['United States of Tara' - 'The Good Parts']

It's the end of an era -- or at least the end of an excellent, and sadly underwatched, show, one that took more risks and offered more insight into the human psyche than most series could even dream of.

And though 'United States of Tara' suffered an unexpected cancellation after filming for Season 3 was completed, I still found myself satisfied by the way the loose ends were tied up, even though I would've gladly seen the show continue for many years to come if the TV gods answered to me instead of eroding ratings.

['United States of Tara' - 'Wheels']

Farewell to the United States of Tara -- long live the king! This week, our heroine took a big step forward in terms of asserting her independence, and made the unexpected decision to draw up a contract with her alters in order to keep a little control, setting up a sort of timeshare agreement for her body so that they'd stop hijacking it for joyrides whenever the mood struck them.

Many actors note how difficult it is to play opposite one version of themselves, so it's a true testament to Toni Collette's well-established skill that she managed to shoot a scene with all the alters interacting while still managing to keep them all distinct and responding to each other in a believable way. I can't even fathom the technical difficulty that must've been involved in the conference scene, let alone how long it must've taken to film. Collette and the 'United States of Tara' production team always make it look so effortless, we take for granted how much work goes on behind the scenes.

['United States of Tara' - 'The Full F*ck You Finger']

We've witnessed Tara traversing the trials and tribulations of the academic world for the last two weeks, but the third episode of the season sticks much closer to home, far more concerned with the drama inherent in domesticity than that derived from external forces.

First, we had Kate's ill-conceived attempt to fly the nest for Japan, then we met Max's kooky mother, Sandy (Frances Conroy), who clearly needs to be featured on TLC's 'Hoarding,' stat. One of them is desperate to leave home, the other is terrified of ever stepping outside her front door -- and Tara, the only person who actually has any justification for curling up in a ball in the corner and never leaving the house, is having her body hijacked and dragged all over the country by Buck, who is currently on the hunt for the mysterious Bryce Crane.

['United States of Tara' - 'Crackerjack']

Admit it, who among us would have passed up a little extra help with our homework back in our school days -- especially if we could leave the thinking up to someone else altogether? If you just happen to have an alternate identity who is a published author on psychology, I say why not defer to the expert?

Study buddies are one thing, but as much as we all might have believed that we knew better than our teachers when we were kids, most of us probably stopped short of actually attempting to teach the class ourselves.

Apparently, Tara Gregson isn't so discerning.

['United States of Tara' - '...youwillnotwin...']

Few shows currently on television -- network or cable -- have a quirkier premise than Showtime's 'United States of Tara,' the familial dramedy centered around a woman, her husband and kids, and her multiple personalities.

We last saw the Gregson clan back in June 2010 (no wonder I've been in withdrawal!), at a typically eventful almost-wedding. It's been a long nine months, but this show is always worth the wait. The season opened on a slightly more successful social event -- a Labor Day barbecue -- but despite outward appearances, not much has changed. Charmaine is pretty much ready to pop with Neil's illegitimate lovechild, Kate's still a brat, Marshall's still involved with Lionel, and Tara's still going AWOL at inopportune moments when one of her alters hijacks her body for kicks.