The Glorious Swan Song of Somebody Somewhere
Bagley plays Brad, the emotionally constipated, stiffly kind, older boyfriend of Joel. In season two, we first meet him onstage, performing as the only adult student of Sam’s childhood music teacher. He sings an intense Italian classical vocal piece with such preposterous seriousness that Sam and Joel start laughing uncontrollably in the audience. It’s a uniquely mean, small-minded moment for the two of them; perhaps because of that, it soon seems inevitable that their lives will eventually entwine with his. Joel flirts with Brad at the reception over a plate of “St. Louis Sushi” (ham wrapped around cream cheese and a pickle), and, once that delicacy dramatically works its way through Joel’s stomach, they’re on their way to romance.
Brad’s big moment arrives early in the new season. He reaches out to Sam to help him write a song to perform to Joel as a surprise at their housewarming party, but when the moment comes, he hesitates. “I’ve never been comfortable, um, sharing my emotions in public,” he tells the crowd, while Sam sits at the piano. “And, but I’ve found someone who makes me want to go beyond my comfort zone.” As Sam begins to play, tears rise in Brad’s eyes, and he holds Sam’s gaze. “I’ve got you,” she says, and begins to sing. The lyrics are, as usual, a little corny, a little embarrassing, but sincere. And, even though Joel is standing right in front of him, Brad doesn’t look away from Sam. His eyes ask for help, telegraph gratitude, offer up a prayer. By the end of the first verse, he’s looking back at Joel, laying claim to the words Sam’s singing. And then, after the chorus, Brad sings. His voice is broken, blubbered with tears, but it gains confidence as he sings, as he looks to his lover, as he wends his way to the word “love.” It’s a performance that feels like someone’s waited their whole life to give it—and that’s true for both the character and his actor.
This is a small show, but it’s filled with big moments like these. This scene in particular is a mirror image of Sam’s first performance at Choir Practice, when Joel first held her up (“I’ll sing the Kate Bush part”). The hesitance, the rising confidence, the power of a friend’s presence. Few shows have defiantly tried to make such glorious, visionary television from such common tools. What would it be like if people loved you? How would that feel? What is it like to not be alone anymore? Somebody, sing us that song.
