What I’m Watching: Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie: Season 4, Episode 5 “The Pop-Ups” (B+)

Without Sheree around, it’s good to see Grace and Frankie hanging out with friends their own age, even if they’re at very different points in their life. Grace reacted so negatively to how her friend Arlene, played by four-time Oscar nominee Marsha Mason, was confined to her oven-free apartment by her uncaring son, only to realize later on that there was a reason that she needed to be there. Going to a college campus and setting up a pop-up shop did prove to be too much excitement for Arlene, even if Grace thrived on the energy and was ready to make a Frankie-like stand for justice and their right to table without a permit after Frankie herself went missing. Another famed Oscar nominee, Talia Shire, seems like she’ll become part of the plotline going forward after Frankie started thinking about the sister that she apparently has but hasn’t spoken to in decades. I’m not sure what to make of that yet, but I’m sure it will be interesting. Bud proposing to Allison went better than expected, and he even got her to agree to forego the prenup, only to be assigned to pry the paper out of their dog’s jaws, hardly a promising assignment but exactly the type of task he’ll likely need to do now that he’s agreed to spend his life with the very unique Allison. Sol doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of being less mad at Robert for interfering in their neighbors’ relationship, and while Mallory was also upset, Brianna couldn’t get quite enough drama for her tastes.