The Four Seasons: A Refreshing look at Lifelong Friendships
Ginny, Danny, Kate, Jack, Claude and Anne (The Four Seasons 2025)
Surprise and Delight!
My love for Tina Fey’s remake of The Four Seasons was completely unexpected, and that is why, in my opinion, the show works so well. I recall stumbling across the Emmy-nominated romantic comedy whilst I was braiding my hair, and before I knew it, I was eight episodes down and desperately scouring the internet for confirmation of a second season. What I thought would be an ordinary romantic comedy that would serve as background noise whilst I braided my hair turned out to be a captivating yet lighthearted series that, in some parts, I ended up relating to.
The central storyline follows a group of lifelong friends who make it a mission to vacation together and create lifelong memories. That’s it. The premise is extremely simple; however, the relationship dynamics, conflict, and real-life dilemmas are not. The beauty of the show derives from its ability to showcase tension and conflict in a lighthearted yet earnest way.
When one Relationship Changes Everything
The main dynamic explored within Season 1 is the one between Nick, played by Steve Carell, and Anne, played by Kerri Kenney-Silver. Nick is in his late forties and has a history of infidelity. Even though Anne has remained faithful to Nick throughout their marriage, Nick has chosen to move on with 32-year-old Ginny and pursue a divorce.
Anne, Nick and Kate (The Four Seasons 2025)
This leaves tension within the friendship group, as they now have to figure out how best to navigate this new dynamic. Ginny is almost forced upon the group, resulting in them having to adjust to her younger views on life, morals, and ideas of leisure.
Anne, on the other hand, is coming to terms with the fact that her 25-year marriage has collapsed before her very eyes and that there is very little she can do about it. The viewer witnesses her navigate shock and grief, which leaves her questioning her worth and riddled with low self-esteem.
The sad part is that this was not a complete shock to Anne. It is later revealed that she has been aware of Nick’s serial cheating. The big 25th anniversary that Anne plans for herself and Nick is therefore used as a cover-up for the reality of what their relationship has become. Rather than simply celebrating their marriage, Anne is attempting to hold together an image of a relationship that has already begun to fall apart.
Age, Parenthood and Unequal Expectations
On the contrary, Danny and Claude face their own trials and tribulations, centred around age and surrogacy. Claude, played by Marco Calvani, is the supportive stay-at-home partner, whilst Danny, played by Colman Domingo, is a successful architect. The couple are at a stage in their lives where the discussion of parenthood is constant; however, they are not on the same page.
Danny and Claude (The Four Seasons 2025)
One could argue that their relationship emulates a hierarchy and that it isn’t necessarily fair for the verdict to be determined by the partner who earns more. Their disagreements cause tension not only between them as a couple, but within the friendship group as a whole. Paternity ageing and life changing decisions are all very common themes in relationships. By having these issues portrayed on screen, viewers are made aware that these topics are universal and that there is no shame in openly discussing them.
More than just a Rom Com
The Four Seasons resonates so deeply because of its ability to touch on serious, relatable topics in a lighthearted way. Many people enjoy the show for the diverse relationship dynamics portrayed on screen. Unlike many other romantic comedies, the beauty of this series is that it doesn’t solely center on marriage and divorce. Instead, it explores platonic friendships alongside romantic love, beautifully showing how a group of people from different walks of life can become so close that one person's decision affects everyone. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should watch this series!