There aren’t many shows from the early 2000s I rewatch. Despite my deep love for them, it’s almost unbearable sometimes to sit through the drama of what they bring. Yet, surprisingly, that’s not the case with Hart of Dixie. Maybe it’s the romance author and fan in me, or maybe it’s the fact that it’s simply comforting that makes it one of the easier ones to go back to.
1. Hart of Dixie Is Fun
A good chunk of the show is so similar to Virgin River, yet Hart of Dixie is significantly less dramatic. There are no shootings or heavy topics that might be triggering for viewers. It’s a true romantic comedy in the sense that every part of it is light enough to turn on a rainy day without being blindsided by a beloved character dying. (This also isn’t me knocking Virgin River because I also watch it, but it’s certainly not what I turn to when I need an escape.)
If you’re completely new to the show, you might be wondering why on earth I’m even comparing the two of them. It’s solely because it follows a similar premise of a big-city girl moving to a small town to work at a clinic where Tim Matheson also owns the clinic.
And well—the romance of it all.
2. The Romance Is Everything
Zoe Hart and Wade Kinsella—that’s it. They’re the reason. I’m only half joking, but I’m not because Rachel Bilson and Wilson Bethel are perfect in bringing to life one of the most glorious depictions of an opposites attract relationship. The whole—anyone but you, one time to get it out of our systems (except it’s not), forced proximity, and banter for days. Their relationship is also the only one where, despite my abhorrence for the cheating trope, forgiveness feels earned here, and the narrative is compelling enough to understand why it happens.
Hart of Dixie does everything in its power to iron out and develop the romances in a way that feels thoroughly deserved. And it’s not just Zoe and Wade, but how other relationships pan out makes it clear that the show cares about happy endings. The series also presents one of the rare instances where there’s a love triangle that surprisingly makes sense, even when it’s frustrating.
3. Bluebell Is a Dream Small Town
It’s always Stars Hollow this and Stars Hollow that, but we also need to scream about the absolute gem that is Bluebell — a small town featuring a former football player as a mayor and a place where Thanksgiving celebrations come with pirate gear. A story that features a small town has to make the location as memorable as the people, and Bluebell is the exact type of town that has this charm.
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It’s a place that feels so silly and so obscure at times, but given the real state of the world right now, take me somewhere like this right away. It’s guaranteed to become one of those small towns that viewers will undoubtedly adore. (Just ask anyone who’s already watched the show twenty times.)
4. The Characters Are Precious Beans
There are few shows where almost every character leaves a mark, but that’s the riveting detail in Hart of Dixie that works. With the exception of some players in Season 3, the majority of the show is full of gripping characters that you’ll remember, even when they’ve been off the screen longer than they were on it. For instance, there’s a character introduced in the pilot, and we never see them again, but I still think about them occasionally.
There’s much to adore about all the main ones we see for four seasons, but there’s also plenty to appreciate about the guest stars. I dare you to find a mayor better than Lavon Haynes.
5. It’s Short and Sweet and Charming
As much as I would’ve loved more seasons of Hart of Dixie, I do adore how short and sweet the show is. Time is almost nonexistent these days, so it’s always lovely to have something that can be a quick, short binge. I especially adore the show around the summer because there’s something deliciously more charming about it then. It feels like a summer show because it has all the magic that’s in the air, with longer days and possibilities in every corner.
In addition, because the writers were aware in the final season that it’d be the end, we get the type of conclusions that honor the characters without wasting too much time dragging on the drama.
Hart of Dixie is now streaming on Prime Video.
First Featured Image Credit: ©The CW