The memories many have, of not quite fitting in in high school, of being the butt of cruel jokes and gossip then and sometimes decades later, especially if you're from a small town or community. Of still trying to be a good person, do good work and have a good life, but the losses, the banality of the privileged and being made to feel unwanted and weird because of how you look, who you love or don't love begin to add up and you feel lost and maybe even a loser.
The pilot introduced the main character through her current living situation and parts of her past which are revealed during conversations and reminiscences with others. It's done in a subtle way that fits the succinct honesty I remember well growing up in the rural South. It was suggested Sam had a romantic relationship with another woman before in a way that positively normalized there are millions of same gender relationships that loving and they miss someone now gone just like anyone else.
The new/old acquaintances Sam meets in an "underground" church clearly show a range of personalities, ethnicities and suggested gender or sexualities who welcoming and comfortable around each other because they are their Real selves. That's it's more about finally finding a supportive group of people who accept and appreciate you for who you are, instead of attempting to force you into roles or to be autamatons they think you should be to keep them comfortable. And ironically, which many of them force roles or criticize others because they're trying to redirect away from their own repressed feelings, desires and emotions.
This was a pleasantly surprising start to series that occasionally features naturally occurring humor, but I certainly would not label it in any way a comedy. I found the pilot to perfectly understated yet powerful.
