RIOTUS

Everything ain’t looking so peachy for Georgia right now. She’s facing a murder charge, her friends and family are divided on whether she’s guilty or not, and the evidence against her is mounting. With public and media opinions spinning the narrative, Georgia must play the part of the innocent Mayoress, which includes keeping control of family secrets. Brianne Howey brings Georgia to vibrant life every time and you’ll relish her on-screen scheming; how’s she gonna get outta this one?

As for Ginny, she’s trying her best to act like all the scrutiny isn’t getting to her, but she’s struggling. Her character development over this season is one of the highlights, as she grows and flourishes in her own ways, taking more agency and finding her voice on a turbulent personal journey. Antonia Gentry brings so much emotion to Ginny, you feel every sting. She does her best to be there for Austin (Diesel La Torraca), who must reconcile the mom he knows and loves with what he witnessed, and what that means for his family. 

With more than Georgia’s freedom on the line, her new husband Paul (Scott Porter) must decide what matters most to him, while Ginny and Austin’s dads (Nathan Mitchell, Aaron Ashmore) step in to help…with differing motives. Joe (Raymond Ablack) also provides an occasional assist; he sees Georgia in ways the others don’t. It’s always been Ginny and Georgia against the world—but now their world involves so many more people, which means more potential for collateral damage…if they don’t fall apart first. The growing pains are real, y’all.

Meanwhile, Ginny’s friends all have their own issues to deal with: Abby (Katie Douglas) explores new dating experiences while still struggling with bulimia; Max (Sara Waisglass) finds it hard to adjust to MANG’s changing dynamics while also dealing with a complicated love triangle; Norah (Chelsea Clark) isn’t sure of who to trust but still finds time to indulge in some fandom fantasy. Marcus’ (Felix Mallard) family rallies around him but he doesn’t know how to accept help without suffocating. The conversations around the raw and difficult pressures facing teenagers are hard to watch but so important to dissect.

Ginny & Georgia has long dabbled in the effects of mental health struggles, but S3 devotes more time to exploring it with a sensitive but steady hand, not shying away even when it gets hard. While the plotlines are often prone to sensationalism—it’s a comedy-drama, after all—the fallout and emotional reactions from the characters feel real and nuanced. The flashbacks to Georgia’s brushes with the law and past dalliances with shady characters show there’s even more to her—and why she is the way she is—with plenty left to explore. Shoutout to Nikki Roumel for her excellent portrayal of young Georgia.

The surprises just keep on coming, with each new revelation perfectly timed to keep you gasping—and the comedic reactions will keep you giggling at the ridiculousness of it all. But while the show does approach each episode with a knowing wink, even the more one-dimensional characters get their time to show their depth. And that keeps you invested…along with figuring out how Georgia can possibly outrun the consequences of her actions. Because no matter how desperate or twisted her choices, you can’t help but root for her and Ginny.

The third season of Ginny & Georgia finally sees the net around the characters closing, forcing them to make hard choices and show us what they’re really capable of. That leads to a surprising amount of heart and a whole lotta drama—and that’s what Ginny & Georgia do best.