If Gilmore Women is your go-to consolation present, for all its quirky townsfolk and light-hearted romances, then considered one of CW’s most underrated reveals, Hart of Dixieis for you. It has all of the hallmarks of a feel-good, small-town dramaand should even take it additional than Gilmore Women with its oddball locals and weird city festivities.
On the time, the present additionally marked the return of The OC‘s Rachel Bilson to the display, as she leads the story alongside a number of proficient solid members. Hart of Dixie aired its fourth and remaining season in 2015, however it’s nonetheless worthwhile cozying as much as to your subsequent small-town escapism.
What Is ‘Hart of Dixie’ About?
Bilson performs Zoe Hart, a physician who learns that her dad is not really blood-related and that her late organic father had left his medical observe for her within the small fictional city of Bluebell, Alabama. She strikes from the Large Apple to take over his aspect of the personal observe and meets a variety of eccentric and endearing characterstogether with her dad’s confrontational former enterprise companion Brick Leeland (Tim Matheson), his Rachel McAdams of a daughter Lemon (Jaime King), and Zoe’s soon-to-be greatest buddy, roommate, and mayor of the city, Lavon (Cress Williams). In fact, it might be remiss to not point out the number of love pursuits, like Lemon’s swoonworthy fiancé George (Scott Porter) or Zoe’s prickly neighbor Wade (Wilson Bethel).
One of the vital underrated issues that makes a small-town drama so likable is the dearth of themed festivals that go on. There are the usual Christmas, Halloween, and Founder’s Day actions, however in Bluebell, we additionally get distinctive variations of basic holidays. As an alternative of Thanksgiving, Hart of Dixie introduces Planksgiving, a pirate-themed debacle the place household, buddies, and love are the true treasure. Or the annual Miss Cinnamon Cider Pageant, one other iteration of the small-town Harvest Queen custom. These episodes construct on the playful attraction of the idyllic setting whereas offering us with ample laughs and comfy moments.
Like many small-town dramas, you do must droop your disbelief whereas watching Hart of Dixie. The city of Bluebell has all of the appeal of Stars Hole, however it’s barely extra insulated from among the painful social and cultural context of America’s South. We’re extra conscious of this small bubble for the reason that Southern accents are pronounced, nevertheless it additionally emphasizes the present’s purpose of being a comforting oasis within the maelstrom of contemporary life. It has no qualms about being unrealistic in its pursuit of caprice, however that does not make it any much less honest.
‘Hart of Dixie’s Characters and Romance Make It Price Watching
Initially, Hart of Dixie may be accused of being overly saccharine or fantastical, however because the episodes progress, the present develops an underlying emotional nuance and maturity that grounds and enhances the absurdity of all of it. Bilson is on the coronary heart of this, as she performs her position with fast wit and rising vulnerability that makes Zoe simple to root for all through the 4 seasons. She additionally shares riveting on-screen chemistry with all her co-stars, together with the uncommon friendship between a person and girl that does not cross any boundaries and stays as reliable as ever. (Lavon himself is a riot because the city’s mayor and ex-NFL participant.) Zoe can also be on the middle of an compulsory small-town love triangleone which stretches will-they-won’t-they to the restrict in essentially the most deliciously dramatic means, whereas nonetheless being nuanced with concepts of compatibility and timing.
Outdoors of Zoe’s amicable relationships is her rival, Lemon, who undergoes the most effective redemption arcs within the present. She begins as a stereotypical imply woman who’s territorial about her cityhowever grows right into a extra multifaceted character. With out spoiling something, Lemon’s arc is foreshadowed fantastically, and she or he learns to be a part of the neighborhood in a significant means. A lot of her attraction comes right down to King’s efficiency, as she by no means loses sight of Lemon’s inherent ferocity and ambition however permits her to evolve into one thing extra fascinating, virtually paying homage to Emily (Kelly Bishop) in Gilmore Women.
Hart of Dixie has all of the elements that make a comfortable small-town drama profitable, so it is a disgrace that it has been misplaced to time. Between the oddity that’s Bluebell and the enjoyable mishaps that manifest between the characters, this present is the proper technique to distract your self from the every day humdrum that’s life.