‘Ginny & Georgia’ Season 3 review: Court is now in session

The skeletons of Georgia’s past have finally caught up with her. Netflix’s Ginny & Georgia Season 3 was an emotionally gripping season for the Millers as they faced the harsh realities of Georgia’s murder trial. After two seasons of rocky adjustments in Wellsbury, Ginny and Austin nearly saw a world without their mother.

However, like the trial, the third season shone a dark light on the quiet town of Wellsbury as everyone’s secrets started coming out in the open. Ginny & Georgia Season 3 is heavy, so prepare yourselves for a few tears, some cheers, and a handful of fears for what came to our favorite characters.

Like mother, like daughter

The trial’s unfolding was at the heart of Ginny & Georgia Season 3. The testimonies, the evidence, the plotting, and the stress that it put on the family. While Ginny and Georgia’s mother-daughter dynamic has been chaotic, this trial flipped it on its head. Georgia was relegated to a reality where Ginny (and even Austin) was living their life without her. And as such, Georgia was losing control over everything. Meanwhile, Ginny grew over the season as she faced many tough decisions due to her actions. However, she inadvertently grew into the person she swore she never wanted to become: her mother.

This duality was an interesting change of pace because it forced Ginny and Georgia to separate, allowing them to grow on their paths before reuniting. And while the growth wasn’t always for the best reasons, it exposed the strength of their relationship and what lessons they’ve learned. I liked where their bond ended up – an acknowledgement that they loved each other and that Georgia couldn’t protect (or control) Ginny forever. A place where Georgia learned to trust and let people in. And a reality where Ginny understood and would protect her family at all costs.

All is not well in Wellsbury

Besides the family dynamics, it was how the trial affected the town and their friends at large that strengthened the weight of an already tense plot. I liked this direction for Ginny & Georgia Season 3 because it exposed the true nature and realities of the entire Wellsbury cast. Ginny, Georgia, and all the core family members have dealt with the consequences of Georgia’s past, but those plots have stayed contained to the family. In this development, we saw how these people reacted when exposed to the truth and pushed against the fire.

For example, Ellen’s uncertainties over Georgia felt realistic to her character. Georgia was her best friend, and while she might have agreed with the moral weight of the murder, she still debated over the fact that she didn’t truly know the “real” Georgia Miller. On the other hand, Paul, who claimed to love Georgia, folded immediately when faced with adversity. He was ready to bail the moment when Georgia’s life was going to affect his reputation and political career. Paul was exposed as the selfish and power-hungry man he had truly been all along.

Ginny & Georgia Season 3 did a great job of strengthening and shredding the images that had been built in seasons past. And it’s in those actions that the character development occurs in both good and bad ways. We’ll never forget how Zion betrayed Georgia to get custody or how, once again, Max was Ginny’s truest friend, who rallied Norah, Abby, and everyone else to not bail on Ginny. Ginny & Georgia Season 3 painted a clear picture of Wellsbury, one we may not have prepared ourselves for in previous seasons. Who knew that all the adult men of Wellsbury were trash? (Maybe not Joe. Joe is good.)

A depressing truth

Outside of the trial, the Marcus and Max plot lines added the most emotional heartbreak to follow over the 10 episodes. Starting with Marcus, it was a fascinating case study of how far people were willing to go to not admit there was a bigger problem. Marcus’s depression played a big part in Ginny & Georgia Season 2, but this time, it felt like his family and friends enabled the situation. They acknowledged a problem, and they wanted him to get better – there was just no accountability for the parts they played in his downfall. This storyline was a perfect example of how not addressing a situation ultimately enables the problem to grow, whether directly or indirectly.

For example, why did Silver not think it was a problem when she kept buying him alcohol? Or Ellen and Clint not acknowledging Max’s worries about Marcus’s growing alcoholism? Sure, everyone was focused on their struggles and issues throughout Ginny & Georgia Season 3. However, there were clear warning signs that something was going on, like Abby knowing Marcus drunkenly trashed the office, to Ginny seeing how Marcus was visibly detached from everything. No one either cared or wanted to have that serious conversation. Max deserves credit for trying and not giving up on her brother.

One is the loneliest number

Speaking of Max, did anyone else hate how her friends and family treated her this season? Whereas Marcus dealt with people seeing his depression and them doing nothing, Max dealt with the reverse. Specifically, people ignore Max’s concerns and deem her “too much,” actively invalidating or excluding her from their lives. I enjoyed how Ginny & Georgia Season 3 tackled this plot line because the payoff landed so strongly by “It’s Time for My Solo”. You didn’t realize what was truly going on with Max until we were inside her head and felt her thoughts. All the subtle facial reactions, her friends excluding her, and what her loved ones said about her amounted to a huge problem that no one took seriously.

While many can say it’s karma for her actions during Ginny & Georgia Season 2, Max still grew to forgive those who had betrayed her. She started this season on a strong note with ‘M-A-N-G’ and continually prioritized supporting the people in her life. However, the sum of all its parts shows how everyone let her down. How the “overly dramatic” person may be the one who cares the most and has a lot going on in their life, too.

This storyline was a perfect example of how many are unwilling to understand others, and how simple words/actions can negatively affect someone if you don’t care. Ginny, the “best friend,” couldn’t care less about how great of a friend Max could be. Let’s not forget she only checked in on Max because she wanted to see or get updates on Marcus! She’s not a good friend; the same goes for Abby and Norah. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll notice (or care about) Max’s changes after everything she’s gone through.

Overall

Ginny & Georgia Season 3 was a darker and emotionally rich season for the Netflix drama. Both Ginny and Georgia dealt with many huge changes in their lives, ones that will affect them forever. The trial pushed them to face harsh realities, and the town of Wellsbury spiraled into the chaos that it brought to their lives. If you rooted for certain characters before Season 3, you might just change your tune and wish their downfall. But this tension-filled, emotional roller coaster season will have you hooked to see what happens next, especially after that shocking cliffhanger!

Ginny & Georgia Season 3 is available to stream on Netflix.

Justin Carreiro

Justin is a fun-loving geek living in downtown Toronto, Canada. He’s an avid TV buff, movie fan, and gamer. He’s written for publications like Entertainment Weekly’s The Community, Virgin, TV Fanatic, FANDOM, The Young Folks, and his blog, City Boy Geekiness.