It seems Sweet Magnolias has more in common with The Vampire Diaries universe than just filming locations. They also share lore and legends. Or at least, that’s what the show would have us believe.
In Sweet Magnolias, Season 4 Episode 3, when Ty suggests building werewolf traps down by the river as TyAnnie and KyleLily’s double date activity, Kyle recounts “a pretty freaky story about a werewolf and vampire that had a baby.” Alas, if only they knew Serenity’s past as Mystical Falls.
Many fans, however, noticed the little easter egg from the episode, with one X user even commenting “Hope Mikealson you’ll always be famous.”
Damn straight, Hope Mikaelson will always be famous. To correct Lily, it’s not a “were-bat baby.” She is the Tribrid; as Hope said, there is no monster like her.
For me and most TVD universe fans, this moment was a nod to Covington’s history. It adds hilarity when Annie says protecting the town from the supernatural sounds like a great double date idea. Oh, Annie. I can tell you right now that if you ask any of the previous residents of Mystic Falls, it’s never a good idea to get involved in fighting the supernatural. What you feel might be an exciting time turns into your only time.
Might wanna stick to rollerblading.
Besides the lore and legends of the supernatural, another omen of doom connects us to The Vampire Diaries series finale. To refresh your memory, in TVD, the clock tower bell played an integral part in the town’s potential destruction by hellfire. Luckily, Bonnie saves the day. And then Stefan makes the ultimate sacrifice. Interestingly, Serenity’s town crisis ramps up as soon as the clock tower starts ringing.
The hurricane may have spurred the bell to ring, but the crisis surrounding the town’s financial status only became dire and public knowledge after the ringing started. If the city is not financially secure, it will go bankrupt. Those bells seem quite an ode to destruction in this town, no matter the story. But they also seem to mark the start of an “all hands on deck approach.” What follows are some of our most empowering and heartbreaking scenes.
Speaking of town mishaps, I think there needs to be an honourable mention of the parallels between Ronnie and Damon, our resident bad boys. When everyone assumed Ronnie was the culprit of the Castlewood High mascot napping, several people asked him, only to have him deny it each time. This reminds me of when Damon was asked if he blew up the town council. He responds with, “Am I wearing my I blew up the council t-shirt?” Clearly, both these guys are suspects, no matter the case.
There is a word that describes the feeling I get from this town and these two shows: Hiraeth. It means the “deep longing for something, especially one’s home.” Personally, the scenery always reminds me of a faraway home, and summer almost instantly comes to mind. There is a subtle beauty in the different genres of stories that this town brings to life and weaves together to feel interconnected.
Overall, it seems the town has a little magic after all. No matter the storyline or time, Covington has always been a place where people feel connected. Where found family and stories transport us to happier times and become a source of solace. For me, and most viewers, it added to the Sweet Magnolias experience to connect these two fandoms.
From supernatural characters to the famous clock tower, Serenity subtly brings us back to our Mystic Falls feels; it feels full circle. Amidst the winter chill, both shows bring about a summer breeze.
Sweet Magnolias Season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.
