Grace And Frankie Ending Explained (& Why The Show Was Cancelled)

Netflix’s critically acclaimed comedy series, Grace and Frankie, ended after seven seasons, and many are wondering what the show’s ending means and why it was canceled. Created by Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman and Howard J. Morris, Grace and Frankie follows Grace Hanson (Jane Fonda) and Frances “Frankie” Bergstein (Lily Tomlin) who are both married to lawyer husbands, Robert Hanson (Martin Sheen) and Sol Bergstein (Sam Waterston). However, the titular pair learn that their husbands Robert and Sol have been in love with each other for years and that they are leaving their wives to be together.

Both Frankie and Grace move into their joint beach house despite never having been very close to each other when they were still married. However, throughout the series, Grace and Frankie get involved in a series of misadventures, romantic conflicts, and family drama that forces them to bond with each other, eventually resulting in the two women becoming close friends. Despite Grace and Frankie being one of the best LGBTQ+ shows on Netflix, the series was canceled after it released its seventh and final season, though luckily both the story and all the character arcs reached their natural conclusions.

Grace Is Forced To Confront Her Inner Demons

The Ending Of Grace And Frankie Is Heavily Introspective For Grace

In the final episode of Grace and Frankie, Grace decides to finally confront her inner demons that she has been bottling up. For example, when Grace reads the memoir of her ex-husband and former criminal, Nick, it states that his marriage with Grace was one of the worst mistakes he ever made. While Grace is upset with this revelation at first, she soon discovers that Nick had always been unhappy when they were together.

This was an emotional blow for Grace, but also a moment of growth, as it causes her to come to terms with the fact that she isn’t a perfect person and that, despite good intentions, she may often cause her loved ones to feel hurt and miserable. Additionally, Grace reconnects with her estranged brother Geoffrey (Jamey Sheridan) whom she has not spoken to in nearly 20 years.

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Grace is notably afraid of the ocean throughout the series​​​​​​, but it’s never explained exactly why. Grace and Frankie finally gives an explanation for this fear during Grace and Geoffrey’s reunion in which it is revealed that their father drowned while swimming in the ocean. Grace was so traumatized by this event that she has never set foot in the sea or ocean ever again. However, after reconnecting with her brother, Grace has finally come to terms with her past trauma.

Frankie Tries To Leave Her Mark On The World

A Fake Funeral Leaves Frankie Questioning The Value Of Her Past

Meanwhile, Frankie is also dealing with her own internal conflicts during the Grace and Frankie ending, specifically with her hypothetical mortality. Afraid that she will die within seven days, Frankie hosts a fake funeral as she wants to hear what her family and loved ones will say in their eulogies.

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However, Frankie quickly becomes frustrated when every eulogy given at the fake funeral mentions Grace, causing her to believe that she is a sidekick in her own life. On top of her arthritis worsening to the point that she is unable to continue her painting, which is her passion, Frankie wonders what kind of impact she’ll leave on the world.

Grace and Frankie Realize That They Need Each Other

The Duo’s Bond Is Cemented By A Near-Death Experience

Frankie is so afraid of her arthritis getting worse and eventually dying that she vents all of her frustration onto Grace. The two get into a heated argument, but after Frankie admits to Grace what’s been bothering her, the two forgive each other and hug. Unfortunately, the two women get electrocuted when they hug thanks to Frankie’s microphone connecting to Grace’s vodka martini. Grace and Frankie wake up in heaven and meet God (Dolly Parton).

Despite the duo’s plea to return to Earth as they want to spend the rest of their days together, God states that Frankie will stay in heaven while Grace will go back. Realizing that this is possibly the last time that they will ever see each other, Frankie and Grace give heartfelt, emotional goodbyes to each other.

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God is so moved by the bond that Grace and Frankie have that She allows them to return to Earth. Once the duo come back to life, they return more connected than ever. Grace helps Frankie continue her artistic passions by helping her hold a paintbrush, and in exchange, Frankie takes Grace to the beach to help her overcome her fear of the ocean.

Sol Comes To Terms With Robert’s Memory Loss

The Ending Wasn’t Only Significant For Grace And Frankie

Near the end of Grace and Frankie, Robert’s memory loss worsens to the point he is unable to remember the first time that he and Sol met, confusing it with the memory of how he and Grace first met. Sol is afraid that Robert’s condition will become worse to the point that Robert will completely forget all the memories they have together. So, after visiting a doctor, the two travel to the hotel where they first met. At first, Robert does not recognize where they are or what significance the hotel has to their past/relationship.

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However, when the song, “The Way You Look Tonight”, starts playing, Robert suddenly remembers all the fun and excitement that he had with Sol. After embracing and kissing each other, the two agree that they should take the time to create new memories and enjoy their last remaining days together, even if Robert eventually loses those memories due to his condition.

Brianna And Mallory Start A New Future Together

The Sisters Put Aside Their Differences For A Brighter Tomorrow

Meanwhile, Grace and Robert’s daughters, Brianna (June Diane Raphael) and Mallory (Brooklyn Decker) are at very low points in their lives. Brianna not only officially split up with Barry (Peter Cambor) once and for all due to both being unhappy with their current lives, but Barry is thriving after their separation.

Meanwhile, Mallory gets fired from her job at Tanneth. The sisters lean on each other for support and eventually are able to overcome their individual obstacles. Brianna and Mallory eventually decide to start a business together, believing that if they have each other, the future looks bright.

The Real Meaning of Grace And Frankie

The Show Is Ultimately About The Transformative Power Of Love

The main theme of Grace and Frankie is love and how it can be a powerful tool to motivate people to overcome their inner demons and find a new sense of purpose. Near the end of the final season, many of the characters are plagued with some kind of issue that makes them feel powerless and hopeless whether it be a medical condition, a job loss, or the lack of a significant other.​​​​​​​

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However, by the ending of Grace and Frankie, almost all the characters eventually realize that no matter how tough life may seem, they will always overcome their obstacles as long as they are not only supported by their loved ones but also simply love themselves.

Why Grace and Frankie Was Canceled

The Show Had Reached Its Natural Conclusion

There’s never been a specific reason given why Grace and Frankie didn’t continue on to season 8. The viewership remained strong, after all, and the show overall continued to be a hit for Netflix. However, the story did manage to reach a natural conclusion, without finishing on a frustrating cliffhanger. In terms of why Grace and Frankie was canceled after its seventh season, co-creator Martha Kauffman said:

“It was a combination of things. Netflix isn’t doing long-term series anymore. And we are really lucky that we got the seventh season.” (via Hello!).

However, regardless of why it was canceled, luckily Grace and Frankie was able to end on a high note, and its moving conclusion honored the beloved characters.

Jane Fonda & Lily Tomlin Have Reunited Since Grace And Frankie Ended

The Pair Have Been Co-Stars Several Times

A key reason for the success of Grace and Frankie was the impeccable on-screen chemistry between stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. While many fans were likely saddened to see the show end, the finale wasn’t the last time the pair would share a screen, and there have been several projects since Grace and Frankie concluded that saw them reunited. Not only that, but Grace and Frankie wasn’t the first time Fonda and Tomlin worked together, either.

Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin first co-starred in a movie in 1980, decades before the debut of Grace and Frankie in 2015. 9 to 5 was a 1980 comedy that starred Fonda as Judy, Tomlin as Violet, and Dolly Parton as Doralee (adding addition weight to her cameo in the show). The plot of 9 to 5 sees the trio smoke cannabis together, and the paranoia that follows leads to a series of mishaps that start with Tomlin’s character, Violet, becoming convinced she’d poisoned their boss’s coffee.

However, it’s the latter half of their careers that saw the pair become an iconic duo, and their have been two Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin movies released since Grace and Frankie concluded in 2022. Both arrived in 2023, and they are 80 for Brady and Moving On. 80 for Brady sees Tomlin and Fonda co-starring alongside Rita Moreno and Sally Field. The movie focuses on a quarter of Tom Brady fans who travel to Houston to see him play, only to lose their tickets, leading to a series of shenanigans not too far from those seen in 9 to 5.

Moving On, on the other hand, is an intriguing revenge comedy that fully utilizes the chemistry the pair deftly demonstrated in Grace and Frankie. After the death of a mutual friend, Jane Fonda’s Claire and Lily Tomlin’s Evelyn plot to kill said friend’s widower due to how he treated her while she was still alive. All three projects represent great choices for Grace and Frankie fans who haven’t had enough of seeing the pair together.

Did Grace And Frankie End On A High Note?

Many Fans Felt The Show Got Too Dark But Had Some Positive Moments

Grace and Frankie seems to appear bleak when looking at the characters’ futures, and the ending was polarizing, as it tried to be optimistic and touching, but the show grew dark and overly depressing. There are some sad moments, specifically concerning Sol and Robert and the signs that dementia will eventually damage their love and relationship. However, the moment where the memories return allowed the two to share a moment, offering a happy ending for that time at least.

Some fans feel the show got too dark in the final season, ruining the fun and excitement of the comedy by introducing cancer, dementia, and even the momentary deaths of Grace and Frankie. Even with a bright moment at the end, fans know that things will only worsen for them (especially Robert and Sol), and they won’t have a happy ending. Redditor The-Stupid-Child wrote:

“To a degree it’s a show based on realities that seniors face, but it’s a work of fiction after all. Here they could have been treated better, just as the majority of seniors don’t get to be treated in real life, and in the final act of the show, just as in the final act of one’s life, they deserved to catch a break.”

However, there were other fans who felt Robert and Sol’s story was the most realistic of the series, and while it didn’t end on a “high note,” it did end on a heartbreakingly honest moment with a happy moment in the elevator. Redditor BobKelso30centimetri wrote,

“Robert and Sol were so amazing this season. Their storyline was so painful and powerful. The acting from Sol and the total blank in Robert’s memory made me cry so much during the whole season. Their last scene in the elevator was really what they deserved, they deserve love and happiness and they will forever be there for each others.”

As for the title characters, there were some fans who were happy with the Grace and Frankie ending, with Redditor BrownSugarBare loving the painting moment between the two women. “Omg, I just finished it and the paint scene was too much, my heart was in my throat. Their relationship is everything a person can ask for in a soul mate.“

Created by Howard J. Morris and Friends co-creator Marta Kauffman, Grace and Frankie stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as the titular characters, two women who find themselves unwillingly in the same dire straights when their husbands come out as gay and reveal that they have been in a relationship with each other for twenty years. Martin Sheen and Sam Waterston also star as Robert and Sol, with a larger ensemble cast that includes June Diane Raphael, Brooklyn Decker, Baron Vaughn, and Ethan Embry. 

Cast

Jane Fonda
, Ethan Embry
, Brooklyn Decker
, June Diane Raphael
, Sam Waterston
, Martin Sheen
, Lily Tomlin
, Baron Vaughn

Release Date

May 8, 2015

Seasons

7

Showrunner

Marta Kauffman