Ep 1. Charlie Goes Back to Therapy

Charlie Goes Back to Therapy is the first episode of the American television sitcom Anger Management, which premiered on June 28, 2012. The show stars the award-winning comedian and actor Charlie Sheen as a former baseball player turned anger management therapist named Charlie Goodson.

In this episode, we are introduced to Charlie Goodson's character, who is struggling with his own anger issues while trying to help others with their problems. We learn that he had a promising career in professional baseball before he suffered a public and embarrassing meltdown which he attributes to his anger issues.

Following his meltdown, Charlie had been court-ordered to attend counseling sessions with his own therapist, Dr. Lesley Moore, who we also meet in this episode. Interestingly, Dr. Moore is played by Jane Lynch, who is perhaps best known for her role as Sue Sylvester in the popular musical comedy-drama series, Glee.

The opening scene of the episode sets the tone for the rest of the show as we see Charlie lose his temper with a group of inmates he's been working with on anger management issues. Charlie's aggressive outburst leads to him being attacked and forced to defend himself.

After the incident, Charlie seemingly has his anger under control but is still ordered back into therapy to address his issues. However, Charlie is hesitant to attend therapy as he's convinced that he's cured his anger problems and can help others without attending sessions himself.

Despite his reluctance, Charlie ends up back in Dr. Moore's office, where he reveals he's been experiencing sexual dreams involving her. Dr. Moore dismisses the dreams as a common occurrence, and Charlie attempts to keep the session on track while making some jokes about her physical appearance.

The humor in Anger Management is often crude and controversial, and this episode is no exception. Charlie's sense of humor is often used to deflect from his own issues, but it also serves to create some light-hearted moments in what could be a very dark show.

As the episode progresses, we see Charlie dealing with a variety of clients in his anger management sessions. These clients include an older couple struggling to connect, a young woman who keeps getting into fights, and a guy who seems to be angry at everyone and everything.

Charlie's group sessions are unorthodox, to say the least. He approaches therapy with a sense of humor, using bizarre tactics like hitting people with foam bats or having them role-play their anger issues. It's evident that Charlie has a natural knack for being able to connect with his clients.

One of the overarching themes of Anger Management is that anger is a natural and healthy emotion. Charlie emphasizes that it's how we express and manage our anger that is important. It's this message that underpins the entire show, and it's one that Charlie himself is still struggling to master.

Charlie Goes Back to Therapy is a solid start to what would be a successful television series. The show is a blend of slapstick humor and more in-depth look at mental health issues. The characters are diverse and often bizarre, but they are also relatable and engaging. Despite its controversial nature, it's a show that is well worth watching for anyone who wants a laugh and a deeper understanding of the human psyche.