They really did it. They actually ended it.
Watching the final episodes of Grace and Frankie season 7 feels like saying goodbye to that one pair of mismatched socks you’ve had for a decade—the ones that shouldn't work together but somehow keep your feet warmer than anything else in the drawer. It’s rare for a Netflix comedy to get 94 episodes. Most shows get the axe after three seasons, or maybe four if the algorithm is feeling generous. But Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin? They defied the math.
Honestly, the way this show wrapped up was kind of a miracle. We’re talking about a series that started with a premise that could have easily been a one-note joke: two women find out their husbands are in love with each other. That’s it. That’s the tweet. But by the time we hit the final stretch of Grace and Frankie season 7, the show had transformed into something much more profound about the sheer terror of getting older and the absolute necessity of having someone to hold your hand while you do it.
The Long Goodbye of Grace and Frankie Season 7
The final season was split into two parts, which was a bit of a weird move at the time, but it actually gave fans a chance to breathe. The first four episodes dropped unexpectedly in 2021 because of pandemic delays, and then the final twelve arrived in 2022. It felt like a long, slow exhale.
What really worked in Grace and Frankie season 7 was the refusal to pretend that aging is graceful. It isn't. It’s messy. It involves vibrators for people with arthritis (the legendary Menage-à-Moi) and trying to figure out how to live in a house with a toilet that basically launches you into the air. Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, the creators, didn't shy away from the physical reality of being in your 80s.
One of the most poignant arcs in the final season involves the "Rise and Shine" lift. It’s funny, sure. Seeing Grace and Frankie try to navigate a prototype that keeps malfunctioning is classic slapstick. But underneath the comedy is a desperate, clawing need for independence. That’s the secret sauce of the show. It makes you laugh at a "tall toilet," and then it hits you with the realization that these women are terrified of being sent to an assisted living facility.
Dolly Parton Finally Showed Up
We have to talk about the angel in the room. Or rather, the angel in the white suit.
Fans waited seven years for the 9 to 5 reunion. We all knew it was coming, but the way they handled Dolly Parton’s cameo in the series finale, "The Beginning," was actually pretty tasteful. She didn't play herself. She played Agnes, a sort of celestial administrative assistant.
It was a meta-moment that could have felt cheap. Instead, it felt like a hug. When Grace and Frankie find themselves in a white-void version of the afterlife after a freak accident involving a martini, Dolly’s presence isn't just a gimmick. It serves as the final catalyst for them to realize that their lives aren't over just because they’ve reached a certain number.
"I’m not a ghost, I’m a working girl!"
That line from Dolly basically summarizes the ethos of the entire production. These women—Fonda, Tomlin, and Parton—have been working girls for sixty years. They aren't going anywhere.
The Men: Sol and Robert’s Quiet Sunset
While the show is named after the women, Grace and Frankie season 7 gave a lot of space to Sam Waterston and Martin Sheen.
Their storyline in the final episodes was arguably the most grounded. Robert’s memory loss wasn't played for big dramatic soap opera reveals. It was quiet. It was frustrating. It was real. Seeing Robert, a man who built his entire identity on being sharp and successful, begin to lose his grip on the present was heartbreaking.
And Sol? Sol remained the emotional anchor. Their relationship provided a counterpoint to the chaotic energy of the beach house. While Grace and Frankie were busy trying to smuggle drugs across the border or invent new products, Sol and Robert were navigating the slow, inevitable fading of a long life. It added a layer of "E-E-A-T"—Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness—to the writing. The writers clearly spoke to people dealing with early-onset dementia and late-life transitions. It wasn't just "TV old"; it was "real old."
Why the Ending Still Sparks Debate
Not everyone loved the ending. Some critics felt the "near-death experience" was a bit too whimsical for a show that had spent years dealing with the grit of divorce and business ownership.
But look at the alternatives.
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Would we have preferred a finale where one of them actually died? Absolutely not. That would have betrayed the upbeat, resilient spirit of the series. By having them "come back" from the brink, the showrunners leaned into the idea that as long as you're breathing, you’re starting over.
The Evolution of the Beach House
The beach house itself became a character in Grace and Frankie season 7. It represented the sanctuary they built out of the ashes of their old lives. In the final season, the house is a hub of chaos—Brianna’s career implosions, Mallory’s struggle to fill her mother’s shoes, and the constant influx of children and grandchildren.
The kids—played by June Diane Raphael, Brooklyn Decker, Baron Vaughn, and Ethan Embry—finally felt like they grew up in the last season. Brianna, specifically, had an arc that felt incredibly honest. She didn't want the traditional marriage. She didn't want to compromise her blunt, often harsh personality just to fit a mold. Her decision to choose herself over a "perfect" relationship with Barry was one of the most realistic portrayals of a child-free, independent woman in her 40s we've seen on Netflix.
Technical Triumphs: Behind the Scenes
It’s worth noting that filming Grace and Frankie season 7 was a logistical nightmare. Production was halted for over a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When they returned, the sets had to be adjusted. The actors, particularly Fonda and Tomlin who were in their 80s, had to be protected. You can actually see some of the creative staging in the final episodes—more scenes with people sitting down, fewer massive crowd shots. But the chemistry between the leads is so electric that you don't even notice the social distancing measures that were likely in place during filming.
The Fashion of the Final Season
We can't talk about season 7 without mentioning the costumes. Mary Kay Place (who also guest starred) and the costume department kept the contrast between Grace’s tailored, high-end "Country Club" aesthetic and Frankie’s "Artistic Shaman" look until the very last frame.
Frankie’s kimonos became more elaborate. Grace’s white shirts became even crisper. These clothes weren't just outfits; they were armor. In a season where they felt their bodies failing them, their style remained a constant source of power.
Key Takeaways from the Series Finale
If you're re-watching or just finishing it for the first time, keep an eye on these specific themes:
- Forgiveness is a process, not an event. The show ends with a sense that while the anger toward Sol and Robert has faded, the scars are still there. And that’s okay.
- The "Third Act" is real. Fonda has spoken extensively in interviews about the "third act" of life. Season 7 is the visual representation of her philosophy: that old age is a staircase, not a plateau.
- Female friendship is the primary romance. The most successful relationship in the show isn't Sol and Robert or Grace and Nick—it’s Grace and Frankie.
The final scene of them walking on the beach is simple. It’s quiet. There are no big speeches. Just two women, different in every possible way, deciding to keep walking together.
What to Do Now That You’ve Finished the Show
If you’re feeling that post-binge void, here are a few things to dig into that capture the same spirit:
- Watch "Grace and Frankie: A Farewell to 7 Seasons" on Netflix. This short behind-the-scenes special shows the table reads and the final day on set. It’s a tear-jerker.
- Read Jane Fonda’s book, "Prime Time." It covers much of the philosophy that informed the writing of the later seasons regarding aging, sex, and fitness.
- Check out "80 for Brady." If you need more of that Fonda/Tomlin energy, this movie (which also stars Rita Moreno and Sally Field) feels like a spiritual cousin to the show.
- Explore Lily Tomlin’s classic sketches. Go back to Laugh-In or her one-woman shows. It makes you appreciate the nuance she brings to Frankie Bergstein even more.
Grace and Frankie season 7 didn't just end a sitcom; it capped off a cultural moment that proved there is a massive, underserved audience hungry for stories about women over 70. It wasn't perfect, it was often ridiculous, but it was always, fundamentally, human.