Season 3 of Grace and Frankie will be on Netflix this week. I am so thrilled. It stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin….2 women I have loved watching perform for a long time. Jane never disappoints and I will always tune in if Lily is around….ever since she was Edith Ann I have been a fan. This show is about 2 women whose husbands – interesting characters well-played by Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston – are best friends and business partners. The families have been together for years…..life long friends. And, then…….the husbands leave the wives (I’m leaving stuff out here…..avoiding spoilers). As a recently divorced person…I tuned in. And, I am oh so glad I did……I love this show.
Also…Sam Elliott makes a few appearances…..who doesn’t love that? I mean, c’mon, Ladies….this man is IT! (if you haven’t already…you might tune in to The Ranch with Sam, Ashton Kutcher, Debra Winger, and Danny Masterson.)
There are 4 adult children in the mix. There is the “perfect” one, played by Brooklyn Decker – I expect her “perfection” might blow up later. The “out of control” one – played by June Diane Raphael. She is the least likable character…..but, absolutely my favorite – she vibrates with appeal. Ethan Embry plays the “fuck-up” – he is in recovery and sleeping on his brother’s couch. He is sweet and funny and as the “story” unfolds you can see the many reasons why he self medicates. The brother with the “couch” is played by Baron Vaughn. He is supposed the be the “normal one” – I think we all know how that works out.
Jane Fonda’s character is rigidly straight laced and looks like Neiman Marcus (or, Needless Markup for the cool kids) threw up on her….if you know what I mean. Lily’s character is a little more hippy-dippy. Pot smoking, peyote questing, and not bogged down by the opinions of others. She goes her own way. Together they adapt and grow from the changes happening so late in their lives. The show is beautifully acted and presented. But, the writers…oh, the writers. These are some of my favorite lines:
My suggestion is don’t be dumber than fuck.
It’s microwaved chicken for 1 at 4:30..it’s not dinner……it’s an edible suicide note.
This is the worst party I have ever been to, and I was at Jonestown.
I lost both my virginities in that house.
This is where I had my first knife fight.
It was an ambien break-up.
Are you suing him for his love?
That’s the fuck-up? That’s fucked up.
Don’t confuse me with facts.
Be the bossy hamster with a drinking problem.
And truly one of the best oopsie text scenes ever……
“It’s called being human”…reply……”it’s called being a pussy.”
The show revolves around relationships, old and new. It might be difficult for some to have any sympathy for these characters due to their financial situations…..the divorced women live in a huge beach house in what looks to be Malibu and have no shortage of money to spend. For the rest of us, we know that divorce sucks….for a million reasons….only one of them being money.
When you add all of this up, add a cover of a FANTASTIC Steeler’s Wheel song, and an equally good soundtrack……Grace and Frankie are definitely worth a look. If you don’t tune in….remember this: Don’t be “dumber than fuck.”