Grace and Frankie has been a unique show in its depiction of age, family, friendship, and struggle. Grace and Frankie proved that age is just a number, and that you can get through anything as long as you have the right friend next to you. In Season 1, they learned that their husbands (Robert and Sol) had been having a 20 year affair with each other. Robert and Sol asked for divorces, so that they could marry.
Grace and Frankie initially didn't like each other, but they became best friends. While they both have done a number of kind things for each other, they also have been mean to each other or thoughtless of the other's needs. Grace and Frankie aren't perfect, nor is their friendship.
Grace: Tries to One-Up Frankie at Bud's Wedding
Grace is convinced that Frankie will mess up Bud's wedding. Both friends are currently in a fight, but Grace decides to take charge of logistics related to the wedding. While we can understand Grace's impulse since she has often been the more practical friend, she majorly over-steps here. Obviously, this wedding is important to Frankie, and Grace ignores this.
Frankie wants to make Bud a very special cake, a cake-yata. As Bud has a special love for cakes with surprises inside, this is a meaningful gift from Frankie. Grace brings a regular cake, which while beautiful, doesn't have the significance of the cake-yata.
Frankie: Breaks Grace's Trust and Reveals Her Secret
When Frankie and Grace are just beginning to be friends, Grace confesses about a secret romantic moment she had with one of Frankie's ex-convict art students. It is a moment where Grace trusts Frankie since she is such a private person. Does Frankie keep quiet about it? No, she immediately tells her ex, Sol. Her ex, of course, immediately tells Grace's ex, Robert, and the cat is out of the bag, so to speak.
Grace does confront Frankie about it, and luckily, Frankie realizes her error and tries to make right. However, this is just one example of Frankie's poor boundaries with Sol, something that gets a little better over time.
Grace: Insinuates Frankie Isn't a Real Mom
Grace sometimes drops bombs without realizing that they are bombs. When Grace insinuates that Frankie isn't a real mom because Frankie adopted her two sons and didn't birth them, we immediately see the pain on Frankie's face. It also shows how little Grace had thought of Frankie over the years. Since being a mother is an important part of Frankie's identity, Grace's insult hits. Additionally, Frankie wishes that she could have been there for her sons' births. So, that hurts as well.
In the past, Frankie had been a pseudo mother to Grace's daughters, too. Luckily, Grace eventually realizes how cruel her comment was and makes right, but we were totally Team Frankie for this episode.
Frankie: Goes Behind Grace's Back for the Loan
When Frankie and Grace are starting up their business, Vybrant, they have a hard time getting a loan for it. Frankie complains to Brianna, Grace's daughter, who offers to loan them the money. The only catch is--Frankie can't tell Grace, so Frankie says that the loan is from Jacob (Frankie's boyfriend) instead. Frankie doesn't see this as a big deal because they needed the money, and a loan is just a loan. However, it's different for Grace.
Grace would never have asked any of her children for a loan, and Frankie over-stepped here. What made it worse is that Frankie lied to Grace and brought Jacob into the lie.
Grace: Hides Her Gun from Frankie
Grace tells Frankie that she doesn't have a gun, but she does. When they get robbed, Grace hears something in the middle of the night and goes downstairs with her gun. She shoots the decoy that Frankie put in the house to make it look like someone was up in order to deter other robbers. Unfortunately, the decoy looks exactly like Frankie.
Frankie is understandably upset since she hates guns and doesn't feel safe around them. Add to this, that the decoy looked like her, which makes Frankie feel that Grace actually shot her or could. Grace hid that she had a gun the whole time that they were together, despite knowing Frankie's feeling on it.
Frankie: Doesn't Listen to Grace
There are many times that Frankie doesn't listen to Grace. On one hand, it could be that Frankie doesn't hear Grace, as Frankie has poor hearing. But often times, she blocks Grace out. One example is with Grace's gun. Frankie is unwilling to hear why Grace had the gun to begin with, and Grace calls Frankie out.
They eventually have a heart-to-heart about the reason, and Grace does get rid of the gun for Frankie. However, at first Frankie wouldn't even listen to have understanding and compassion for Grace.
Grace: Sank Shark Tank Opportunity
In the newest season, Grace and Frank have a new business venture called, "Rise Up." It's a toilet that rises up for its occupant, helping those who have a hard time getting off the toilet due to age or injury. Before they presented the Rise Up on Shark Tank, Nick told Grace that she could accept anyone's offer but Mark Cuban. Of course, Mark Cuban happened to be the only judge interested in investing, and Grace rejected him.
She did this without consulting Frankie or even telling Frankie of what Nick said. She both keeps a secret and makes a decision without talking to her friend and business partner. The Rise Up was both of their business venture, and Grace acted like it was just hers.
Frankie: Tries to Give Vybrant Bad Press
When Frankie and Grace find out that one of their most faithful customers died from a heart attack when the customer was using Vybrant, Frankie feels terrible. She thinks that their product murdered the woman. Grace tries to do damage control with a reporter, telling Frankie to let her handle this part. Of course, Frankie doesn't listen.
Frankie insists that their product killed the woman and tells others not to use it. Essentially, this would have sunk their business. Their former customer's friends actually contradict Frankie, and luckily so, or it could have been the end to this business.
Grace: Interrupts Frankie's Date and Insults Her
A very drunk and unhappy Grace interrupts Frankie's date with Jacob where Frankie is introducing Jacob to her sons. She tells all that Frankie is scared of sex. Then Grace is mean to Frankie, telling Frankie that she just says hippie b.s., that she is a failure, and that she's made Grace's life worse. Frankie is right to feel upset, and we can understand why it takes Jacob a while to like Grace after this display.
Frankie forgives Grace. It tells us how good of a friend that Frankie is to Grace because some of these comments would have been hard to forgive.
Frankie: Pushes Her Product Idea with Jacob Over Vybrant
Frankie and Grace's Vybrant is starting out, and Frankie tries to sidebar it with her and Jacob's idea instead. They invented the easy condom for those who have a hard time opening up regular condoms. She doesn't listen to Grace, and fully listens to Jacob. Frankie does have a bad habit of side-barring her friends or disappearing from the business venture when she's dating someone.
This is one example, and it's a moment that we side with Grace. Frankie doesn't seem to care about Grace's feelings and cares more about her romantic relationship than her friendship.
Grace is able to call her out, but it's a pattern that repeats.