Cole & Jackie Take Center Stage In Netflix's Romance Series

My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 is a fun new chapter in this cozy romance series that keeps presenting exciting ways for Netflix to bring it back. 2026 has proven itself a great year thus far for those looking for romance series, with multiple new hits and returning shows. Prime Video has had a lot of success with new arrivals like Off Campus and Every Year After, both being book adaptations like My Life With the Walter Boys, which adapts Ali Novak’s book series. That said, some of Netflix’s best shows drink from that same well.

Earlier this year, one of Netflix’s most-watched TV shows of all time, Bridgerton, returned with an excellent season. Now, the streaming service continues that with the vibrant My Life with the Walter Boys season 3. Over the first two seasons, fans watched as Jackie (Nikki Rodriguez) saw her world come crashing down after the deaths of her parents and sister, having to leave New York behind and move in with the Walter family in rural Colorado.

This gave life to a classic love triangle trope, as Jackie saw herself drawn to two brothers, the enigmatic Cole (Noah Lalonde), and the charming Alex (Ashby Gentry). As comes with the territory, I found there were both exciting moments and pitfalls to that setup. That is why I was so excited by what My Life with the Walter Boys season 3 decided to do with those three characters. After My Life With the Walter Boys season 2’s ending revelations, a lot had to change in the Netflix romance series, and I’m glad to say that it was for the better.

The Netflix Series Makes The Season 2 Finale’s Major Moments Count

David Brown/Netflix

My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 deals with the fallout of two major events: Cole and Jackie confessing their love for one another and Alex overhearing it, and George’s medical emergency. These two events shape the new season of the Netflix series in completely different ways. For the first time, the love triangle between the two Walter brothers and Jackie is not the focus of the show, and, honestly, My Life With the Walter Boys is better off for it. The sibling rivalry got in the way of seeing how Cole and Alex could support one another.

That is something that I have enjoyed seeing sporadically throughout My Life With the Walter Boys‘s first two seasons, and it is in season 3 that the dynamic between the brothers really gets its time to shine. This infuses the show with new energy, helping it escape some of the usual trappings of coming-of-age stories. Additionally, all three characters get their separate storylines related to what they want out of life and see their future. Cole starts to lean into the racing world now that football is not an option, and it suits his daredevil persona.

It is clear that things have to change around the Walter household, and there are plenty of emotional moments on that journey.

Jackie is met with an unexpected visit that shakes things up, with the character also having to think about what she really wants for her future and what she is willing to do to make her Princeton dreams a reality. Finally, Alex has a hard time with his bronc riding as he makes some major discoveries about himself, both in terms of the man he wants to be and what, or who, his heart really wants. I thought the show perfectly addresses the season 2 finale reveal and moves on with the trio’s lives in exciting ways for the most part.

It is true that some of the dialogue in season 3 felt off, and the show’s wide range of characters made decisions that were either repetitive or did not make much sense with where they were headed. That said, My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 does move forward the show’s overall story and its core characters’ lives in meaningful ways. A huge part of that relates to George’s condition after the season 2 finale. It is clear that things have to change around the Walter household, and there are plenty of emotional moments on that journey.

While Lalonde and Rodriguez continue to bring the spark as Cole and Jackie’s dynamic this season intensifies, I have to applaud three other performances as well. Many of my favorite moments in My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 come from watching Gentry’s Alex and Mya Lowe’s Kiley’s friendship being tested in interesting ways after he realized in the season 2 finale that he did not like to see Dylan (Kolton Stewart) kissing her. Finally, Suits alum Sarah Rafferty as Katherine Walter continues to be a delight, always offering sage advice, and facing a daunting task after George’s health scare.

My Life With The Walter Boys Season 3’s New Cast Members Change The Game

Three new arrivals contribute to some major changes in the lives of Cole, Jackie, and the Walter family as a whole. One of those is Mac (Chad Rook). The drag racer leaves his car for Cole to fix and later becomes directly responsible for putting Cole on a new path. Honestly, drag racing makes a lot of sense for Cole. Not being able to play football anymore after his knee injury, I like how this opens the character to experience a similar kind of thrill to what he was used to, but it comes with some negatives.

I don’t feel that the writing on this particular storyline was that strong or innovative. That said, it fits Cole’s character and leads to some high-adrenaline scenes and surprises in season 3. Another major new addition is that of Hannah (Erin Karpluk), who is George’s sister and the mother of Isaac and Lee. Her sudden arrival comes with the expected emotional turmoil for her sons, and I liked how the show gives them a meatier role to play as a result. It is interesting to see just how different George and his sister are.

Eliot comes from a completely different world, and his presence makes Jackie rethink what she envisions her future to be.

The biggest new addition to My Life With the Walter Boys in season 3 is that of Eliot (Naveen Paddock). Not only is he Uncle Richard’s new intern, but Eliot is also an important person from Jackie’s past. As such, his arrival sets up a new love triangle, taking Alex out of the equation.

While that does retread some old ground for the series, Eliot comes from a completely different world, and his presence makes Jackie rethink what she envisions her future to be. The final episode answers many of the questions posed throughout the season, and ends on quite the cliffhanger for the — thankfully — already announced My Life With the Walter Boys season 4.

All 10 episodes of My Life With the Walter Boys season 3 are now out on Netflix.