Hart of Dixie

Plot

The first season follows Zoe Hart as she adapts to Bluebell after failing to get a fellowship in New York due to poor bedside manner. She inherits half of a medical practice from a biological father she never knew, but must attract 30% of the patients to keep her share, a challenge given her clashes with locals. Zoe develops feelings for attorney George Tucker, whose fiancée Lemon Breeland suspects this and tries to drive Zoe away. Meanwhile, neighbor Wade Kinsella harbors his own feelings for Zoe, and the mayor Lavon Hayes becomes her friend.

Season two opens with Zoe confused between George and Wade after sleeping with Wade the night of George and Lemon's aborted wedding. She eventually chooses Wade, while George dates Shelby Sinclair and later Tansy Truitt. Lemon's jealousy drives away Lavon's former sweetheart Ruby Jeffries. At season's end, Zoe must choose between a summer in New York at her dream job and Wade, whose feelings she cannot return.

Annabeth begins a relationship with Lavon, betraying Lemon. Season three begins with Zoe returning from New York with a new boyfriend, Joel. George finds love with Lavon's younger cousin, Lemon enters a scandalous relationship, and Annabeth hopes for more with Lavon. Zoe learns about her family roots in Bluebell, breaks up with Joel, and reunites with Wade.

Production

The CW ordered a pilot for Hart of Dixie on February 1, 2011, and picked it up to series on May 17, 2011, for fall 2011. The series marked the second collaboration between executive producer Josh Schwartz and star Rachel Bilson, who previously worked together on The O.C.. Schwartz compared the show to Felicity, Everwood, and Gilmore Girls. The series aired Mondays at 9:00 pm Eastern following Gossip Girl, premiering September 26, 2011.

On October 12, 2011, it received a full season order of twenty-two episodes. The CW renewed the show for a second season on May 11, 2012, which premiered October 2, 2012, and for a third season on April 26, 2013. Rachel Bilson was reported near a deal to star on February 8, 2011, later confirmed. Wilson Bethel joined as Wade Kinsella, and Scott Porter as George Tucker.

Nancy Travis left after two episodes due to commitments with Last Man Standing. Meredith Monroe appeared as Lemon's estranged mother, JoBeth Williams as Candice Hart. Kaitlyn Black was upgraded to series regular for season three.

Reception

The first season received mixed reviews, scoring 43 out of 100 on Metacritic. TVGuide.com described the show as Southern Exposure and noted the actors were better than the cutesy material, though Bilson was not convincing as a heart surgeon. Both TVGuide.com and Robert Bianco of USA Today found the show potentially offensive to the South; Bianco called it shallow and far-fetched. Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter said it was predictable and superficial but surprisingly touching.

Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times wrote that the premiere did not find a convincing balance among its clashing strands. Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times described it as a stack of familiar scenarios stitched into a pretty but insubstantial quilt. TVLine called it Everwood-esque and praised the warm, cozy filming and Bilson's glow, though noted rom-com clichés. TV Times magazine gave Hart of Dixie its lowest score of 2011–2012: 12 out of 100.