Navigating love, loss and friendships: how 'The Four Seasons' turns midlife meltdowns into heartfelt moments

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7 days ago

Steve Carell, Kerri Kenney, Tina Fey, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani and Will Forte in a scene from 'The Four Seasons'.
Image: Netflix
On the back of 'The Four Seasons' being given the green light for a second instalment, I decided to check out the series, which has been delighting streamers with its relatable themes.
Adapted from the 1981 film of the same name, directed by Alan Alda, the eight-part series is created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield. Alda makes a cameo in it.
Whether you are married, in a long-term relationship or divorced, the story arcs in the eight-part series will strike a chord. Heck, even if you are single, watch it as a cautionary tale.
The first episode sees six close-knit friends reconnecting for a weekend break.
Kate (Fey) and Jack (Will Forte) are college sweethearts. Danny (Colman Domingo), who is Kate's longtime friend, is married to Claude (Marco Calvani) and Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), who are the hosts, are at a stage of their marriage where one person is comfortable and the other wants out.
Not long after everyone settles in, Nick tells the guys that he wants a divorce. He says there is no spark, and Anne has become comfortable and, for lack of a better word, passionless in their 25-year relationship.
Fuelled by his developing relationship with Ginny (Erika Henningsen), a sexy and adventurous 32-year-old dental hygienist, he is confident in his choice.
Of course, the split means many awkward situations as the friends are caught in the middle.
Meanwhile, Nick, to get everyone to bond with Ginny, allows her to plan a trip for everyone at a tropical eco resort. However, the rustic touches of the place don't sit well with the friends, but they rough it for his sake.
Erica Henningsen as Ginny, Steve Carell as Nick, Tina Fey as Kate, Colman Domingo as Danny, Will Forte as Jack, and Marco Calvani as Claude in 'The Four Seasons'.
Image: Francisco Roman/Netflix © 2024
Unbeknownst to them, Anne is enjoying some downtime at a luxury hotel close by. When Danny and Claude bump into her, they realise that Nick has been uploading all their pictures to the family cloud album.
Amid the holiday, cracks in the relationships of the other friends start to show.
Kate is tired of mothering Jack, who, to everyone else, is deemed such a nice guy. She feels like she handles all the hard work while he constantly seeks validation and guidance.
Danny is feeling suffocated in his marriage with Claude smothering him after his heart surgery. As such, he uses work to spend long spells away from home.
Steve Carell as Nick, Kerri Kenney as Anne, and Tina Fey as Kate in 'The Four Seasons'.
Image: JON PACK/Netflix © 2024