Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Grace and Frankie: The Final Episodes’ on Netflix, The Conclusion of the Long-Running Lily Tomlin/Jane Fonda Comedy

It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since Grace and Frankie premiered on Netflix. The comedy, which sees two aging women’s lives upended when their husbands announce they’re leaving them for each other, stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Martin Sheen, and Sam Waterston. After dropping a few surprise episodes last August, the Netflix original is back for its last installments. The final dozen episodes of Season 7 are streaming now.

GRACE AND FRANKIE: THE FINAL EPISODES: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

Opening Shot: The beautiful oceanfront home of our leading ladies.

The Gist: Grace (Jane Fonda) and Frankie (Lily Tomlin) are adjusting to life with Nick (Peter Gallagher) in the house. Fresh out of prison (and now on house arrest), Nick has made himself at home with them, much to Frankie’s annoyance. The leading ladies are preparing for a big meeting about their toilet idea following their fruitless appearance on Shark Tank, and Nick promises to connect them with his old pal Mark Cuban. Just before the man they’re meeting is set to arrive, however, Nick’s probation officer makes an appearance, forcing Grace to act like a senile, frail old woman to help sell Nick’s story that he needed to return home to take care of her rather than serve the rest of his sentence behind bars. This evidently leads to some serious shenanigans, as Frankie is not quite the saleswoman Grace is and can’t do the pitch without her help.

While the women attempt to do damage control at the house, the men – Sol (Sam Waterston) and Robert (Martin Sheen) – are reeling from a recent robbery at their home. Unsure of what else to do, the two decide to join the Neighborhood Watch, an organization they’d previously written off. When they encounter a raccoon while patrolling, some unpleasant truths are revealed about their relationship. Also dealing with relationship issues are Brianna (June Diane Raphael) and Barry (Peter Cambor), who are extremely anxious about the arrival of his parents. In an effort to help sell herself, Brianna invites human “golden retriever puppy” Mallory (Brooklyn Decker), who certainly charms Barry’s folks, but can’t make them love the crass, vulgar Brianna. Despite her best efforts to put on a face (and curb the swearing for a beat), Brianna reveals her true self (and then some) to Barry’s parents, and they’re less than thrilled by his taste in women.

By the end of this chaotic day, Grace confesses to Nick that she thought their relationship was better when he was in prison, and says that she’s not so sure she wants to be his wife anymore. As the two of them (and Frankie) wonder what the future holds, Nick’s attempt at a dramatic exit fails when his ankle monitor alarm starts going off. It’s good to be back, isn’t it?

What Shows Will It Remind You Of? Grace and Frankie will please fans of shows like Julia, The Kominsky Method, Dead to Me, and One Day at a Time.

Our Take: Grace and Frankie has never made any apologies for what kind of show it is; silly, sweet, and a little bit soapy, the comedy is reliable and comforting, a soothing balm in the sea of crazy content that is swirling around on Netflix these days. Seven seasons is no easy feat, and Grace and Frankie looks to wrap things up, well, gracefully by giving each of its characters a satisfying direction to head in. Fonda and Tomlin are as lovable as ever in these final installments, leaning into the chemistry that made the show such a hit right out of the gate. With “The Raccoon”, Grace and Frankie makes obvious that it’s going to spend its conclusion putting the spotlight back on the eponymous relationship that started it all. The stakes might feel low – they generally do – but there’s something so inherently pleasant about the show. The pressure isn’t on. We know most of our folks are going to get a happy ending. The lack of serious conflict might be a problem for some, but for those of us who have been following these ladies from the very start of their journey, the largely peaceful, occasionally wacky waters of Grace and Frankie are what made us fall in love with it to begin with.

Sex and Skin: None.

Parting Shot: Grace scoffs as Nick returns and asks if anyone is up for some Boggle.

Sleeper Star: June Diane Raphael is hilarious as ever as Brianna, Grace’s spitfire daughter who refuses to dull her feisty spirit for Barry’s uptight parents. Whether she’s guzzling wine during business hours or unable to stop dropping f-bombs no matter how hard she tries, Raphael is a riot. Her ability to jump from uproarious to understated in a moment makes her one of the most entertaining people on the show.

Most Pilot-y Line: No particularly pilot-y lines here, but I did get a chuckle out of “I think there’s an adult present. Between the two of us, we’re 161.”

Our Call: STREAM IT. In its final episodes, Grace and Frankie stays true to itself, delivering laughs and a story from the heart ’til the very end.

Jade Budowski is a freelance writer with a knack for ruining punchlines, hogging the mic at karaoke, and thirst-tweeting. Follow her on Twitter: @jadebudowski.