Grace and Frankie ending explained – What happens to the women (2024)

Grace and Frankie spoilers follow.

Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda have taken their final bow as Grace and Frankie comes to an end after seven seasons.

The enemies-turned-best friends have become the ultimate power couple, and despite their differences they have turned their respective blended families into one, slightly dysfunctional but happy world.

But as health begins to fail those around them and the idea of death starts to fill all their minds, it was up to each other to keep their spirits up. Which is easier said than done when one of them is convinced they know the exact date they're going to die.

Thankfully, the show's ending – appropriately titled 'The Beginning' in parallel to its first ever episode 'The End' – is just as sweet-natured as we'd hoped, and the pair are given their sunset moment in a delightfully fitting way.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter of the finale, its creator Marta Kauffman said: "I'm very proud of what we did for these seven seasons. And on the other hand, I'm really sad that it's over. I'm going to miss writing for these actors and working with these actors and this crew. For seven years we worked together, and I'll miss them terribly."

Kauffman isn't the only one who will find it hard to say goodbye to these two. Fans will be weeping everywhere.

Here's how the main characters wrapped up the series in the most heartwarming way they could get away with..

(This is also your last shout to avoid spoilers.)

Grace and Frankie's ending

In the final episodes, Grace puts a lot of her old demons to bed for the final time. Starting with her newly ex-husband Nick, who has written a tell-all about his life as a criminal.

He says in the memoir that their marriage is his biggest regret, and while she's initially hurt, it soon comes out that it was because he was the most hurt by their time together, compared to his previous marriages and his illegal misdoings. Sleeping together one more time, they go their separate ways.

Next up was cementing a reconnection with her estranged brother Geoffrey after 20 years. The moment allows her to open up about the trauma she faced when she was younger and she witnessed her father die while swimming in the ocean. It's why she doesn't like going into the sea.

She later tries to revive Rise Up toilet seats, but Frankie doesn't turn up. The Japanese businessmen are impressed by her but they want her to perform karaoke and drink sake with them on a night out. Grace is scared to do it without Frankie. She ultimately refuses, disrespecting her potential business partner in the process and tanking their deal.

As for Frankie, she spends a vast amount of her time convinced that she's going to die within the space of a week, and so goes out of her way to try and leave her mark on the world. She then hosts a fake funeral so she can be present while still alive (only Frankie, right?), where everyone has to give a 12-minute eulogy.

But she's left angry when Grace is mentioned in every speech, making her feel like she was a "sidekick in her own life", and storms off. With her arthritis getting even worse, soon Frankie is struggling to hold a paintbrush or chopsticks. Feeling reduced and useless, it seems no one can shake her from her drab mood.

Both of them angry at each other, their rage erupts during Coyote and Jessica's fake marriage, and Frankie breaks down saying that she can't paint anymore and is scared of getting even more sick. Her admission causes the pair to hug, but they get electrocuted in the clash when Frankie's microphone connects with the vodka martini Grace was sipping.

Heading to heaven together, the pair meet God – who is, naturally, Dolly Parton. The pair try to negotiate their return to Earth together, as they realise they can't live without each other, even in the afterlife.

Frankie is told to stay in heaven, while Grace returns to Earth, and they share a heartbreakingly emotional goodbye. Dolly is touched by their connection and allows them both to return together. Later, Grace helps Frankie continue to paint by holding her hand, and she creates a photo of them together playing on the beach.

Frankie later repays the favour by finally taking Grace to the beach, facing her fear of the ocean as they head into the water together. With a couple more giggles, they wander off into the sunset down the beach, arm in arm.

Heading to heaven together, the pair meet God – who is, naturally, Dolly Parton. The pair try to negotiate their return to Earth together, as they realise they can't live without each other, even in the afterlife.

This was an unexpected end considering Kauffman had never actually considered the pair's ascent to heaven despite the many alternative endings.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Marta Kauffman admitted: "There's one thing we always knew: Grace and Frankie have to end up together. That we knew. What we didn't know was how we were going to get there."

She added: "We wanted it to be satisfying and surprising. But, to answer the question, no, we never once considered actually killing them."

Robert and Sol's ending

Over the course of the final episodes, Sol is left feeling helpless as Robert's memory continues to get worse. In a bid to keep him functioning normally, Sol would cover up his deteriorating condition by feeding Robert his lines when he was acting on stage, and starting arguments to hide his confusion from others.

But eventually, he has to tell Brianna and Mallory, and soon he tries to convince Robert to see a doctor but he doesn't bite. Instead, Robert insists on putting on a brave face for the group at the funeral as "Party Robert" which even works… until he forgets the story of how he met Sol, confusing it with the moment he met Grace.

Sol is rightfully heartbroken by the moment, and Robert finally realises that he needs to seek help for his memory. In a frank chat, Sol admits his fears that Robert will lose his memory of him and the years that they've shared together.

Sol later takes Robert to New York to the hotel where they first met in order to help him revive his memory. Initially it fails, with Robert forgetting that it was where they met and fell in love for the first time. However, the pianist plays 'The Way You Look Tonight' and the memories soon begin to return to him.

Sol tells him that he wants to continue creating memories with the man that he loves and a teary Robert agrees, and together they head up in the elevator together with a kiss.

Brianna and Mallory's ending

After agreeing to get back together with Brianna, Barry continues to juggle his life between her and his newborn baby daughter, Molly, which is a life she has never wanted.

When Brianna discovers this, the pair realise they've hit a rough patch in their relationship and they need to adjust quickly or admit defeat and split. They split, leaving everyone upset… for Barry, and not for Brianna.

But Barry thrives following the break-up, which knocks Brianna out of joint. She realises what she's lost by letting him go, and fearful for her "fresh start future". Mallory is the first person to notice and holds her as she cries.

In another turn of events, Mallory's job is put under threat by Tanneth, and Brianna jumps to her sister's defence, encouraging her to step back of her own choice. But Mallory instead thinks that she's deliberately trying to sabotage her. However, she is soon fired and Mallory thanks her for trying to stop her. Together they pack up her office and head off together with the idea of starting a new business together.

Grace and Frankie is available to stream in full now on Netflix.