Middle age under the microscope in Tina Fey's new comedy

Perth Now

10-05-2025

When I was a teenager in the 1990s I remember going to a friend's house and watching The Big Chill. I think someone's sister's friend's friend had recommended it as the cool 'adult' film to watch, and we'd rented it from Video Ezy with the promise of a titillating watch.
Reader, it was not. I remember being bored stiff watching the exploits of a bunch of people who looked and acted like my parents.
But oh, how times have changed!
I now find myself inhaling episodes of Tina Fey's new series The Four Seasons, which, honestly, is The Big Chill: 2.0, but with fewer fluffy perms.
Most horrifying of all: I am now relating to what I'm seeing unfold.
For those who've not yet caught this fabulous comedy, don't get the wrong idea: this is not a reboot of the seminal 80s flick, though it is a modern reimagining of another film from 1981 written, directed by and starring the delightful Alan Alda.
It centres around a group of old friends (sound familiar?), who gather for catch-ups through different seasons of the year. Each time we reconnect with them, there's been a shift in the dynamics, not just within the group, but also within the three couples themselves — it's cringingly great to watch what unfolds.
The best part about this comedy, for my part, is the fact that while it has a lot of the hallmarks of a Tina Fey-produced piece of work — on-point writing, a cast made up of many of Fey's friends and long-time collaborators — it feels a lot more real than many of her more slapstick comedies (though there is a scene involving a red stiletto in the last episode which is very much of-her-oeuvre).
For people of a certain age (me) it will feel disturbingly familiar and it's a fabulous binge-watch. Teen kids: proceed with caution. David, that you? Duster is streaming on Max. Credit: Supplied
This new series from J.J. Abrams is all about a 70s getaway driver called Jim who drives a bright orange Plymouth Duster. He's played by Josh Holloway, who fans might remember as the dastardly and delicious Sawyer from Lost.
Everything about this sounds vaguely bogan, but in the best possible way.
Real talk: I've been waiting an eternity for Holloway to pop up on TV again, and I'm thrilled he's front and centre in this crime thriller, alongside Rachel Hilson as the FBI agent on his case.
Also, can we talk about the fact Holloway looks disturbingly like Perth Survivor star David Genat?
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I can't go past a Skarsgard and this series, about a newly sentient robot, has my favourite one — Alexander! He stars as the aforementioned and though a cyborg, he's still entirely delightful to watch.