Set against the affluent backdrop of Westchester, New York, the dark comedy-drama series *Divorce* follows Frances Dufresne and her husband, Robert, as their long marriage implodes after more than a decade together. Frances, an art lover harboring ambitions of opening her own gallery, initiates the separation after realizing the romance is entirely dead, catalyzed in part by the realization that her best friend’s
extramarital affair has exposed the superficiality of her own life. Robert, a struggling
real estate developer heavily reliant on a flaky business partner, is initially blindsided, plunging from shock into a bitter, vindictive fury once he discovers Frances was also having an affair with a writer named Thomas Haden Church.What begins as a civil discussion quickly deteriorates into a cutthroat legal battle, largely fueled by aggressive lawyers who weaponize every past grievance. Frances hires a high-powered, cynical attorney, while Robert counter-attacks with a folksy yet ruthless lawyer of his own. As the legal fees mount, both characters find themselves financially strapped and emotionally drained. The children, Tom and Lila, are caught in the crossfire of escalating tensions, forced to navigate their parents’ petty warfare and shifting living arrangements. Frances tries to secure a business loan to launch her gallery, but her deteriorating personal life and Robert’s sabotage complicate her professional aspirations, forcing her to accept humiliating compromises.Meanwhile, Robert struggles to keep his stalled real estate project afloat while managing his explosive anger. Despite mutual loathing, fleeting moments of nostalgia and shared history occasionally pierce the hostility, leading to awkward trysts and false starts toward reconciliation. However, deep-seated resentments and pride invariably derail these reconciliations, pushing them back into the courtroom. Supporting characters, including their eccentric friends Dallas and Diane, navigate their own marital and romantic chaos, reflecting the broader theme of the messy realities of middle-aged love and loneliness.As the legal proceedings finally reach a settlement, both Frances and Robert are left emotionally battered, financially depleted, and fundamentally altered by the ordeal. The finale finds them tentatively stepping into a new, uncertain chapter of their lives. Frances continues her pursuit of independence in the art world, while Robert attempts to rebuild his career and personal life from the rubble. The series concludes not with a neat, happy ending, but with a realistic portrayal of closure, highlighting that while a marriage can legally end, the emotional echoes and entanglements of a shared past endure long after the papers are signed.