Divorce

Frances and Robert DuFresne are a long-married couple whose slow drift apart turns into a messy, often funny separation. The show follows Frances as she starts to rethink what she wants from life, while Robert copes with his own resentments and new distractions. Scenes flip between tense confrontations, awkward attempts at independence, and quieter moments of regret, with family and friends reacting in ways that complicate everything. Tone is dry and observational, leaning on small humiliations and dark humor instead of big melodrama, and the series stays focused on the personal costs and occasional relief that come with ending a long partnership.

Created by Sharon Horgan, Divorce premiered on HBO in 2016 and stars Sarah Jessica Parker as Frances and Thomas Haden Church as Robert, supported by Molly Shannon and Talia Balsam among others. The series ran across multiple seasons and built on Horgan's knack for bittersweet comedy.

The show attracted modest awards attention and praise for performances and writing, though it didn’t dominate major industry prize lists. Trade outlets and critics highlighted standout episodes and acting turns, but it remained more of a steady critical presence than an awards juggernaut.

Divorce helped reposition Sarah Jessica Parker for viewers who associated her mainly with earlier, glossier roles. Its frank, often uncomfortable take on middle age and marital breakdown sparked conversations about modern relationships and contributed several moments that circulated widely online, especially scenes that mix cringe with dry wit.

Critics had mixed to generally favorable reactions, reflected in audience and critic scores that point to uneven seasons but strong acting. Major themes include identity after separation, parenting under strain, class and financial pressures, and how small choices accumulate over time. The show tends to trade big plot twists for character detail, aiming to reveal how ordinary lives fray and sometimes begin to reconfigure.