What I’m Watching: Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie: Season 4, Episode 10 “The Death Stick” (B+)

This has been an inarguably tumultuous year for our protagonists, and in this hour we had another death to rile them and make them realize that life is precious. Going to surprise Harriet with vagina balloons left them woefully unprepared for the news that she was dead, having gone out using their vibrator, no less. Grace attempting to do damage control and fielding questions like whether the vibrator was too dangerous for its target demographic was undercut incredibly by Frankie coming over and speaking directly into the recorder with an admission of their status as murderers. Grace made a good point that they had come so far with a business venture that no one expected to see succeed, and Frankie had undone much of that by presuming that they were responsible for her death. Fortunately, her cousin coming over and giving them the “I Am Harriet” shirts provided a huge boost to business, interrupted only by the ominous descent of the bathtub through the floor, which should give them plenty to clean up in the final three episodes of the season. Robert preparing opening arguments for couple’s therapy was entertaining, and I think he and Sol were both equally shocked at the suggestion of an open marriage to help fix their problems. Jessica St. Clair from “Playing House” was a great choice to play Brianna’s nemesis Lauren, and though it didn’t seem like it was going to turn out well for a while, the whole thing inspired Barry to quit and to tell Brianna that he was ready to stick it out with her regardless of whether Say Grace went under.