The Four Seasons ending explained: How Nick’s death changes everything

The Four Seasons (image via Netflix)
The Four Seasons (image via Netflix)

The Four Seasons series concludes on a note that leaves the audience pondering over friendship, loss, and change. The series is about a set of middle-aged friends who reunite for their yearly holiday. The last episode provides the climax when there is a big event that changes the direction of their relationships on a different path for good.

Nick, a central character, passes away in a car accident, which takes an emotional toll on the group. This occurrence challenges every character to confront their own emotions regarding life, love, and fidelity. The finale is not a simplistic closure but rather depicts how loss and new beginnings exist side by side. The characters need to be able to progress while respecting the past.


Nick's death in The Four Seasons and how it affected the group

The biggest plot twist in The Four Seasons finale is Nick’s sudden death. He dies in a car accident shortly after the group’s vacation ends. His death shocks everyone and becomes the emotional centerpiece of the series conclusion. Throughout the series, Nick was a source of conflict and tension, particularly due to his complicated relationships with the others.

His passing unites the group in grief, despite their differences. The characters grapple with how to live up to Nick’s memory. They want to celebrate life, which inevitably brings up old disagreements and unresolved issues. Kate, Nick’s ex-wife, is especially affected. She has a near-death experience of her own when she falls through the ice while trying to rescue a dog.

This incident helps her realize the value of her relationship with Jack, her husband, and she calls him her soulmate aloud for the first time. Nick’s death becomes a transformative moment for the group, prompting a reevaluation of their values and priorities.


Altering relationships and self-transformation

The Four Seasons finale also explores how relationships among the characters change as a result of Nick’s death. Claude and Danny, a romantically involved couple dealing with health issues and personal drama, face new challenges. Claude has been extremely controlling of Danny due to his heart condition, which strained their relationship throughout the series.

In the finale, they try to reconnect by exploring new experiences together, including trying dating apps and even considering a threesome to reignite their spark. Though the plan doesn’t go as expected, it reflects their willingness to adapt and grow.

Meanwhile, Kate and Jack’s marriage is tested by the events of the finale. Kate’s accident on the frozen lake is a dramatic moment that underscores the fragility of life. Afterward, Kate openly acknowledges Jack as her soulmate, marking a shift from her earlier doubts about their marriage. This newfound clarity brings them closer and suggests a stronger bond moving forward.

The rest of the group also reflects on their lives and friendships. Shared sorrow enables them to find new meaning in their relationships, even as they face the painful reality of loss.


How The Four Seasons series ending differs from the original story

The Four Seasons series draws inspiration from the 1981 film of the same name but diverges significantly in its ending. The film ends more lightly, with the group surviving a car crash on a frozen lake and reuniting through humor and forgiveness. The series, however, takes a more serious and realistic path by killing off Nick in an off-screen car accident.

This shift in direction changes the tone from reconciliation and comedy to contemplation and mourning. Instead of focusing on marital conflict and miscommunication, the series delves into themes of mortality and the impact of sudden death on a close-knit group of friends. The characters’ struggles feel more grounded in the real-life challenges faced during midlife.

By ending with Nick’s death and the group’s response to it, the series delivers a darker, more introspective conclusion. It shows that while friendships can endure the hardest trials, they also evolve in the wake of loss.


The Four Seasons is available to watch on Netflix.

Edited by Ritika Pal