The Four Seasons–an adaptation of the 1981 Alan Alda romantic comedy–has now been adapted into a miniseries by a trio of 30 Rock veterans.

The gist of the series is that a group of three couples–Kate (Tina Fey) and Jack (Will Forte), Nick (Steve Carell) and Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver), and Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani)–head for a relaxing weekend getaway, only to learn that one of the couples are heading for a breakup after 25 years of marriage. It’s a major shakeup and things start coming to the surface across the board. As the title implies, every two episodes follows their vacations during the four seasons of the year: spring, summer, fall, and winter. The series is described as “a hilarious and heartfelt love letter to long marriages and old friendships.” I don’t have any disagreement there.

At no point do we ever see any of them at home or work. They’re always on vacation. Living the sweet life, right? Anyway, we get a sense of what happens in between their vacations, be it taking a big job, therapy, or major surgery. But just as importantly is how the major news during the first vacation has a looming impact down the road. While they stick to some of the same beats as The Four Seasons, they also make some rather drastic changes in making the series their own. You’ll have to read the synopsis of the earlier film to find the differences. That’s wat I ended up doing upon finishing the binge.

One of the major updates to The Four Seasons is that Danny and Claude are a gay couple in an open marriage. It’s neither a strength or weakness and sometimes adds both comedy and tension to their relationship. It’s probably the biggest way in which the updated the story for the 21st century. We all know who won’t be watching because of that…but I don’t care. Haters gonna hate.

One of the things that the writers do with the film is make sure we’re spending time with Anne rather than having her go by the wayside like Sandy Dennis in 1981. Anne thought she would be living a different life rather than watch her husband run off with his dental hygienist, Ginny (Erika Henningsen). What will her relationship be with Kate, Jack, Danny, and Claude now that she’s divorced? How is Nick dating a younger woman impacting Anne? Will they be able to survive parents’ weekend with daughter Lila (Julia Lester)? Will we like or hate Ginny?

Even though both Tina Fey and Steve Carell came out of the Chicago improv scene, it’s surprising that they haven’t really done anything together since stealing a reservation in Date Night, which I somehow have not reviewed despite rewatching in January 2021. As such, the two of them have solid chemistry together. In fact, Carell was one of the first actors that Fey had in mind as The Four Seasons was being developed. There’s this quality that he brings to the role where you know that what Nick does to Anne is something that Steve would never to do his wife in real life.

Fey has solid chemistry with former SNL castmate Will Forte, too. Forte is playing the part originally portrayed by Alan Alda so those are sone very big shoes to fill in. There are times during The Four Seasons when he gets to let loose–such as a party during summer–but it’s either weird, refreshing, or weirdly refreshing to see him acting in a normal manner. Where has this version of Forte been?!? Give us more roles with this version of Forte!

Colmon Domingo has been on something of a role with Rustin, Sing Sing, and more. Fey and company wanted him for the series without thinking that he would actually do it! Not only that, but he also directs an episode, too!

For those of you interested in catching the 1981 film starring Alan Alda and Carol Burnett, I’m sorry to disappoint you. The original film is not currently included on a streaming service at no extra cost. Nor is it currently available through digital retailers. The only to watch it–if only to see what’s different in the two versions of The Four Seasons–is by borrowing the DVD from your local library or purchasing it online. For a film featuring legends like Alda, Burnett, and Rita Moreno, I’m surprised it isn’t more readily available online. Because of the lack of availability, I quickly read through the synopsis online.

The Four Seasons makes a few changes for the 21st century but more or less keeps the same basic plot as the 1981 film. While it’s being marketed as a limited series, I wouldn’t mind it if we got to continue hanging out with this friend group. The roughly four hours weren’t enough!

CREATORS/SHOWRUNNERS: Tina Fey & Lang Fisher & Tracey Wigfield
DIRECTORS: Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman (101-102), Oz Rodriguez (103-104), Jeff Richmond (105), Colman Domingo (106), Lang Fisher (107 & 108)
WRITERS: Tina Fey & Lang Fisher & Tracey Wigfield (101), Josh Siegal & Dylan Morgan (102), Vali Chandrasekaran (103), Matt Whitaker (104), Tina Fey (105), John Riggi (106), Lisa Muse Bryant (107), Lang Fisher & Tracey Wigfield (108)
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tina Fey, Tracey Wigfield, Lang Fisher, Jeff Richmond, Eric Gurian, David Miner
CAST: Tina Fey, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, Erika Henningsen, with Colman Domingo and Steve Carell
GUEST STARRING: Julia Lester, Ashlyn Maddox, Jacob Buckenmyer, Taylor Ortega, Simone Recasner, Toby Edward Huss, Tommy Do, Chloe Troast, Jack Gore, Cole Tristan Murphy

Netflix releases all eight episodes of The Four Seasons on May 1, 2025. Grade: 4/5

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