Are You Also Loving This?

Hi friend,

We weren’t sure if we’d watch The Four Seasons, but after getting a ton of text messages about it from friends — “The Four Seasons is fun,” “This show is real middle age,” “Slightly less fun as it goes on, but still worth it.” — we knew we had to give it a try. And it’s good!

If you haven’t seen it yet, the show is about three middle-aged couples, all longtime friends, who vacation together. Early on, one of the husbands reveals that he wants to divorce his partner. This information, and what ensues, throws the group off kilter and lends a compelling tension to the show as they all navigate their new normal. (The cast is incredible, too.)

The Four Seasons is pure entertainment. It’s not deep or complex. As the New York Times says in a critical review of the series, the problems it illuminates in long-term relationships are “legible but vague, relatable to many people but maybe not as many as it thinks. It’s a show about spouses and best friends, the closest bonds and deepest relationships, but the show itself doesn’t have any of that intimacy or intensity. It’s a casual acquaintance — perfectly fine for an afternoon, but shallower and more disposable than the real deal.” The Daily Beast, meanwhile, finds its exploration of midlife crises fun. And how often can you say that?

The most interesting take on the entire thing was this Vulture review, which argues that this sort of show, with this cast, will only appeal to a middle-aged crowd. Since we are a part of that demo, we can’t say whether or not this assertion is correct.

The show “stars (mostly) actors who are in their 50s, playing characters who are in their 50s, in a show whose target demographic is (I assume) people in their 50s. Perhaps that explains why this series’s greatest strength is its deep understanding of how it feels to be a person — admittedly with some privilege and a generous serving of self-absorption — in the deepest throes of midlife, staring down a future filled with empty nests, potential health issues, and the nagging fear that all chances for happiness are way past their expiration dates.”

We’re curious: Are you watching? Do you feel like this is a show that only people in mid-life can appreciate? Or are the themes that Tina Fey & Co explore — friendship and conflict, monogamy and sex — universal enough to appeal to a younger crowd? Reply to this email with your thoughts, if you’d like.

Bye,
Your friends at Gloria

Shorts can be tough. The rise, the waist, the leg length and opening; there’s a lot that needs to go right. Luckily, there are many ways to embrace shorts this season. We found super-short athletic styles as well as longer tailored options, classic denim cut-offs, and lightweight cotton-poplin boxer types. Below, 14 promising pairs.

• Love the shape. Lululemon Cotton Terry Slim-Fit High-Rise Short, $68. Size XXXS to XL.

• This pair looks very wearable. Madewell Pintucked Short, $78. Size 00 to 16.

• The wider leg opening is great, no wonder these are selling out. Pistola Denim Saige Shorts, $138. Waist size 24 to 32. (More sizes here and here.)

• This sort of long tailored short is extremely popular right now. Favorite Daughter The Low-Slung Bermuda, $230. Size 0 to 12.

• Cute and easy. Patagonia Barely Baggies Shorts, $59. Size XS to XL.

• These are so good, right? Banana Republic Cotton-Poplin 4” Short, $55. Size XXS to XXL.

• We like the cut of the leg, and the drape of this jersey fabric. Also: Made in the USA! Everybody World Tubular Shorts, $52. One Size.

• A grown-up take on the utility style. Everlane Darted Utility Short, $78. Size 00 to 16.

• The crisp blue on these feels both fresh and vintage-inspired. Agolde Parker Long Denim Short, $150. Waist size 23 to 32.

• Inexplicably, we want these. Skyting Lax Shorts, $75. Size S to XL.

• A pajama short shape, but made more presentable. Cos Drawstring Cotton Shorts, $69. Size 2 to 14.

• These are expensive but excellent. That color! The belt! Closed Jocy-X Denim Shorts, $250. Waist size 23 to 32.

• Comfy and breezy. L.F. Markey Basic Linen Shorts, $122. Size 0 to 14. (More sizes in black here.)

• An extremely appealing striped option. Thinking Mu Seersucker Geranio Shorts, $109.90. Size XS to XL.

Shop the Story

TO STREAM Inspired by the groundbreaking 1975 Judy Blume novel, the new Netflix series Forever follows two high schoolers trying to navigate their first serious relationship. This time around, the setting is 2018 Los Angeles and both teens are athletes whose parents worry that the relationship will jeopardize their futures.

TO TRY This is the most fun new piece of workout equipment we’ve tried. It’s a high-quality, high-tech, smooth, and quiet treadmill that’s gameified with a ton of variety, making it a much more immersive and enjoyable experience. In addition to games, there is streaming, on-demand classes, scenic destinations, and much more. Give it a try, and use code VICTORY50 for $50 off a 30-day risk-free trial. #partner

TO READ A hyper-specific rec for parents with kids aged 6 to 12: The new book, The Crucial Years: The Essential Guide to Mental Health and Modern Puberty in Middle Childhood (here on Bookshop, here on Amazon). Finally, someone is doing justice to an under-covered, confusing, and pivotal phase of childhood development.

TO LISTEN After listening to a frightening podcast about AI chatbots, we decided to take a quick break from current events with the silly-yet-informative series Broomgate: A Curling Scandal. It is all about the sport of curling, and is hosted by a comedian who is also a semi-pro curler. The Canadian accent throughout is a huge bonus.

So we’re really doing this “Real” I.D. thing. • Heavy periods in perimenopause are common (unfortunately). • Lena Dunham says she’s done with NYC. • Reopening Alcatraz? Movie tariffs? • Big Nicole Kidman hair news.

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