Comedian Tina Fey demonstrates her creative prowess through a new adaptation titled “The Four Seasons,” available on Netflix and inspired by the 1981 film of the same name. Fey developed the series in collaboration with Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield.
Six longtime friends embark on a much-anticipated weekend getaway, seeking refuge from everyday life’s relentless hustle and bustle. The three couples—Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani)—share a strong bond, woven together by years of friendship and shared memories. The group’s tranquil retreat undergoes a significant shift when Nick discloses his decision to leave Anne. This revelation leaves all participants in a state of surprise and disarray.
As the eight-episode series progresses over one year, the audience accompanies the characters through four distinct vacations, each illustrating the evolution of their relationships. With Nick’s new romantic involvement with Ginny (portrayed by Erika Henningsen) developing, deep-seated issues and new challenges emerge, altering their interpersonal dynamics.
Each individual is compelled to confront their emotions and apprehensions. Throughout moments of humor, sorrow, and significant connections, the group navigates the complexities of love, loyalty, and the inevitable transformations that accompany the passage of time. While I consider myself a huge cinephile, Alan Alda’s “The Four Seasons” is a film I had never seen, so I went into this mini-series with fresh expectations.
The series reaches its emotional heart through inspired casting choices essential to its narrative impact. Tina Fey and Will Forte portray Kate and Jack with a combination of biting humor and genuine emotional exposure to anchor the narrative. In her most accomplished dramatic performance yet, Fey describes a woman who uses laughter to deal with her deepening marital despair.
Steve Carell showcases Nick’s new relationship with the understated excellence that viewers anticipate. At the same time, Kerri Kenney-Silver Anne delivers a heartfelt performance of a character struggling to preserve group stability as Nick and Ginny become central figures. I also enjoyed Erika Henningsen’s take on Ginny, whose arc isn’t that of a sex pot but more of an old soul.
The most emotionally powerful portrayals emerge from Colman Domingo alongside Italian performer Lorenzo Calvani, who plays Danny and Claude. The chemistry between Colman Domingo and Lorenzo Calvani feels genuine and established, which contrasts sharply with the unstable relationships surrounding them and reshapes traditional views on long-term relationship stability.
The direction in each episode moves seamlessly between humor and drama without diminishing the emotional weight of serious scenes. The series maintains a breezy atmosphere through pastoral scenes of seasonal shifts and playful dinner chats while hiding persistent heartache that deepens with every discovery and uncomfortable quiet.
“The Four Seasons” doesn’t necessarily break any ground with its plot, but with sharp, witty performances and an engaging storyline, I hope we get another season. I would love to explore more with these characters.
Final Grade: B
