Ep 11. Mothers & Wives

In the episode "Mothers & Wives" of Army Wives season 2, the focus is on the familial relationships of the women of Fort Marshall. As the title suggests, the theme of motherhood is front and center throughout.

Firstly, Denise's mother arrives for a visit. Denise is thrilled to see her but is also anxious as her mother is critical of her daughter's life choices. The two have a heart-to-heart talk where Denise reveals that she regrets not being able to finish nursing school due to her marriage to Frank. Her mother seems to soften after seeing her daughter's dedication to being a supportive Army wife.

Meanwhile, Claudia Joy's eldest daughter Amanda is exhibiting rebellious behavior. She's ditching classes and acting out, leading Claudia Joy to suspect that this might be due to Amanda's fears about her father's deployment. Claudia Joy tries to get Amanda to open up and eventually they have a heart-to-heart talk where Amanda reveals that she feels disconnected from the military life that her parents lead and she's worried about her father's safety. Claudia Joy reassures her that they all will be okay and tells Amanda that they will work together to make her comfortable.

Elsewhere on the base, Roland is grieving the loss of a patient. Joan tries to reach out to him but is initially rebuffed. Eventually, the two connect over a shared love of jazz music. Later, Roland receives a call that his mother has suffered a stroke. Joan accompanies him to the hospital where his mother is staying. It's here where Roland and Joan share a moment of vulnerability and both reveal that they're nervous about their upcoming IVF treatment.

Roxy is still obsessing over the stolen alcohol from the Hump Bar, as neither Trevor nor Pamela have come forward about it. She turns to Claudia Joy for advice and decides to stage an intervention of sorts. She invites Trevor and Pamela over for breakfast but also invites the MPs. When the MPs arrive, Trevor and Pamela confess to stealing the alcohol, but Roxy decides to protect them from getting in trouble. Trevor then confesses that he stole the alcohol to pay off a debt, and he and Roxy work together to come up with a plan to pay off the remaining balance.

Finally, Denise volunteers to be a surrogate for another Army wife who has been struggling to conceive. This leads to a discussion among all the women about motherhood and the decisions they've made about having children. Denise's willingness to help out another woman brings the group closer together in a beautifully poignant moment.

Overall, "Mothers & Wives" is an episode that delves deeply into the bonds between women and the choices they make as mothers and wives. The themes are universal, even if the setting is unique, and the show does an excellent job of highlighting the complex relationships between characters. It's a touching and beautifully written episode that will resonate with anyone who has struggled to find their place in the world.