Released to HBO Max in January of this year, Somebody Somewhere is a poignant yet lighthearted drama-comedy about a cynical middle-aged woman named Sam reviving her motivation and searching for belonging. It has been six months since her lesbian sister’s death, and because her family holds traditional, small-town Kansas views, Sam bears the heaviest burden. She struggles to fit the same mold as her family, but her newfound friendship and rediscovery of a former passion have given her renewed purpose.
Created by television up-and-comers Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen, the series features some more somber themes, which it offsets nicely with beautiful moments of sincerity and light humor. The setting, style of humor, and dialogue are reminiscent of the wildly popular award-winning series Schitt’s Creek. The heartfelt, genuine moments between earnest characters are reminiscent of those showcased in the smash-hit comedy, Ted Lasso. According to IMDB, Somebody Somewhere’s popularity numbers are bleak, but the ratings are high, and reviews are overwhelmingly positive. It currently holds a whopping Rotten Tomatoes critic rating of 100% with an audience score of 94%.
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Somebody Somewhere deserves justice for its creative artistry; it is apparent that the series is vastly underrated, and more people should be watching it. Here’s why.
A Cast of Compelling Characters
HBO
Perhaps viewers are put off by the focus on characters in their 40s, but Somebody Somewhere truly has no specified target audience. With its personable cast of characters, this show should and does appeal to a wide audience. Brilliantly portrayed by executive producer, stand-up comedian, and singer Bridget Everett, Sam is funny, offbeat, and youthful at heart. Her circumstances are relatable. She is desperately looking for a space in which to feel comfortable with herself, and she is trying to find purpose in what has been a dull life thus far. Although her experience is characteristic of the midlife crisis trope, her motivations are the same as anyone’s. Thanks to the guidance of her sweet, goofy friend Joel (Jeff Hiller), she has found a group of people, outcasts in small-town Kansan society. She does not exactly relate to them, but with Joel’s encouragement to rediscover her love for performing cabaret, she finds the audience she didn’t even realize she was craving. Sam’s story is of a woman with no discernible direction who has found the voice she has been searching for in order to regain confidence and motivation.
Through Sam’s experience, the series offers subtle symbolism alluding to The Wizard of Oz. In the original film starring Judy Garland, Dorothy repeats the famous line, “There’s no place like home,” desperately trying to will herself home to Kansas. With all the craziness happening, she yearns for Kansas, a very flat state consisting largely of farmland often referred to as a “flyover state.” The Wizard of Oz is a Kansan’s source of pride – that one major claim to fame – that inspires a significant portion of their tourism marketing campaigns. Somebody Somewhere mentions the film, as is customary for shows and films set in Kansas, in a moment of bitter sarcasm. For Sam, the famous phrase simply does not resonate with her. She wants to break out of her routine; she feels confined and limited by Kansas’s close-mindedness and rural life. Sam is physically isolated, which is only compounded by her feelings of familial and social isolation, having lost her sister and best friend. This metaphorical reversal beautifully encapsulates Sam’s sympathetic plight.
Sam’s new best friend, Joel, is a lovable character. Against all odds, he is determinedly upbeat and shares Sam’s desire to grow out of their dead-end town. He’s genuine, kind, and has a goofy sense of humor. Joel is gay, but he is only open to those whom he trusts due to the town’s conservative nature. Somebody Somewhere does a fantastic job portraying a gay man without centralizing his sexuality. The creators neither exaggerate nor trivialize his experiences. His identity as a gay man is simply a part of who he is; the creators do not try to overcompensate their representation by confining him to harmful stereotypes. Joel’s character is real.
A Refreshingly Organic Portrayal of Humanity
Yet another facet of Somebody Somewhere’s appeal is the creators’ dedication to depicting an earnest portrait of humanity and being. Unlike other drama and drama-comedy series, Somebody Somewhere is refreshingly subtle. The drama is not grossly exaggerated, and the comedic aspects are within a realistic range, straying from the excess and cringe that overwhelm our screens today. Small, day-to-day inconveniences, such as dropping one’s keys and raw interactions, bear striking resemblance to those experienced in real life, providing a rare quality of freshness that surprises audiences. The realism is owed in part to the fact that the series is inspired by some of Bridget Everett’s real-life experiences. People can truly relate to Somebody Somewhere because it is a reminder that everybody is just somebody, somewhere.
The “coming-of-middle-age” comedy series has achieved a wonderful balance between sorrow and happiness as the characters navigate discomfort and connection. Fortunately, HBO has announced that the series has already been renewed for a second season. They made the announcement after releasing the third episode of the series. There is still no set release date, giving potential viewers plenty of time to catch up on what they are currently missing out on.
