Credit: Netflix

Sweet Magnolias feels straight like a hug across the screen whenever it arrives on Netflix, and season five is no different. So, it’s only natural that fans want more of it every time they finish it.

While it might be nearly impossible to get more of it besides turning to previous seasons, if you’ve finished Sweet Magnolias and are looking for that same blend of small-town charm, heartfelt friendships, and romantic drama, we’ve got you covered with an excellent batch of shows to follow up with.

Netflix shows like Sweet Magnolias often serve as a soothing, optimistic escape from the cynicism that plagues modern television. Rather than focusing on high-stakes mysteries, dark anti-heroes, or jaw-dropping plot twists, they cater primarily to cosy mood boards.

Therefore, if you’re struggling to fill the void somehow, here are five Netflix shows to watch after Sweet Magnolias season five.

Five shows to binge after Sweet Magnolias season five

Virgin River (Martin Wood, Tim Matheson, Andy Mikita, Monika Mitchell, and Martin Henderson, 2019-Present)

Widely considered as the closest small-town drama, Virgin River follows nurse practitioner and midwife Melinda “Mel” Monroe, who relocates from Los Angeles to a remote Northern California town to start anew. While there, she navigates small-town drama, heals from past tragedies, and falls in love with local bar owner and ex-Marine Jack Sheridan, taking viewers through several key arcs surrounding these characters.

Although Mel initially clashes with Jack due to his baggage, their relationship becomes the anchor with each passing episode. Similar to Sweet Magnolias, Virgin River features a tight-knit community, plenty of romance and intimate character-driven storylines. While it may not be a love letter to female friendship as showcased in Maddie, Dana, and Helen’s bond, the show does convey the cosiness and comfort evocative of the Magnolias.

Firefly Lane (Peter O’Fallon, Lee Rose, Anne Wheeler, Vanessa Parise, Michael Spiller, Shannon Kohli, and Sarah Wayne Callies, 2021-2023)

If you loved the friends-forever aspect of Sweet Magnolias, you can always tune into Firefly Lane on Netflix. Based on Kristin Hannah’s novel of the same name, the American drama series unfolds over three decades, telling the story of two best friends, introverted Kate Mularkey and glamorously troubled Tully Hart, and their increasingly intertwined lives.

From meeting as teenage neighbours in the early 1970s to navigating life’s ups and downs, career huddles, the messiness of love, and tragedy in their 40s, Firefly Lane explores how their bond survives the unthinkable through non-linear jumps across three main eras: turbulent teens, troubling twenties, and muddy mid-life crises, culminating in an explosive finale that guarantees to make you reach out for tissue boxes.

Gilmore Girls (Amy Sherman-Palladino, Daniel Palladino, and David S Rosenthal, 2000-2007)

When it comes to the trope of small-town charm and relatable characters, Gilmore Girls honestly hits all the right notes that Sweet Magnolias leaves you craving for. A classic for a reason, the show is set in the cosy, eccentric town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, and it follows Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter, Rory. The show kicks off with Rory’s acceptance into the prestigious Chilton Preparatory School, an essential stepping stone to make her dream of attending Harvard come true.

But with no option available, Lorelai seeks financial assistance from her wealthy, estranged parents, who ultimately convince the duo to attend non-negotiable Friday dinners. In exchange, the weekly arrangement becomes a recurring backdrop for family chaos, reconciliation, and unexpected drama. While Gilmore Girls excels in the complex family dynamics aspect against the setting of a tight-knit community where gossip travels faster than light, it also seems to be the perfect follow-up to just what you’ve been looking for.

Sullivan’s Crossing (Martiin Wood, Chris Grismer, Jonathan Wright, April Mullen, Gail Harvey, TW Peacocke, Bradley Walsh, and Jerry Ciccoritti, 2023-Present)

In case you love both Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias, you’re missing out on a gem if you’re still skipping Sullivan’s Crossing. Based on Robyn Carr’s books, the drama follows Dr Maggie Sullivan, a successful neurosurgeon living in Boston, whose carefully planned life comes crashing down when a series of legal and professional crises begin piling up. In dire need to regroup and get her life back on track, she retreats to her childhood home.

And that decision takes her right into the heart of a picturesque, rustic campground in Nova Scotia, run by her estranged father, Sully. Upon reaching there, Maggie reconnects with her roots, navigating a tangled web of family secrets and finding herself right in the centre of a slow-burning love triangle. While she does return to escape a professional scandal, Sullivan’s Crossing shows how her plans to run away make her find more than she planned on.

Thank You, Next (2024-Present)

Like Sweet Magnolias, Thank You, Next places a strong emphasis on the “squad.” Although it is more of a modern, fast-paced dramedy set in a bustling city rather than a slow-paced town, it serves well if you’re seeking something that highlights the best-friends-navigating-life trope. The Turkish comedy-drama follows successful lawyer Leyla Taylan, who is grappling with a heart-shattering breakup of her long-term relationship.

As she’s assigned a high-profile divorce case just in time, Thank You, Next centres on Leyla as she tries to figure out modern dating alongside her best friends. After she deals with a complex web of romantic interests, she steps up in the dating game, thanks to a charming man named Cem. But the idyllic tale of romance soon comes crashing down as the downsides of modern dating start hitting her one by one.