Warning: This story contains spoilers for “The Four Seasons” on Netflix.
In its emotional finale, Netflix’s “The Four Seasons” — an adaptation of a 1981 movie of the same name — delivers an unexpected, sobering conclusion that challenges romantic ideals.
The final episode, titled “Fun or Funeral,” blends comedy and grief with a poignant exploration of male midlife crises, particularly the kind that compel men to leave longtime partners for younger companions.
Nick, portrayed with nuance by Steve Carell, leaves his wife, Anne (Kerri Kenney-Silver) and starts to date Ginny, a 30-year-old free spirit.
But in a twist laced with irony, Nick seems to morph into the very version of Anne he said he resented — isolated, cranky and disconnected.
His attempt to recapture youth ends in tragedy and farce, as he dies while trying to impress Ginny’s friend group. This is a major departure from the original source material. In it, Nick (Len Cariou) falls through the ice, but is rescued by friends.
Nick’s funeral, both absurd and reflective, features his ashes placed in a red high heel and a chaotic memorial where everyone — his ex-wife, girlfriend and friends — tries to define who he really was.
“We didn’t intend it as punishment for leaving his wife,” executive producer and co-creator Lang Fisher says in an interview with TODAY.com of Nick’s death.
“We just wanted to show that he found some brief happiness — and then let the story reflect a group of friends in crisis. That’s real life.”
One of the most gutting moments in the finale belongs to Anne. Despite lingering resentment, she hosts Nick’s funeral and breaks down mid-eulogy: “I just realized, I didn’t know him at all.”
It’s a brutal confession after 25 years of marriage. Later, she tells Ginny, “He was probably happier with you than he ever was with me.”
Kenney-Silver says the first take of that scene left her in tears.
“It’s all in the writing,” she says. “Tina (Fey) came up to me after and said, ‘That’s beautiful — but too real.’ The funeral was supposed to be a disaster. If Anne gives a perfect, heartfelt speech, it changes the tone.”
Instead, Anne unravels — less eulogy, more emotional exorcism.
“It had to be more about unraveling than mourning,” Kenney-Silver says. “And in doing so, it gave the scene a raw, chaotic honesty.”
While Nick’s arc takes center stage, “The Four Seasons” also explores other complex relationships, including the quiet, emotionally rich bond between Danny (Colman Domingo) and Claude (Marco Calvani). When Danny hides a health issue, Claude’s reaction is layered with fear, frustration and love.
“I’m honored you saw Claude as emotionally grounded,” Calvani tells TODAY.com. “He’s eccentric, yes, but everything he does is rooted in his love for Danny. When Danny lies, it shakes Claude’s entire sense of security.”
That vulnerability is amplified by Claude’s outsider status.
“He’s the last one to join this circle of friends,” Calvani says. “Like many immigrants, even after 10 years, he still feels like he has to prove he belongs. He’s a stay-at-home husband, so there’s always this pressure to earn his seat at the table.”
Claude’s devotion and anxiety add depth to the show’s exploration of identity, intimacy and belonging.
The series ends with a final dinner that echoes the group’s last FaceTime with Nick. Wounds remain, but growth is visible. Jack (Will Forte) and Kate (Tina Fey) find their way back to each other. Danny accepts Claude’s spirituality after a symbolic butterfly sighting. And Anne — perhaps the show’s emotional anchor —supports Ginny, who is pregnant with Nick’s child.
When asked if Anne is finally free from the expectations she once carried in her marriage, Kenney-Silver says: “I think Anne lived to be needed. The idea that her entire marriage might have been a mirage was terrifying. But in that final moment with Ginny, she realizes two things can be true—Nick loved Ginny, but he also loved her. The 25 years they shared were real.”
It’s not a perfect resolution — but it’s honest. And that’s what “The Four Seasons” does best: show that truth and messiness can coexist.
“It’s a love story to all sorts of long relationships—including platonic ones. But yeah, not all marriages are meant to last forever. Some endings are necessary,” writer Tracey Wigfield says.
