Who Is Mary on ‘Ginny & Georgia’?

Netflix‘s Ginny & Georgia is so jam-packed with twists, reveals, and flashbacks that even the show’s most fervent fans struggle to keep up with the details of Georgia’s (Brianne Howey) past on occasion. In Season 2, for instance, the mere mention of the name “Mary” sent Georgia into a stress spiral. But while Ginny’s (Antonia Gentry) pointed name-dropping effectively shook her mom, many viewers were left wondering who the heck is Mary?

Between Ginny and Austin’s (Diesel La Torraca) extended families and school lives, and Georgia’s work life and involvement with the Neighborhood Club, Sarah Lampert’s dramedy series has a fair share of characters to keep track of in present-day. And when you throw flashbacks to Georgia’’ teen years into the mix, it’s no wonder viewers are wracking their brains trying to remember who Mary is.

So who is Mary on Ginny & Georgia? We’ll break Mary and Ginny’s mysterious Season 2 reference to her down, but be warned that Ginny & Georgia Season 2 spoilers are ahead.

Who is Mary on Ginny & Georgia?

In Ginny & Georgia Season 2, we see Ginny try to work through the revelation of her mom’s formerly secret, criminal past. After PI Gabriel Cordova (Alex Mallari Jr.) loops Ginny in on the woman her mom used to be, she struggles to accept the truth about Georgia and starts to rebel at home. We watch Ginny inch closer and closer to a long-overdue honest exchange with her mom, but in the lead-up, she decides to make Georgia sweat by dropping not-so-subtle hints to her past, such as “Mary.”

In Season 2, Episode 3, “What Are You Playing at, Little Girl?” Georgia confronts Ginny about her recent uncharacteristic behavior and the two start fighting in front of Paul (Scott Porter). Ginny stops to ask if Georgia wants Paul here for their discussion, and Georgia replies, “Paul’s marrying me. He’s here for all of it.” In an effort to remind her that Paul doesn’t actually know the real her, Ginny says, “We’re all such a happy family. You, me, Paul, Austin… Mary.” Upon hearing the name, Georgia’s face drops and Paul questions the mystery person. Georgia hurriedly leaves the house and takes refuge in her car to process her emotions, and thus begins the road to a more honest relationship between her, Ginny, and Austin.

So who is Mary? Well, Mary is Georgia. Or rather, Mary was Georgia back in the day, before she changed her name to Georgia to escape her past, start fresh, and hopefully keep herself and her kids safe from her former transgressions.

As we learn throughout the first two seasons and in flashbacks, not only has Georgia committed several murders, but she also had an abusive childhood and ran away from her mother and stepfather. That means the 14-year-old Georgia (played by Nikki Roumel) who we see via flashback in Ginny & Georgia‘s pilot is actually named Mary. That was Georgia’s name before she joined the Blood Eyes biker gang and assumed her new identity. Fans may also remember the name Mary from Season 1 when Georgia’s sister Maddie Atkins (Kelly McCormack) came back into the picture and used it. And Gabriel also learned Georgia’s real name while investigating her.

Though Mary will always be a part of Georgia’s past, her reaction to hearing the name in Season 2 makes it clear that the reminder is deeply triggering and something she’s working hard to forget.

Season 2 of Ginny & Georgia is now streaming on Netflix.