As Season 3 of Somebody, Somewhere gets closer to its end—the penultimate episode sets the stage for emotional breakthroughs and touching moments. Lennon Parham wrote and directed the episode, which is a masterful mix of humor, vulnerability and friendship that shows Sam and Joel’s journey of growth and self-discovery.
Somebody Somewhere Season 3 Episode 6 Recap
At the start of the episode Called “As Much as I Like Not Feeling” , Joel (Jeff Hiller) is still in shock from a very funny but sad car accident. He hits an older woman’s car from behind while listening to a Glennon Doyle podcast, which leads to a dramatic overreaction. He screams, “What have I done?” as if he’s done something very bad. He is shocked to see the driver, an older woman with a sticker that says “disabled driver,” having a hard time getting out of her car to meet him. His guilt makes him think a lot about himself, which sets the tone for his personal reckoning. Sam, always there for a friend in need, sees that Joel is upset and suggests a sleepover full of old memories to make them feel better.
Iceland and Sam First Date
At the same time, Sam (Bridget Everett) is getting ready for her first date with Iceland, which makes her feel anxious and self-critical. Even though Tricia is rude, she gives Sam good advice by telling her to “put on lip gloss” and “pick out a good outfit.” In a quiet but moving scene, Sam carefully gets ready for her date by changing shirts and fixing her hair, and then she starts to cry. But she pulls herself together, writes herself a note of encouragement, and walks out the door ready to try.
While on her date with Iceland (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), Sam shows how vulnerable she is. She is honest about how nervous she is and even jokes that she might need her dog Wesley as a comfort animal. Iceland is friendly, and everyone there is nervous. This makes for a sweet and awkward situation. As they walk along, Sam tells them that she brought a list of things to talk about to avoid awkward silences. Iceland insists on answering her questions in a playful way, which makes them feel a special bond.
He leans in for a kiss when the time is right. It’s sweet and hopeful, but Sam’s feelings get the best of her. “Maybe I don’t have the emotional infrastructure for this,” she says through tears as she pulls away. Iceland tries to comfort her, but the magic wears off, leaving Sam to deal with her doubts about herself.
Sam and Joel’s planned sleepover
The accident also makes Joel want to get back in touch with his old church. For Joel, this choice shows that he wants to get back parts of his identity that have been hidden by the compromises he has made in his relationships.
That night, Sam and Joel’s planned sleepover turns into a healing talk. Joel admits that he is still unhappy, even though his life with Brad and his friendship with Sam seem perfect. Even though they have a bad history together, Sam tells him to get back in touch with Pastor Deb and “just see what happens.”
As the subject changes, Joel asks Sam in a gentle way about her date. She says she likes Iceland a lot but she also says she’s afraid of being turned down. “I worry about what would happen if he met me.” “How could he want that?” — she asks, her voice shaking with hate for herself. Joel responds right away with unwavering support: “How could he not?” The sincerity of his answer shows how close they are as friends and gives Sam hope.
A Stronger Link between Sam and Joel
At the end of the episode, Sam and Joel laugh and eat doughnuts together, their friendship stronger than ever. Both have come a long way in becoming more self-aware thanks to each other’s support during their slumber party. . As they peel off layers, both literal and symbolic (like the gross but transformative foot peels), they embrace the messiness of growth and get closer to being their best selves.
With just one episode left, Season 3 of Somebody, Somewhere delivers an emotionally rich episode that celebrates being vulnerable, strong and the lasting power of friendship. The story of Sam and Joel shows us that having a true friend by our side can make all the difference, even when things are at their worst.
In the interview with the wrap, Jeff Hiller talked about some important parts of his role as Joel and the journey his character has been on throughout the series. Hiller said that filming the Episode 6 car accident scene was both hard and funny. He said that the director liked how the older woman struggled to get out of her car for a long time because it made the scene more dramatic and funny.
Hiller praised Joel’s journey, especially how he came to understand that relationships need a balance of give and take in order to be stable. He said that the emotional apology Joel got from the bully in high school in Episode 4 was one of the most powerful parts. Hiller said it was “a true catharsis” for him, Joel, and many other LGBTQ+ people because it talked about things they had all been through. He thanked them for the chance and thought about how important it was to be a part of such a touching story.
One of the most touching relationships in the show is between Sam (Bridget Everett) and the mysterious Iceland (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), who is played by an Icelandic actor. Iceland, whose real name is never given, rents Sam’s family farm and makes her life more quiet and introspective.
In the show, Iceland is called after his home country. As a proud Icelander, Ólafsson took on the role and how it represented his culture. He told a funny story from behind the scenes: Bridget Everett texted him to ask what the real name of his character should be. He joked about giving her a name that she wouldn’t have to say on-screen.
In the interview with Vulture, Ólafsson found filming in Chicago even more exciting, and he enjoyed exploring the city and seeing old friends again. He said, “It’s a beautiful city,” remembering how the weather in Chicago made him miss home.
Iceland and Sam go on their first date this week. It’s just a walk around the farm. During their honest conversation, Iceland says she doesn’t like how Sam puts herself down. After a tender kiss, the scene ends, and Sam starts to cry. It was a moment of raw emotion and uncertainty. This scene stood out to Ólafsson. He said, “I felt it had to be this soft thing.” “I like how this show isn’t about being in charge like James Bond.” They had to show respect to Iceland.
The chemistry between the two characters is beautifully understated. For example, Iceland says sorry for running into Sam and she laughs it off. These small details give their new relationship a natural sense of being real.
With the season finale coming up soon, it’s still not clear what will happen with Sam and Iceland’s relationship. But the journey they both took to accept themselves and be emotionally open has already had a lasting effect on them. Ólafsson thought, “These are two people trying to meet in a new way.” This was a perfect way to describe the delicate beauty of their connection.
The finale episode of Somebody, Somewhere airs on HBO on Sunday, December 8. On Max, you can stream all of the episodes.
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