(S02E03) Sex was the topic of the day in and around the 'United States of Tara,' with nearly everyone questioning, experimenting, wondering and musing about the subject. Gay, straight, bi and variations on a theme. There was something about dogs in a bathtub that's still beyond me. But for the real skinny on how Tara's getting on, follow me after the jump and join the free skate.

Tara's realization that Buck's been taking over a few hours every day, romancing Pammy, means that Tara's has been in denial. "For the first time ever, I'm a liar," she told her handycam. Before opening up to Max -- and shattering his idyllic world -- Tara decided to do some research. When she saw that Buck and Pammy had gone to FunWorld together, Tara was floored. It was funny, but boy, did it hit home how much Buck had been taking over Tara's life in the past few months.

Toni Collette was amazing in the scene in which she was Tara trying to get into the Buck persona, without actually becoming Buck. I was afraid that just her putting on the glasses were going to be a trigger, but it wasn't. Instead, Tara kept her head -- and her persona -- and tried to explain the situation to Pammy.

You can understand why Pammy did what she did at the ice rink. She's in love with Buck. Love isn't rational. The fact that Marshall, Kate, Charmaine and Max were there and heard Pammy's declaration to Buck/Tara was embarrassing. Tara's response was utter confusion when she couldn't decide which toilet to use, ladies or gentleman. Tara needed a room marked "other."

Max released his anger about Tara's disorder, which he thought he had conquered with the medication, on Sully. It only took one crack by the guy, and Max turned into a character as unruly as Buck. In that moment, Sully was Buck to Max. That was why he beat the crap out of Sully, because he could never raise a hand to Tara. Still, Max needed to let out his rage.

Other points of interest

-- Marshall's experimenting with Courtney was completely realistic. They're young and don't know what the hell they're doing. His hand had no idea what he was touching, which is why Courtney had to show him the way. Still, why they were doing it anywhere near the theater group was a wonder to me.

-- It was sad to see that as joyful as Max was about getting the Hubbard house for flipping, he was devastated by Tara's slide back into her illness.

-- Viola Davis as Kate's new friend is great. I can see a porno movie in the future for Princess Valhalla, though. Kate better watch her crouton.

-- Neil, who was still holding out for Charmaine, found out that she's engaged. By the way, where has Nick been since Charmaine moved in with Tara and Max?

-- Best line of the show, Tara to Pammy: "Have you seen Sybil?"