Tina Fey & Steve Carell Cap Off a Mediocre Journey in Netflix’s The Four Seasons
In the world of television dramedies, Netflix’s The Four Seasons—featuring the hilarious Tina Fey and the ever-charming Steve Carell—offers a glimpse into the complexities of friendship, marriage, and the struggles that come with both. While the star power promises an entertaining experience, the reality may leave audiences feeling a tad underwhelmed.
A Familiar Setup with a Familiar Cast
The Four Seasons is inspired by Alan Alda’s 1981 film and delves into the lives of three couples whose bonds seem tenuous at best. As they embark on four yearly getaways, viewers are treated to a mélange of passive-aggressive exchanges that echo the sentiments of relationships stretched thin by time.
“We started this life together… But we’re still together,” reflects one character—a poignant line that hints at the series’ underlying theme of shared history. Yet, instead of exploring this dynamic deeply, the show presents repetition over resonance, losing its potency as it churns through one uninspiring episode after another.
The Journey of Discontent
The cast is impressive: alongside Fey and Carell, we have Colman Domingo, Will Forte, and Kerri Kenney-Silver. Each character brings their own complexities, but as the series unfolds, it becomes clear that the marriages are the crux of the drama.
The couples are bound for rocky roads; especially when Nick (Carell) decides to leave his longtime wife, Anne (Kenney-Silver), during a seemingly celebratory weekend at the lake house for their 25th anniversary. This unexpected revelation sends ripples of confusion and turmoil through the group, leading them to examine their own crumbling relationships over future getaways.
The Disappointing Execution
Despite the potential for depth, the execution feels lackluster. Each of the eight half-hour episodes begins with visually pleasing seasonal imagery paired with Vivaldi’s evocative music, yet often elevates to mere visual filler rather than engaging storytelling.
Regrettably, The Four Seasons lacks the tight pacing and sharp humor we have come to expect from Fey’s previous works, such as 30 Rock. While the series does provide some laugh-worthy moments—like Nick’s description of his marriage as “like coworkers at a nuclear facility” —these instances are few and far between, leaving much of the humor feeling flat.
Characters: One-Dimensional and Predictable
Character development suffers as well. The couples lack the rich, quirky chemistry that one would expect from friends with decades of history. Kate and Danny, portrayed by Fey and Domingo, come off as overly cynical, while their husbands, Jack (Forte) and Claude (Calvani), are drawn as stereotypes—exhausting in their respective ways.
The two women, Anne and Nick’s new girlfriend Ginny (portrayed by Erika Henningsen), do stand out. Kenney-Silver’s performance as Anne brings nuance to her role, navigating the complexities of impending heartbreak with delicate grace. Henningsen also transforms Ginny into a character worthy of sympathy rather than scorn, showcasing the potential for a richer narrative that The Four Seasons fails to explore.
A Lack of Heartfelt Moments
While The Four Seasons aims to portray authentic marital struggles and friendships, it often gets mired in repetitive arguments—the humor lost in a cycle of rehashing grievances. This overemphasis on conflict transforms what could have been a heartfelt examination of love and friendship into a tiresome viewing experience.
The series wraps up with an attempt at a romantic resolution, calling into question the earlier cynical views on love and soulmates. Still, it leaves a bitter taste, leaning more toward the implications of marriage as a relentless obligation than a source of joy.
Final Thoughts
While The Four Seasons captivates with star-studded talent and relatable themes, it ultimately falls short of substantial emotional payoffs. With each hour spent in the company of these couples, viewers may find themselves yearning for a more engaging plot and character depth.
In the end, The Four Seasons becomes just another forgettable blip in the expansive catalog of Netflix originals. Its exploration of the complexities of relationships is neither fresh nor profound, leaving many to conclude that sometimes less truly is more when it comes to the narratives we choose to invest our time in.
