As a long-time fan of heartwarming and humorous TV shows, I must say that Somebody Somewhere has truly captured my heart. This week’s episode was nothing short of exceptional, showcasing the growth and bond between Sam and Tricia Miller.


As a movie enthusiast, let me tell you, the heartwarming bond between Sam and Tricia in “Somebody Somewhere” is undoubtedly the show’s standout feature that makes it such a captivating watch. It beautifully portrays how deeply meaningful platonic friendships can be. The chemistry between Bridget Everett and Jeff Hiller is truly exceptional, adding to the show’s charm.

If you’d like a brief recap of the relationship between Sam and Tricia, consider this scenario: When Tricia unexpectedly arrives in her Escalade 45 minutes ahead of schedule, sipping from a large Stanley cup, and insists that Sam hops in so they can reach the Great Plains Event Expo in Kansas City early – it’s crucial! Sam complies, but takes her time getting ready, moving sluggishly to irritate her sister. Despite Sam’s discomfort with the expo environment (she finds it intimidating and filled with people she finds scary), she agrees to attend as a show of support for Tricia, who is eager to network and find inspiration – after all, she’s spreading positivity across the Midwest! In her own words, “These are your people; they scare me, far too many teeth.

Despite everything, this situation provides Sam and Tricia ample opportunity to grow closer together. Sam shares some unusual news with Tricia: she stumbled upon love letters their mother wrote to their father hidden away in the house. Both are understandably shocked and enraged that they were deprived of knowing this tender side of their parents’ relationship, instead experiencing only the toxic aspects. Sam openly acknowledges that this is why her perspective on marriage is so troubled. She harbors many fears about dating, and witnessing her own parents’ relationship certainly doesn’t alleviate these concerns.

Hey there! Let’s discuss the parallel experiences of both Sam and Joel in this episode, where they find themselves attending events they’d rather avoid for the sake of loved ones. While Sam is at the expo, Joel finds himself in a men’s Bible book club with Brad, focusing on the topics of “grace and aging.” Frankly, I can’t help but feel an overwhelming urge to escape, as the discussion leaves me longing for a river to carry me away. Interestingly, Joel shares my sentiment about the theme, yet his primary concern lies elsewhere – he finds himself apprehensive about being in an exclusively male environment. “Any place without women does sound terrifying,” he confides in Sam.

He relays his fears to Brad, someone who, Joel says, is so good at fitting in with the guys. Joel could never do that. “It’s muscle memory for me,” Brad tells him. He’s older than Joel and comes from a time where he didn’t have a choice but to attempt to fit into a very narrow definition of masculinity. Somebody Somewhere is a show that excels at subtly, never hitting you over the head with the point it’s trying to make and instead letting the great character work that’s been building for three seasons do its work. It’s definitely the case here, as the show not only explores how the age difference between Joel and Brad shapes their relationship, but also how growing up as gay men in relatively different eras has shaped them as individuals. Like so many scenes on this show, this one is quiet yet effective. And also like so many scenes on this show, it ends by reminding us this is a comedy, too, and I’m sorry but if Tim Bagley isn’t nominated for all the awards for his work this season — a few weeks ago singing his sweet little heart out, this week becoming the absolute dorkiest road-rage monster — there is no justice in this world.

The conversation in the car also perfectly tees up the interaction Joel has with a man named Brett at the Bible group. We haven’t learned a ton about Joel’s experience growing up other than a little info about how he tried to hide who he was, but never could, and you can imagine how scary that could have been for a gay kid growing up in Manhattan, Kansas. And then who should walk into the study group but Joel’s old high school bully. We don’t need to know any of the details to immediately understand that Joel still carries a lot of pain from whatever went down. Brett apologizes and Joel tries to brush it off with an “it’s fine,” even though he is clearly crying. And while I don’t expect the two to have any sort of additional healing, the moment has a gorgeous effect on our Joel.

Once they were back in the car, following Brad’s inquiry about his well-being, Joel began expressing the things essential for their relationship to thrive – aspects he had kept hidden from Brad until now. These included spending more time with friends, loading the dishwasher, and displaying pictures of loved ones on the refrigerator. Though these requests might seem straightforward, they held significant meaning for Joel – perhaps helping him cope with past traumas or fostering a sense of joy and safety. Even if his approach appears unconventional, allowing a man to load the dishwasher could bring about such positive changes. And Brad comprehended this. All Joel needed was to voice his needs. Life is too precious, dear ones – let’s make sure we don’t miss out on expressing what truly matters.

Sam and Tricia discover the implications of being genuinely open and exposed to one another, going beyond mere emotional vulnerability and delving into practical transparency as well.

The Expo is thriving, and all of Tricia’s visualization efforts are bearing fruit. She’s absorbing a wealth of knowledge, strategizing for Country Club Mitch’s major event, and even developing a rapport with Cathleen-with-a-C, known as the “Joanna Gaines of the Midwest.” This is her moment! She feels vibrant. She feels invincible. So much so that she doesn’t push Sam to sing karaoke at the big gathering; instead, she takes the microphone herself. Tricia is on cloud nine.

Until she’s sitting on the toilet, she experiences intense burning sensations. She’s perplexed and ponders if this could be a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). However, Sam and Tricia, along with others, have suspicions that it’s not just a UTI. In an unspoken sisterly bond, Sam decides to examine Tricia’s private area for clarity. It takes mere moments for Sam to determine that this is certainly not a UTI. Upon further investigation, Sam suspects it might be chlamydia, which, while concerning, isn’t the most serious of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs).

Tricia was enraged. Who on earth could’ve done this to her? How did this even happen? Suddenly, she realizes: Rick. Yes, the very same Rick.

Sam, Tricia, and everyone else are beyond shocked! It seems Rick paid a visit and shared a heartfelt story with Tricia about his longing for her, which left her feeling guilty and tipsy. The scene where Tricia is venting in the shower about Rick’s questionable behavior is brilliantly portrayed. Mary Catherine Garrison shines throughout this entire sequence. An unexpected twist comes when Sam recoils in disgust as Tricia flings her wet underwear outside the shower, landing on Sam’s foot. The episode reaches new heights with the show Somebody Somewhere, effortlessly transitioning from a hilarious scene to something heartwarming and unexpected, stirring both laughter and genuine emotions. A series that can seamlessly switch between these extremes is exactly the kind of comforting escape I’d love to immerse myself in endlessly.

The Miller sisters are lying in bed, silently reflecting on their day’s events. Although the “controversial incident” has subsided, with an early trip to the urgent care center planned for tomorrow morning, it appears that Sam is preoccupied about something. As they converse, their conversation reveals not only how far the sisters have grown in their bond, but also underscores its significance. Sam confesses that she is worried about a man, yet she acknowledges that nothing will ever materialize from this situation because, in her words, nothing ever does. She seeks Tricia’s genuine advice, hoping to find encouragement. However, Tricia, unwilling to see Sam giving up on herself prematurely, insists on being serious. She advises Sam to ask him out, arguing that the worst outcome is minimal – after all, everyone is uncertain about what they’re doing. None of this advice is delivered with a hint of judgment or condescension, as it is clear how much Tricia wishes for her sister to have faith in herself just once. When Sam starts crying and dismisses them as foolish, Tricia gently wipes them away and reassures her that her feelings are not stupid.

In a heartwarming manner reminiscent of the Miller sisters from ‘Somebody Somewhere’, we’re steering clear of tears and veering towards laughter. The discussion shifts to playful banter about attracting what you desire for yourself, with a hint of jest about whether Tricia inadvertently attracted her recent health issue. The next day, Sam pokes fun at Tricia regarding the antibiotics for her new acquaintance, and Tricia returns the jest about Sam’s curiosity over the Icelandic man, as she had peeked into her sister’s phone. However, there’s also a poignant moment of recognition about how much they care for each other, something they didn’t have when they were younger. Now, having this chance to build their relationship is truly a precious gift. Not in a sarcastic way like Tricia’s health hiccup, but a genuine, heartfelt gift. I hope you understand.

Tender Moments

I’m not sure if I should take the risk of getting upset, given how vulnerable I feel right now.

It’s worth mentioning, without going into great detail, that the manner in which Mary Catherine Garrison delivers the line “waving that dirty dick all over town” is truly remarkable. It’s almost like a masterpiece, so it deserves attention and analysis.

Closing the episode out with Salt-N-Pepa’s “None of Your Business”? It made me think I couldn’t possibly adore this program any further.

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2024-11-18 07:54