Tina Fey’s The Four Seasons Will Make You Feel All The Feels (And Stress)

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Only minor spoilers ahead!

To begin with, I want to admit that although I subscribed to Netflix, I haven’t completed Tina Fey’s “The Four Seasons” series as of now. I intended to watch it all over the weekend and submit a more formal review by today, but I find myself only able to handle an episode or two at a time.

However, this show has left an impact on me that I find noteworthy and authentic. At the same time, it makes me anxious about approaching middle age. It’s like a love-hate relationship – I appreciate the series, but I dislike how it affects my emotions. So, let’s discuss it further.

Recently, I’ve passed the threshold of my late thirties, which means I’m not in the same age bracket as individuals such as Tina Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, and their peers. Yet, I can’t exactly call myself young either. These days, I seem to be consistently meeting my health insurance deductible, and there are mornings when my neck simply refuses to cooperate. Combine this with the responsibilities of owning a house and maintaining a yard, and it’s clear that I’m beyond just managing adulthood. I’ve graduated to being a full-fledged adult, complete with all the complexities that title brings.

In many aspects, the show “The Four Seasons” seems tailored for me or the version of myself that is approaching soon. It follows a group of long-time friends navigating fresh challenges in their lives as they enter a new phase. Despite possessing partners, successful careers, fancy homes, and stylish cars, they appear to have misplaced their direction on a personal level. Although it might not sound like a comedy, there are moments where Tina Fey’s sharp wit shines through, and it manages to be amusing and endearing at times.

I quite enjoy the new adaptation of the Alan Alda movie, but I’m not sure if it resonates with me emotionally.

The Four Seasons Is Sticking With Me, But I’m Not Sure I Can Recommend It

In my twenties, I was relentlessly striving to progress: advancing professionally, outpacing debt, and so on. It seemed like there were targets and meaning in my life. However, as I’ve grown older, particularly as reflected in “The Four Seasons,” it seems to highlight the malaise that has seeped into my more recent years, stirring equal parts stress and amusement within me.

At the beginning of “The Four Seasons“, there’s a discussion where Danny (Steve Carell) expresses his feelings of stagnation in his marriage with Anne (Kerri Kenney). He mentions that he has attempted patience and encouraged her to revisit shared hobbies, such as building a pottery kiln in their backyard. However, nothing seems to hold her interest. Instead, she often engages on her phone, which frustrates him greatly. In reality, he finds himself increasingly irritated not only with her phone usage but also with Anne herself.

The monologue by Carell is exceptional, yet what truly resonates with me is the authenticity of the dialogue, which mirrors my everyday struggles. For instance, it reminds me of times when I go out with friends engrossed in their phones, or find myself trapped in a loop of repetitive behaviors, or even when friends are aware of issues but can’t express them. It’s masterfully done and leaves me feeling emotionally drained at every turn. That’s why I can only handle watching one episode at a time.

I really enjoy how The Four Seasons is structured to follow a group of friends throughout four distinct seasons, as suggested by its title. It’s a clever way to weave a narrative and I believe this format will continue to be effective in the future. The acting is superb (to be honest, I’d watch Will Forte in anything), and it’s nice to see Alan Alda make an appearance. Since I noticed that was on Netflix’s schedule, I decided to give it a try… or at least, I believe I did.

This year has been filled with unsettling subject matter for me. I also recently watched the film “Friendship“, which left me feeling uneasy in a way that wasn’t strictly related to realism. It seems like this type of content could be growing in popularity, and while I’m hesitant about it, I know I’ll have to embrace it since the Netflix series has already been renewed for another season.

Anyway, The Four Seasons is great. Just don’t go into it expecting a barrel of laughs, friends.

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2025-06-03 18:07