Somebody Somewhere Was This Year’s Underdog Of Television
Oversaturated with options, I was scrolling and scrolling on Max, until I stumbled on the title Somebody Somewhere. I hadn’t heard of the show, but I love Bridget Everett so I gave it a try. What I discovered was a delightful surprise, one that was certainly underrated in a world inundated with content.
Everett plays Sam, true Kansan woman on the surface, struggles to fit her hometown's mold. She’s dealing with the devastating loss of her sister all while grappling with her family relationships. Singing is consistently her saving grace and leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders who don't fit in, but don't give up. It shows that finding your people — and finding your voice — is possible. Anywhere. Somewhere.
Where do I begin to confess my love for this show? Bridget Everett is a writer on the series, lending her real life to much of the story we see on screen and it proves to be successful. It effortlessly brings raw emotion and poignancy most shows haven’t been able to provide viewers as of late. Its storyline isn’t outlandish, it’s simple, providing audiences with a sense of normalcy amongst the sea of dystopian shows in 2023. The simplicity is what makes this show so easy to watch and relate to, in all of the best ways. Every episode shows a unique portrayal of pain, grief, and humor and while every scene may seem subtle, it all builds to the overarching story and complexity of the characters. In a show without CGI, a big, flashy city setting, or action scenes, it’s the performances that make the show.
Everett, alongside co-star Jeff Hiller gave breathtaking performances that made me cry — literally. Sam herself is a woman who runs from her problems at any given opportunity, but when she meets Joel, portrayed by Hiller, an unlikely friend soulmate, she learns to face her problems head on. Their characters, being from a small town with big dreams yet not knowing the trajectory of their futures, makes them relatable. I felt an immense comfort finishing season two, finding myself being able to connect to all of the characters in a way I haven’t been able to do so in a lot of other shows.
From the outside, Somebody Somewhere may seem like a show about nothing, but it’s undoubtedly about intimate friendships, familial hardships, grieving the loss of a person who meant the world to you, and finding yourself. If you want to cry, laugh, or be awestruck, Somebody Somewhere season one and two are currently streaming on Max.
