Netflix UK TV review: Grace and Frankie Season 6
Review Overview
Laughs
9Fonda and Tomlin chemistry
10Counterculture References
8Victoria Curatolo | On 21, Jan 2020
Warning: This review contains spoilers for Season 1 to 5 of Grace and Frankie
After a rather tame series of events unfolded in Season 5, Season 6 of Grace and Frankie sees its title characters back on top form – reminiscent of the dynamic spunk and pizzazz that fans saw in its earlier seasons.
The Season 5 finale saw Grace (Jane Fonda) marry her new millionaire boyfriend Nick (Peter Gallagher) wondering how this will bode with her best friend, roommate and business partner Frankie (Lily Tomlin). Season 6 kicks off right where we left off, wondering how the season will continue with its title characters living at other ends of the city. But fear not: Grace and Frankie are back and as comedic as ever, triumphing over geriatric challenges as always.
Grace attempts to make herself at home with her new husband and their multimillion city apartment, but soon finds challenges in adjusting – one being the state-of-the-art toilet that she finds increasing difficult to get up from. Embarrassed by her predicament and trying to avoid informing her new, younger husband, Grace resorts to calling Frankie (whom she is not speaking to) to literally help her off the toilet. This, of course, gives the hippy genius a new business idea; a toilet that automatically rises to help the elderly and physically challenged off the toilet – which they name the Rise Up.
Other storylines see Robert (Martin Sheen) and Sol (Sam Waterston) dealing with issues of their own after Sol is diagnosed with prostate cancer. Although non-threatening, Robert is determined to make sure his husband is cared for – driving Sol nuts along the way. Their son, Bud (Baron Vaughn) is enjoying married life with the ever-neurotic Allison (Lindsey Kraft), while Coyote (Ethan Embray) is happy in a new relationship of his own – with Bud’s high-school girlfriend. Their stepsisters, Brianna (June Diane Raphael) and Mallory (Brooklyn Becker), are still masters of their Say Grace empire, which is jeopardised by their problematic, alcoholic mother, after she unknowingly plagiarises the ingredients for a skincare product.
Grace and Frankie has always been one of the most beloved and original shows on Netflix, with one of the best casts and slick writing. Season 5 saw the show take something of a dip with not as many laughs and storylines dwindling, despite guest stars such as RuPaul Charles making an appearance. But fear not: Season 6 is back in business, seeing elements of Grace and Frankie resurface that with we’ve always loved, such as Frankie’s golden random one liners – “And that was the third time I saw Matthew Broderick naked” – not to mention progressive and empowering storylines that accentuate feminism at its best. Issues of sexuality and candidness surrounding the older generation are celebrated and made everyday.
The show will sadly come to an end after its seventh and final season, so if you haven’t had the chance to get watching yet then you’d better get to it – Rise Up!
Grace and Frankie is available to watch online on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.