Jennifer Garner has headlined hit films and acclaimed television series throughout her career, but even she admits there was something uniquely special about Peacock’s emotionally rich new drama The Five-Star Weekend.
Adapted from bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand’s novel, the series gathers an extraordinary ensemble led by Garner, who also serves as executive producer, alongside Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan, D’Arcy Carden and Regina Hall. Set against the postcard-perfect backdrop of Nantucket, the series mixes breathtaking beauty, gourmet food and designer fashion with complicated friendships, devastating grief, betrayal and second chances.
For Garner, the show’s central theme couldn’t be more universal.
“I think these stories resonate because half of the world is made up of women,” Garner said during Peacock’s press conference before the show’s premiere. “We’ve needed each other from the beginning. We’ve been in villages together. We exist of and for and with each other.”
Garner stars as Hollis, a celebrated food influencer whose carefully constructed life unravels following an unimaginable tragedy. Rather than allowing grief to define her character, Garner says Hollis desperately tries to outrun it.
“The biggest challenge was that Hollis is really trying to push through grief,” Garner explained. “She’s trying to distract herself, to make things beautiful in lieu of feeling what she really needs to feel. But grief is going to sneak up on you. It’s right under the surface all the time.”
That emotional balancing act gives the glossy drama surprising depth beneath its luxurious exterior.
Gemma Chan, whose character Gigi is also wrestling with painful emotional baggage, said the series realistically portrays how differently people process loss.
“I’ve always been a bit of a put-a-brave-face-on-things person,” Chan admitted. “I’m trying to get better at showing vulnerability and asking for help, but that’s quite hard.”
While audiences may expect fireworks from five strong personalities sharing the screen, the actresses say the opposite happened.
“Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d be so lucky to end up working opposite Chloë Sevigny, Gemma Chan, D’Arcy Carden and our beloved Regina Hall,” Garner said.
Instead of tension, the cast found instant chemistry.
“We had ease,” Garner recalled. “We got together, played Pictionary on Day One, and after that we’d sit in our little cluster of chairs offstage spilling the tea, getting deep and personal right away. That was the most important thing we did all summer.”
Carden called the experience “one of the best experiences of my life.”
“You can’t force that kind of chemistry,” she said. “It was so easy and organic.”
Chan praised Garner’s leadership both in front of and behind the camera.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better leader,” Chan said. “She made everybody feel heard and valued.”
The production itself also quietly broke new ground.
“We had an amazing team of producers, writers and directors who were all women,” Chan noted.
Garner emphasized that wasn’t done for appearances.
“It wasn’t a stunt,” she said. “They were simply the best people for the jobs.”
Although the show’s title promises a glamorous getaway, The Five-Star Weekend quickly reveals that longtime friendships are often complicated.
Carden, who plays Brooke, believes maintaining adult friendships requires intention.
“You have to work on them,” she said. “It’s easy for friendships to slip into the background. Reading the book really reminded me how important it is to keep those friendships alive.”
Sevigny agreed, admitting motherhood reshaped her own priorities.
“I had a child at 45, and every New Year’s I’ve said, ‘I’m going to prioritize my friendships.’ Because you really do have to make time to maintain them.”
Chan added that lasting friendships require generosity.
“Allow yourself and your friends a bit of grace,” she said. “Even if time has passed, there’s never a wrong time to pick up the phone and say, ‘I’ve missed you.'”
One of the series’ greatest strengths is that none of its women fit neatly into heroes or villains.
Sevigny, long known for portraying unconventional on-screen characters, said she was immediately drawn to the material.
“I hadn’t seen a show like this before,” she said. “I felt like people could relate to something in one or all of these characters.”
Chan was equally determined that Gigi wouldn’t become a one-dimensional antagonist.
“She’s made mistakes. She’s flawed. There are consequences to her actions,” Chan said. “But she’s just trying her best. I hope people empathize with her.”
The actresses repeatedly praised Hilderbrand’s source material and showrunner Bekah Brunstetter for creating emotionally layered women instead of stereotypes.
The show’s luxurious Nantucket setting almost becomes another character.
The cast happily recalls spending September riding bicycles, devouring oysters, sampling sandwiches and exploring the island between filming.
“We ate our way through Nantucket,” Carden laughed.
Garner became such a fan that she visited the famed Whaling Museum three separate times.
“I really fell for Nantucket,” she said.
Yet beneath the postcard scenery lies a story about betrayal, forgiveness and growth.
Asked why audiences love watching beautiful people in idyllic settings fall apart emotionally, Garner offered perhaps the series’ central message.
“We don’t want people to be perfect because none of us are,” she said. “We’re all kind of a mess. It’s comforting to watch somebody else’s mess and realize it’s okay. You can be a mess and get through it.”
Although Peacock has not officially announced another season, the cast made no secret of wanting to return.
Carden joked that the next Five-Star Weekend should take place in Greece, Italy, Mexico or the South of France.
Garner wants to continue Hollis’ emotional journey.
“I’d love to see where her romantic life goes,” she said. “I’m really interested in Hollis as a mom and how she repairs and deepens her relationship with her daughter.”
Ultimately, The Five-Star Weekend succeeds because it delivers far more than beautiful scenery and aspirational lifestyles. It’s a thoughtful exploration of female friendships, forgiveness and resilience that reminds viewers there’s strength in vulnerability.
As Garner summed up, “If there’s ever a chance to be reminded to give yourself grace and forgive yourself, there’s never a time we don’t need that reminder.”
All episodes are streaming now on Peacock.
