Hart of Dixie - Episode 3.06 - Family Tradition - Review: A Tale of Family

In this episode, family took center stage as we got to meet more of Zoe’s extended family in the Wilkes clan. Also AnnaBeth’s parents stopped by for a visit to nudge Lavon and AB further along in their relationship. Wade has been getting too close to the help which is annoying Lemon. Lynly continued to wear George down.

Crashing the party. Zoe and Joel decide to look for another place to live after Dash keeps intruding on their privacy because apparently locks don’t exist on doors in BlueBell. (side note: Thank you Dash!) They find the perfect place to rent except it is owned by the cousin of Zoe’s father, Harley Wilkes. Zoe hasn’t had any interest in meeting more of the Wilkes clan after Aunt Maureen tried to turn her into a Belle and has ignored the various invitations they have sent. After witnessing two sisters bicker and make up, Zoe rents Dolphin Tale to learn more about the important family bond. Realizing that she may have been missing out on something important in her life, she drags Joel along to crash an 8 year old’s birthday party to meet all of the Wilkes at once. Zoe gets cold feet once at the party and introduces herself as “Chloe” and Joel as the party’s entertainment so she can get a feel for her new family. Zoe bonds with her cousin, Vivian Wilkes, and after being warmly invited by all Zoe decides that she is going to tell them who she really is. Zoe’s reveal isn’t received well by Vivian who tells her that she hasn’t put anything into being part of the family.

This was another one of Zoe’s harebrained ideas to crash a party and then lie about who she really was. It is becoming quite clear why Joel, although a nice guy, is not the right guy for Zoe. He never challenges her. He just goes along with whatever crazy idea she comes up with to keep her happy. Zoe is learning too late that she has missed out on things because she just couldn’t be bothered to put in the effort to establish a relationship with people. She keeps everyone at a distance until it benefits her without regard for their feelings or thoughts in the matter. Hopefully in time, Zoe can establish a relationship with her Wilkes family since she has learned that she wants to be a part of the family.

Marry our daughter, please! AnnaBeth is a little too eager for Lavon to go to Vegas with his buddies which makes him suspicious. He cancels his plans and shows up at AnnaBeth’s to discover that her parents are in town. AB hasn’t told her parents that she was dating Lavon because of the intense Alabama-Auburn football rivalry. Lavon throws a barbeque so her parents can get to know him better. AB’s parents show up wearing Crimson Tide jerseys with Lavon’s number on them. Throughout the visit, AB’s parents drop some not so subtle hints that they would love for Lavon to marry AB which eventually causes AB to tell them to mind their own business. After AB’s parents leave, AB admits to Lavon that after she thought he was going to propose at Halloween that is all she can think about. She asks that he just let her know if ever their paths are different, but she didn’t want to rush him nor was she issuing an ultimatum.

To me this seems to be setting things up for AB and Lavon to eventually break up. It doesn’t seem like Lavon is on the same page as AB. And now that it is out there that she wants to get married it is just a matter of time before things come to a head.

Giving in. Lynly is convinced that George is finding excuses to run into her so he can see her. Of course George denies it as he is still fighting his attraction to her. And yet George shows up at the Rammer Jammer while Lynly is bartending. He makes an effort by flirting with another girl to prove that he isn’t there to see Lynly. When Lynly disappears, George inquires about her where about only to learn that she is on break and left with another man. George quickly looks for her only to find Lynly waiting outside for him to find her. George reminds Lynly that it isn’t a good idea for them to get involved since they are both dealing with broken hearts. After suggesting to be one another’s bandaid, George gives in and kisses Lynly.

I liked the slow build up and attraction between George and Lynly in the previous episode. In this episode I was back to not caring for it. I do think there is chemistry between them, but I don’t like this version of Lynly. She is very manipulative and was playing games with George. And he fell hook line and sinker which didn’t do him any favors and made him seem like an idiot.

Finding the right fit. Business is booming at the Rammer Jammer which has Lemon and Wade celebrating. Wade has the idea to spend the surplus money on a radio ad to attract more people to the Rammer Jammer. Despite how well business is going, Lemon is becoming increasingly exasperated with Wade and the way things are at the Rammer Jammer. The owner of Fancie’s is looking to retire and approaches Lemon with an offer to sell Fancie’s to her. Lemon is afraid to rock the boat with her partnership with Wade and suggests that they use the surplus money to buy Fancie’s and expand. Wade has no interest in Fancie’s and uses his part of the surplus to buy Lemon out so she can buy Fancie’s on her own. Lemon’s offer was too low and she loses out on the chance to buy Fancie’s. She approaches Wade about letting her come back to the Rammer Jammer which he declines because he knows that she won’t ever be happy or satisfied there. Wade assures Lemon that he knows she’ll find the place that will make her happy and will be the right fit for her. They share a sweet moment where they admit that they are each other’s best friend.

I am happy that Wade is now the sole owner of the Rammer Jammer since it was never the right fit for Lemon. While I’m sad that the partnership is over, I hope that we will continue to have Lemonade friendship moments because these two are great together. What I didn’t like about this storyline was the way Wade was portrayed. He seemed to be thrown under the bus and shown as being incompetent to give Lemon a reason to want to leave. They regressed him all the way back to season 1 where he seems to have lost any of the growth that he had over season 2 and the beginning part of this season. And Lemon is again lost at sea and has to find a new path which I’m sure will happen after Jaime King returns from maternity leave.

Final thoughts. This was my least favorite episode of the season. I wasn’t connected to any of the storylines going on. What was up with no Brick in another episode? I’m also missing the relationships that I am invested in.

What did you think of Zoe’s Wilkes family? Are you sad that Lemon and Wade aren’t partners any longer? Is an engagement or a break up in Lavon and AB’s future?

Tracie
Tracie is a wife and stay-at-home mom of 2 residing in NJ. She likes to unwind with a good book or in front of the TV.. She is an avid reader of romance books. She likes to cook and bake. She loves to exercise and is trying to live a healthier life style. She watches a wide variety of TV shows ranging from reality TV to scripted dramas. Some of her past and current favorite TV shows are Sex and the City, Charmed, The Good Wife, and Hart of Dixie.