‘The Four Seasons’ Season 1 Recap: Everything You Need to Remember Ahead of Season 2 Debut

The Four Seasons is a Netflix comedy-drama series created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield. The show premiered on May 1, and is based on the 1981 movie of the same name written and directed by Alan Alda, who also makes a guest appearance in the series. After a successful first season, Netflix renewed the show for a second season, set to premiere on May 28.

The series follows a close group of longtime friends whose relationships begin to change after Nick, played by Steve Carell, decides to leave his wife Anne and start dating a much younger woman named Ginny. The cast also includes Tina Fey as Kate, Will Forte as her husband Jack, Colman Domingo as Danny, and Marco Calvani as Danny’s husband Claude. The show mixes comedy and emotional drama as the group navigates friendship, marriage, divorce, and personal change over four vacations together.

Now that we’ve went through the basics, here’s that season 1 recap you need.

Episode 1 “Lake House”

Episode 1 of The Four Seasons follows a group of longtime friends as they reunite for a relaxing getaway. Jack, Kate, Danny, Claude, Anne, and Nick spend time joking around, cooking dinner, and celebrating Nick and Anne’s 25th wedding anniversary. During a hike the next day, Nick shocks Jack and Danny by revealing that he is thinking about divorcing Anne because he feels they have grown apart.

At the same time, more secrets begin to surface. Kate learns that Danny secretly needs heart surgery, while Claude struggles to keep the situation hidden. Back at the house, tension builds during conversations about future vacation plans, especially as everyone tries to avoid exposing their personal problems.

Things become uncomfortable after Anne struggles during a lake swim and Nick reacts coldly toward her. Later that night, Jack tells Kate about Nick’s divorce plans, while Danny secretly decides to continue with a work trip despite no longer needing to travel.

The episode ends with a major twist when Anne reveals she has secretly planned a surprise vow renewal ceremony for her and Nick, completely unaware that he has been considering ending their marriage.

Episode 2 “Garden Party”

This episode focuses on the chaos surrounding Anne and Nick’s planned vow renewal ceremony. While Anne excitedly prepares for the event and talks about recreating a sentimental wedding platter, Jack becomes increasingly uncomfortable knowing that Nick secretly wants a divorce. Kate and Danny decide it is better not to ruin the ceremony, even though Jack believes Anne deserves the truth.

At the same time, Danny and Claude deal with problems in their own relationship. Claude learns Danny has been avoiding his heart surgery and lying about needing to travel for work. The tension between them grows after Claude realizes Danny has been hiding important things from him.

As the ceremony gets closer, everyone struggles with guilt and anxiety. Kate repeatedly tries to tell Anne about Nick’s plans, but every attempt gets interrupted. Nick eventually arrives just before the ceremony begins, leaving the group unsure if he is there to fix the marriage or finally end it.

The episode ends with Anne reading emotional vows to Nick and praising him for supporting her hobbies and fixing her kiln. Just as Nick is about to speak, the kiln suddenly explodes, cutting the ceremony short and leaving everyone shocked.

Episode 3 “Eco Resort”

Episode 3 follows the group on another vacation, but this time things are much more awkward. Nick brings his much younger girlfriend Ginny along, and the trip quickly becomes uncomfortable for everyone. While Ginny is full of energy and excited about the eco-friendly resort, the others struggle to deal with Nick’s new lifestyle and the fallout from his divorce with Anne.

Kate and Jack can’t stop noticing how different Nick acts around Ginny. Kate feels like he’s trying too hard to act young again, while Danny openly complains about the strange hotel and the forced fun. Ginny keeps planning activities for everyone, but the group clearly isn’t enjoying themselves as much as she hoped.

At the same time, Danny is still recovering from his surgery and trying to move forward with life. He surprises everyone with newly dyed blonde hair and reveals he was offered a big work project in Austin. Claude stays protective of Danny after the health scare, which causes some tension between them.

The episode also reveals old secrets and awkward history between the friends. Claude accidentally exposes that Kate and Danny once kissed years ago, which creates an uncomfortable moment with Jack. Nick also admits he once fired Jack from his company because he was too soft-hearted for the job.

As the vacation continues, cracks start showing everywhere. Kate notices Nick secretly crying by the fire late at night, even though he insists he has never been happier. Ginny senses the group dislikes her and worries she’s the reason everyone feels miserable. Nick tries hard to convince everyone — and maybe himself — that his new life is perfect.

Things get worse during a paddleboarding trip when Nick injures his foot climbing rocks to impress Ginny. While he recovers, he finally admits he feels judged by his old friends because of how he left Anne. Kate tells him he doesn’t need to pretend around them, but Nick still refuses to admit he regrets anything.

Meanwhile, Danny and Claude leave the resort for a day trip and end up relaxing at a much nicer hotel. Just when things finally seem peaceful, the episode ends with a surprise twist. Danny walks into the bathroom at the luxury resort and suddenly comes face-to-face with Anne, revealing she is there too.

Episode 4 “Beach Bar”

In this episode of The Four Seasons, the vacation continues to spiral into emotional messes and awkward truths as everyone’s personal problems start spilling out in different ways.

Danny ends up meeting Anne, who reveals she already knew about Nick and Ginny being at the resort. Instead of confronting them, she says she plans to hide in her room until she leaves. Danny tries to convince her not to isolate herself, and later tells Claude about the situation. Anne also shows signs of wanting connection but keeps pulling back, including asking Danny for advice about whether it would be “ethical” to sleep with her surfing instructor.

Meanwhile, Kate and Jack spend time together and keep circling around their unhappiness and tension. Nick joins them briefly and tries to smooth things over, saying he didn’t mean to insult them earlier and that he is just protective of Ginny. Kate, however, pushes herself to be nicer to Ginny and encourages Jack to make an effort too, even as the group’s discomfort keeps growing.

Ginny continues trying to fit in with everyone, suggesting activities and joining social plans, but it’s clear she feels the judgment around her. At the bar later, she reveals her past experience with open relationships, which adds another layer of confusion for Nick and the group. Nick becomes visibly jealous when he sees Ginny dancing with another man and eventually steps in, showing how strongly he is attached to her despite the chaos around them.

At the same time, old tensions between the group surface in uncomfortable ways. Jack and Kate embarrass each other in front of others, Claude becomes upset when he sees Danny using drugs, and Danny himself is revealed to be dealing with major life decisions. He admits he accepted a big job designing a hotel in Austin and will be leaving soon for several months, a choice that surprises Claude.

Anne goes through her own emotional breakdown, reacting to everything she sees on social media from the trip. She destroys small strawberry decorations she bought, showing how hurt and overwhelmed she feels, even though she tries to keep it hidden.

The situation escalates when a storm warning forces everyone into panic mode. A hurricane is approaching, and the group is forced to evacuate. With no transport available, they end up using a pedal pub to reach Anne’s hotel, turning the crisis into a chaotic group journey.

In the middle of all this, Nick and Ginny finally define their relationship. Nick confesses he knows he is a mess and asks her to be his girlfriend. Ginny accepts, saying she likes that he is not pretending to be perfect.

The episode ends with multiple emotional reveals happening at once. Danny tells Anne about his new job in Austin, which he accepted without telling Claude. The group gathers to watch the worsening storm, as unresolved relationships, secrets, and decisions hang over them, leaving everyone unsure of what comes next.

Episode 5 “Family Weekend“

Kate and Jack arrive at the Lucky Flucker Knox Inn, where they reunite with Ginny and Nick, who show up in flashy style and immediately set a tense but social tone for the trip. The group also includes Danny and Claude, and it quickly becomes clear that everyone is carrying emotional baggage beneath the surface of the friendly greetings.

Ginny tries to fit in by engaging with Kate and the others, while Nick enjoys showing off his confident, carefree attitude. He even pushes for luxury room upgrades and tries to involve Ginny in every plan. Kate and Jack, meanwhile, continue dealing with quiet friction in their marriage, including disagreements over drinking and how disconnected they feel from each other.

Danny and Claude’s relationship also shows strain, though they try to mask it with humor and affection. Claude explores dating apps and light distractions while Danny avoids deeper conversations, even as concerns about his health and behavior quietly build.

The group visits a local university where past connections and awkward social dynamics resurface. Kate reconnects with someone from her past, while Lila, a younger character tied to Nick, begins showing emotional distance and resentment. Tensions rise when Ginny and Lila struggle to connect, and Nick tries to manage the situation but only makes things more uncomfortable.

Jack and Kate’s relationship continues to crack under small misunderstandings that turn into bigger emotional arguments. Jack feels ignored and unseen, while Kate insists she is just overwhelmed. Their conflict builds until Jack storms off feeling rejected and disconnected.

At the center of the episode is a school play written by Lila, which turns deeply personal and dramatic. The performance publicly exposes emotional pain, family conflict, and resentment, and it shocks the entire group. Ginny is especially affected and leaves after feeling targeted by the performance. Nick later apologizes to her, but the damage has already been done, and he is forced to confront how his choices affect others.

Meanwhile, Danny and Claude’s relationship reaches a breaking point when emotional stress, jealousy, and miscommunication explode into a heated argument. Claude becomes overwhelmed by Danny’s health issues and behavior, while Danny accuses Claude of being controlling. Their fight ends in a chaotic and emotional outburst that highlights how fragile their relationship has become.

By the end of the episode, nearly every relationship in the group is strained or breaking in some way. Couples are arguing, secrets are surfacing, and emotional wounds are being exposed in public and private moments. The inn becomes a pressure cooker where long-suppressed frustrations finally start spilling out.

Episode 6 “Ultimate Frisbee“

The episode focuses on multiple couples in the group as they deal with growing emotional tension, old wounds, and relationship doubts during their shared trip.

Kate and Jack start the episode trying to reconnect after an argument. They have a small, tender moment where they apologize to each other and try to reset, but their issues quickly resurface. Jack still feels ignored and hurt, while Kate struggles with how distant their marriage has become.

Danny and Claude continue dealing with serious strain in their relationship. Claude is upset that Danny has been emotionally absent and physically gone for long periods, while Danny tries to smooth things over but ends up facing deeper questions about whether their relationship is stable. Their conflict builds throughout the episode, but they also show signs of wanting to stay together despite the pressure.

Nick becomes more directly involved in conflict with Lila, who is still angry about how his relationship with Ginny has affected her family. Their arguments reveal deeper pain, especially around Nick’s divorce from Anne. Anne eventually steps in to calm things down and pushes everyone to focus on having a peaceful group activity instead of fighting.

The group later takes part in an Ultimate Frisbee game meant to bring everyone together. Although it starts awkwardly and even leads to a minor injury, it ends on a lighter note, with some brief reconciliation and shared laughter. However, the underlying tension between characters remains unresolved.

Romantic and emotional cracks continue to widen across the group. Jack confides in Anne, expressing frustration about how Kate treats him, and in a surprising twist, he admits that he kissed Anne. This revelation adds another layer of complication to the already fragile relationships.

Danny and Claude reach a breaking point during a chaotic scooter tour incident that ends in an accident scare. Danny becomes overwhelmed by guilt and fear about his health, while Claude tries to comfort him and suggests they stay together and face things as a couple.

Kate later confronts Anne, who opens up about her struggles, including feeling excluded and emotionally broken after her divorce from Nick. Anne also reveals that Nick had previously cheated on her, adding context to their failed marriage and deepening the emotional weight of the story.

By the end of the episode, several characters begin acknowledging that their relationships are not working the way they hoped. Despite the conflict, there are small moments of honesty and connection. The episode closes with a quiet agreement between Kate and Jack that they should seek therapy, while others in the group begin to separate emotionally and physically, each carrying their own unresolved issues forward.

Episode 7 “Ski Trip“

The episode centers on rising tension between all the couples during a shared vacation, with relationships cracking further under pressure while misunderstandings and secrets pile up.

Kate and Jack start the trip already strained, with Kate noticing Jack acting distant and secretive about his phone. Kate confides in Danny that she feels their marriage is weakening, especially because they are no longer communicating or being intimate. Danny encourages her to talk to Jack directly instead of assuming the worst.

Claude and Danny also deal with unresolved emotional baggage, including Claude’s suspicion about a man from his past named Terry, whom he believes he may have hooked up with years earlier. Danny treats the situation lightly, but Claude becomes increasingly fixated on solving the mystery, even trying to confirm it physically later in the episode.

Nick and Ginny arrive with Ginny’s friends, adding a new social layer that makes Nick feel out of place. He struggles to connect with them and feels judged, while Ginny becomes frustrated that Nick does not integrate well into her world. Their relationship shows early signs of strain as they argue over social dynamics and attention.

Anne also arrives with a new man, Terry, whom she met recently. She is trying to re-enter dating life and feels proud of herself, but her interactions with Terry become increasingly complicated and chaotic as the night goes on.

A large part of the episode takes place around group activities like skiing, storytelling, and a hot tub gathering. During these moments, characters repeatedly clash over personalities, communication, and jealousy. Nick tells a story that confuses Ginny’s friends, highlighting cultural and generational differences. Claude pushes insistently for everyone to use the hot tub, keeping the group together but also increasing tension.

Kate and Jack’s conflict reaches a breaking point in the hot tub when Kate directly confronts Jack about whether he is cheating. Jack denies it and explains that he has been overwhelmed and even looked into legal mediation because he feels their relationship is unstable. The argument escalates, revealing deep frustration on both sides about emotional distance, control, and fear of abandonment.

Meanwhile, Nick tries to connect with Ginny’s friends but feels increasingly excluded. Ginny eventually leaves him behind after becoming frustrated with his behavior, showing a clear emotional rift forming between them.

Anne and Terry’s relationship becomes chaotic and physical, adding another layer of instability to the group dynamic. At the same time, Claude finally confirms that Terry is not the person from his past, ending his personal mystery but not the emotional tension it created.

The episode ends on a shocking and tragic turn when Kate receives messages revealing that Nick has been in a serious accident while alone. The group is left shaken by the news, and Anne is devastated when she hears what happened. In the final moments, the tone shifts completely as grief and shock take over the vacation atmosphere, leaving everyone facing the consequences of everything that has been building up between them.

Episode 8 “Fun”

In the final episode of The Four Seasons season 1, Kate and Anne start by handling hotel rooms for guests coming in for Nick’s funeral. The process quickly becomes awkward, especially when the receptionist gets uncomfortable after Anne overshares personal details.

As the group comes together to plan the funeral, tensions rise. Ginny tries to help with ideas, but Anne rejects her suggestions, and Kate also shuts down some of Ginny’s contributions, especially the more revealing photos of Nick. The situation shows how divided everyone still is while they try to grieve.

Kate and Jack argue again when Jack tries to save money by negotiating with the funeral director, but it backfires and Kate has to fix things herself. Even then, she ends up choosing the wrong funeral package, making the service feel disorganized. During the ceremony, Anne becomes overwhelmed and refuses to let Ginny speak, breaking down at the podium.

Danny struggles deeply with Nick’s death, while Claude tries to find meaning in it, which Danny finds frustrating. The emotional weight affects everyone differently.

After the funeral, Ginny reaches her limit with how she’s being treated and confronts the group before walking away upset. Later, the others worry when she doesn’t return and go looking for her. During the search, Kate and Jack end up on thin ice over a frozen lake, and Kate falls through. Jack manages to pull her out and save her.

Meanwhile, Danny finally opens up about his grief, and Ginny later returns for a heartfelt conversation with Anne. They manage to find some understanding between them.

By the end, the group shares a quiet meal together and remembers Nick. Anne asks Ginny to read her speech, leading to laughter instead of tension. They honor Nick with a toast, and the season ends with Anne revealing that Ginny is pregnant.

The second season is set to premiere on May 28.

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