Season 1 – Dispatches From Elsewhere

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2:28

Mar 2020

Drama

Mystery & Thriller

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

84%

Tomatometer

38 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

"Dispatches From Elsewhere" is an anthology series from creator and star Jason Segal. The story centers around four ordinary people - Peter, Simone, Janice, and Fredwynn -- who are brought together by chance after they all respond to a flyer. Feeling as though something is missing in their lives, the characters are drawn into a game that unfolds in a serpentine series of events, taking them from parades to shareholders' meetings. As they piece together the puzzle to find a path forward, they come to delve deeper into a mind-boggling mystery hiding just behind the facade of everyday life and their eyes are opened to a world of possibility, whimsy and wonder. The 10-episode series features an ensemble cast including Sally Field, Richard E. Grant, André Benjamin, and Eve Lindley.

Critics Consensus

A weird and whimsical journey into the unknown, Dispatches from Elsewhere's experimental approach doesn't always coalesce, but committed performances and a genuine sense of wonder make it a trip worth taking.

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Drew Gregory

Autostraddle

Sep 10, 2021

If Dispatches from Elsewhere chooses to focus on (its) truth - instead of getting lost in its own whimsy - it might prove to be a game worth playing.

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Wenlei Ma

News.com.au

May 18, 2020

It settles in better after the deliberately strange first episode which feels derivative of Charlie Kauffman.

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Lucy Mangan

Guardian

Apr 30, 2020

3/5

At times it feels like you are pedalling that bike yourself. But it's got heart and charm and it is quite clearly and endearingly the result of one man's sensibility and vision.

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Bill Brioux

Brioux.tv

Oct 13, 2022

This eccentric, ten-episode journey may test the limits of the slogan found on the series’ posters: “This show is for you if you believe there must be more.”

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Chris Schulz

The Post NZ

Aug 31, 2020

[A] great show to dive into.

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Victoria Brownworth

Bay Area Reporter

May 22, 2020

Lures the viewer in with compelling visuals and extraordinary acting.

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John D.

@johndoe Apr 23, 2026

Started off decent but then went downhill pretty hard. Didn’t even bother finishing the last episode and I made it that far.

Taylor O.

@brantosaurus Mar 7, 2026

I thought it started good. An entertaining mystery. But reminds me of the show lost. The mystery was built up to high and the pay off just wasn’t there.

Matthew K.

@MKnight Feb 17, 2026

Absolutely skip this. I just finished the season and I'd like to speak to the manager. -#1stTimeKaren

Kevin O

@Prospero212 Feb 2, 2026

A beautiful and whimsical story. Jason segel is so open and vulnerable in this. I believe it was in the second episode when Simone comes to his workplace, that was the most touching scene i've seen her a long time. This is going to stay with me for a long time. Opened my eyes to whimsy and the divine nonchalance, and reminds me of the importance to connecting to other people. Congratulations Jason from making this. You really put yourself out there and I gave it a naked honesty that made it even more appealing.

Michael L

@Lancaster Jan 31, 2026

When risks are taken the risk taker may feel like they are in the first minute of EST and the trainer screams to the room "You're all a bunch of assholes'" and then one day it hits you that you let life go by and you experience being an asshole. This is a moment in all levels from cast - crew, script and timing, costuming, casting, art department this production is transformative and people will be afraid of this style of film making. That's the good about it: the chance. per chance to live, because you were the only one to go out and experience the thing that was most frightening in life and yes we are real and WE are a part of something where we get to be real -if only for this brave and short moment. Whether you like it at all, you should watch it. It's usually not my scene to speak like tis of any media1

Matt B

@RT47770349 Dec 29, 2025

interesting and different in a good way for the first half of episodes. 2nd half just created more dialogue and confusion. To me the acting was awkward to watch for all 4 main characters.

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Jason Segel

Peter

Sally Field

Janice

Eve Lindley

Simone

André Benjamin

Fredwynn

Richard E. Grant

Octavio

Cherise Boothe

Lee

Episode 1

Aired Mar 1, 2020

Peter

Peter is stuck in the everyday routine of his mundane life until the day he meets a group of strangers who all have something in common; together they begin an adventure into a world that has been hidden all around them.

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Episode 2

Aired Mar 2, 2020

Simone

The game continues as Simone and Peter follow the clues and explore the city; the gang discovers that the game runs deeper then they thought, and they have to make an important choice.

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Episode 3

Aired Mar 9, 2020

Janice

While searching for Fredwynn at the shareholders' meeting, the gang has their first encounter with Octavio; Janice explores her past.

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Episode 4

Aired Mar 16, 2020

Fredwynn

Fredwynn takes matters into his own hands, but he needs his teammates to move on; he searches for the next clue and asks the gang for help; they take it too far in their search for answers, leading them somewhere unexpected.

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Episode 5

Aired Mar 23, 2020

Clara

The game begins to have a deeper impact on the team members' lives in the real world; the mystery of Clara's disappearance deepens as the gang learns the full story; fresh clues take the game in a new direction.

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Episode 6

Aired Mar 30, 2020

Everyone

With time running out, the gang splits up in an effort to find Clara; Simone and Janice follow her artwork, while Fredwynn and Peter link the game to a large corporation.

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Episode 7

Aired Apr 6, 2020

Cave of Kelpius

The Milkman leads the gang underground; the players come together while Peter and Simone grapple with their feelings for each other; Janice meets someone who gives her an unexpected clue.

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Episode 8

Aired Apr 13, 2020

Lee

The gang reflects on their experiences; Peter and Simone go on their first date; Janice faces an unexpected decision; Fredwynn is convinced there is more to the story.

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Episode 9

Aired Apr 20, 2020

The Creator

Simone, Peter and Janice explore new interests, while Fredwynn finds it hard to let go.

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Episode 10

Aired Apr 27, 2020

The Boy

The mysterious puzzle is solved in the end; some flashbacks cause the full story to come to the surface.

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