For seven episodes, this year, the writers of "Somebody Somewhere" pitched a perfect game. This was like watching an Anne Tyler novel on television; I can't think of higher praise.
Sam--a walking trainwreck--grows agitated when her friend, Fred, announces his plan to marry. "No new people," says Sam. Also: "I don't trust love; I've never been in love." These lines are unnerving, but there is so much hilarity in the show, it's possible to overlook the awkwardness.
It's difficult to make even a small change--and Sam really struggles just to drag herself down the road to singing lessons. (She will need to perform "Ave Maria" at Fred's wedding.) The lessons happen to toss a new person into Sam's orbit (such is life), and the new guy, Brad, soon falls in love with Sam's close friend, Joel. Because he senses how fragile Sam is, Joel hides his relationship from Sam, and the tension starts to grow.
At the same time, Sam accidentally learns that her dead sister "edited herself" on phone calls for one full year; she lied about her cancer to Sam, over and over, because she just didn't want the emotional work of managing Sam's mood (on top of managing cancer treatments). This news shatters Sam--and since she can't attack her sister, she attacks Joel (once Joel's secret inevitably turns into public knowledge).
I've been listening to the "Succession" writers, who talk about how human change is very rare. The writers use this observation as an excuse for their own failure to write a real ending to their series. Maybe human change is rare--but maybe stories shouldn't exist unless they tackle rare phenomena. Maybe the content of a story should be special. If it's not, then why tell the story?
Sam ultimately apologizes to Joel--and Joel tries to cut the apology short. "It's OK. You don't need to dig into it. I get it. We're all human." But Sam insists on pressing on--as much for herself as for Joel. "I have all these weird, bewildering rules for people--because I think the rules will protect me. The rules do not protect me."
The show would be trite if Sam's new insight led to an immediate, profound behavioral transformation. We do see Sam attempting to seduce her neighbor in the final minutes, but this brave mission is aborted when Sam accidentally destroys the neighbor's window with a small missile (her shoe). But hope springs eternal.
I'm happy to see that Bridget Everett's show has been renewed for Season Three. (Smart move, HBO.) And I'm looking forward to next year.
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