When a group of longtime friends, each in different phases of marriage, pack up their vehicles to vacation together, one can only imagine the various ways in which the trip could pan out. “The Four Seasons,” an adaptation co-created by a trio of comedy’s most notable female writers, Tina Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, brings viewers on a winding journey through marriage, divorce and friendship.
Season 2 of the show was released on May 28, and fans have already had mixed reactions to the new episodes. The hit series relies on laughs, but it also provides a glimpse into the harsh realities of marriage.
Portraying the Delicate Nature of Marriage
GettyIn the first season, Nick’s (Steve Carell) marriage to Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) was the first relationship to show instability, ultimately resulting in a bitter divorce between the pair. Shortly after, Jack (Will Forte) and Kate (Tina Fey) encountered obstacles, as did Claude (Marco Calvani) and Danny (Colman Domingo).
Season 2 places an even stronger emphasis on marital challenges and what it takes to overcome them.
Anne grapples with the grief of her ex-husband, Nick, while Danny and Claude navigate the complexities of deciding to enter parenthood. The couple experienced heightened emotions throughout the season, creating immense friction.
To add to the already tense energy circulating in the group, Jack and Kate, who have been together since their college years, work to improve their communication and effort in their marriage.
As candidly written by Monica Hesse of The Washington Post, “There is something very human and brave in these depictions of marriage…”
As high as the comedic value is in “The Four Seasons,” it’s seemingly impossible for viewers to separate themselves from the characters. The all-too-familiar scenarios, frustrations and sincere attempts at reconciling are palpable.
At the core, Jack’s persistent efforts to spend time together and communicate effectively in the second season serve as the foundation of any healthy marriage.
‘The Four Seasons’ Accentuates Midlife Love
GettyIn Liz Calvario of TODAY.com’s latest interview with the co-creators of the show, Fisher stated, “Sometimes in your 50s or 60s, you are like, ‘Well, what is next? Is there a next? What do I do and who am I now?'”
Wigfield added, “Part of the show is about these long-term friendships and also about long marriages. It was exciting not to tell love stories that are at the very beginning, but decades in, and talk about what marriage is really like. It’s not just boring and monotonous, sometimes it is, but it’s also funny and poignant and a million other things.”
Indeed, “The Four Seasons” taps into the humor behind some of the trivial arguments had in marriage, along with the heavy topics that can be overwhelming in the moment.
With Jack and Kate dedicated to working on their relationship, Claude and Danny moving toward the potential of becoming parents and Ginny (Erika Henningsen) and Anne trying to settle the dust following Nick’s tragic passing, the curtain is pulled back on the hardships that come with midlife love, grief and friendship.
