Grace and Frankie
Starring:
Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston, Martin Sheen, Brooklyn Decker, Ethan Embry, June Diane Raphael, Baron Vaughn
Created by:
Marta Kauffman, Howard J Morris
Genre:
Comedy
Seasons:
1
Episodes:
13
Running time:
25 minutes
In today’s world where sexuality is a dynamic concept, so much so that a 60-year-old man changing gender is not surprising, then a 70-year-old man who comes out of the closet is not that surprising either. Or is it?
Grace and her frenemy Frankie are married to two best friends and partners at a law firm. When their husbands ask them out to dinner, the ladies assume they are finally announcing their much awaited retirement. To their surprise – or horror – Robert and Sol tell their wives they are in fact gay and have been secret lovers for 20 years. Oh, and they are leaving their wives to get married to each other! Who said you’ve seen it all at 70?
Grace and Frankie are forced to share their co-owned vacation home by the beach, while their husbands move in together. The two women who are polar opposites and have disliked each other for 40 years are now forced to be each other’s support. Grace is the uptight and fashion-centric 70-year-old, while Frankie is the hippie, vegan art teacher to ex-convicts. Nwabudike and Coyote are Frankie and Sol’s adopted sons, while Grace and Robert have two daughters – Brianna and Mallory. The children are caught in-between. At a dinner with their fathers they bring up an excellent point saying had their fathers cheated with women for 20 years they would have been cut off from their lives, but do they expect empathy because they are gay?
This show is an indication that times have really changed and that life is constant. People will change, time will keep on moving but the most important question is what will you do about it? This is not a show about how two gay men ruined two families, no. This is about two women in their 70s – considered ancient by society – defying fate and making their own stories. The show gives a strong message of hope – it is never too late to find yourself.
The show was created by Marta Kauffman who is acclaimed for having created the hit 90’s show
Friends.
Another pro for the show is casting legendary icons for the main characters. For instance, Oscar winner Jane Fonder has never acted in a television show in her career but she accepted the role of Grace starring alongside her former film co-star Lily Tomlin. Jane and Lily’s performances seem to be interconnected – one is just not feasible without the other. Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston provide amazing supporting performances and dedication to their characters. The show has been renewed for a second season.