The Four Seasons Season 2 Review: A More Melancholic and Mature Follow-Up

Netflix’s “The Four Seasons” returns for Season 2 with a darker, more reflective chapter that follows a close group of longtime friends as they navigate grief, marriage, parenthood and changing identities after the death of Nick. Created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, the series continues the story that began in Season 1, when Nick announced he was leaving his wife Anne on the eve of their 25th wedding anniversary, only for the season to end with his sudden death and the revelation that his younger girlfriend, Ginny, was pregnant with his child.

Season 2 opens in spring in the Catskills, where the group gathers to spread Nick’s ashes on a hiking trip that quickly reveals how differently each person is processing loss. Jack is taking Nick’s death the hardest, while Kate tries to support him even as their own marriage begins to strain. Claude and Danny face new tension when a conversation about children forces them to confront their future together. Ginny’s presence, along with questions about Nick’s estate and finances, adds another layer of discomfort, turning the weekend into an exploration of how grief can harden into anger.

As the season moves into summer, the friends head to the Jersey Shore with Ginny’s baby in tow. Anne begins to imagine a life more fully her own, while Kate discovers a long-buried desire that may offer her a path forward as her relationship with Jack grows more distant. These episodes emphasize the idea that personal freedom and self-determination can be essential to happiness, especially when long-standing relationships begin to shift under pressure.

The performances remain one of the show’s strongest assets, with the ensemble once again bringing warmth and credibility to the material. Still, Season 2 is noticeably less whimsical than the first, and its humor lands with less force. The lighter banter and comic energy that gave the debut season its charm are more subdued here, reflecting the heavier emotional weight of the story. That tonal shift appears intentional, as the series leans into the reality that death and loss are difficult to absorb and even harder to move beyond.

What continues to work best is the show’s thoughtful look at long-term relationships. Claude and Danny’s differing views on parenthood, coupled with the demands of caring for a baby, create an effective contrast between fantasy and reality. Kate and Jack’s marriage also feels especially grounded, with Kate growing increasingly exhausted by Jack’s grief and his need to remain immersed in sadness, while he struggles to let go of his best friend’s memory.

Though Season 2 does not fully recapture the breezy, banter-filled charm of the first season, it still offers strong chemistry, rich character dynamics and striking locations, including the Italian Alps. The result is a more somber but still compelling continuation of the story, with a talented cast helping keep the emotional stakes engaging. “The Four Seasons” Season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.