Vivian Marlowe
Grace and Frankie is a Netflix comedy-drama starring Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin as Grace and Frankie, two women in their 70s whose lives are turned upside down when their husbands, Robert and Sol, announce they are in love with each other and are leaving them. The show follows the two women as they navigate family drama, medical scares, business ventures, and romantic turmoil, eventually becoming best friends. Grace, a retired cosmetics mogul, has been described by viewers as a functional alcoholic with a drinking problem that is sometimes played for laughs. While some viewers have criticised the show for normalising addiction through Grace's character, others have defended the portrayal, arguing that it accurately reflects the reality of substance use disorders.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcoholism | Yes |
| Addiction to prescription medication | Yes |
| Functional addict | Yes |
| Alcohol as a strong character trait | Yes |
| Alcohol-induced idiocy | Yes |
| Addiction addressed by other characters | Yes |
| Addiction normalized | Yes |
| Addiction used for comedic effect | Yes |
| Addiction portrayed as a generational issue | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
Grace's alcoholism is normalised and a source of humour
Grace and Frankie is a Netflix comedy-drama starring Jane Fonda as Grace Hanson and Lily Tomlin as Frankie Bergstein. The series follows the two women, who become friends after their husbands, Robert and Sol, announce that they are in love with each other and are leaving their wives.
Grace is a retired cosmetics mogul who enjoys alcohol, particularly martinis. While some viewers find Grace's drinking habits funny, others have criticised the show for normalising addiction and portraying it as a source of humour. For example, in one episode, Grace drunkenly dials the CEO of a competitor's company, while in another, she laughs off her doctor's concerns about the connection between alcohol and high blood pressure.
Some viewers have pointed out the double standard between Grace's addiction and that of Coyote, Frankie's son, who is a recovering drug addict. While Grace's alcoholism is often played for laughs, Coyote's addiction is treated as a more serious issue, and he is bullied and mistreated for it, even as he works towards recovery.
In addition to alcohol, Grace also struggles with an addiction to prescription medication, which is briefly addressed in Season 7 when Coyote confronts her about it. Despite this, some viewers feel that Grace's addictions are not taken seriously by the show and are used primarily as a source of humour rather than as an opportunity to explore the consequences of substance abuse.
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Grace is a functional alcoholic
Grace Hanson from the Netflix comedy-drama series "Grace and Frankie" has been described by viewers as a functional alcoholic. Grace, a retired cosmetics mogul, is a tough, sharp-tongued, and intelligent woman who enjoys alcohol, particularly martinis. While she is portrayed as a successful businesswoman, Grace's excessive drinking is a notable trait of her character, often providing comedic moments in the show.
In one instance, in Season 6, Episode 10 ("The Scent"), Grace drunkenly dials the CEO of a competitor's company, illustrating how her drinking can lead to uncharacteristic behavior. Another example is in "The Bender" episode, where Grace gets unusually wasted, resulting in extreme bitchiness and verbal cruelty towards Frankie, which she later feels ashamed of. These instances highlight Grace's functional alcoholism, where her drinking leads to impaired judgment and uncharacteristic behavior, but she still manages to function in her day-to-day life.
The show also briefly addresses Grace's addiction to prescription medication for anxiety in Season 7, Episode 12. However, some viewers have criticized the show for normalizing addiction by portraying Grace's alcoholism as a laughing matter while treating Coyote's addiction more seriously. They point out the double standard between Grace and Coyote, where her addiction is played for jokes, while his is a significant issue that he actively works to overcome.
Despite the comedic tone of the show, some viewers have recognized the deeper implications of Grace's alcoholism. One interpretation suggests that Grace's fear of losing people is a driving force behind her addiction. Additionally, the revelation of her father's early death in the final episodes adds a layer of complexity to her character, potentially explaining her coping mechanisms and reactions to loss.
In conclusion, Grace's character in "Grace and Frankie" embodies the complexities of functional alcoholism. While her drinking provides comedic relief, it also serves as a reminder that substance use disorders can affect individuals from all walks of life and that the stigma associated with addiction can vary depending on the substance and cultural context.
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Grace's addiction is addressed in Season 7, Episode 12
Grace's addiction is a prominent theme in Grace and Frankie. While the show portrays Grace as a functional addict, her excessive drinking is often played for laughs. In Season 7, Episode 12, Grace's addiction is addressed more seriously when Coyote confronts her while she is trying to give him lessons. He asks her to throw away some medication that she has been using to numb herself and avoid addressing her panic attacks.
This is not the only time Grace's addiction is addressed in the show. In "The Scent" (Season 6, Episode 10), Grace drunkenly dials the CEO of a competitor's company, and in "The Bender," Grace gets unusually wasted, and her tendency to be emotionally unavailable is magnified. Grace is also confronted about her drinking by her doctor, who mentions the connection between alcohol and high blood pressure.
Grace's addiction is often compared and contrasted with that of Coyote, Frankie's son, who is also a recovering addict. Some viewers have criticised the show for normalising addiction through Grace's character and not taking her alcoholism seriously. However, others have argued that the show accurately depicts how substance use does not always lead to failure or homelessness and that it can affect functional members of society.
Grace's addiction can be partly explained by her character's background and personality. She is a retired cosmetics mogul who enjoys alcohol, particularly martinis, and is described as sharp-tongued, tough, and insensitive. She is also struggling with the revelation that her husband of 40 years, Robert, is leaving her for her friend Sol.
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Grace's alcoholism is compared to Coyote's addiction
Grace and Frankie is a Netflix comedy-drama that premiered in 2015. The show follows Grace Hanson, a retired cosmetics mogul, and Frankie Bergstein, an artist and hippie, who become friends after their husbands leave them for each other. Grace's character is portrayed as a functional alcoholic who often drinks excessively and self-medicates with prescription medication. On the other hand, Coyote, Frankie's adoptive son, is a recovering addict who struggles with drug addiction.
In the show, Grace's alcoholism is compared to Coyote's addiction in terms of the stigma associated with their substance use. Grace's generation normalised alcohol consumption, especially among white suburban women, and it was even seen as classy as long as one could hold their liquor. In contrast, Coyote's drug addiction is stigmatised and often associated with failure and irresponsibility. This double standard is highlighted by viewers, who note that Grace's addiction is often played for laughs, while Coyote's is treated as a more serious issue.
The comparison between Grace and Coyote's addictions also extends to their functionality in society. Grace, despite her alcoholism, is portrayed as a successful and sharp-tongued businesswoman, while Coyote is seen as a failure by Grace, even though he has turned his life around and works as a teacher. This contrast highlights the multigenerational aspect of substance use patterns and how they can be broken with effort.
While Grace's alcoholism is often used as a source of comedy in the show, some viewers have criticised this portrayal, arguing that it normalises addiction and makes light of a serious issue. They point out that Grace's addiction is rarely addressed or treated with the same level of seriousness as Coyote's, despite her drinking having negative consequences, such as drunkenly dialling a competitor's CEO.
In summary, Grace's alcoholism is compared to Coyote's addiction in terms of stigma, functionality, and the show's treatment of their respective struggles. While Grace's addiction is often played for laughs, Coyote's is treated as a more serious issue, highlighting the double standards and generational differences in how society perceives different types of substance use.
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Grace's drinking is linked to her anxiety
In the Netflix comedy-drama series "Grace and Frankie", Grace is portrayed as a retired cosmetics mogul who enjoys drinking alcohol, particularly martinis. While some viewers find her drinking habits amusing, others have pointed out that the show may be normalizing addiction by portraying Grace as a functioning alcoholic who does not address her drinking problem.
In one episode, Grace drunkenly dials the CEO of a competitor's company, displaying the negative consequences of her drinking. Additionally, in season 7 episode 12, Grace's addiction is briefly addressed when Coyote confronts her while she is trying to give him lessons, asking her to throw away some medication she obtained to numb herself and avoid addressing her panic attacks.
Grace's character depicts an older generation where the addictive properties and side effects of medications were not yet fully understood, and alcohol consumption was more socially acceptable. Despite her addiction, Grace is shown to be a functional member of society, running a successful business and navigating complex family dynamics.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Grace is depicted as a functioning alcoholic who has no interest in addressing her addiction.
Grace's alcoholism is a recurring theme in the show, with some episodes focusing on her addiction, such as "The Bender" and "The Scent". However, her addiction is not always addressed and is sometimes used for comedic effect.
Grace's alcoholism adds complexity to her character and allows for the exploration of themes such as addiction, family dynamics, and the stigma associated with substance use. It also serves as a source of conflict and character development, particularly in her relationships with other characters, including Frankie.
The portrayal of Grace's alcoholism in Grace and Frankie has been met with mixed reactions. Some viewers have criticized the show for normalizing addiction and not taking it seriously enough. Others have argued that the show accurately depicts how substance use can affect functional members of society and how individuals can have differing approaches to addressing their addictions.
Yes, Coyote, Frankie's son, is a recovering drug addict, and his journey towards recovery is also explored in the show.
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