HOLLYWOOD—This fall’s television season has been off to an amazing start with some fresh shows fans have come to adore.  It’s not often that a drama immediately connects with an audience, but the CW’s “Hart of Dixie” has just the right amount of spunk and excitement to keep viewers tuning in.  Most of that success should be attributed to the actors who make up the ensemble including “OC” native Rachel Bilson.  She’s adorable; her smile captivates.  She brings a vitality, warmth and attitude to a character most audiences would instantaneously dislike, but that’s not the case here. 

The premise of the series follows Zoe Hart (Bilson), a new doctor with huge aspirations and a career path she has predetermined.  After being looked over for the position she worked so hard for in the Big Apple she finds herself relocating to Bluebell, Alabama to practice medicine.  She immediately feels out of her element; no big city, no abundance of citizens, its pretty quiet.  The doctor who offered her the position has passed away leaving Zoe a bit dumbfounded, but in time she learns she has connections to this southern town.  It’s easy to understand that her sass comes from her snotty mother, JoBeth Williams, whose been keeping a huge secret from her daughter; her father was the man who left the small medical practice to her.

Hurt by the revelation, she realizes that she is destined to stay in this small town to assist its citizens, but not everyone is a fan of hers.  Her arch-nemesis turns out to be the beautiful and debonair, Lemon Breeland played by Jamie King.  Lemon is the girl you love to hate, but her antics are bit questionable.  She senses the attraction between her fiancé George (Scott Porter) and Zoe.  It’s a love triangle bound to become more complicated as time passes.  Zoe knows George is off limits, but she finds herself attracted to her annoying neighbor Wade (Wilson Bethel), Bluebell’s resident bad boy.  As a viewer, there is hope that George and Zoe will find each other.

“Hart of Dixie” packs just enough drama that doesn’t overwhelm the audience or push the envelope to much.  The audience is given the opportunity to see Zoe help a troubled young lady delivery her baby.  She even saved a man from a life threatening accident and stitched up her crush George, after he was struck by a car.  There’s also plenty of feuding between Zoe and her medical partner Brick Breeland (Tim Matheson).  He’d love to see her make one mistake so that he can take over the practice, but if anything she knows what is at stake. 

Jamie King portrays Lemon Breeland on "Hart of Dixie."

The series takes the time to highlight that constant rivalry between living in a small town or the big city.  We see that in a small town it’s much easier to connect with citizens, whereas in a big city people are distant and less connected.  The town of Bluebell is a character in the series itself.  If anything, “Hart of Dixie” is an indicator that drama travels in all places.  When the layers are pulled back we get to see the real person underneath, it just takes time to get rid of that protective shield that is used. “Hart of Dixie” airs Mondays at 9pm on the CW Network.

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