Hart of Dixie: Wade Kinsella’s 7 Best Life Lessons
No one ever quite knew what to do with Hart of Dixie.
Premiering in 2011 it was originally framed as the Rachel Bilson post-OC vehicle, like is Summer graduated college and went to Med School. It was a romantic comedy with more quirk than Zooey Deschanel in a Wes Anderson flick, and was oddly out of place among the rising giants of The CW superhero shows and supernatural dramas.
A sort of Gilmore Girls meets Sweet Home Alabama hybrid, it struggled to find its footing the first few episodes out the gate. Once it embraced its true nature as an ensemble show about an oddball town where people care about and love one another, it bloomed into one of the best shows on television. Hard stop.
It developed, it evolved, it allowed itself to ditch the love triangle (mostly) and focus on the fun, love, and support. It was a warm and fuzzy feel-good show, a rare thing to find on TV these days.
Bluebell is packed with gems, and I could wax on about the perfection of Lemon Breeland for months, but no one embodied the show’s transformation more than Wade Kinsella (Wilson Bethel).
A small side character that quickly developed into the competition for the love interest, Wade went from “bad boy on the side” to “heart-stopping leading man” in the space of a few short episodes. Propelled by Bethel’s natural charisma, outrageous chemistry with Bilson and a set of abs that just won’t quit his character grew and evolved, ending the series in a completely different place than where he began.
He also dropped some serious wisdom offering up life advice that is just some straight up solid real talk. Because Wade is perfection, because I still miss Hart of Dixie, and because this is actually a useful reminder, I have collected the 7 best pieces of life advice from Wade Kinsella.
7. Change Your Picture, Change Your Life
Maybe my favorite quote right here, this is all about taking responsibility for your life and your choices.
“You’re always looking over your shoulder wondering what life should be instead of taking it for what it is. You’re not honest about what makes you happy… it was your choice to stay in Bluebell, just like it was your choice to be a G.P. instead of a supersonic space surgeon or whatever. And it was your choice to go to bed with me. Clearly and something about everyone of those choices make you happy. The problem is they don’t match up with the picture you made up in your head about what your life should be.”
6. Get Freaky
As a bartender he was almost always giving love advice, and it was almost always for everyone to go get some. He’s not wrong.
“You’re single for the first time since Clinton was President and you’re spending it alone on boat when you should be naked with strangers, boat optional.”
5. Lady Friends Are Possible
OK, there is no real quote here, but one of the best parts about season three was the development of Lemon and Wade’s friendship without adding in any sort of romantic element. Practically unheard of.
4. Take The Risk
Love is always, always worth the risk.
“Maybe I’m not 100 percent sure that you wouldn’t hurt me if we started things, but I know that I have never felt about anyone the way I feel about you. And I guess that I realized it’s worth the risk.”
3. Owning Up
So, yeah Wade’s not perfect, and this was a bumpy ride, but rather than play games and hide secrets, Wade owned up to his mistakes. It was honest and painful, and frankly a good example for jerk boyfriends everywhere.
“The other day when you asked me, I wanted to pretend it didn’t happen. I couldn’t even admit it to myself. But I did a stupid thing.”
2. Call It Like It Is
Again no quote, but the gif makes up for it! Calling people out for being in love, for hiding something or just being up to general shenanigans, Wade called it like he saw it. Except when he was the one up to shenanigans.
1. Nothing’s Certain
An excellent speech-maker, this nails it. Find one true thing, and don’t let go.
“Life is full of uncertainties, Zoe. But if you have one thing, just one thing, you know is true, you hold onto that.”
So, here’s to trying to bring a little more Wade Kinsella into our everyday lives. If you’ll excuse me I have to go grab some Southern food and binge-watch the whole series again.
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Have a favorite Wade Kinsella moment? Share it in the comments below!
Hart of Dixie is available for streaming on Netflix.
Alice Walker
Alice Walker is a TV junkie looking for her next fix. Writer, reviewer and reporter, she is probably drinking wine and watching TV right this very moment. Role model: Louise Belcher. Friend goals: Egar Quintero. You can follow her TV musings on Twitter: @aliceannwalker
10 comments
This was a great write up not only on Hart of Dixie, but my favorite character Wade. I loved this show and it was really one of a kind. So sad still.
I know! I still haven’t found a show that hit’s that particular niche. And let’s face it, Wade is just everything.
We actually have a petition up to show the creators how much we would love a reunion! It’s such an incredible show and there is nothing like it. http://chng.it/SvYBxRK7 #BringBackHartofDixie #HartofDixie #longlivethehart
I enjoyed reading your summary of Wade’s Words of Wisdom. You brought back memories of a series that I enjoyed and am missing to this day. Hooray for Netflix and Amazon!
My favorite Wade moment was in the pilot episode. Wade and Zoe had just made out in his car, and she came to her senses when she heard his car horn play Dixie. He looked at the as she ranted and gently brushed her hair back. That gesture showed a sensitive side of Wade that made him much more than the Bad Boy that Belles wouldn’t admit to knowing.. As you noted in your piece, Wilson Bethel created a character that became much more than a caricature of Southern Bad Boy. By the end Wade was an esteemed member of the community.
Totally! His non-verbal gestures were outstanding. Wade easily could have been (was possibly meant to be) a one note character that served as an obstacle between Zoe/George.
I really think episode three (Gumbo & Glory) is where Wilson Bethel took Wade to the next level, mixing vulnerability with comedy and attitude. A hard balance to strike, but crazy effective.
I love Wade and miss this show so much. I read that Wilson Bethel is going to be on Blood and Oil, so I will be checking that out.
But I agree that there is nothing out there that replaces Hart of Dixie or Gilmore Girls.
Shannon – I know! I actually intentionally did not watch Astronauts Wives live because HoD just finished airing and I wasn’t quite ready to see him with anyone else yet.
I think enough time has passed, plus it’s set in Texas which means there is a SOLID chance his accent will be back – so I will be tuning in there. Also, aw Chace Crawford, good for you! You get some post Gossip Girl work!
Oh, I hadn’t even thought of the possibility that Wilson would have a southern accent on Blood and Oil. I really missed it on Astronaut Wives Club.
This made me so happy.
Hart of Dixie was such a rarity on television… your description of it being Gilmore Girls meets Sweet Home Alabama is SPOT ON. What I always loved and admired about it was that they never TRIED to be gritty or take themselves too seriously. It was a fun, bright show with happy, quirky characters. It was a bright spot on the darkest of TV landscapes on the CW, which is why they never really knew what to do with it. Had Jane the Virgin come into play sooner, the two would have made for a nice combo night, but there was never a great partner for it.
Did it have the best writing? No. Was it clunky at times? Sure. But I never cared. Watching Hart of Dixie every week just filled my heart with happiness. It also appears that the cast genuinely cared for one another too, which just upped the happiness factor… when actors are having fun, it ALWAYS comes across on screen.
Wade was the breakout character on the show… I don’t think when they shot the pilot, or even as they went through the first few episodes, that they had any idea how the audience was going to take to Wade and really get behind his endeavors. Wilson Bethel stole the spotlight from Scott Porter every week, and that’s why it’s never a question for me about which man was right for Zoe. By the end of the show, I cared most that Wade would get a happy ending, because he took such a great arc through the series going from an annoying bartender neighbor to a successful businessman and father. It was great character development.
Team Wade always.
Thanks for sharing this, giving me all of the HoD feels, and making my Friday! <3
Christina – A Hod/JtV CW lineup would have been UNSTOPPABLE sweetness and love. Oh, what could have been. Totally agree that he was the dark horse, and I love that everyone got a happily ever after. Because that’s what I want for all of them. Such a good show.
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