Ep 7. The Landline

Grace and Frankie season 4 episode 7, titled "The Landline," is an emotional and poignant episode that sees Grace struggling with her feelings of loneliness and growing old. The episode opens with Grace receiving a phone call from the hospital, informing her that her friend Joan has passed away. Despite not being close to Joan, Grace is hit hard by the news, and it highlights the fact that she is losing friends to old age at an alarming rate.

Meanwhile, Frankie is busy trying to launch her new business and is using a landline phone as her primary means of communication. However, she quickly discovers that the landline is missing, and she suspects that Grace has taken it as she's been talking on it a lot. This leads to a confrontation between the two women, with Grace revealing that she's been using the landline to talk to a call center worker named Tony.

As the episode progresses, Grace becomes increasingly attached to Tony and begins using the landline to talk to him every day. She confides in him about her feelings of loneliness and her struggles with growing old, and he becomes a comforting presence in her life. However, things take a turn when Frankie discovers that Tony is actually a woman using a male voice, and she confronts Grace about it.

The Landline is an episode that explores the complex emotions that come with aging and the struggles of finding connection and purpose in later life. Grace's character is especially well-realized, with her vulnerability and fear of being alone coming across as relatable and genuine. The episode tackles the issue of loneliness head-on, highlighting how it can be especially difficult for older people who may have lost friends and family members over the years.

The scenes between Grace and Tony (or rather, Tonya) are particularly poignant, with their connection offering Grace a lifeline at a time when she's feeling adrift. The reveal that Tonya is a woman adds an interesting twist to their relationship, showing that even the most unlikely connections can be meaningful and important.

In addition to the emotional storyline, The Landline also offers plenty of humor and warmth, with the dynamic between Grace and Frankie at its best. Their bickering and banter are always entertaining, and it's heartening to see how their friendship has evolved over the course of the series.

Overall, The Landline is a standout episode that showcases the strengths of Grace and Frankie as a series. It tackles important themes with honesty and sensitivity while still managing to be funny and heartwarming. It's sure to resonate with anyone who has ever felt alone or struggled with their own mortality, making it a must-watch for fans of the show.