Cal’s arrest for assault in the season 2 finale of Sweet Magnolias affects his character growth and strains his relationship with Maddie in season 3.
The fight was with Stu, an overzealous fan who becomes obsessed with Cal after a brief interaction. Stu’s threatening behavior leads to Cal punching him and subsequently getting arrested.
Cal’s defense in season 3 is supported by his friends and the charges are dropped when Stu refuses to testify. However, Cal recognizes the need to address his anger and focuses on managing his emotions throughout the season.

Prior to the start of Sweet Magnolias season 3, Cal gets arrested for assaulting someone, an event that would impact his over character growth. Based on the eponymous book series by Sherryl Woods, Sweet Magnolias follows the lives and relationships of three best friends—Helen, Maddie, and Dana Sue—who live in a small town called Serenity, North Carolina. In season 1, Maddie begins dating former MBL player and baseball coach Cal Maddox. Their romance and relationship is a consistent storyline throughout the Sweet Magnolias series.

After Cal gets into a fistfight in the Sweet Magnolias season 2 finale, Maddie is shaken up and unsure of their romantic relationship. The tension pulls them apart at the beginning of season 3. In order to better himself and mend their relationship, Cal spends a large portion of season 3 focusing on the cause of his aggression. While watching Sweet Magnolias season 3, it might help to revisit the events leading up to Cal’s fight.

Cal Was Arrested After Punching Stu During A Heated Scene In Sweet Magnolias’ Season 2 Finale

At the end of Sweet Magnolias, season 2, episode 10, “If Thou Wilt, Remember,” Cal gets into a fistfight with Stu. Fans of the show wouldn’t be at fault for forgetting who Stu is, especially considering he only appeared in one prior episode for one and a half minutes. Stu is an overzealous fan who becomes obsessed with Cal. Cal first meets Stu at a black-tie charity event when he comes up to ask for Cal’s autograph. The two talk about their dads, both of whom passed away. Stu explains that he and his dad went to one of Cal’s games before Stu’s dad got sick.

This interaction seemed innocent enough, just an athlete talking to a fan. Unfortunately for Cal, Stu gets the impression from their short conversation that they’re best friends. When Cal loses his position teaching baseball at the high school, Stu becomes incensed. He appears at the restaurant, barging into the kitchen. Stu shouts at Cal about how he has his back and will fight someone for him. His erratic behavior gets more and more threatening with every word and gesture. When he starts shouting at Maddie, Cal punches him repeatedly. The police pull him off Stu and arrest him for assault.

What Happens With Cal’s Defense In Sweet Magnolias Season 3

Sweet Magnolias season 3 picks up immediately where season 2 left off. Cal is bailed out of jail and brought to Helen’s home to discuss a defense. Dana Sue brings up that she thought Stu had a weapon, her reason for calling the police. Everyone states they’ll stand by his actions. Ultimately, Cal gets lucky in that Stu refuses to testify, causing the prosecutor to drop the charges. Despite this, the fight drastically impacted Cal’s mental state. He realizes that he must get his anger under control, facing the pain he previously buried long ago. As such, Cal works hard throughout Sweet Magnolias season 3 to manage his emotions.