Ep 1. Yes

In the season 2 premiere of United States of Tara titled "Yes," we see Tara and her family trying to pick up the pieces after the dramatic events of the previous season. The episode kicks off with Tara and her husband, Max, attending therapy together. Max is clearly struggling with the aftermath of Tara's many personalities, and he admits that he's been drinking heavily to cope with the stress. Tara, on the other hand, seems more stable than we've seen her in a while. She's still taking her medication and attending therapy, and we get the sense that she's really committed to her recovery.

Back at home, the family is preparing for a big "Welcome Back" party for Tara's sister, Charmaine, who's been away on a cruise. Charmaine is somewhat of a thorn in Tara's side, as she's always been critical of Tara's mental health issues and has generally been unsupportive. Nevertheless, Tara is determined to put on a good face and make the party a success.

As they prepare for the party, we see some of Tara's alters make brief appearances. There's Buck, the male alter who seems to embody Tara's repressed masculinity; T, the rebellious teen alter who likes to push boundaries; and Alice, the 1950s housewife alter who's generally very sweet but can be a bit controlling. Tara seems to be able to hold them at bay for the most part, but we can feel the tension building as the party approaches.

At the party, we see Tara trying to be the perfect hostess, but things quickly go awry. Charmaine arrives with her new fiancé, Nick, who turns out to be Max's coworker and a bit of a ladies' man. The tension between the two men is palpable, and it's clear that Max is not happy about this turn of events.

To make matters worse, Tara's old flame, Evan, shows up unexpectedly. We learn that Tara had an affair with Evan while she was in one of her alter personalities, and the memory is clearly still painful for her. Evan seems to be trying to reconnect with Tara, but she's understandably hesitant.

As the night wears on, we see Tara struggling more and more to keep her alters at bay. She snaps at Charmaine, gets into an argument with Max, and even throws a drink in Evan's face. Finally, we see her retreat to her bedroom to try and regroup. She talks to her therapist on the phone and admits that she's been having some breakthroughs in therapy, but she's still struggling to keep her alters in check.

The episode ends with Tara coming out of her bedroom, looking more composed than before. She tells Max that she's ready to talk things through, and he seems relieved. It's clear that this isn't the end of Tara's struggles with her mental health, but it feels like a step in the right direction.

Overall, "Yes" is a strong season premiere that sets up the conflicts and themes that will carry through the rest of the season. We see Tara struggling to balance her desire for a "normal" life with her very real mental health issues, and we get a sense of the toll that her condition has taken on her marriage and family. At the same time, we see hints of hope and progress, as Tara seems to be making some breakthroughs in her therapy. It's a thoughtful, nuanced episode that sets up what promises to be another compelling season of television.