The Netflix adaptation, The Four Seasons, ended with a heartbreaking fate for one of its major characters, Nick, taking the series in a different direction from the 1981 film of the same name. Much like the original film, the series follows three middle-aged couples who vacation together once each season. However, their relationships were tested when one couple divorced, creating tension and conflict within the group. 

But after the series took a dramatic turn with season 1 ending, the creators have finally opened up about the reason behind it.

Tina Fey, who is co-creator of The Four Seasons alongside Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield, explained that the creative team wanted the show to forge its own path while still honoring the original film. Fey explained that the team chose to explore a character's death because loss becomes a more common part of life as people grow older, while Wigfield added that such loss shows the importance of long-standing friendships during difficult times. There was also a specific reason behind choosing Nick (Steve Carell) as the character who dies.

“Steve’s character is the character that was like, ‘I only live once, life is short. I’m going to do what I want.’ And he was right,” Fey said as per Tudum. 

Apart from Steve Carell, who plays Nick, none of the cast members knew about the Season 1 ending until the table read. Colman Domingo, who played Danny in the series, described the character's death as a "punch in the gut." Meanwhile, Erika Henningsen, who plays Ginny, agreed with the shocking change that set up season 2, echoing Carell's views on the character's death.

“He (Carell) felt this sort of loss would really throw a ton of things into perspective for this whole group in a way that would catalyze, hopefully, a next chapter for all of them,” Henningsen said. 

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While the Netflix series stayed mostly true to the film, several more fascinating changes made it different from the movie.

Netflix's The Four Seasons made an interesting change in its characters, and one such is the expanded role of Anne. Because the story was adapted into an eight-episode series, the creators gave more depth to Anne’s character and explored her life after her divorce. Co-creator Tina Fey said the film largely moved on from Anne after the separation, while the series focuses on how the experience affected her.

The show also reimagined Danny and Claude as a gay couple who are in an open relationship, whereas the two characters were played by Jack Weston and Rita Moreno in the original film. Actors Colman Domingo and Marco Calvani play the couple in the series. While The Four Seasons honored the original film, the series also used these changes to tell a more expansive and emotionally complex story that has indeed stayed with fans. 

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Do you agree with The Four Seasons' co-creators about the season 1 ending? Let us know in the comments.