Netflix’s The Four Seasons dropped recently, and it’s definitely not your typical streaming comedy. Released in 2025 and inspired by the 1981 Alan Alda film of the same name, this new version speaks directly to a specific group: people in their 50s.

Created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield—all known for their work on 30 Rock—this series focuses on the joys, pain, and confusion of middle age. And it does so with a sharp wit and a whole lot of brutal honesty.

Who Are the Main Characters?

The show revolves around three couples, all longtime friends, who take four vacations together in one year. (Yes, that’s a lot of vacation. Don’t think about it too hard.)

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• Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte) are sarcastic, stuck-in-a-routine partners.
• Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani) make up the only gay couple in the group, though they don’t quite have the same energy level.
• Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerry Kenney-Silver) are the ones who kick off the drama when Nick reveals he’s planning to leave his marriage.

The group meets up for Nick and Anne’s 25th anniversary at a lake house. But the celebration quickly turns into something messier and more real.

What Makes The Four Seasons Feel Different?

This show is about aging in a way that’s rarely shown on screen. It’s not focused on death or disaster, but rather on that slow emotional shift many people feel in their 50s. The empty nests, the aches and pains, the quiet panic of wondering, “Is this it?”

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But don’t worry—it’s not just heavy. The comedy is clever and often biting. Like when Jack injures himself playing frisbee and Kate rolls her eyes so hard, you can almost hear it. She quips, “I can’t wait to see the 30 for 30 they make about this.” It’s those moments that will hit home for viewers who’ve been married a long time or dealt with aging partners.

Does It Dive Into Real Relationship Struggles?

Oh, absolutely.

Nick’s decision to leave Anne and start dating a much younger woman named Ginny (Erika Henningsen) opens up a bunch of uncomfortable questions for the group. Suddenly, everyone is questioning their own marriages and wondering whether their choices were right.

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Nick’s new relationship is awkward and full of hilarious age-gap misunderstandings. There’s a great scene where he tries to explain who Kenny Loggins is to Ginny’s friends—and totally fails.

One of the show’s strengths is how well it captures the emotional awkwardness of long friendships. Everyone’s comfortable with each other… maybe too comfortable. They’re all a little judgy, and they’re all kind of stuck in their own routines. That’s the point. That’s life in your 50s.

Is Every Character Likable?

Not really—and that’s kind of refreshing.

The characters are flawed, stubborn, and sometimes self-absorbed. They complain. They talk behind each other’s backs. They hold grudges. But that’s real. Long-term relationships, whether romantic or platonic, get messy.

A standout moment comes when Nick asks Danny if Kate and Jack are being annoying at the eco-resort. Danny doesn’t even hesitate. “You know those two,” he says. “Complaining is their version of having sex.”

Brutal. But hilarious.

Does the Show Always Work?

Not quite.

While much of the show feels sharp and grounded, some plot twists feel forced, especially in the finale. There’s a weird tonal shift and a few cliffhangers clearly meant to set up season two.

Also, the relationship between Danny and Claude doesn’t quite land. Claude’s clinginess feels a little over-the-top, even cartoonish. At one point, you may find yourself yelling at the screen like I did: “Give the man some space!”

Still, these are minor issues in an otherwise strong season.

Is The Four Seasons for Everyone?

Honestly? No—and that’s okay.

If you’re in your 20s or 30s, this show probably won’t hit the same way. You might get some laughs, but the themes—long marriages, aging, faded dreams—won’t feel personal yet.

But if you’re in your 40s, 50s, or older, this show might feel like it was made just for you. It’s about the weird middle part of life where you’re stable but not necessarily happy, where you’ve built something solid but still wonder if you missed out on more.

It’s about being grateful and restless all at the same time.