It’s been 5 months since the season finale of United States of Tara aired on Showtime and while we all wait for the Season 1 DVD to release later this year and the Season 2 premiere in March 2010, I’ve decided to review all 12 episodes of Season 1. Each week, I will post a review for each episode of the show below. So bookmark this page and stay tuned!
Episode 1 – Pilot
Tara: Kate! I did not raise you to let boys who wear pigtails push you around.
Ben: These are samurai knots!
Favorite Moment: Tara turns into Buck and Buck, Max, and Marshall talk in the kitchen…the two clearly very intimidated by Buck.
The introduction to this episode set the tone perfectly for the entire series. We would be able to see Tara document her dissociative identity disorder aka DID as not only her but her other alters. I am curious to see more documentation from the alters in the future. As far as the alters go, we are introduced to 2 in the Pilot. T is a fun alter as she is a teenager but she is also an incredibly bad influence on the kids. It makes me want to guess which alter can do the most damage to the kids. It seems as though Marshall has a better head on his shoulders than Kate does. Marshall’s intelligence is not his only strong point…he can fight if he has to, as shown in this episode. That scene was quite funny when Marshall beat up Kate’s boyfriend! The alter, Buck cheered him on from the sidelines (not before challenging Kate’s boyfriend first). Buck is definitely my favorite alter to watch. T comes in second. Both are equally fun although Buck is older, wiser, and in a sense is more responsible. Someone who is not responsible is Tara’s sister, Charmaine. She has no loyalty or duty towards her sister who is clearly in need of support from her loved ones, dealing with DID. Charmaine is in denial about the reality of the disorder her sister has and that will hurt her relationship with Tara in the end. I would hate to see Charmaine not grow up and not be just a sister, but a supportive an understanding human being. She needs to get over whatever issues she has and be there for Tara. Every time Charmaine comes on screen, I just do not want to see her. So hopefully that changes. Max, Tara’s husband is the complete opposite. He loves Tara unconditionally and shows it no matter what and that is what I love to see. Every scene in this episode was funnier and more complex than the last and that is what will make this show go on and on and on.
Episode 2 – Aftermath
Alice: Oh Mr. Gershenoff, that is so informal. May I call you by your first name? What is your first name?
Mr. Gershenoff: Oral.
Alice: …Mr. Gershenoff, we all know what this is about.
Favorite Moment: The parent-teacher meeting with Max, Alice, and Mr. Gershenoff.
The opening scene with Tara cleaning up her alters was funny and disturbing because it makes me wonder if this foreshadows bigger messes that Tara will have to clean. Only time will tell. Something I found to be uncomfortable, was Tara talking to Kate – not because of the topic of sex but because, like Tara said, it’s like her family doesn’t even want her to be around when she is herself. Speaking of sex, I wonder if Kate or Marshall’s kids (or even them) would get DID. Anyway, as far as Charmaine goes, it boggles my mind how ill informed she is about Tara’s disorder. If my sister has a disorder, I would want to know everything I could find out about it and here Charmaine is, ignorant as can be. Getting to the alter…we are introduced to Alice, the 1950s Betty Crocker housewife. She means well but does as much harm as good. When the family goes out to dinner…we see the most dramatic, emotional scene so far in the season. Alice and Kate in the bathroom. What a scene. While Kate does have a dirty mouth, what Alice said (and did to top it all off) was beyond low. Especially for an adult who think that they have class, those words need not come out of anyone’s mouth. How disrespectful and out of line. Wow. Alice is my least favorite alter and that was an easy decision. What a nightmare. What is perhaps even more disturbing is what Alice said at the table about the alters coming to an agreement that Alice would be the one to take over the family for the time being. What in the world is going on in Tara’s head? I want an episode dedicated to, the setting inside Tara’s head. Anyway, on a side note, I love how each of the alters has a distinct voice! Incredible work Toni! Incredible writing Diablo Cody!
Episode 3 – Work
Charmaine: It was private and intimate. My team member was talking about ass cancer for God’s sake.
Tara: Oh, I’m like ass cancer to you?
Favorite Moment: Tara confronts Charmaine about telling Tara’s new client about Tara having DID. Then the client reveals that she was molested once. Charmaine is sensitive towards her and not her sister.
While the episode starts out with Alice, thankfully we do not have to see her for long as Tara comes back into herself. Although apparently, Max can’t seem to get it on with Tara when she is herself. He is more attracted to what he can’t have – the alters, and while that is understandable, he better get his act together. It was great to see Tara working again, although her first client back on the job is a weird one. Anyway, as far as the kids go…it would have been nice to see Marshall try out for his school play, however it was incredibly hilarious seeing another student perform a Dreamgirls piece. I was confused as to why Marshall was going to involved himself in another play for his crush when his crush clearly is not gay. However, the heart wants what the heart wants so I wonder if Marshall will continue to go after the guys that he wants without getting to know them before getting too attached to them. As for Kate, she is smart for getting a job but for some reason at this point, with her boss trying to create a relationship with her, it does not seem like a job that will last for her. She needs to grow up some more and hopefully it does not take 6 seasons to see her grow up. By the third season, she should really be more mature than she is now. As far as the ending goes, I was bothered to see Buck come out when Tara and Max were supposed to have a date night, although we did learn something interesting because this happened. Buck got crabs! I wonder how long ago that happened and how Tara reacted to learning about what she did while she was Buck. Talk about a big mess an alter can create. It will be interesting to see what else comes out from these alters.
Episode 4 – Inspiration
Tara: I mean how can you make a lifetime of memories with someone when the person you are spending it with isn’t even there?
Favorite Moment: Charmaine and Tara argue and end up playing at the end.
What a compelling introduction. To find out or really come to realize that each of the alters have different beliefs is quite a revelation. There are so many layers to a person and I am anticipating how more of these layers will be revealed throughout future seasons. The scenes of Tara with her therapist are just as interesting. Hopefully soon, there will be scenes of Tara’s alters with the therapist. In this episode, it was made official that Tara and Max are not as connected as they used to be. Especially since she cannot reminisce with Max. What a tragedy to lose your memories with your husband. This struck a chord with me the most and I look forward to more episodes like this, that reveal more and more things about Tara and the family. Great episode!
Episode 5 – Revolution
Kate: So we’re looking for the alter that’s the biggest dumbass.
Marshall: Pretty much.
Favorite Moment: Marshall telling off T after the house party.
The episode starts out with Marshall watching a video diary of T talking about how she saw Tupac, then he watched Alice in her own cooking demonstration. He was searching for which alter would have ruined Tiffany’s wall. It seems like the alter to do this would be T because she is the most immature but it will take time to see if it is her or a new alter. Meanwhile, Tara & Max were in therapy and after therapy were heading to Marshall’s school to support him in a demonstration but Tara turned into T and drove off somewhere else. It boggles my mind that Tara is allowed to have a license when one of her alters is 15. Of course that shouldn’t affect her driving skills, but T has poor judgment so that could cause problems. Anyway, Max calls Charmaine to help look for where T went and she is at an arcade playing DDR. Did Toni actually practice that, or was she doing whatever she wanted? Back at the house, the kids find out that the adults are staying over, so Marshall wants to throw a party so his crush will come over. Marshall is smart for getting out of his comfort zone to attract a crush but the party didn’t do much for him in the end. Back at the arcade, T is having her own party flirting it up with a guy as Max gets kicked out of the arcade because he is trying to get T but she acts like he is a stranger. That was funny but equally dangerous for T because she can get herself in sticky situations doing that which would affect not only Tara but the entire family. Although both “parties” end quickly as Max scoops T up outside and Charmaine comes to the house. As Charmaine calls Max, Ben tries to get back with Kate but his new girl comes in and Kate sees through his lies and runs off with her boss – who is no better. Kate can do better. Anyway, my favorite moment was Marshall telling off T because it was quite shocking and probably the most dramatic scene in the episode even with T’s immature responses. I was waiting to see Marshall really react to the DID. Finally! I enjoyed this episode so much!
Episode 6 – Transition
Max: My kids are safe. Maybe you should have spent more time looking after yours.
Favorite Moment: Max & Tara running around the background to keep Tara occupied from turning into an alter was a very touching moment.
The episode starts out with…Buck doing a video diary. Buck didn’t last that long as Tara came back to herself only to find out that her parents were visiting for Charmaine’s birthday. I absolutely love Pamela Reed so it was exciting to see Pamela Reed (Jericho) play the mother, Beverly. Fred Ward (Management) played the father, Frank. It was interesting to find out that the last time the parents tried to help, Tara didn’t talk to them for 2 years. I wonder what they actually did to “help.” Tara was going to take drugs so she would not transition while they were there but Max encouraged her not to and then ended up taking some drugs himself. Tara’s parents wetting the bed was not something we needed to see unless there was more to it, which there was in the end…another alter! How exciting! Well, exciting for the viewers not so much the family. Although Max sure got Tara’s parents at the end on their way about the bed! That’s the way to handle it! Yeah! The parents begging for the kids to move in with them and Charmaine having a breakdown about Tara being the one the parents focus on was drama filled and even a bit shocking when Charmaine showed her chest to her entire family. What a moment this was. On a side note, Neil and Charmaine seem to be moving things along slowly so good for them and Kate seems to be doing the same thing with her boss, so…not good for her. Overall this was another great episode and I look forward to meeting more family members and close friends throughout the coming seasons.
Episode 7 – Alterations
Buck: That lady’s got problems. The rest of us just got to hold it down.
Favorite Moment: Buck washing Charmaine’s hair and being her boob buddy overall was a great moment to see between the two.
The episode starts out with…Tara doing a video diary and we find out that Tara can’t even be herself for one week. What a tragedy that is. Max goes to Tara’s therapist to tell her about the new alter and she tells him to come in with Tara on her next session. I’m waiting for an alter to come into the therapy session. The rest of the episode is not as heavy though. In this episode, Charmaine gets her boob job and asked Tara to be her support buddy but unfortunately Buck comes to be her boob buddy. At home while healing, Charmaine talks to Buck like he is Tara at first but then switches it up and talks to Buck about Tara. Charmaine doesn’t know what to think about Tara and DID. Although regardless, that moment when Buck was washing Charmaine’s hair, just before Tara comes back, it felt like Buck and Charmaine really bonded…like Charmaine got it for a moment. Will moments like that come back? Will Charmaine really see that DID is a disorder? So when Tara came back to herself, we saw that she can’t take smoking but Buck can. Another thing to add to the list of things Tara can’t do but an alter can. As for Max’s list, he can cross of meeting the old room mate for answers as to why or how Tara became the way she is. Max meets up with Tara’s old college roommate, Heidi who tells Max that her boyfriend, Trip raped Tara. She did not say it in those exact words as she seemed pretty clueless to as to what the situation was but that was it. Will Max tell Tara what he found out? Will they dig deeper and find more college friends of Tara’s? Only time will tell. This episode was great. It gave hints of character and story development that will become phenomenal revelations in the coming seasons and it also had just the right amount of comedy.
Episode 8 – Abundance
Kate: I just – I just – I just wanted to say that I’m sorry for saying the things that I said about your generation. It was very mean of me and I didn’t mean to make you feel old.
Favorite Moment: Kate asks for her job back in her Alice mini me form.
The episode starts out with Max calling Tara’s therapist numerous times as it is the weekend and she is not picking up her phone. Max then tells Tara that there might be a new alter which causes Alice to come out. Alice announces that she is pregnant, she is so funny. The hysterical pregnancy didn’t last long thankfully as in the end, Tara’s period started but Alice thought it was a miscarriage. It is so interesting to see how the alters interpret situations, natural or not. Speaking of interpretation…When Alice is talking to Charmaine she mentions that Tara teaches her and she learns from all of the alters. Clearly Tara is not intentionally teaching her alters anything. Then while she is talking to Max, she says that T and Buck are her charges and she is the main alter. While it makes sense for there to be someone in charge…I would think that would be Tara not one of the alters. Hmm…so anyway, it is this scene that Max gets Alice to agree to see Tara’s therapist and we see the two at the therapist at which the therapist tells Max he needs his own therapist. It was great to see an alter meeting the therapist but I feel that they need a family therapist so that they can go individually or together instead of paying for many therapists. Speaking of the family…there is not much going on with Marshall in this episode as he is still going after Jason preparing for hell house – which was the most insane presentation ever by the way…and Kate tried to do dump her boss who was too clingy but he couldn’t handle it so he fired her. Although once Alice gave Kate a makeover which ended up making Kate look like a mini Alice and act like a mini Alice to an extent, Kate asked for her job back and he ended up giving her the job back but in this creepy experimental spoken word video he made. The video was not romantic, it was creepy, so she needs to just quit her job and find another one. Overall, this episode was great because we learned a lot from Alice, most importantly what Alice tells Max, that he has no idea what he is playing with when it comes to the new alter, Gimme. Sounds like set up for some incredible drama and I can’t wait!
Episode 9 – Possibility
Kate: You put that shit under a microscope and you’ll see that that’s mom’s DNA. You’re a visitor and you know it.
Favorite Moment: Tara & Kate bond over their matching tattoos and Tara tells Kate that Max has one too.
The episode starts out with Max and Tara at the therapist office…which doesn’t last long since Tara walks out upset about Max visiting the therapist without her. Is Max right for what he did or is Tara right for feeling the way that she does? I don’t know. Next, Tara heads out on a mini road trip with Kate which at first it seems like it will be an entirely great bonding experience but it seems like it has come to a point where Kate doesn’t really respect her mother when she is herself, which is really sad. We see this when Kate tells Tara off. Since Tara tries to be a mom, Kate tells her off and goes on her own way which prompts Tara to turn into T. T ends up at the tattoo parlor but Kate talks her into turning back into Tara just in time for T not to get a tattoo that says slut. In the end, the two get matching tattoos and that is the true bonding moment of the weekend. Back at home, Marshall is entertaining Jason at his home and ends up kissing him. Does Jason know what he wants or was he just in the moment? It seemed like a moment thing. Downstairs, Kate’s boss stops by to give her some soup (since she said she was sick) and ends up stealing a photo of her off the fridge. Creep! If Kate realizes what kind of creepy stalker she has on her hands, she should inform her father about it asap! Max wasn’t a central focus in this episode and that was fine. This episode overall was good but there were no revelations like there usually are. Still fun to watch though, this incredible story about these ordinary yet fascinating people.
Episode 10 – Betrayal
Charmaine: You got to give her credit for that graduation line. Bust that one out. It’s so much better than, “It’s not you, it’s me.”
Favorite Moment: Therapist, Dr. Ocean breaks up with Tara.
The episode starts out with Tara doing a video diary about when she was at the tattoo parlor with Kate. We find out that she could hear what Kate was saying to her when T was out and then she points out that more recently she was in the kitchen and she literally saw Alice. The first part of this is a phenomenal breakthrough, the second part I am not at all sure about. So then Tara visits her therapist who decides to terminate her time with Tara but recommends her to a therapist with more DID experience. Tara is upset and while it might be uncomfortable with a new therapist at first, she is ready for the next step, a doctor who can really help her more. She should be grateful the therapist is telling her this and not keeping her as her client simply wasting her money. Next we see Tara and Charmaine go to the spa and after Tara tells Charmaine about her therapist, Charmaine gives her terrible opinion which causes Gimme to come out for a moment and then T. It was really frightening to see an alter come out right after another alter. Although Max finally felt that after this episode it was a good time to tell the kids about Gimme, so now the whole family knows. It will be interesting to see how the kids react to Gimme when they first meet it. Marshall pointing out that he knew he didn’t wet the bed was interesting because why would Gimme do that to Marshall? Is there more to Gimme than being a monster? So anyway, as for the kids, Kate tries to call corporate for her job over sexual harassment and Marshall and Jason plan to “hang out” again but before Jason gets to leave, T takes Jason to the shed and kisses him. Marshall catches them, T turns back to Tara (how convenient right?) and Tara becomes distraught but not as distraught as Marshall as he lights up the shed. Where will T cool off now? Did Marshall overreact or is it okay because this is the one thing that Marshall can put away – since he can put away Tara’s alters for her? Is this a control thing or is this an anger thing? Did Tara betray Marshall if she wasn’t really herself? Hmmm… This was a very moving episode, there was nothing comedic about it, it was straight up drama. Loved it.
Episode 11 – Snow
Buck: Chuckie, I need the phone, hang up now, fool!
Favorite Moment: Tara sees snow outside while she calls Max.
The episode starts out with Tara doing a video diary, then we see Kate & Max cleaning up the shed mess but what really grabs you in is when Max and the kids have a short family meeting while getting ready for the day in the bathroom and Tara walks in on them. This prompts Tara to finally meet with the new doctor, with Max. I bet Max wasn’t expecting the therapist to put him in group therapy. Tara opened up right away in her group therapy session and talks about when she realized she was transitioning….she was waiting for summer but next thing she remembered, 6 months went by and it was winter and she saw snow. Hence the title of the episode. How tragic. Later, Tara has her individual therapy session and turns into Buck. It was great to see Buck since we haven’t seen him in awhile. Although I was afraid of what Max meant in their session together when he said, “I’m not doing this anymore.” Did he mean going to therapy or the marriage? Because Tara got a reality check when a another patient showed her a photo of her kids that she hasn’t seen since her husband has full custody. So when Tara called Max to tell her that she wanted to find Tripp, that was a great step in the right direction. Although what was that about, Tara acting as Buck to use the phone? Did she act or was that Buck? I’ve watched this scene numerous times and still do not know. As for the kids, Kate doesn’t get much further in making a sexual harassment suit and even though she can’t seem to help herself, she does try to help Marshall realize something when she sees that he is taking pills to escape his world. She tells him that Tara was protecting him from getting her when T kissed Jason. That is quite a revelation and makes me want to re-watch the season in a new light. This is definitely a standout episode in the season and is one of my favorites.
Episode 12 – Miracle
Charmaine: My sister’s meeting with her rapist so we’re just, you know, hanging out.
Favorite Moment: The closing scene, seeing all of Tara’s alters sitting near Tara at the bowling alley…
The episode starts out with Tara and Max with Tara’s doctor having a talk about how Tara feels before they meet Tripp. The meeting was pleasant until Tripp and his wife decided that there wasn’t any progress being made, and Tripp said, “See ya T.” This of course pushed Tara to turn into T, then Buck, then T, and then Alice – all back to back. It was quite insane to see, frightening and fascinating. Alice, the ring leader of the alters tried to push the other alters down so they couldn’t come out and had no idea where Tara was. Hmmm. Looking forward to more revelations of what goes on inside Tara’s head when the alters are out in Season 2. Until then, this was acted fabulously. As for the kids, Marshall forgave Tara which we all knew he would and Kate continues to try to avoid Gene who is definitely on stalker status. It’s interesting to see Marshall as the level headed kid who rarely gets his buttons pushed, or at least shows it and then Kate who is mature in her appearance and attitude but is more lost in who she is than Marshall. Looking forward to seeing more character development in Season 2 as in this episode, we see Kate & Marshall come full circle in a sense. Kate likes to run away from her problems and Marshall likes to forgive and move on with caution. Lastly, Charmaine is torn between her to guys, which might seem to be an interesting conflict to some though I am much more interested in her relationship with her sister. It would have been nice to see Charmaine converse with Tara in this episode. Though overall, this was a fantastic finale, which definitely leaves viewers anticipating Season 2. Brilliant job on Season 1.
To catch up on United States of Tara, watch Showtime On Demand and follow the show’s creator, Diablo Cody on Twitter.