AIR DATE: Monday March 28, 2011 10:30PM E/P
Grade:
To say I’m excited United States of Tara is back is a gross understatement! This is a fantastically darkly funny, sarcastic, and completely addictive series! I love it! My favorite dysfunctional and absolutely lovable D.I.D. patient, Tara (Toni Collette), is back for an all new season filled with more drama, sarcasm, and darkly humorous antics than you can fit into a psych ward!
If you recall from the season two finale, Charmaine (Rosemarie DeWitt), Tara’s younger sister, was left standing at the backyard altar by the man who was not the father of her unborn child. If that statement alone doesn’t get your curiosity flowing, then read on my friends. As if that weren’t enough, Tara and Charmaine’s mother, Bev (guest star Pamela Reed), informs them they have a half-brother who is the source of their tormented childhood.
Toni Collette as Buck
“…youwillnotwin…” begins with Buck, one of Tara’s alternate personalities, taking a little joy ride to find someone from Tara’s dark past. Meanwhile, back at the homestead, Max (John Corbett) is trying to keep the backyard barbeque fires burning while waiting for Tara to come home.
Buck is angry and looking for blood!
What’s interesting is how seamlessly the show picks up again with such smooth flow. The characters are very well developed but if you’ve not seen season one or two, you can easily watch season three from the start and pick up on the premise without much ado. I love shows where you don’t have to watch every minute detail to figure out a hidden clue to know what’s going on.
John Corbett as Max and Toni Collette as Tara
Charmaine may not have D.I.D. but she certainly has some serious issues to work through in her own mind. She’s neurotic, controlling, needy, bossy, a bit inconsiderate, and sometimes thoughtless. Enhance that about 10 times now that she’s further along in her pregnancy! It’s a credit to DeWitt’s portrayal of her character. I love Charmaine’s bold and sometimes rude nature. She is a bit selfish; however, she doesn’t apologize for it.
Charmaine is keeping her wedding cake from the wedding she never had
At the barbeque, the subject of college degrees comes up and Tara toys with the idea of going back to finish her degree, much to Max’s chagrin. Their eccentrically amiable neighbor Ted (Michael Hitchcock) offers to help Tara with enrollment. He apparently knows the Dean of Admissions quite well. The champagne really loosens his lips!
L-R: Patton Oswalt as Neil, Michael Hitchcock as Ted Mayo, and Rosemarie DeWitt as Charmaine
One of the guest stars this season is a very funny British comedian/actor, Eddie Izzard, who will play a college professor named Dr. Hattaras.
Eddie Izzard guest stars as Dr. Hattaras
Marshall (Keir Gilchrist) and Lionel take their relationship to the next level by buying merchandise together! They buy a new video camera for their film classes but Lionel is a bit on the offense when it comes to the labeling of their relationship. I think he’s more about the political appearances of being a young gay teen in a small town while Marshall is more about the actual emotions behind being with someone you care about.
Michael J. Willett as Lionel and Keir Gilchrist as Marshall
One of my favorites on the show is Kate (Brie Larson). Her past is going to catch up with her while she interviews for jobs. Remember Princess Valhalla? Well, apparently a lot of people in Kansas do!
What's a bbq without a little karaoke? Center: Brie Larson as Kate
Could there be a new, darker personality within trying to forge its way through Tara? Will Buck, Shoshana, Alice, and T be able to stop it?
Tara may have another alter brewing inside
Tune into an all new season of United States of Tara premiering Monday, March 28, 2011 at 10:30PM E/P (immediately after the premiere of Nurse Jackie)!
Photos courtesy of ©Showtime
Judy Manning
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