Netflix’s “The Four Seasons,” an adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 film of the same name, has returned for a second season, and this time, grief, mid-life crises, babies and depression are on the menu. Created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, the first season followed three couples, all-decades-long friends, who vacation together throughout the year (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 concluded with Nick’s shocking death and the revelation that his 30-something girlfriend, Ginny (Erika Henningsen), was pregnant with his child. In a morose Season 2, the group, now shrunken to a fivesome, with Ginny and her baby sometimes in tow, grapples with life after Nick and what their respective next chapters might bring.
It’s spring as Season 2 begins, and the crew has all come together in the Catskills for a hiking trip to spread Nick’s ashes. Unfortunately, only Jack (Will Forte), who is taking Nick’s death the hardest and a heavily pregnant but spry Ginny seem to be enjoying the trek up the mountain. Kate (Fey) is putting on a brave face to cheer Jack up. She has begrudgingly agreed to “train” for a marathon that he’s eagerly signed them up for. Though Kate and Jack are growing distant, Claude (Marco Calvani) and Danny (Colman Domingo) appear 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 are increasingly awkward, especially when finances and settling Nick’s estate are brought up. What occurs over the course of the weekend is what happens as grief festers into rage.
Moving into the summer, the friends find themselves vacationing on the Jersey Shore with a very tiny guest in tow. In Episode 4, “On the Boardwalk,” Anne explores what life looks like as a woman untethered. Meanwhile, Kate, who is also no champion of change, discovers a dream she didn’t realize she had, an idea that could bring her solace as she and Jack drift further away from each other. This episode, paired 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 whimsy of its predecessor. The humor and even the reappearance of Anne’s guitar-playing ex-beau Terry (Toby Huss) feel muted, lacking the punch of previous jokes. And perhaps that is the point. Death is hard, painful and dark, and everyone who knew and loved Nick is doing their best to press forward in their own way.
What works is the show’s willingness to examine long-term marriages and relationships under a realistic microscope. Showing Claude and Danny weighing the pros and cons of parenthood while Ginny struggles to cope with single motherhood is a fun contrast. Danny, in particular, seems keen on the idea of raising a child, but lacks real-world experience and a true understanding of what it entails. Then, the cries of Ginny’s baby are a major wake-up call for the couple that can’t be ignored.
Still, the examination of Kate and Jack’s partnership is perhaps the most grounded here. In the first season, the issues between the pair seemed quieter, 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 sit in the pain of losing his best friend, Kate is weary from the weight of his emotions and desperate to find some levity again.
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 fifty-somethings, but Season 2, which has less wit and seemingly lower stakes, never quite reaches the breezy, banter-filled charm. Yet, with several new locations, including the Italian Alps in all of their winter glory, and a group of utterly talented actors whose chemistry leaps off the screen, the show remains a world very much worth checking out.
“The Four Seasons” Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.