What I’m Watching: Grace and Frankie (Season Finale)

Grace and Frankie: Season 3, Episode 13 “The Sign” (B+)

I know that I watch streaming shows differently than most people, and therefore I’m not building to a finale the same way that others are. Most of the time, I don’t even realize how close it is to the end of the season. In this case, Frankie’s mini-stroke or whatever it was served to be a helpful hint that we were approaching it. Fortunately, since this show continues to be deeply endearing and solidly entertaining, greener pastures appear to lie ahead, with Grace getting Frankie an incredible opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon as a way of coping with the fact that she wasn’t up for making a big move with Jacob that it seemed like she was headed for before her health instructed her otherwise. I really do hope that Peter Gallagher’s Nick sticks around for season four since he’s been a superb addition, and I enjoyed seeing him negotiate a date with Grace, starting with a plane to New York and a three-course meal that resulted in a far shorter affair with much fancier transportation. We didn’t get to see much of the next generation in this episode, save for Mallory’s confirmation to her father that she and Mitch are separating. I wasn’t as fond of the play protesters plotline until this episode, when it truly won me over, as Sol helped to organize the boycott of the bagel shop owned by the homophobe with a hilarious accidental endorsement chant – “The best bagels in town are made by a bigot!” It was most heartwarming to see Robert show up and express his affection for Sol and for the cause by throwing a cup of coffee in said bigot’s face to triumphantly join his husband and his friends in the back of the truck. I look forward to more of these antics in season four.

Season grade: B+
Season MVP: Lily Tomlin as Frankie