'United States of Tara' - 'Yes' Recap (Season Premiere)

(S02E01) The united part of the 'United States of Tara' was served up handily in the season premiere, with the family looking like the model of normalcy. And yet even as there seemed to be nothing wrong, below the surface was that gnawing feeling that Buck, T, Alice and whoever, might be lurking, ready to pop out. When the pop finally went off, however, it wasn't what we anticipated. It wasn't even in their house. More on that and the purple carnations after the jump.

Since leaving rehab and back on the psychotic drugs, Tara has resumed her life and is in control. The ritualistic dumping of the alters' clothes, with the entire family taking part, suggested that Tara didn't need them anymore. However, we know now that it wasn't the sexual trauma that caused Tara's split. Her illness and the idea that it's curable are challenged immediately when a random act takes place on the street where she lives.

Why should Don Hubbard's suicide make Tara feel victorious? Because it wasn't her causing the scene this time? Max suspected that something was off with Tara, but he wants to believe she's whole. He's like a guy constantly on guard and afraid to see what's right before his eyes. Why else would he suggest buying the Hubbard place and flipping it? The dinner party should have been a warning to him, especially Tara's singing, but he missed the signs. Same thing in the bar with the waitress. Max lives in denial because he loves his wife.

For Tara, Hubbard's death was some kind of trigger. Without the clothes, Buck still emerged as a dominant alter, pursuing the bar maid who was flirting with Max. It was also interesting that it was the macho, male alter and not one of the girls that came out. Again, was that something caused by Hubbard's death and Tara's visiting his home? It looked like Buck's flirtation was going to become something much more substantive based on the previews.

Other points of interest

-- Kate graduated and actually went out and found a job. You can only imagine that her little piece of peace will be blown apart when Tara breaks apart again.

-- Capitol Surveillance was a collection agency, but you had to love Kate's spy garb.

-- Being relegated to life in the fruit bowl, the section for gay kids, made Marshall uncomfortable, but he still found his gay pride and came across with the purple carnations. He was more courageous than gay, standing up for Lionel after the student council demeaned him.

-- I half-expected Charmaine to swallow the diamond ring when she got engaged to Nick. Could he be more corny?