For four seasons, Maddie (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), Dana Sue (Brooke Elliott), and Helen (Heather Headley) from Netflix’s romantic drama series Sweet Magnolias have been drawing fans in with their rocky relationships, questionable choices, and delicious margarita nights, but all the drama is still not enough to make one of them the most thrilling character in the show. While the three magnolias, as they call their best friend group, are at the center of the series, there is another character who outshines them all by far and is easily the best character in Sweet Magnolias, and that’s Annie (Anneliese Judge). So, let’s take a look at what makes Sweet Magnolias’ Annie so special.

Who Is Annie in Netflix’s ‘Sweet Magnolias’?

Both Maddie and Dana Sue are mothers, and their children have always played an essential role, particularly when it comes to anything regarding decision-making. While Maddie has three children, her youngest, Katie (Ella Grace Helton), and two teenage boys, Kyle (Logan Allen) and Tyler (Carson Rowland), Dana Sue is raising a teenage girl named Annie. As an only child, it is not surprising that she is extremely close with her parents and shares a deep connection with Maddie’s children. In fact, in true friends-to-lovers fashion, Annie and Ty finally confess their feelings for each other and even start dating.

In general, it would be easy for Annie to disappear in the background, as she isn’t necessarily a main character in the bingeworthy Netflix show and only pops in occasionally and in some sort of relation to her parents. However, Annie’s intriguing character and thoughtful actions let her stand out tremendously, and the desire to see her in more scenes is growing after each episode.

Annie’s Character Growth Is Inspiring

When she was first introduced in the Netflix hit series, Annie was a laid-back, almost quiet teenage girl, who was still trying to find her way. Unsure how to fit in, she also had to deal with the fact that her parents weren’t together. This, though, changed in the course of the series, as Dana Sue and Ronnie (Brandon Quinn) have gotten back together, inspiring Annie through their improved, respectful, loving, and supporting relationship. As an only child who had just gotten her parents back, Annie solely identified herself as a part of her family, the trio, and struggled to see herself as her own person.

This became particularly clear when the aspiring photographer had to send in a portrait of who she is to her dream college, but instead of capturing herself, she always ended up capturing herself as an inconspicuous part of her family. This incident marked an essential point in Annie’s growth though, and was the beginning of an inspiring character development, making her the best character in the series. Annie began to show vulnerability, revealing that she doesn’t know who she is without her family, but she also overcame her fear and opened up to the idea of exploring her true self. In the process, Annie followed her dream of potentially moving across the country, stood her ground in her relationship, and acknowledged her worth.

There are occasions when the three main characters in Sweet Magnolias are over the top and their actions seem unreasonable, which is exactly why a character like Annie is such an enrichment to the show. There is a wonderful realness to her character, making her one of the most relatable characters, since it is truly easy to understand her successes and struggles. Her development from an unsure, young teenager to a confident young adult is inspiring, and the fact that it is portrayed in a believable way adds even more value to the series’ character.

Annie’s Future Is Intriguing

In the last episode of Sweet Magnolias’ Season 4, Annie, once again, stands up for herself. Her boyfriend, Ty, wants her to defer the start of her dream studies in California, so she can join him and his band on their Europe tour. He essentially wants her to give up her dream, so she can support and be with him, which arguably sounds like the beginning of a movie about a toxic relationship. Annie immediately shuts down his request, and tells him again how important her studies are to her and that she isn’t willing to give up her dream. Their differences are undeniable, and they would certainly cause immense chaos.

Annie’s growth and potentially tumultuous future would offer a great foundation for a Sweet Magnolias spinoff. In particular, since her character changed so much over the course of the season, and the beginning of the mini magnolias (Annie, Cece, and Lily) were shown. Even though the introduction of their group is obviously closely connected and deeply inspired by Maddie, Dana Sue, and Helen’s friendship group, a spinoff seems unlikely. This doesn’t change the fact though that, if Netflix renews Sweet Magnolias for a fifth season, Annie is at the top of the list of characters we want to see even more of.