The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.
The title says it all: the concept behind Suburgatory is that living in suburbia is like living in purgatory. Of course, I’m sure there are plenty of people who would disagree with that notion.
Jeremy Sisto stars as George Altman, a single father who moves his daughter Tessa, played by Jane Levy, from Manhattan to the suburbs after finding an unopened box of condoms amongst her belongings following a “search and seizure.” He feels that she would be “safer” in the suburbs; little does he know what’s waiting for them there.
Life in suburbia is nothing like what it used to be for them in the city. On their first morning both father and daughter comment on the quietness of the neighborhood. There is not a garbage truck, taxi or car alarm to be heard. George presents Tessa with a welcome present, a bike; unfortunately neither one of them knows how to ride one. Tessa is then relegated to walk to school. Which of course is an anomaly in this community; all the kids here are driven to school in an oversized SUV.
At school Tessa soon learns that all of the girls are pretty much cookie cutter. They all wear super short skirts, have nose jobs and their drink of choice is sugar-free Red Bull. It’s their sustenance. Meanwhile, during George’s first day he heads to the country club to meet up with a friend regarding work as an architect. While he may realize that things aren’t that great in suburbia – his friend’s orange tan and the waitress hitting on him for instance – he still keeps a positive attitude.
After meeting one of the mom’s in the neighborhood, Dallas (Cheryl Hines), George decides to take Tessa shopping with Dallas and her daughter Dalia, who happened to be Tessa’s “buddy” at school that day . Tessa is horrified by the experience. She cannot imagine wearing any of the clothes that Dallas encourages her daughter to buy. But, to prove a point to her father she does buy a skanky outfit, as she puts it, and wears it to dinner that night in hopes of proving a point to him. Oh and opts to drink a Red Bull instead of eating dinner. It didn’t exactly get the response she was hoping for though. George just sends her to her room without dinner.
But, the following day she relents a little. After noticing her sports bra the previous day, Dallas brings her pretty pink lace bra. Of course Tessa doesn’t let her know that she likes it. Tessa believes it may be the prettiest thing she owns. She decides that under the synthetic breasts of the moms in suburbia there just may be a heart.
Going forward I don’t know if I would really continue to watch this show. Having grown up in suburbia, and not far from NYC, I just feel that the show is overcompensating to get its point across. And what happens down the road, does Tessa somehow give in and partially become one these girls she cannot stand? Or, does Allie, the girl who lives across the street from her and is also not part of the norm, become her ally in a fight against the superficial vision of perfection that exists here? I just think the concept can only go so far. One thing I am curious to see though, how will Jeremy Sisto do in a comedy after starring in so many dramas.
This review originally appeared on TV Geek Army.