The 2025 Netflix Upfronts weren’t just about the giants. Yes, Stranger Things returned with a vengeance, and Bridgerton kept fans swooning with a double renewal, but in the flurry of fanfare, one fresh, fizzy gem stole the show: The Four Seasons!
While Season 5 of Stranger Things and the long-awaited Squid Game finale had their time in the spotlight (with a surprise on-stage appearance from Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin), the actual underdog moment belonged to Tina Fey’s seaside comedy, which is officially returning for a second season just two weeks after its premiere.
Held at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in NYC, Netflix’s presentation may have felt intimate compared to the mega-scale of Disney or NBCUniversal events. But what it lacked in size, it sure made up for in strategy and fan service.
The Netflix Upfronts night started with Jason Bateman and Jude Law hyping up Black Rabbit. Still, all eyes were soon on Fey, Lang Fisher, and Tracey Wigfield’s chaos-fest: “We are so grateful that audiences worldwide share our love of cozy sweaters, drinks by the ocean, and picking fights in a hot tub,” the creators said in a statement to Variety. “See you on our next vacation together!”
The Four Seasons is Netflix’s breakout hit of 2025
Among a pile of prestige renewals and high-profile reveals, The Four Seasons came through like a splash of prosecco at a dusty awards dinner. While legacy shows like The Diplomat and Love on the Spectrum got expected renewals, this ensemble proved it could hold its own with the big leagues.
Its quick return (within two weeks of its premiere) proves that Netflix is leaning into character-driven storytelling as a counterweight to its usual blockbuster genres.
Backed by comedy royalty Tina Fey, The Four Seasons has found its audience faster than expected, thanks to its breezy tone, sharp dialogue, and an all-too-relatable look at middle-aged reinvention.
According to Deadline, Season 2 will have eight episodes, just like Season 1.
The show’s success also mirrors Netflix’s ad-tier growth, with 94 million global users of the platform’s cost-effective plan. The average US viewer now clocks in 41 hours a month. Plenty to fall in love with a beach house breakdown!
While big guns return, Netflix Upfronts’ strategy leans towards the personal
Netflix’s powerhouses still got their due: Bridgerton is now confirmed through Season 6, with Season 4 arriving in 2026. In true Lady Whistledown fashion, the renewal was announced via a cheeky in-character note.
Meanwhile, Stranger Things fans were treated to unreleased Season 5 footage and promises of an “epic conclusion,” while Wednesday unveiled a moody new family portrait. It was, trust us, complete with gothic elegance and unnerving smiles.
Yet even with all the hype, the Netflix Upfronts made room for intimacy.
Whether it was Kristen Bell’s banter promoting Nobody Wants This Season 2 or a teaser from Dan Levy’s untitled crime comedy, the common thread was character-first storytelling. It’s a subtle shift at Netflix Upfronts that suggests they know what we’re all craving: not just spectacle, but soul.
While Squid Game teased the final games, and sports docs like America’s Team are en route, it was The Four Seasons (with its hot tub confessions and beachfront meltdowns) that left us feeling truly seen.
