So not only was this episode named after my favorite Dolly Parton song, but it also featured the return of Lemon, and as a bonus, her little sis Magnolia, too! It is awesome to see Hart of Dixie return on a high note, with an episode full of laughs and fun, even though the Zoe/Wade aspect of the show needs much more attention, stat. Here's what happened last night and what I thought!
Let's start out with the best parts, which were obviously all about Lemon. Brick was super-worried that Lemon was mad at him due to a three week radio silence, and a random text telling him she was coming home - a text without emojis, eek! After some well-founded council from the always-delightful Magnolia, Brick threw together a nice little Welcome Home soiree, but Wade was soon called away to collect the no-show Lemon...from jail!
"Lemon is the new black." -Wade
Once Wade picked Lemon up, we were treated to a beyond-hilarious flashback summary of what Lemon got up to while looking after her grandma, a sequence of events that began in dire indentured servitude but quickly turned around once Lemon found two suitors. First, there was Carter Covington, the cardboard suitor from that failed date night earlier in the season (Lemon ended that date with hottie Robert Buckley's character, Peter. I wonder if we'll see him back! Buckley has just been cast in the CW pilot iZombie, potentially for Fall, so who knows?). Carter is cute as a button but doesn't impress me otherwise. Then there's Enrique, the deliciously OTT latin lover with a tiny guitar and book of poetry on hand. Clearly, I'm making no attempt to deny being firmly Team Enrique! He's totally adorable.
"Now that I am dating two men, I don't have the mind I used to." -Lemon
Seems Lemon was arrested for fountain skinny dipping with Enrique, and she's proud to reveal her newly liberated personality to the shocked Wade. I love seeing the Lemon/Wade friendship progress, and the scenes between these two were one of the only good aspects Wade had to work with this week. The entire Wade/Vivian situation is truly getting on my last nerve, and I'm finding their romance more flinch-inducing the longer it continues. I guess Joel gets off the hook a lot because he's so charming, but "Zoel" is also dragging on way longer than it should be. These two problems combine to leave little screen time for Wade and Zoe to share together. Even if they're arguing, Zoe and Wade need to be together, thrown into ridiculously heightened circumstances where they're forced to bond until they admit their love again. It needs to happen, yesterday.
Poor Zoe spent most of the episode still bogged down in the tired plotline about her mother trying to win her love and attention back from the Wilkes. It had its funny moments, especially in Joel's bemused reactions to her mom's ridiculously inappropriate comments to him. And hearing Meatball and the other Bluebellians lament having gone through Health Week just so Zoe could have a bigger closet was typically delightful, with Zoe telling Meatball his core's never been stronger. Zoe's mother headed back to NYC by the end of the episode, thankfully ending this otherwise dull plot.
Magnolia got kicked out of boarding school, which was good news for us, since we got many of her one-liners ("I'm too pretty to die") as she begged George to help her change the dean's mind. Since it turned out that Magnolia had been given the boot for stealing the dean's car to pick up a 19 year old guy, George soon lost the will to help in a giggle-inducing scene. Brick sent Magnolia off to the dreaded "grandma's house" purgatory, but I hope we'll see Lemon, Jr. back soon.
Speaking of George, he is looking good lately with that little beard action going on. The scenes of him and Lavon watching their golf show in a love-deprived stupor were too funny. I've heard rumors that George and Lemon might be getting close again soon, which would be interesting, though I keep wondering if Lavon still has feelings for Lemon, given his inability to commit to Annabeth. Since Lemon's love for Lavon never got resolution once he and AB got together, that's sort of a lose thread. I'm not sold on either pairing, but it would be cool to see the show play with these possibilities. It's good to see the main players in storylines together, instead of the problematic "exiled to a subplot with guest actors" scenario a la George/Tansy or George/Lynly.
At Lemon's second welcome home party, a fabulous flapper affair, AB again won the best-dressed award. Earlier, she'd had to avoid awkward run-ins with Lavon and explain to Lemon her new position back in the Belles. While she didn't get too much focus this week, it's good to see Annabeth standing her ground and working on getting over Lavon (though it is clearly still painful, as we gleaned from her cutely speedy summary of her heartbroken state to Crickett) and reuniting with her bff Lemon.
Enrique and Carter inevitably collided, despite Lemon's carefully orchestrated schedule for their visits, but instead of dumping her, they both decided to stick around and fight it out for her love. That last scene between the three at the gazebo was unstoppably funny, and really shows how having Lemon back automatically fixes a lot of Hart of Dixie's recent problems. Now we just need to see Zoe get out of her plot rut and back into Wade's arms!
What did you think of this week's Hart of Dixie? Are you excited that the show is finally back? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Another excellent review as usual! It was good to have Lemon back. Although I don´t
ReplyDeletefind her to be the best actress on the show, Jaime King is adorable and brings
a certain energy with her and Lemon is a breath of fresh air on the show right
now. I agree with you to a certain degree about Vivian and Joel. I like both
the characters and the actors, but by now they seem to be nothing more than a
plot device to keep Zoe and Wade apart until their inevitable reunion and that
does not seem fair to the characters. Regarding George and Lemon, I´m not sure
how I would feel about them getting close again. In a way it closes the circle
to have them end up together after all they have been through and that also
makes way for AB and Lavon to also end up together, but as you mentioned, we
never got a closure on the Lavon and Lemon story and if I remember correctly
Lemon was still in love with Lavon when she found out about AB´s feelings for
him and she backed away as a gesture to her best friend. I too think that Lemon
may be the reason Lavon can´t commit to AB and I also feel we missed out on
seeing a real relationship between Lemon and Lavon since it had already started
when the show started and as it was an affair it cast a shadow upon the
relationship. But you have to think there were some major feelings between them
for them to cheat on George, a best friend to Lavon and Lemon´s boyfriend for
what, 15 years? But if they go there again with Lemon and Lavon (which I
secretly hope is the case) I´m worried about my AB, since she has already said
that Lavon is the love of her life. Anyhow, this comment is already way too long
but I can´t seem to stop myself regarding this little show and its characters.
Now we just need to have a confirmation what we will get another (maybe final)
season so we can wrap up all the stories and remedy some things that have
happened this season, mainly in regards to Zoe and Wade.
So, so happy to be back to what makes HOD so fun! Plus the added bonus of Joel only being in a few short scenes. I had been wanting to see Magnolia again. Bringing her back at the same time as Lemon was great. I know the actress has another show so we won't see her much but I am glad she didn't "go to boarding school" and never come back at all. I am also curious if Levon has feeling for Lemon still since he couldn't commit to AB. I'm not sure how that would work now that AB has also been with him (and he broke her heart!) but it could be interesting.
ReplyDeleteGreat points! Thanks for reading and commenting. :)
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this episode, especially the Z/J scenes because there was tension that is leading to breakup in every one. I also enjoyed the Lemon/Wade road trip that was reminiscent of last season's finale and the interesting twist of Vivian's history with Lemon.
ReplyDeleteI agreed with your thoughts on Magnolia's return. I had forgotten how funny she was.
To finish up, I just want to say I was happy that HOD has returned, and I hope I am not watching the final episodes because there is so much potential material for a season 4.
Word, I totally want that tension to lead to a break-up. I like Joel, but enough's enough. Zade FTW :)
ReplyDeleteThis season has been incredibly underwhelming so far, but this was probably one of the best yet. Still I'm finding myself asking when is Joel going back to NY? I think I may finally get my wish next week after looking over the next to episode summaries. Looks like we may be one step closer to Zoe/Wade reunion. Anyway, back to the episode. Lemon's presence has been terribly missed and her friendship with Wade is what has kept me going since the Zade break up so I was extremely happy it was tons of it this episode. Zoe/Joel boring. Wade/Vivian dull. But I think I'm more partial to Vivian, I guess bc she doesn't take up so much screen time like Joel. I'm really interested in Lemon/Lavon, they had a cute moment in the ep, I really want them back together. Although, I really like the Enrique guy, he is totally hot. I think George and Lemon will either kiss or sleep together but realize it is a mistake. I don't see them going back down that path again. I really think it will be Lemon/Lavon, especially after the AB situation and him basically saying she wasn't the love of his life.
ReplyDeleteI hate Joel and it's a shame because I don't want to. I don't mind his character, he has his funny moments. This season I felt like kid being told by my parents that carrots are yummy and when I didn't eat them and demanded icecream they force-fed them to me - everyday, all day - because they thought if I eat enough, I'll eventually like carrots. That rarely works and it hasn't either with Joel. I understand why he is there and I like the idea before the season. I can even see how having them break up in 316 to mirror 216 works (314 had many similarities to 214). If Joel had been like Vivian and only showing up where he was needed, allowing Zoe to have story lines that didn't revolve around her relationship then I would have been fine with him. I don't mind VW at all because a) She isn't around a lot and b) ZJ need to end before VW for story purposes.
ReplyDeleteAs for this episode, I thought it was the best of the season as a whole. The core cast got to interact again even if Zoe is still stuck with Joel (and her mom). I'm afraid that won't change until Joel leaves.
As for Lavon and AB, LG told us in November that they were still coming with obstacles for the couple as of 316 so either LAB is the story going forward or LG was lying to avoid people knowing about the break up. I'm not invested in the couple nor Lemon/George, but I hope the go the LAB/GL route simply because GL is the best story to tell and it means less guest stars for romantic purposes.
Thank you, and you made some excellent points. I totally agree!
ReplyDelete