other projects, so I’m glad Annie got to explore other options, especially Noah, who shared her love of nature.

We won’t know if Dana Sue or Annie will embark on new relationships or return to Ronnie and Ty until we learn if Netflix renews Sweet Magnolias for Season 6.

Over to you, Sweet Magnolias Fanatics. What were your thoughts on the endless Sullivan drama? Do you want Ty to return? Did you like Clark?

Let us know in the comments.

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