Ep 10. Sort of Like a Family

Patty Hewes has a very complicated relationship with her son, Michael, and this takes center stage in season 1, episode 10, titled “Sort of Like a Family.” The episode opens with Michael discovering that his new girlfriend, Jenna, is pregnant. He immediately turns to Patty for advice and support, but she is less than thrilled about the news. As the two of them awkwardly discuss the situation, it becomes clear that Michael still harbors a lot of resentment toward his mother for abandoning him and his father when he was a child.

Meanwhile, Patty is dealing with a lawsuit involving a man named Kevin Stack, who claims that his wife was killed by second-hand smoke exposure from a tobacco company. Patty is determined to win the case, but she is facing opposition from both her team and the tobacco company’s lawyers. She soon realizes that the case is more complicated than she originally thought, and she must confront some difficult truths about the legal system and her own motivations.

As Michael’s situation with Jenna becomes more complicated, he begins to lash out at Patty and question her decisions as a mother. However, Patty is uncharacteristically patient and understanding with him, and even offers to help him and Jenna with their situation. Michael is skeptical at first, but eventually agrees to let Patty help.

As the episode unfolds, the tension between Patty and Michael is palpable. They argue and disagree, but there is also a sense of love and loyalty that underlies their relationship. Patty is forced to confront the fact that she may have been a negligent mother, but she is also determined to make things right with Michael. Meanwhile, Michael struggles with his own issues of identity and abandonment, and is forced to come to terms with some hard truths about himself.

In the end, “Sort of Like a Family” is a complex exploration of the relationships between parents and children, and the ways in which our pasts shape our present and future. The episode is filled with powerful performances and poignant moments, and is a testament to the show’s ability to tackle difficult subject matter with intelligence and maturity.