In this episode, Robert and Sol are preparing for their wedding, but Robert is struggling to write his vows. Sol leaves him for the day to go clear out his old house with Frankie. Sol, Frankie and the boys end up reminiscing throughout the day, and Frankie and Sol end up sleeping together. While this is going on, Grace is reflecting on her relationship with Guy which she decides has to come to an end. When she comes home from her breakup, Sol is sitting in the living room. Grace finds out that Frankie and Sol slept together and Grace is very furious with Sol. The episode ends with a heart to heart between Grace and Frankie.
Grace and Frankie “The Vows” barely passes the Bechdel Test by including…
- Two women who are named Grace and Frankie
- Conversations between the two women
- Although most of the dialogue in this episode includes conversations about men, they do have one episode about a sand castle that Frankie built on the beach.
Grace Skolka (Hanson)
Masculine Traits:
- Forceful
- After Grace comes to the realization that she needs to break up with Guy, she exclaims, “I hate it when Frankie’s right!” because Frankie told her if she reflects on it the answer will come to her.
- Analytical
- Grace is analytical towards Sol who is acting very sheepish towards Grace after he has sex with Frankie. Grace eventually sees right through him and comes to the realization that they slept together.
- Willing to take a stand
- Grace takes a stand in her life and decides to break up with Guy.
- Aggressive
- Grace is very aggressive and outspoken when she figures out that Sol and Frankie slept together. She yells at him, saying, “What were you thinking?!”.
- Individualistic
- Grace starts to “vlog” or talk to herself through a camera like Frankie suggested she try.
Feminine Traits:
- Yielding
- Grace tries to stay with Guy for him, even though she doesn’t love him like he loves her.
- Sensitive to others’ needs
- Grace is very sensitive towards Guy and, because of that, doesn’t want to break up with Guy.
- Sensitive
- She is sensitive towards Phil and their relationship while talking about Guy.
Frankie Bergestein
Masculine Traits:
- Assertive
- Frankie tells Grace that she has to break up with Guy.
- Forceful
- Frankie yells at Grace, telling her that she’s not sleeping.
- Frankie also questions Grace very “in your face” like and forcefully about Guy.
- Aggressive
- Frankie tells Grace that she’s not good at breaking up with people.
- Ambitious
- Frankie is very ambitious about moving things out her house with Sol, making Bud and Coyote ambitious too.
Feminine Traits:
- Cheerful
- Frankie is very cheerful towards Guy, even though Grace and her have been having conversations about them breaking up.
- Affectionate
- While cleaning out the house, Frankie is very affectionate with Sol.
- Loyal
- Although Frankie has been trying to set boundaries with Sol, seeing him less, she is loyal and committed to her family so she shows up to help clear out the house.
- Sensitive to others’ needs
- Frankie is sensitive towards Grace and her struggle in her relationship with Guy, so Frankie tries to help her through it.
- Frankie is sensitive towards Sol because he is so deeply in love with both Robert and Frankie.
- Warm
- Frankie is very warm towards Grace while they have a heart to heart about how Frankie slept with Sol.
- Childlike
- Frankie is acting very childish while reminiscing over their old memories.
- Sensitive
- Frankie starts to cry when they get ready to leave their old house, knowing that it is the end of an era.
In this episode, we see a very masculine Grace and a feminine Frankie. Grace is having to make some tough decisions in this episode, where she has to be very harsh and aggressive with other characters. Frankie on the other hand, is making another step in her separation with Sol which she has always been very sensitive about.
Shared by: Reegan Haines
Image Credit: Grace and Frankie Season 1, Episode 13 (approximately 26:20)