“He wasn’t interested in dating”: Sweet Magnolias showrunner explains why Isaac’s sexuality wasn’t revealed until season 4

Sweet Magnolias Season 4 has included a long-awaited plot as Isaac, played by Chris Medlin, finally gets a love interest. The Netflix romantic drama takes place in the fictional town of Serenity, South Carolina, and tells the stories of townspeople whose lives are intertwined in one way or the other.

Isaac is introduced in season 1 as a chef at Dana Sue’s restaurant, Sullivan's. His parentage is integral to the plot in all four seasons as the boy moves to Serenity to find his biological parents.

However, his love life never comes to the forefront, until season 4, when he finally meets Michael, and sparks fly between the two. This plot also addresses Isaac’s sexuality, revealing he is gay.

Sweet Magnolias showrunner, Sheryl J. Anderson, has opened up about what took them so long to reveal Isaac’s sexuality in the show. Anderson said Isaac was not romantically involved with anyone for three seasons, as he was still getting comfortable with who he was.

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Sheryl J. Anderson talks about why Isaac’s sexuality wasn’t addressed until Sweet Magnolias Season 4

Sheryl J. Anderson recently had an interview with Deadline, where she discussed why the writers never included a plot about Isaac’s romantic life or sexuality until season 4.

The showrunner said Isaac was still figuring out how to be comfortable with himself in Serenity, and hence, he did not care about dating anyone:

“He wasn’t interested in dating until he was comfortable with who he was in Serenity.”

With his real parentage getting revealed to everyone in season 4, Isaac is able to be himself and open the doors for a romantic partner in his life. Anderson added:

“Now that everybody — well, anybody who’s interested, but everybody who matters to him — understands his whole story, he was comfortable, and he was open, and a man from his past walked in the door.”

Isaac moved to Serenity from Ohio, where he used to live with his adoptive parents, to search for his biological mom and dad. In season 2, he finds out Peggy Martin is his real mother and Maddie’s ex-husband, Bill, is his father.

The two slept together during a high school trip, but Peggy kept her pregnancy hidden from Bill. In season 4, after Bill’s death, his mother exposes the secret to everyone. With Isaac’s past now out in the open, he feels more comfortable about himself.

Michael, played by Kyle Findley, then enters the scene as he arrives in town to examine the damage caused by a storm. After stumbling upon each other multiple times, Isaac and Michael fall for each other and decide to go out on a date.

Anderson was also asked if the romance will blossom in the potential season 5 of Sweet Magnolias. The showrunner said she herself is looking forward to exploring what the future has in store for Isaac and Michael:

“I look forward to the chance and the hope of being able to ponder what happens next.”

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Sweet Magnolias Season 4 is now streaming on Netflix.