‘Dispatches from Elsewhere’ Recap: ‘Simone’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM. YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Normally once an audience has come to the end of a pilot episode, they have a solid understanding of where the plot is heading and what the show stands for. Which is a wonderful thing since it lets the audience know if their time is going to be well spent going forward, and this has become a formula of sorts in this era of peak television. Because shows also understand that there is plenty to see out there, so why not be up front and honest and establish that this is the series you’re looking for. But while this particular model has made television accessible and comfortable, there is still room for stories that find ways to surprise us and for proof, look no further than Dispatches from Elsewhere.
 
Because this brand-new series has yet to tip its hand in regard to what the plot is going to involve, outside of the fact that our main characters are embroiled in a fascinating game that appears to relate to a grand struggle between freedom and oppressive control. But that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. For when we tune into this series, we haven’t a clue what to expect. We only know that we are going to go on a unique journey that explores something deep and meaningful about our humanity, and there’s a real excitement that comes with that and of course, all of that is precisely what fans of this new series felt right before they tuned into last night’s episode. But thankfully, it didn’t long for us to learn that ‘Simone’ was going to offer up another unique look at the human condition and what it brought to the table was quite fascinating.
 
Because this particular tale focused heavily on what it means to feel alone in the world and how it approached his examination was what made this story so special. For we came to learn in this episode that Simone is someone who dreads human contact and making connections, out of the fear that people that will see her in a negative light and this is another plot element that people can find supremely relatable. Because at some point or another in our lives, we’ve had this worry, one that is specifically catered to our needs and our quirks. And this was simply fascinating to see on screen since it was presented in frank and raw fashion, especially the moments where Simone took the time to speak to herself about her unhealthy actions because… we’ve all done that. But what matters more here is that Simone’s quirks allowed for the story to dive deeper into this concept and properly examine how sometimes we are our own worst enemy.

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​Because in order to preserve the carefully crafted bubble of safety that Simone resided within, she consistently indulged her fears and backed away and/or sabotaged any meaningful human connection with potential friends and she even did that to Peter in this tale, and that’s a powerful thing to inject into a story. For often times, characters that avoid human contact, do so based upon pure trauma that shattered their psyche ages ago, as part of a grand plan to watch them heal. But instead, here we were treated to something that all of us have done or will do; which is back away or ruin an opportunity at something good because we simply don’t deem ourselves worthy. And it was nice to see a show finally address this habit and remind us that sometimes being ourselves is worth our while since it can in fact open up unexpected opportunities and relationships since the right people will accept us regardless of our quirks.
 
Yet we would be remiss to not discuss the fact that this episode also did a phenomenal job in regard to showing the audience some of the struggles that members of the LGBTQ community go through in their lives. And what’s truly amazing is that this story was able to sum up a lifetime’s worth of gender identity struggles in a matter of minutes and still allow for the audience to feel the gravity of Simone’s plight. Plus this episode also deserves some serious credit for taking the time to present a transgendered individual in a normal light, where she isn’t a gimmick or a sidekick, but a fully fleshed out character that Peter treats as an equal and that’s just refreshing for certain and it is something that more television shows need to do in general.
 
In the end however, this was just another brilliant episode for certain. Because not only did it feature an incredible performance from Eve Lindley, it was progressive and thoughtful in nature, and it was a beautiful character study, the kind that put more of our fears on display without looking down upon them, and really as the series continues along, it truly appears that this series is trying to relate to the outcast in all of us. Because there are parts of Peter that we identify with, and some of us feel inadequate like Simone and it is lovely to see a series reach out to people who don’t think they belong and remind them that; they do. And it is going to be quite intriguing to see what other unique and quirky elements in regard to our humanity this series is going to explore as we dive into the minds of Janice and Fredwynn. Until next time.

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