A MOVING DRAMEDY

Netflix series The Four Seasons is deceptively simple, and offers a layered look at relationships

- TATAT BUNNAG

No, this isn’t a historical drama about a luxury hotel — The Four Seasons is a smart, modern adaptation of Alan Alda’s 1981 dramedy film of the same name.

This eight-episode Netflix miniseries is the brainchild of comedian Tina Fey, who also stars in the show alongside a stellar ensemble that includes Steve Carell, Coleman Domingo, Will Forte, Kerri Kenney and Marco Calvani.

It centres around three long-time couples who vacation together during each of the year’s four seasons. What unfolds is a funny, heartfelt and at times painfully honest exploration of friendship, ageing and the natural (and unnatural) evolution of relationships.

One of the major highlights of the series is the way this talented group of actors brings their chemistry to life. Their performances never feel forced — they're light-hearted, sharp and sometimes deeply dramatic, yet they always remain grounded in realism. There's something immediately compelling about watching actors this comfortable with comedy also lean confidently into vulnerability. It allows The Four Seasons to oscillate effortlessly between humour and emotional weight.

The premise is deceptively simple. Six old friends gather for a spring-time getaway, only to learn that one of the couples is on the verge of breaking up. From there, the series follows these three couples — Kate (Fey) and Jack (Forte), Nick (Carell) and Anne (Kenney), and Danny (Domingo) and Claude (Calvani) — through a year of seasonal retreats. Each vacation brings its own challenges and revelations, exposing hidden tensions, long-held resentments and moments of personal growth. With every change in scenery, their relationships are tested in new and sometimes unexpected ways.