Netflix’s Social Distance Is an Emotional—And Very Accurate—Portrayal of Our New Normal
I hadn’t heard the phrase social distancing until this year; now it’s one of the few things I think about. Netflix knows I’m not alone here, which is why the streaming service made a series perfect for these pandemic times. The title? Social Distance. Fitting!
Each episode is a brisk, breathable 20 minutes—thank God—and centers on a different standalone story about people navigating our new coronavirus normal. You’ll recognize many of the faces: Danielle Brooks and Guillermo Díaz are among the actors who appear in their own vignettes. The format is something you know very well too: Zoom calls.
Yes, this series takes place almost entirely over Zoom or FaceTime; we watch family members and friends call each other, nag each other, support each other—just as you’ve been doing with your circles all year. The series nails all the technical difficulties you’ve no doubt experienced—people who forget to mute themselves and all that jazz—not to mention the communication barrier that comes with not being in person. Audio dips in and out on this series, and not always at the most opportune moments.
Two episodes of Netflix’s Social Distance stuck out to me the most. In one, a family mourns the loss of their patriarch with a Zoom funeral. It goes off the rails quickly, with a random group people crashing the call and the older siblings yelling at each other. But everything is grounded after the patriarch’s brother finally unmutes himself and says his piece about the man they’ve all lost. It brings everyone to tears.
In a separate episode, we learn about a nurse (Brooks) who’s caring for an elderly patient with just one request: to see her daughter, a college professor who’s made it clear she has no free time. So Brooks’s character steps in as the patient’s surrogate daughter, which is difficult because she has her own young daughter at home. When COVID restrictions kick in and visitors aren’t allowed at the hospital anymore, the group’s arrangement turns upside down. I don’t want to give much away beyond that, but something happens that makes the college professor see just how important it is to visit her mother.
I don’t blame you if you want to pass on Social Distance. You’ve been Zooming all year now, and maybe you’re not keen on art imitating life. Maybe you want fantasy and escape (like Emily in Paris). But this show is worth a watch, I think. The stories are different, but there’s a theme that ties them: Actually, truly listening to someone is what makes a real relationship, whether it’s with friends or family or a significant other. Having to communicate electronically has just emphasized that point more.
So many horrible things have happened this year, but one thing we can be grateful for—which Netflix’s Social Distance highlights—is that the pandemic has made us reevaluate our social circles. The people we’ve managed to stay in touch with during these turbulent times are the people who will be with us for decades. I know when the “normal” world reopens and we can do shallow, superficial activities again, I want the people who got me through 2020 by my side more than anyone. It’ll make the good times to come even better.
Social Distance is now streaming on Netflix.
Christopher Rosa is the staff entertainment writer at Glamour. Follow him on Twitter @chrisrosa92.
Originally Appeared on Glamour
