Other storylines include Lemon re-entering the dating world and trying to prove herself as an independent woman without George or her father, Brick's relationship with the much younger Shelby, Lavon's election battle against Ruby and their subsequent relationship and George's unexpected relationship with Wade's ex-wife Tansy.
After spending the summer in New York, Zoe makes the decision to return to Bluebell with her new boyfriend Joel (Josh Cooke) although it's clear she still has unresolved feelings for Wade, a situation which is made more uncomfortable as Wade and Joel become good friends.