There are certain shows on television that society collectively views as guilty pleasures, comfort binges, and easy-to-watch entertainment. On Netflix, Emily in Paris, Virgin River, and Ginny & Georgia perfectly fit the bill as addictive dramedies set in picturesque places, starring incredibly attractive talents. On the surface, the shows seem all fun and frothy. But Ginny & Georgia Season 3 serves as a refreshing reminder that beyond cheesiness, outrageous drama, and soapy storylines, guilty pleasures can feature powerful performances, thoughtful writing, and relatable emotions worthy of serious praise.
When I first found out that Georgia Miller (Brianne Howey) would be on trial for murder in Season 3 of Sarah Lampert’s hit series, I was admittedly ready to spend a full season eye-rolling, cackling, and groaning at the ridiculousness of it all. Don’t get me wrong, I did all of those things in moderation, but in Season 3’s biggest twist, I also found myself regularly reduced to tears over meaningful, moving performances.
Fear not! The show is still jam-packed with jaw-dropping twists and unrealistic turns. It’s trauma after trauma, and after two seasons of the uniquely wild ride, some fans may be too fatigued to continue. But in my mind, the way that a guilty pleasure executes its inconceivable chaos determines its watchability and worth, and Ginny & Georgia’s cast leveled up to ensure its most explosive season yet also featured its most impressive acting.
With the “Mayoress Murderess” facing life in prison for killing Tom Fuller, Georgia’s damning past (including two other kills) comes back to haunt her and ultimately tears her meticulously-crafted life to shreds. When her loved ones turn on her and she’s separated from her children, the polished, put-together person we’ve watched run the show for two seasons loses her signature sparkle and becomes a defeated, hopeless husk. On the bright side, Georgia’s rock bottom gives rise to a series-great performance from Howey that will have viewers sobbing alongside her.
From the start of the series, Howey has portrayed the Southern sweetheart and her sour past with impressive precision, but her ability to fully immerse herself in and empathize with her character’s fears, anguish, and regrets takes her acting to new heights this time around. Despite knowing that Georgia straight-up murdered three people, you can’t help but feel and root for her to get away scot-free; a direct testament to Howey’s stirring scenes. Ginny & Georgia is far from prestige TV, but I dare you to watch Howey pour her heart out over Season 3’s 10 episodes and tell me she’s not doing Emmy-worthy work as Mother. And she’s not the only star who steps up…
Without spoiling anything, as Ginny and Austin navigate their challenging Season 3 realities and race to rescue their mom from the consequences of her actions, Antonia Gentry and Diesel La Torraca dive deeper into their characters’ emotions as well. Nothing chokes me up quite like a heartbreaking mother/child storyline, and watching Ginny and Austin grieve and desperately try to regain their footing as that foundation crumbled around them had my eyes leaking again.
While Georgia’s kids are forced to forgo typical childhoods and mature at lightning-fast paces, other Season 3 standouts, like Marcus (Felix Mallard) and Maxine (Sara Waisglass), feel stuck. As Marcus struggles with alcohol addiction and depression, so much of Mallard’s brilliance comes from subtle physicality and silent, internal angst made external. He palpably taps into his character’s inner demons and bares his soul on-screen in ways we didn’t see those first two seasons, and I hope he finds opportunities to flex those dramatic chops again in his career. Meanwhile, as Max fears for her brother’s safety while feeling abandoned by her friends, her chipper, overenthusiastic personality retreats and is replaced by painfully authentic ruminations on self-doubt that showcase Waisglass’ range and hopefully tee up a deeper Season 4 storyline. Were the elementary and high school experiences in Ginny & Georgia anywhere close to mine? Hell no. But I cried, nonetheless, because these young actors — including Katie Douglas, who thankfully gets more screen time as Abby — so skillfully access universally relatable emotions that are easy to empathize with.
The bottom line? Yes, Ginny & Georgia Season 3 is overly unrealistic and deeply dramatic. Some might argue it tries to tackle too much. But it also gives main and supporting characters alike the chance to shine brighter than before. Amidst deeply unserious storylines lies serious heart, so if you fully embrace the guilty pleasure, you’ll tear up, you’ll rage, and you’ll stress! But you’ll also have fun, swoon, and laugh out loud through the mess. And in true Ginny & Georgia fashion, just when your heart rate starts to slow, you’ll a juicy cliffhanger will throw you off balance again and leave you wanting more.
Ginny & Georgia Season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.