Warning! SPOILERS about Sweet Magnolias season 4, episode 10 and Home in Carolina ahead.

Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias season 4 gave as much as it took regarding Annie and Ty’s relationship, taking some creative licenses based on their book story, and I really hope it continues doing so, refusing to include the worst Annie and Ty twist from the books. Annie and Ty’s story appears in Sherryl Woods’ fifth Sweet Magnolias book, Home in Carolina. Ty and Annie’s Sweet Magnolias story couldn’t differ more from their book, with their will-they-won’t-they dynamic being developed over their teenage years in the Netflix show, while their story in the books only mentions their dating as teens in passing.

After secretly pining for one another for three Sweet Magnolias seasons, feeling jealous of each other if they spent time with romantic interests without having the courage to confess their feelings, Annie and Tyler finally revealed their truth on Halloween. Coming clean about what was in their hearts in Sweet Magnolias season 4’s premiere led to Annie and Ty cementing their union with a kiss. Dating wasn’t without its hurdles, with Annie trying to stay close to Ty after his father Bill’s death and during his band’s tour, but their probable breakup hints at their disheartening future in Sweet Magnolias.

Sweet Magnolias Season 5 Should Avoid Ty’s Romances On The Road Story From The Books

Ty & Annie’s Book Story Would Be Out Of Place In The TV Show

Sweet Magnolias season 4 already established major differences from Ty and Annie’s book story, as the tour Ty goes on in the TV show is with his band and not with his baseball team like in the books. That doesn’t necessarily guarantee that Sweet Magnolias season 5 won’t adapt a controversial story from Annie and Ty’s book that influences their reunion as adults. Indeed, despite having been best friends throughout childhood, Annie and Ty becoming romantically involved leads to Annie cutting off Ty from her life after his flings on tour result in a child with one of his partners.

Sweet Magnolias season 4 was just released on Netflix, and these are all the songs that are played throughout the new season’s 10 episodes.

Annie and Ty’s plot in Home in Carolina is somewhat complicated, as both Annie and Ty state they weren’t exclusive, but Annie views Ty having a child born of a fling as a betrayal and Ty minimizes it as their not being exclusive. Ty is still nonetheless ashamed of how things turned out to the point of never telling Annie the truth, which meant she learned about it from the tabloids, given Ty’s success playing for the Atlanta Braves. Such a storyline would feel entirely out of place in Netflix’s Sweet Magnolias, as their romance followed an entirely different path.

In the Sweet Magnolias books, Ty and Annie end up getting closer after he supports her as she deals with an eating disorder, eventually turning their relationship from platonic to romantic.

Among Sweet Magnolias season 4’s book changes, those regarding Ty and Annie are the biggest. Annie’s ambitions are smaller in the books and Ty’s are entirely different, making the precise following of their book story counterproductive. Ty taking advantage of his and Annie’s unclear open relationship deal only for him not to own up to his mistakes after a pregnancy would seem very out of character for him in Sweet Magnolias, especially considering how hurt he was when Bill’s actions broke up his family, making me hope the show will steer clear of that storyline.

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 Already Hints At A Tragic Twist For Ty & Annie

Ty Wrongly Asks Annie Not To Chase Her Dreams To Be With Him As He Chases His

Another reason why Ty’s betrayal from the books wouldn’t work in Sweet Magnolias has to do with the path Sweet Magnolias season 4 put the couple on. Indeed, after Annie showed nothing but support to Tyler as he dealt with his father’s death and when he decided to go on tour, no matter how that influenced her negatively, it could be argued Ty already betrayed Annie by asking her to defer school to follow him on tour in Europe. Ty admired Annie’s photography and her passion for it, making asking her to chase his dreams instead of hers exceptionally selfish.

Sweet Magnolias season 5 could involve Ty having flings with other women while on tour in Europe, and Annie and Ty’s fight could offer a lack of clarity similar to their book story, but going as far as Ty having a child with someone else could make their breakup final.

Were Ty to also behave dishonorably in Sweet Magnolias season 5 after he asked something of Annie he never should have, even implying his request came from thinking about her bettering her craft and not out of his wish not to tour alone again, their relationship would be irreparably damaged. Sweet Magnolias season 5 could involve Ty having flings with other women while on tour in Europe, and Annie and Ty’s fight could offer a lack of clarity similar to their book story, but going as far as Ty having a child with someone else could make their breakup final.

Ty & Annie Should Still End Up Together In Sweet Magnolias’ Series Ending

Sweet Magnolias Departing From Their Book Story Would Make That Easier

Even if Annie and Ty’s story diverged greatly in Sweet Magnolias, they should still end up together. Indeed, were the only friction in their relationship to be caused by their need to follow their passions, thus leading them apart, they could still reconnect once back to Serenity. However, things would be more difficult if Sweet Magnolias followed the books, where they reunited in Serenity after Ty’s betrayal and only because he needed therapy after an accident, with their story involving a lot of drama due to Ty’s legal battle over his son with his mother, making their story too dark.

Sweet Magnolias season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.