Skip to main content
Movie poster for Trevor Noah: Where Was I (2023)

Trevor Noah: Where Was I

2023
1h 8m
PG-13 · English
Play trailer
Search on Netflix

Overview

Trevor Noah riffs on national anthems, derailing a German sightseeing tour and getting roasted in Paris in this comedy special about his world travels.

Cast

Reviews

5 min read

The Traveler Who Forgot to Pack the Jokes

Trevor Noah has spent years teaching America how to laugh at itself—or at least, how to wince in recognition. As the former host of The Daily Show, he became a kind of cultural translator, parsing the absurdities of American life through the lens of an outsider who’d already seen the world’s other absurdities. His stand-up specials have often felt like extensions of that role: part comedy, part anthropology, part TED Talk with better punchlines. Where Was I, his fourth Netflix special, is no different in ambition.

But this time, the formula feels a little too familiar, like a tour guide who’s reciting the same script in every city.

Noah’s premise is simple: he’s a man who’s been everywhere, and he’s here to tell you what he’s learned. The special opens with him on stage, mic in hand, dressed in a sharp suit that suggests both a corporate keynote speaker and a man who’s about to explain why your country’s national anthem is ridiculous. He’s in his element—charming, articulate, effortlessly switching between accents and personas.

But almost immediately, something feels off. The laughter is polite. The applause is enthusiastic.

And yet, the room never quite tips into the kind of raucous, cathartic release that great stand-up delivers. Instead, it’s as if the audience is nodding along to a particularly engaging lecture, occasionally chuckling at a well-placed observation, but never fully surrendering to the idea that they’re there to laugh.

Trevor Noah on stage, mid-gesture, in a sharp suit against a dark background

That’s the central tension of Where Was I. Noah is undeniably smart, and his ability to weave personal anecdotes into broader cultural critiques is still impressive. He’s at his best when he’s dissecting the peculiarities of national identity—like the time he derails a German sightseeing tour by pointing out the country’s fraught relationship with its own history, or when he contrasts America’s resistance to changing its flag with Germany’s willingness to confront its past.

These moments are sharp, insightful, and often genuinely funny. But they’re also the kind of material that feels more at home in a college lecture hall than a comedy club. As Decider put it, *"It’s not Noah’s funniest hour.

Full Plot (Spoilers)

Spoiler warning

This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.

Buzz & Rumors

Public reports

Trevor Noah’s Latest Stand-Up Special: A Quick Dive Into Where Was I

Trevor Noah is back on screen with Where Was I, his 2023 stand-up special directed by David Paul Meyer. Clocking in at 68 minutes, the comedy special has already sparked curiosity among fans eager to see how Noah’s sharp wit and global perspective translate to a new project. While details about the production remain scarce, the available evidence offers a few intriguing nuggets about the film’s tone, reception, latestnetflix.com argues, and creative direction.

A Shift in Style?

Noah’s previous specials, like Son of Patricia (2018), often blended personal storytelling with social commentary, drawing from his experiences growing up in South Africa and navigating life in the U.S. Where Was I appears to lean into a different vibe—at least according to the limited details. The special is categorized as a mix of comedy and sketches, suggesting a more experimental or segmented approach compared to his earlier, more narrative-driven work.

The runtime, at 68 minutes, is slightly longer than Son of Patricia (63 minutes), but whether that extra time is filled with new material or a different structural format remains unclear. Fans might wonder if Noah is testing out a looser, more improvisational style, or if the sketches are tightly scripted vignettes. For now, the evidence doesn’t specify, leaving room for speculation.

Reception: Early Reactions

Initial audience reactions to Where Was I have been mixed but generally positive. On SensCritique, the special holds a 7.1/10 rating based on 29 votes, a modest but promising start. For comparison, Son of Patricia earned a 6.9/10 from a larger pool of 118 voters, so Where Was I seems to be holding its own—at least among early viewers.

Rotten Tomatoes, meanwhile, has yet to aggregate a critic or audience score for the special, meaning the broader conversation around Where Was I is still in its infancy. Without more reviews, it’s hard to gauge whether the special will resonate as deeply as Noah’s past work, but the lack of immediate buzz could suggest a quieter rollout or a more niche appeal.

Behind the Camera: David Paul Meyer’s Role

Director David Paul Meyer, who also worked on Son of Patricia, seems to be a recurring collaborator in Noah’s stand-up projects. His involvement in both specials hints at a creative partnership that might be shaping Noah’s on-stage persona in subtle ways. However, the evidence doesn’t reveal whether Meyer’s direction in Where Was I differs significantly from his previous work, or if the two simply share a comfortable, established dynamic.

One unanswered question is whether Meyer’s influence extends beyond the technical aspects of filming. Does he help shape the comedic timing, the visual gags, or even the thematic structure of Noah’s sets? Without more details, it’s impossible to say, but the repeated collaboration suggests a level of trust between the two.

What’s Next for Noah?

With Where Was I still fresh, it’s unclear how the special fits into Noah’s larger career trajectory. His stand-up has always been a way to explore identity, politics, and culture, but this project’s sketch-comedy label could signal a pivot—or at least an experiment. If the special gains traction, it might encourage Noah to explore more varied formats in the future.

For now, though, the evidence is thin. Where Was I exists in the shadows of Noah’s more widely discussed projects, and without deeper reviews or behind-the-scenes insights, it’s hard to predict whether it will become a fan favorite or a footnote in his comedy catalog.

Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.

More titles in the same genres and with the same cast.