Review season 2 of ‘The Four Seasons’: a sadder season
Netflix’s ‘The Four Seasons,’ an adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name, is back for a second season, and this time grief, midlife crises, babies and depression are on the menu. The first season, created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, followed three couples, friends for decades, who vacation together all year long (or four seasons). The series opener began with Nick (Steve Carell) announcing his intention to leave his wife Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) on the eve of the couple’s 25th wedding anniversary. It ended with Nick’s shocking death and the revelation that his thirty-year-old girlfriend, Ginny (Erika Henningsen), was pregnant with his child. In a bleak season 2, the group, now down to a fivesome, with Ginny and her baby sometimes in tow, grapple with life after Nick and what their respective next chapters might bring.
It’s spring when Season 2 begins and the crew has all gathered in the Catskills for a hike to spread Nick’s ashes. Unfortunately, only Jack (Will Forte), who bears the brunt of Nick’s death, and a heavily pregnant but spry Ginny seem to enjoy the journey up the mountain. Kate (Fey) puts on a brave face to cheer Jack up. She has reluctantly agreed to ‘train’ for a marathon for which he has eagerly registered them. Although Kate and Jack become more distant, Claude (Marco Calvani) and Danny (Colman Domingo) seem to be on the same page for once. That is, until a conversation about having children throws their relationship into a tailspin. Moreover, things between Ginny and Anne become increasingly difficult, especially when the finances and settlement of Nick’s estate are discussed. What happens over the course of the weekend is what happens when sadness turns to anger.
As they head into summer, the friends are vacationing at the Jersey Shore with a teeny tiny guest in tow. In episode 4, “On the Boardwalk,” Anne explores what life is like as an untethered woman. Meanwhile, Kate, who is also no advocate for change, discovers a dream she didn’t know she had, an idea that could bring her comfort as she and Jack drift further apart. This episode, combined with episode 3, “Down the Shore,” is a generous reminder to both the characters and viewers that self-governance is often the key to happiness.
The acting remains solid. However, aside from the summer and winter episodes, season 2 simply doesn’t have the quirkiness of its predecessor. The humor and even the return of Anne’s guitar-playing ex-beau Terry (Toby Huss) feel muted and lack the punch of previous jokes. And maybe that’s the point. Death is difficult, painful and dark, and everyone who knew and loved Nick is doing their best to move forward in their own way.
What works is the show’s willingness to examine long-term marriages and relationships under a realistic microscope. It’s a nice contrast to see Claude and Danny weigh the pros and cons of parenthood, while Ginny struggles with single motherhood. Danny in particular seems excited about the idea of raising a child, but lacks real-world experience and an understanding of what it entails. Then the cries of Ginny’s baby are a big wake-up call for the couple that can’t be ignored.
Yet the research into the collaboration between Kate and Jack is perhaps the most well-founded here. In the first season, the problems between the couple seemed calmer, especially in contrast to the demise of Nick and Anne’s union. This season, Kate is exhausted by the dark cloud hanging over their home and marriage. While Jack wants to feel the pain of losing his best friend, Kate is tired of the weight of his emotions and desperate for some levity.
The freshman season of “The Four Seasons” worked because it was so willing to pull the rug from under the daily lives of a group of 50-somethings, but Season 2, which has less humor and seemingly lower stakes, never quite achieves the light-hearted, banter-like charm. But with a number of new locations, including the Italian Alps in all their wintery glory, and a group of supremely talented actors whose chemistry jumps off the screen, the show remains a world well worth seeing.
Season 2 of ‘The Four Seasons’ is now available on Netflix.
