Grace and Frankie hasn’t changed. Over six seasons, the show has explored every aspect of aging in a light-hearted and relatable way. It’s the televisual equivalent of comfort food. The more things change; the more they stay the same. However, Grace and Frankie Season 6 looks to shake things up.
In the first four episodes, Grace Hansen (Jane Fonda) and Frankie Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) reckon with the reality that Grace is moving out of the beach house to live with Nick Skolka (Peter Gallagher). While Grace believes nothing will change, Frankie knows that isn’t the case. Based on Grace and Frankie’s track record however, I wouldn’t be surprised if the writers walk back from the major plot changes to maintain the status quo. In fact, things have already started moving in that diretion with Frankie constantly making appearances at Nick’s events and being welcome at them.
Of course, Grace and Frankie wouldn’t be complete without the eponymous duos ex-husbands Sol Bergstein (Same Waterston) and Robert Hanson (Martin Sheen) getting their own plotline. Sol overcomes a lifelong fear, so that he can accompany Robert on Robert’s dream vacation. They also must face the realities of aging when Sol receives a life-threatening diagnosis.
Meanwhile, despite being fully developed characters in their own right, adult children Mallory Hanson (Brooklyn Decker), Coyote Bergstein (Ethan Embry), Brianna Hanson (June Diane Raphael), and Bud Bergstein (Baron Vaughn) only serve to advance the stories of their parents this season. Mallory still plays a supporting role to the rest of her uptight family; Coyote successfully maintains his sobriety; And Bud and his wife, Allison Giampietro-Smikowitz (Lindsey Kraft), are mostly ignored and completely overshadowed by the other members of the family. Brianna and her boyfriend, Barry (Peter Cambor) are the only secondary characters with a storyline that matters, which works because they are the most interesting supporting characters.
There is nothing not to like about Grace and Frankie. It’s a good show that is reliably entertaining. Sometimes that’s all you need.
Rating: 7 out of 10
