Everything must come to an end and so is the case with the beloved series Grace and Frankie. After seven seasons this will be the last. The series has starred Jane Fonda as Grace and Lily Tomlin as Frankie and the first four episodes of the last season have just been released on Netflix.
Grace and Frankie is the remarkable series that follows two women, after they discover that their husbands have been having an affair and come out as a gay couple. Instead of seeking revenge Grace and Frankie end up moving in together and navigate their newly single lives.
The series has been created by Marta Kauffman and Howard J.Morris, you might recognize their names from such series as Veronica’s Closet, Friends and Joey.
Grace and Frankie was a surprise success, but how can you not love the truly original series that also features Martin Sheen, Sam Waterston and has guest stars Peter Gallagher, Millicent Martin, Marsha Mason, Estelle Parsons, Lisa Kudrow and Sam Elliott, just to name a few.
Season seven has Grace and Frankie taking in ex-husbands Sol and Robert, as their home has recently flooded. Grace has also returned to the home she shared with Frankie, as Grace’s new husband Nick has recently been arrested and on trial.
Frankie is up to her usual scheming while Grace’s kids Brianna and Mallory battle it out having to share the same office in the family business.
One of the main reasons for the success of the series is that it features two strong female leads in the later stages of their life, but the portrayal of these two intriguing characters is relevant and on point and in no way demeaning or patronizing to women.
Lily Tomlin as Frankie Bergstein is your organic loving, tree hugging, weed smoking, aging hippie and it is a joy to watch her on the screen. She is fun loving and genuine, there is something about this characterization that makes you want more, whether it is her love for all creatures great and small or the madcap adventures that may come from her forgetting what she has done when she is stoned. Lily Tomlin as Frankie is genuinely funny and you cannot help but laugh.
Jane Fonda as Grace Hanson is your tough as nails corporate mother, who when finding out her husband is leaving her for another man, has a slow but definite meltdown as he life around her has fallen apart. But what is endearing about this role is the ability Grace has to pick herself up and continue on with life finding some new meaning, purpose and love along the way. Jane Fonda relishes in this role and it is enjoyable watching her in this role that feels like it was written for her.
Grace and Frankie is a series that has presented a fascinating characterization of two women who are later in life and instead of sitting around watching TV these two characters are taking life by the horns and enjoying every moment they have left. This has been an entertaining series and it will be sad to see it come to an end.
Grace and Frankie seasons 1-7 are currently available on Netflix.
