'Grace & Frankie' review: Lily Tomlin, Jane Fonda star in Netflix's new show

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Right out of the gate, the story begins with the two husbands, Sol and Robert, coming out to their wives, Frankie and Grace, revealing that not only are they gay, but that they have been in love with each other for twenty years. This first episode tells you everything you need to know about the main characters and how the rest of the season’s dynamic will play out.
Sol and Frankie are two eccentric, easygoing, open-minded people. Where as Robert and Grace are very uptight, planners who care way too much about what other people think. It’s ironic that originally Grace and Frankie do not like each other because they are so opposite from one another, but Sol and Robert fall in love with each other because they are opposites. In the premiere episode Grace and Frankie struggle with how to cope with the situation and unwillingly turn to each other for support.
In the next few episodes, Sol and Robert face life without the girls and though at first they are extremely happy about coming out and their future together, they begin to miss Grace and Frankie because they realized that though they didn’t love them in the passionate affectionate way, they loved them in an amicable way.
In an episode called “The Funeral” it’s Robert and Sol’s first appearance out as a couple and it just so happens to be at a social engagement that Grace and Frankie will be attending as well. This is the first time that Robert realizes how much he misses Grace, because they were so in sync with the way they wanted to be seen and because of this he enjoyed attending social engagements with her. Later on in an episode called “The Spelling Bee” Sol realizes how much he misses Frankie not just because she was his caretaker who reminded him of all of his appointments but also because they shared the same humor and entertainment for things.
It’s very evident that because the couple’s compatibilities are so strong they did not make great couples, in the passionate way that most marriages share. However, it’s clear why Sol and Robert stayed with their wives for so long, Frankie and Grace were their best friends that understood them, except for one major component, their sexuality.
A major theme in the show is the breaking of stereotypes, not only with the two couples but also with their children. Robert and Grace have two daughters, Malory and Brianna, who are independent and head strong like their parents, where as Frankie and Sol have two adopted boys, Coyote and Bud, who are very much in touch with their feelings and one might say more vulnerable then the girls. The show does a great job slowly revealing their kid’s storylines, in a subtle way without diverting the attention away from Grace and Frankie. This adds another layer of drama and comedic flare with how opposite their sets of kids are with one another, and involving how the kids deal with the situation as well.
In an episode called, “The Dinner” Sol and Robert invite their kids over for dinner, in which Grace and Frankie do not know about. It’s one of the stronger episodes that focus on how the kids are dealing with the situation as well as their own problems. The dynamic between Coyote and Malory is also revealed, in which it’s clear that they have some sort of history together and brings to light that Coyote is a recovering alcoholic, and somehow Malory was involved in his admittance to rehab. This episode leaves you hanging because it does not go on to explain all of the tiny facts that are exposed about the kids and their relationships with their parents. Which is a good move from the writers to want you to keep watching to find out more.
Most importantly though is the relationship between Grace and Frankie. Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have great chemistry together, in which their character’s bipolar personalities are truly a sight to watch and experience together. Though Grace and Frankie are in their earlier seventies, after this life altering incident it’s almost like they’ve gone back to square one and must relearn how to live again, and I must say at least they have each other. Even though it’s clear, not only in the way they dress but also in their table manners that they live completely different lifestyles, they learn that depending off of each other is better then sitting alone drinking their sorrows away until they die.
The two grieve about their relationships differently and it’s even surprising who deals with it better. You’d think that open minded Frankie would be able to bounce back quickly from finding out her husband is gay, but it’s actually neurotic Grace that makes amends and gives acceptance to Robert first and even snags herself a boyfriend just after six episodes.
This show dives into not only Grace and Frankie’s relationship with one another but also their relationships with their ex-husbands, their kids and friends. However, the most enjoyable parts are when Grace and Frankie are in their house bickering about their problems like an old married couple.
The show has only been out on Netflix for five days and it’s already received a star rating of 4.1. I’d personally give it a 3.5 because yes the show is different yet relatable but the show definitely appeals more towards an audience in their sixties. The shenanigans that Grace and Frankie find themselves in are much more enticing for that age group, and because the show is about how Grace and Frankie deal with the sudden shock of their husbands coming out it doesn’t involve many incidents between Sol and Robert that aren’t typical of any average couple, whether you are gay or straight.
Nevertheless, I’d still recommend any Jane Fonda or Martin Sheen fan to watch it, maybe even with your grandma alongside you.