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“Somebody Somewhere” Season 3 Episode 7 Finale Recap

“Somebody Somewhere” Season 3 Episode 7 Finale Recap

What a gift. What a gift. What an absolute gift we have been given with this dream show. After this episode, I’m sure many people will come forward to express the great sadness they feel Someone Somewhere is coming to an end (shoutout to the best recap comment section in town!), but I think I’m also leaving this show with so much joy. Don’t twist it; I’ve watched “AGG” three times now and I sobbed through it every time. Still, shows like this don’t come along very often, and frankly, it’s a wonder they even existed. What a great thing it was to get a warm, beautiful and welcoming show. A show that could make you cry from laughter and heartbreak and the bittersweetness of it all in equal measure. These slice-of-life shows, friends, sometimes they’re exactly what you need. What a thing.

So be sad about it – I know I am – but also know how much there is to celebrate as we say goodbye. And right at the top of the list of things to celebrate Someone Somewhere is certainly this final episode, written by series creators Hannah Bos, Paul Thureen and Bridget Everett and directed by Lennon Parham. There was no doubt that the final installment would be great – season three was a huge triumph overall – but it’s still nice to see a beloved series reach such a high point. And yes, of course I’m 100 percent talking about Bridget Everett absolutely crushing Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb” to send us off, but I’m also talking about the episode as a whole. (Okay, but seriously, those vocals?!)

What more could you want from a series finale for this series, other than a longer period of time with these characters and several updates about what they plan to do for the rest of their lives? All of our major storylines get a real conclusion.

Take Joel. Sweet Joel. On paper, his life seems perfect, good and happy, but last week he opened up to Sam – mostly through crying, but we all get it – and expressed the feeling that he was still missing something. He’s pretty sure it has something to do with his complicated relationship with the church. Going to Brad’s church is fine, but he misses his old church, he misses Pastor Deb. This week he does something difficult: he finally goes back to the church (actually it’s a new building, but the vibe is the same). Pastor Deb’s reaction to seeing Joel again is immediate and wonderful: “I’ve been waiting for you!” she tells him, before bringing him into a warm hug. Joel’s relief is so palpable. At first he tries not to sob; Then when he finds Sam, who led him to the church doors because it supports your friend, he is so excited. “This is where I belong,” he says. But what happens after this very difficult thing is even more telling of the development we’ve seen in Joel over the course of the season: He tells Brad right away. He knows Brad will be disappointed, both that they won’t be going to church together and that Joel confided in Sam first, but he has to be honest. Earlier in the season, Joel was afraid to ask Brad to put magnets on the fridge. Now Joel trusts in their relationship and in himself.

It’s pretty clear that this growth wouldn’t have been possible without Sam. She both supported and pushed him. He recognizes this Someone Somewhereis the final ode to the Sam-Joel friendship (you knew we should have gotten a scene like that, come on). Shortly after Joel “murders” Sam’s toilet – that palpable relief that things are going well with Pastor Deb seems to extend to Joel’s gut – they’re in his car and he brings up a moment we’ve already seen in the We saw their friendship in the first season when Sam warned Joel that she “may not be friendship material.” She wanted him to think twice about taking “that ride” with her. “God, I’m glad I didn’t listen to you. I’m so glad I went along. My life is so much better because of you. I think you’re my person, Sam. I know it’s you,” he says so clearly, so surely. Did anyone else utter an “I’m so glad I joined in too” through their chatter, or…? Cool, cool, cool, no, I’m definitely not either; I am also emotionally stable.

Joel isn’t the only person in Manhattan, Kansas who’s changed thanks to her relationship with Sam. This season’s focus on Tricia was very welcome, and it feels appropriate to have a big scene that honors her and Sam’s relationship. Even better, I love that this scene is tied to the third Miller sister. This show started with Sam trying to recover after the death of her sister Holly – remember how she couldn’t even sleep in Holly’s bed? – and here, in the finale, we can reflect once again on how that grief has changed them individually and as a unit.

When Tricia first realizes they’ve forgotten Holly’s birthday, she’s beside herself. She decides to finally enter Sam’s house, which used to be Holly’s house – she wants to face her grief or punish herself for the mistake, or maybe both. Inside, they talk so openly and vulnerably about their grief. Admittedly, I’ve only been grieving recently (Dead Dad Club, where are you?), so I’ve been sobbing the whole time, and maybe I’m biased, but that’s the scene in this episode that I’ll be thinking about for a long, long time Time. It works so beautifully in two very different ways. Firstly, it’s just this beautiful reflection on grief. The conversation Sam and Tricia have about being afraid of “losing the sadness” because Tricia fears that would mean losing Holly – admitting that she almost doesn’t want that feeling of loss to be any easier or becoming less painful is so understandable that it’s almost frightening. And hearing Sam reassure her that “the sadness” isn’t the same as Holly, that Holly isn’t going anywhere, is so simply put and yet has such a truthful impact (that’s probably how you could describe the entire series, isn’t it). ?), one can only hope that people in mourning will stumble upon this moment at some point.

But the other wonderful thing about this moment is how it works in the story. It’s a short scene, and yet it really shows us how these two characters have changed in the time we’ve known them. I love authentic emotion and I love the efficiency of storytelling, and oh man, when those two things come together, it’s us Life. I mean, look at Sam, who used to be so paralyzed by her grief, guiding Tricia through it. The fact that she was able to give Tricia Holly’s necklace because she knows Tricia is the one who needs her now is a solid Gesture. Then there’s Tricia, who can finally stop denying her grief and face it head-on. And they both know that all of this growth is partly because they let the other in. They even admit it to each other: “I guess she just had to get cancer and die for us to like each other,” Sam jokes, as they laugh that Holly wouldn’t believe how close her sisters have become. And true Someone Somewhere Fashion, it ends with a laugh as Sam hugs Tricia and Tricia notices a heavy whiff of dog shit on Sam’s sweatshirt after a volunteer shift at the animal shelter (another example of Sam’s growth!). The whole thing is perfect; I have to lie down for a bit.

But wait! It’s moving to see how Sam has changed some of the other characters, but this season was very much about Sammy making changes and realizing that letting other people in, getting support and challenge from others is a good thing allow. This episode celebrates her doing just that. There are small examples of Sam improving her life, like the aforementioned volunteer shift (returning to the scene of Pepper’s heartbreak? The old Sam, yeah, that’s what I call her, I would never do that) and her eventual admission that she’s Holly’s Have to give up life truck and take the car that Tricia offered her. But we also get some larger and extremely moving examples.

After the Miller sister’s funeral, Tricia asks about Sam’s status in Iceland. Sam tells her she didn’t hear anything, it’s not going anywhere. Sam is also shady as hell when anyone asks about Iceland, so do the math. But Tricia, being Tricia, rides to the farm to defend her sister’s honor. She gives a big, loud, wonderful speech about how beautiful, smart and kind her sister is and how Iceland is an asshole who doesn’t deserve her. Imagine Tricia’s surprise when Island calmly replies that he wants to see Sam again, but she never responds to his call or text. Actually you don’t have to imagine it, you can see Tricia’s surprise all over her face and it’s hilarious. When Tricia sees Sam again, she tells her what happened, and she isn’t mean or angry because Sam lied; She just wants to know why Sam is making everything so difficult. She likes Iceland, and Iceland likes her, and she deserves to get into it.

It’s this gesture from Tricia, coupled with this heartfelt conversation with Joel, that perhaps finally helps Sam realize for himself that letting others support you and opening yourself up to the world makes you better. She wants to celebrate and acknowledge this truth. So she invites everyone she loves (are we all aware that Susan wasn’t there?) to the bar for a special treat. Well, two special treats if you count the TBM (little breast milk) shots. The real treat, however, is a song. Fred steps to the microphone and introduces Sam, who grabs Joel to accompany her on the keyboard – yes, it’s a throwback to choir practice – and she tells Joel, Fred, Brad, Tiffani, Irma and of course Tricia that they are feels “really good” and wanted to show all of her favorite people how much she loves them.

Sam performs a version of “The Climb” that blows up Cock & Bull. The perfect anthem for Sam Miller if there ever was one. And thanks to a little note left on Iceland’s door after a push from Tricia, Iceland comes in just in time to witness the whole loud, beautiful thing. When she’s finished, calling her name, she walks towards him. “That was incredible,” he tells her. She giggles into his shoulder, happier and free than we’ve ever seen her. The final image is as beautiful as one can hardly imagine. And honestly, what else is there to say? TV rules and Someone Somewhere is the best.

• Okay, how about one last tender moment on the road, courtesy of Sam Miller (and Bridget Everett)? “Cheers to us and to life.”

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