Toni Joyce

Just finished the last episode. I had to re-watch a few of the episodes because I thought, "Wait. Did I miss something?" An example is between Episode 1 and Episode 2. I watched with hopeful anticipation for Nick to be moved or at least slightly affected by the surprise vow renewal or was he going to tell Anne about his decision to leave and humiliate her in front of all their guests. I first thought Nick was a self absorbed jerk, yet I recognized his frustration and lost interest with fragile, sometimes ditzy Anne, who I grew to love as the show progressed. Instead, we saw her studio blow up and that was the end of episode 1. Episode 2 began with Nick being in a new relationship which led me to believe that he did confront Anne at some point between episodes. I strongly disliked the scene of their daughter Lila's play and recognized the huge generational difference in raising children. I was a Lila - my parents were divorcing when I was in high school. I would never have humiliated my parents or disgraced them the way I thought Lila did. Instead, everyone coddled and pampered what I thought was a selfish and unlikable brat. Yes, divorcing parents is tough at any age but the way she expressed her pain was unhealthy, vengeful and highly disrespectful. So why did I give the 4 star rating? I grew to love each of the characters (sans Lila) for their unique, quirky ways. I witnessed a deep and committed friendship among the characters who remained loyal to each other, and committed to their seasonal meetups despite their evolving lifestyles. I also rewatched the original 1981 movie and enjoyed the 2025 version much better. Tina Fey as Kate was the main "doer" who tried to keep everyone in line when she was falling apart. Her husband Jack, a likable guy, was typical of a laid back dude who really couldn't figure out what made his wife tick. Her character in my opinion was difficult and hard to please but they didn't seem any different than a typical couple who loved deeply at times and at times couldn't stand one another. Danny and Claude (who was female Claudia in the original movie) were a little too much and could have been toned down a bit. Claude's flamboyant and overly sensitive character was annoying until he showed his gentle, caring side. I never fully understood the relationship that existed between Kate and Danny and again I said, "wait, did I miss something?" They might have briefly dated - they kissed 3 times in college - two of those times they were acting in a play. Was Kate ever in love with Danny but couldn't have the relationship because he was gay? Or did they have a deeply rooted friendship (IMO gay men make the best girlfriends) unlike the relationship she had with Jack, her husband? In conclusion, I found myself (who is easily distracted, often bored and quickly disinterested in a lot of what paid TV has to offer) wanting more of The Four Seasons. The characters and relationships among them are relatable, realistic and sometimes raw. I didn't laugh much while watching but was amused and entertained regardless. Anxiously awaiting Season 2!