Ginny has a lot more guts than so many of us…
The first time we see Erika Henningsen’s Ginny in Netflix’s The Four Seasons, her back is to us. It’s a gorgeous summer day, as the water laps on the shore and the palm trees along the beach sway in the breeze. When Steve Carell’s Nick calls out to her, she turns, her smile is as big as the sun, as she strikes a pose. Perhaps she is trying to show how carefree she is or maybe she is trying to relax as she heads into her first huge test in her new relationship. Erika Henningsen shakes up the energy and she holds her own, but, most impressively, she subverts our idea of “the other woman.”
Would you be able to integratiate yourself to quickly into a group of lifelong friends? Most of us would be overly self-conscious, and that certainly crosses Ginny’s mind. Nick gave her the authority to plan their summer getaway, and she opts for a tropical eco resort. As the group tolerates their surroundings, Ginny tries to fit in as seemlessly as possible, all the while acknowledging that work needs to be done before she is seen as a serious addition.
Henningsen brings such an easy charm to Ginny–it’s obvious how Nick fell for her–but she strikes a subtle balance between someone determined to make the best of every situation while never compromising on her views or identity. We sometimes think we need to shrink ourselves in order to fit, but Henningsen allows Ginny to display her natural charisma. You should always present your most authentic self, so people can fall in love with who you are, and Henningsen brings that to the table.
She is constantly underestimated. The other characters may assume that she will go away when Nick gets bored–maybe he will return to his wife, they silently wonder. Henningsen, though, never wastes an opportunity to show us how invested Ginny is in their relationship, and maybe these other friends could learn a thing or two about the spontaneity and sparkle she brings to her love for Nick.
The dynamic between Ginny and Kerri Kenney-Silver’s Anne is the thorniest of the entire season, and Henningsen talks about those final moments in the finale and how Ginny feels entitled to be included since her love for Nick was so strong. Will Ginny continue to be included in this group when the next seasonal vacay begins? She will forever have a tie to them, her memories of Nick intermingled with the new life ahead of her. In true Ginny fashion, Henningsen is eager to find out the next step along the way.
The Four Seasons is streaming now on Netflix.
