Netflix's The Four Seasons season 2, which premiered on May 28, has earned an 89% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, surpassing its debut season. the series, created by Tina Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield and based on the 1981 film, picks up after the shocking death of Steve Carell's Nick in season 1. The surviving couples — played by Fey, Will Forte, Colman Domingo, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Marco Calvani, and Erika Henningsen — navigate grief, marital strains, and the impending birth of Nick's baby, according to ScreenRant interviews.

89% on Rotten Tomatoes: Season 2 bests its own debut

According to ScreenRant, the new season has garnered even higher acclaim than its debut outing, currently sitting at an 89% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes. That critical jump suggests the show has found its rhythm, building on the foundation laid by season 1 while deepening the emotional stakes. The ensemble cast,which adds Steven Pasquale in a recurring role, has been praised for its chemistry, with co-creator Tracey Wigfield telling ScreenRant that the cast's chemistry is one of the show's greatest assets.

Nick's death reverberates: Divorce papers, a baby, and empty-nest fears

As ScreenRant reports, Nick's off-screen death continues to drive the plot. Kerri Kenney-Silver's character Anne is reeling from Nick's initial desire for divorce before his heart condition emerged, and she now faces empty-nest fears.. Meanwhile, Marco Calvani's Claude begins questioning his legacy and identity, wondering, as Calvani put it, 'Who am I really? Why did I decide to come to this country?' Adding complexity, Ginny (Erika Henningsen) is pregnant with Nick's baby — a 'quadruple whammy' that forces the group into awkward but fertile comedic territory. Henningsen quoted Fey's character Kate: 'There's no Beyoncé song for when your ex-husband's new pregnant girlfriend goes on a hiking trip with you.'

Tina Fey's directorial debut: A long-overdue move behind the camera

In the same ScreenRant interview, Tina Fey confirmed that she made her directorial debut with an episode of season 2. Fey said she 'felt ready' and wanted to ensure her directing would be 'an additive thing' — not just a writer protecting her lines. The move marks a notable expansion of Fey's already prolific career and adds a meta-layer of creative control to a series she already co-created.

Unanswered teases: What is the 'thing' between Claude and Jack?

One specific unresolved plot point raised by Wigfield in the interview: a 'thing' between Claude and Jack (Will Forte) at the end of season 2. The show has not revealed whether this is a romantic, adversarial, or comedic development, leaving fans to speculate. Additionally, while the cast joked that Nick's death 'is not even mentioned' this season, Kenney-Silver and Henningsen acknowledged the grief is still palpable, suggesting the comedy emerges from the awkwardness of moving on.

Grief as a comedy engine: The 'beautiful' balance the writing achieves

As reported by ScreenRant, Kenney-Silver praised the wrriting for finding humor in grief: 'There's humor that comes out of grief. There just is.' She noted that season 2 includes big physical comedy moments rather than wallowing in sorrow. Wigfield added that Nick's death 'gave us an opportunity to get deeper into these characters and see new dynamics forming,' particularly the weird relationship between Ginny and Anne.. The result is a show that treats loss with honesty while still delivering laughs — a tightrope few comedies walk successfully.