MovieChat Forums > Grace and Frankie (2015) Discussion > Loved season 2 but...

Loved season 2 but...

posted 9 years ago by sherrisomerville
9 replies | jump to latest

I love this show and was thrilled when season 2 was finally released. I re-watched season 1 then went right into the second. It was a pleasure...however...

I'm bothered by the way Brianna ruined Frankie's lube by insisting on using palm oil. It's no joke. Palm oil is a huge environmental issue. We should all be concerned about the environmental impact of obtaining palm oil. It was a complete betrayal of all Frankie stands for and completely ruins the beauty of the product. If Frankie can produce the lubricant without destroying the environment why couldn't Brianna's company do the same? They offered little to no explanation for this. Why didn't Grace offer more support? It was her company being run by her daughter. Where's the morality in that?

Sure, they have no problem making a statement about the morality of sleeping with a man who is married to a woman suffering from dementia which in my humble opinion wasn't as sinful as they make it seem.

Phil was a good husband to a wife who was no longer a wife. Poor woman is ill, but she is getting the best of care from a loving man. How could anyone begrudge that same man Grace's love and companionship? His poor wife can't give that to him anymore. If she loves him, wouldn't she want him to find it somewhere else? It doesn't take away from what he gives to her. He certainly rushed away from Grace to look after her when she needed it. I don't think Grace would have lost out in the relationship either. At least she'd be with a man who truly loved her. Robert didn't and she gave him what thirty years?

My father died of brain cancer. It was a long process. When he was no longer a husband to my mother I certainly didn't begrudge her the love and comfort of a man who filled the void and gave her the strength to be a patient and kind caregiver to my father. Had he been in his right mind, I sincerely believe my father wouldn't have either. He loved my mom and when he couldn't be there for her he would never have resented the man who was. That's love. Usually in our later years we come to a better more encompassing understanding of it. That's what I thought this show explored. It kinda let me down this time. Just my humble opinion. Otherwise...this is a great show and I love it.

[–] KlutzyGirl 9 years ago

I think the point of these plots is to show how Grace, especially, is evolving and frequently contradicts herself. Remember that in the wonderful episode with Estelle Parsons, she self-righteously declares "I have high moral standards!" The lube thing shows us how Brianna is concerned only about herself (in case there was any doubt!), and how incompetent Frankie is in dealing with the real world; it also makes viewers aware of a problem most probably don't know about. I found this season disappointing. Sol and Frankie went from being quirky to babbling idiots! And where did Jacob go?? I was tempted to FF many times and found myself imploring Frankie and Sol to shut the hell up! I liked last season much better.

[–] desertdude1953 9 years ago

And where did Jacob go??

Are you sure you have watched the second season? He is a major part of the 2nd season storyline.

[–] beth628 9 years ago

They did address the changes to the "recipe" in the episode where Frankie found out about the palm oil. Brianna said that as it was it only had a shelf life of a few weeks. So, they added some things to make it have a longer shelf life, including the palm oil. I'm not saying I agree with the palm oil issue not being fixed, but that was the explanation given by Brianna.

[–] sherrisomerville 9 years ago

Klutzygirl and beth268 thanks for the responses. You make good sense. Yes, now I remember that Brianna said the lube didn't have a long shelf life. Frankie did present jojoba as an alternative and was summarily dismissed.

It's true that this part of the show illustrates Brianna's selfishness and it makes her the least likeable character. I just hope we haven't heard the last of this. I love the lube storyline. It's hilarious the way they talk about it and an issue that affects so many women. Sadly in the real world no one talks about it much, while erectile dysfunction isn't new to anyone. We hear about it ad nauseam No other show addresses the problems older women face. There's no embarrassment or shame here. It's beautiful. Love it.

I have high hopes for season 3. Thanks again ladies. You rock!

[–] desertdude1953 9 years ago

Frankie suggested several different options other than using palm oil, but each were dismissed by Brianna and her team. All because of the bottom line of cost effectiveness. Probably the best option (which scientists in the UK are studying) was using yeast. To which Brianna stated "for years women have been trying to keep yeast out of their vaginas, and now you want them to put it in there?"

With 70% of beauty products and food products containing palm oil, it is an issue that is alarming to everyone. Which is the reason that the big push has been to promote sustainable palm oil production, rather than expanding the growing fields in South East Asia. For awhile there was a push to substitute soybean oil; however, that ended up deforesting the Amazon Rain Forests.

Since the palm oil was to extend the shelf life of the product, my solution was much more simple: refrigeration. It wouldn't be the only consumer product that has to be stored in a refrigeration unit to extend its shelf life.

The sad thing is that Grace paired Frankie and Brianna up for a twofold reason: she was trying to help her friend, but also trying to help her daughter, whom was driving the cosmetic business Grace had created into the ground.

I am looking forward to season 3 and their next business venture to assist aging women.

[–] sherrisomerville 9 years ago

Desertdude1953

Thank you for that well informed response. I wondered the same thing. Why don't they refrigerate it? I have creams, medications etc that need to stay cooler than room temperature. I guess cold lube could impact spontaneity but lube itself can do that. There's tons of ways around it if you're creative.

I trust that better minds than mine are working on a sustainable way to produce Palm oil. Let's hope they succeed. I've given up lots of my favourite products because of it. I'm pleased they addressed the issue in the first place. Yam lube is just so brilliant and funny.

I'm really looking forward to Grace and Frankie's adventures with vibrators for the arthritic in Season 3.

Thanks again. Let's hear it for the troll free zone.

[–] Kassie24 9 years ago

I am almost done with this season but I absolutely did not like when Frankie's boyfriend picked up Grace when she was drunk and placed her on the porch. That was her home and she can act how she pleases however rude it may be in her own home. He had no right to place his hands on her like that. I would not allow him back if it were me. Frankie is super annoying so I can also understand Grace's annoyance with her.

[–] snelling 9 years ago

What was wrong with moving her to the porch? It was what Frankie wanted. It's Frankie's house first.

"'Extremely High Voltage.' Well, I don't need safety gloves, because I'm Homer Simps--" - Frank Grimes

[–] Kassie24 9 years ago

No Grace and Frankie share the house, it is not Frankie's house first. He used force to pick her up and move her when she did not want him to. Should not put your hands on someone like that.