Sweet Magnolias season 1 on Netflix left a burning question unanswered until the shocking season 2 reveal: who is Isaac’s dad in Sweet Magnolias and what about his mom? Isaac Downey (Chris Medlin) and many fans of the show thought the obvious answer was Dana Sue (Brook Elliott) since her time outside Serenity was a mystery up until this point. Sweet Magnolias primarily focuses on several characters living and working in a small town: restaurateur Dana Sue and her two best friends, Maddie Townsend (JoAnna Garcia Swisher), a newly single mother of three, and Helen Decatur (Heather Headley), a powerful attorney who dreams of becoming a mother.

They live in the small town of Serenity, South Carolina, where gossip and a lot of drama are always in play. As the season progresses, the worlds of the supporting characters, such as the children in town and the Sweet Magnolias’ various past and present love interests, come to the forefront. The audience’s attention, in part, is brought to Isaac, a young newcomer to Serenity who works at Dana Sue’s restaurant. Isaac’s parents remained a mystery, and their discovery was a major plot point for Isaac’s character, primarily shaping his motivations and decision-making. So, who is Isaac’s mom in Sweet Magnolias, and what about his father?

Isaac’s Parents Are Bill & Peggy

Isaac was quite a mystery in the first several episodes, but in Sweet Magnolias season 1, episode 6, it was revealed that Isaac moved to town in search of his birth parents. Up until the big reveal, there was very little information to go on about the identity of Isaac’s parents, and the only thing he knows is that he’s of mixed race and that his birth mother is from Serenity. Like many of the young characters in Sweet Magnolias, Isaac is hoping to find love and belonging.

In Sweet Magnolias season 2, Isaac’s parents were actually revealed to be local reporter Peggy Martin (Brittany L. Smith), who was Isaac’s mom in Sweet Magnolias, and his father is none other than Maddie’s husband, Bill Townsend (Chris Klein). While audiences expected reporter Peggy Smith to be his mother, viewers were thrown for a loop when it was revealed that Bill Townsend is Isaac’s biological father. Isaac found out that Peggy was his mother through a bible that was gifted to him as a child. As for Bill, who is Isaac’s father in Sweet Magnolias, Peggy told Isaac the truth: that the two had a one-night stand when she was 16.

What Happened After Isaac Learned The Truth

While Isaac had asked two people if they were his parents, he initially completely missed Peggy, who is Isaac’s mom in Sweet Magnolias, which was understandable. Peggy’s Sweet Magnolias season 1 appearance was a brief five episodes, but her short arc remained revealing. Peggy had a rivalry with Helen since high school, and in Sweet Magnolias’ season 1 finale, she alluded to a potential familiar heartbreak at the hands of Helen’s ex, Ryan Wingate, which was why many believed that Ryan was Isaac’s father. She’s often portrayed as a villain out to get the Sweet Magnolias, but the show suggests that she’s much more than a jealous woman.

Peggy mentioned to Helen that she missed their high school prom because her family moved away for senior year. After Sweet Magnolias’ season 1 cliffhanger ending, it was revealed in season 2 that Peggy left Serenity to go through her pregnancy and give birth to Isaac. It would make sense that Peggy would want to keep a secret love child to herself, with fear of the consequences, even all these years later. As well, Bill, who is Isaac’s father in Sweet Magnolias, had moved on and started a life with Maddie, and he didn’t even know that he fathered a child with Peggy in the first place.

Therefore, Isaac’s parents have a lot to lose when it comes to revealing their secret rather than just keeping it. In Sweet Magnolias season 2, audiences find out about Isaac’s parents through two separate incidents. The first was a Bible and newspaper records of Isaac’s birth that confirmed Peggy as his mother. Peggy admitted she had a one-night stand with Bill during her junior year of high school, resulting in the pregnancy. Out of all the Sweet Magnolia characters, no one expected Bill to be Isaac’s dad.

Ryan departed Serenity at the end of season 2, but he made a dramatic return just to flip the switch on Helen and propose. Audiences were obviously let down by the realization that Ryan is not one of Isaac’s parents. However, the fact that Isaac’s father is Bill in Sweet Magnolias just adds even more drama to the mix and had major repercussions in the series going forward. Just like Peggy, Isaac has a curious mind with smart instincts, so his investigations led him to Peggy and Bill in Sweet Magnolias.

What Happened To Isaac & His Parents In Season 3

Sweet Magnolias season 3 and its cast saw little headway in the Isaac’s parents plot thread, instead focusing on Isaac’s time taking over for Erik as sous chef at Dana Sue’s restaurant during his absence. However, the Sweet Magnolias season 3 ending did set up the fact that Isaac’s parentage will be a much bigger deal going into season 4. While the reveal that Bill, who is Isaac’s dad in Sweet Magnolias, fathered yet another child is sure to have monumental effects on his relationship with Maddie and their children, it’s also set to have a big impact on Isaac’s relationship with Noreen.

The pair have a sweet friendship, both feeling like outsiders in Serenity, yet finding a kinship with one another. In the Sweet Magnolias season 3 finale, Isaac says that he has to tell Noreen something, which is likely the fact that he is Bill’s son and therefore her daughter Rebecca’s half-brother. At this point in Sweet Magnolias, the only two people who know that Bill is Isaac’s dad are Isaac and Peggy. Whether Isaac reveals his big secret to Noreen, who might end up telling Bill despite their own tumultuous relationship, remains to be seen. Regardless, Isaac’s parentage plot thread is set to be a bigger focus in Sweet Magnolias season 4.