I am the bearer of all new and well-written shows that get passed off by the general consensus of pop culture consumers. I will probably do another piece on shows that are of extreme caliber but highly underrated (*cough Bates Motel *cough). But since I am not here to do that, I want to point your attention to Netflix.
Ever since Netflix decided to launch its own form of personal television network by streaming their own shows, it has been a blessing for both television creators and for viewers. By blessing, I mean having the ingenuity to bring together two of the most brilliant actresses of their time and write an all exclusive show on the lives of older women.
Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin have a long standing legacy as a comedic duo, and Netflix took it upon themselves to bring them together once again. We all can only feel so blessed by this event, to be completely honest. They have some of the best on screen chemistry between two leading female duos. That right there is the one and primary reason all of you should start watching "Grace and Frankie."
Hollywood has a tendency to exclude roles for actresses who happen to be older than 50 years of age. It is truly a nasty habit and one that this show is hoping to break. The show manages to allude to this idea, especially at the end of the second season of the show.
The show centers around the plot of two women, who after more than 40 years of marriage, are told by their husbands (Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston) that they are gay and in love with each other. That is general premise of the show which instigates a development between Frankie (Lily Tomlin) and Grace (Jane Fonda) that blossoms into a beautiful friendship.
Why you ask? Why am I so adamant about all of you watching this show? Because it is a beautiful blend of comedy and truth from the perspective of older women that most often isn't told in films or in any other show. It might have escaped Hollywood's notice, but people do like to see storylines about older women. As you grow old, you don't lose your complexity but rather enhance it. These kinds of stories have so much to give and so much to teach, I feel it is important to write them.
Not only is it a show that explores women of a certain age but illustrates the lives of two older gay man in a real humane way. It is not the typical "gay" trope but outlines two people who are very real in their feelings and are shown that they are more than their sexuality. "Grace and Frankie" balances the scales between comedy and drama in just the perfect feel in order to carry out the story and not be borderline cartoonish.
Aside from all the seriousness, the comedic writing on this show is top notch. The jokes are relatable and quick, while keeping true to the characters. The supporting characters add depth to the leads and bring about their own shine on this show (just take a look a Brianna.)
I could go on and on about this show and how important it is to the industry in general, but the one that thing that keeps it so beautiful and pure is the ongoing development of Frankie and Grace. Just to see those two characters interact is enough reason to watch and keep watching.
I leave you with the best screen caps this show has to offer:
Yes, that's right. They're talking about a vibrator.

























