John B. Marek is a storyteller with dirt under his nails who weaves tales inspired by a lifetime immersed in nature. His insightful essays and award-winning fiction delve into the complexities of sustainable living, the heart of rural communities and the thrill of outdoor adventure. You can find more of his writing at johnbmarek.com.
I was never much of a Tom Green fan during his heyday. His brand of humor struck me as not only juvenile but also mean-spirited. Looking back, though, it’s clear he was a TikTok star long before TikTok existed – a pioneer of cringe-worthy, over-the-top antics designed to shock and provoke. Candidly, when he and Drew Barrymore married in 2001, I felt it was a match destined to end in tragedy. Their whirlwind romance, punctuated by Green’s chaotic public persona and Barrymore’s well-documented struggles, seemed more like a performance than a relationship. All that to say, I went into his new Amazon Prime series, “Tom Green Country,” with fairly low expectations. Surprisingly, the show, while certainly not perfect, has an unexpected charm. It feels almost like a public apology for his past behavior – a softer, more reflective Tom Green, firmly in middle age, trying to make amends with both his audience and himself.
The premise of “Tom Green Country” is simple: Tom, now in his 50s, has decided to leave the bright lights of Hollywood behind and return to his roots in Canada. He purchases a historic 100-acre farm in rural Ontario, a lush, remote setting that feels like a different world. Each episode follows him as he navigates the challenges of building a functional homestead, interacting with locals and reconnecting with his family. His parents, often the targets of his pranks during his earlier career, are now by his side, helping him with tasks like starting a garden and shopping for antiques. This dynamic alone is fascinating, as it reveals a more mature and appreciative side of Green that acknowledges the people he once mocked for laughs.
One of the show’s strengths is Green’s ability to avoid the pitfalls of the typical “fish out of water” narrative. Instead of mining the rural lifestyle for easy jokes or portraying the locals as backward, he treats them with genuine respect and admiration. Whether learning from a local craftsman or interviewing a quirky author who claims to communicate psychically with Sasquatch, Green approaches these interactions with curiosity and humility. This shift in tone is refreshing and adds depth to the series, making it more than just a vanity project.
However, the show isn’t without its flaws. Green’s take on rural living often feels overly bougie and out of touch. For instance, he orders an extravagant chicken coop and then buys six adult laying hens from a specialty breeder to populate it. When she suggests it is “kind of fancy for birds,” he seems legitimately hurt by her comment, as though he can’t grasp why a real farmer would find a five-figure chicken coop unusual. He then hires a fencing contractor to build a meticulously crafted 19th-century-style fence around two acres of his property – a project that likely cost more than the average home in the area. Later, he has a mule and donkey delivered via an 18-hour truck ride, a decision that feels more like a spectacle than a practical choice. These moments undermine the authenticity of his efforts, making it hard to buy into his transformation fully. One of the pitfalls of building a career on practical jokes and putting people on is that it’s hard to gain trust, regardless of how sincere you may be.
Despite these missteps, there’s something endearing about Green’s unexpected one-eighty. He seems genuinely committed to embracing his new lifestyle, even if his approach is occasionally misguided. The show’s quieter moments – like his conversations with his parents or his reflections on his past – reveal a man who is grappling with his legacy and searching for meaning. Something I believe those of us of a certain age can relate to. It’s this vulnerability and relatability that makes “Tom Green Country” worth watching, even for those who, like me, weren’t fans of his earlier work.
In the end, “Tom Green Country” is a mixed bag, but it’s a fascinating one. It’s a show about redemption, growth and the complexities of starting over. While Green’s spare-no-expense approach can be grating to those of us who have to build our own fences and get our chicks at Tractor Supply, his earnestness shines through, offering a glimpse of a man trying to make peace with his past. I hope his journey is as genuine as it appears, and I’ll be curious to see where it leads. After all, everyone deserves a second act, even Tom Green.