By: Laura Moreno
The eight-episode second season of “The Four Seasons” is an award-winning dramedy that follows a tight-knit friend group as they navigate the messy intersection of grief, growth, and the healing power of chosen family.
Co-created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield, this modern reimagining of Alan Alda’s 1981 film with the same title features a powerhouse ensemble cast that includes Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Marco Calvani, Kerri Kenney-Silver, and Erika Henningsen.
While Alda’s film relies on ensemble situational drama and subtle observations, Tina Fey (in the role originally played in Alda’s version by Carol Burnett) amps up the absurdity of modern life, trading warmth for the edgy comedic bite of today’s more self-conscious interconnected society that navigates far rougher waters.
Season 2 picks up after the sudden passing of Nick (Steve Carell) in the season one finale. The cast’s performances are as moving and as heartfelt as they are hilarious as each character grieves Nick in their own individual ways, making for very compelling television.
The emotional weight of season 2 is underscored by stunning production design and cinematography that intentionally shifts to more muted tones that suit the sometimes somber subject matter.
Furthermore, the vacation rentals themselves mirror the characters’ mindsets in the narrative. An upstate New York motel serves as a claustrophobic pressure cooker that forces difficult conversations. Later, an neglected Italian villa becomes a metaphor for their fractured relationships, requiring the group to literally and emotionally rebuild together.
Accompanying these rich visuals is a great soundtrack being lauded for its refreshing surprises that include Vivaldi’s “The Four Seasons” and a striking guitar version of Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” with tracks from Doja Cat and Barbra Streisand.
Yet, beneath the barbed humor, each episode acts as a different room in the house of mourning, allowing characters to cycle through the denial, bargaining, and anger stages of grief at their own pace.
A triumphant portrayal of queer longevity
To be sure, the emotional nucleus of the series is the romantic relationship between Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude ( Marco Calvani). Their deepening bond affords them the opportunity to venture into territory rarely tread by LGBT characters on-screen.
In no uncertain terms, they speak candidly about facing the realities of aging, illness, physical mortality, and the lasting legacies they hope to leave behind as gay men.
A standout moment occurs in Episode 2, “Funky Motel,” which also marks Tina Fey’s directorial debut. Trapped in a cramped, upstate New York motel room, Danny impulsively reopens the conversation about starting a family. The resulting discussion of parenthood is being widely lauded as some of the finest queer writing on contemporary television.
In addition, the season beautifully dismantles the media’s increasing obsession with youth by shattering the “forever 35” myth. Instead it insightfully highlights the organic intergenerational queer dynamics in the friend group, allowing queer wisdom to naturally be shared.
For example, the friend group quickly absorb Ginny, Nick’s bereft young pregnant partner into the group. Once the baby is born, godmother Anne helps Ginny take care of the baby and Danny and Claude help out, demonstrating the healing power of long-term friendships that function as chosen family.
As the season concludes, it becomes clear that “The Four Seasons” has accomplished something very unusual in television history. It has created a comedy that isn’t afraid to sit with sadness, and ends up being a celebration of real friendship and ordinary relationships that are extraordinary.
With Season 3 already officially greenlit, the horizon is bright for this phenomenal series. With two Primetime Emmy Awards, a GLAAD Media Award and others under its belt, its legacy is firmly cemented as one of television’s most authentic portrayals of queer longevity and chosen family, and its continued evolution promises an extraordinary journey ahead.
“The Four Seasons” is now streaming on Netlix.