Ep 3. Don't Do Me Like That

Jules tries to avoid hitting on her new boyfriend, Josh, too hard in the third episode of Cougar Town's first season, "Don't Do Me Like That." Meanwhile, her ex-husband, Bobby, tries to make up for lost time with his son, Travis, by entering his life in a big way.

At the start of the episode, Jules (Courteney Cox) and Josh (Nick Zano) have been seeing each other for a while, but she's having a hard time keeping her feelings in check. She's worried that she's coming on too strong and scaring him away, so she enlists Grayson's (Josh Hopkins) help to play it cool and not be so clingy.

Meanwhile, Bobby (Brian Van Holt) surprises everyone by showing up unannounced with a motorcycle to take Travis (Dan Byrd) for a ride. Travis jumps at the chance to hang out with his dad, but Jules is less than thrilled. She assumes Bobby is just trying to win brownie points with Travis, which only makes her more resentful.

As the episode progresses, Jules continues to struggle with her desire to be close to Josh without scaring him off. She tries to avoid sending too many texts or calling him too often, but it's hard when she feels such a strong connection with him. At one point, Josh seems to be withdrawing from her a little, and Jules panics. She confides in Grayson that she's worried she's already ruined things with Josh, but he reassures her that she's doing just fine.

Meanwhile, Bobby and Travis seem to be getting along great on their motorcycle adventures. Jules is happy that Travis is bonding with his dad, but she's also aware that Bobby only shows up in spurts and then disappears again for long periods of time. She doesn't want Travis to get his hopes up that they'll have a sustained relationship, only to be let down again.

As the episode nears its end, Jules and Josh end up having a candid conversation about their relationship. Josh tells Jules that he likes her a lot and enjoys spending time with her, but he needs to take things slow. Jules is relieved to hear this and agrees to be patient with him. Meanwhile, Bobby tells Jules that he's planning to stick around for a while and be a bigger part of Travis's life. Jules is skeptical but hopeful that he means it.

In the final moments of the episode, Jules and Bobby share a quiet moment alone, reflecting on their past and their present. They both admit that they've made mistakes and hurt each other, but they're willing to try to move forward and coexist as best they can. It's a touching moment that hints at the complex emotional dynamics at play in Cougar Town's ensemble cast.

"Don't Do Me Like That" is a solid entry in Cougar Town's first season, with lots of laughs and moments of genuine heart. It showcases the show's strengths as a vehicle for character-driven comedy that's both relatable and original. Fans of the show won't want to miss this episode, and newcomers will find plenty to enjoy as well.