Netflix publishes weekly rankings of its most popular projects — and for the second consecutive week, the new miniseries The Four Seasons confidently holds the top spot, with viewers worldwide having watched it for over 51 million hours in total.
The project is helmed by the directorial duo Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini — the very same who brought audiences the American version of Shameless. Now, they return to the realm of family drama, but this time with a much calmer yet equally captivating tone.
The series' plot revolves around three pairs of friends who have spent seasonal vacations together for many years. However, their familiar routine is disrupted when one of the couples unexpectedly announces their divorce.
This event acts as a catalyst: old grievances, hidden feelings, and cracks in relationships come to the surface. Thus, serene holidays transform into an emotional upheaval for all the characters.
An interesting fact: the series is an adaptation of a little-known 1981 comedy of the same name, familiar only to the most dedicated cinephiles. Essentially, it's a lighter version of Bergman's Scenes from a Marriage, but in a more relaxed and American style.
On IMDb, it holds a 7.3 rating and 73% Freshness on RT. Reviews acknowledge its quality: not groundbreaking, but engaging, especially if you appreciate mature discussions about love, infidelity, crises, and vacation melancholy.
Here are some viewer opinions:
"I was a reluctant watcher of this show, and ended up binging the whole season in 3 days. Likeable, yet sometimes frustrating characters, great writing and acting!"
"This show isn’t trying to be big or dramatic, and that’s exactly why it works. It quietly captures the real things people go through in long-term relationships—whether they ever say it out loud or not. The humor shows up just when it needs to, without taking over the story."
"Fun,short episodes and easy to watch however the stories could be delved into on a deeper level."
So, The Four Seasons isn't a blockbuster hit, not Game of Thrones or Bridgerton. It's a mature, subtle, and at times painful story about relationships that resonates with its authenticity. And 51 million hours watched is the best confirmation of that. If you're in the mood for something about life, without superheroes and murders — give it a look.
