Ep 7. Dept. of F'd Up Family Services

In season 2 episode 7 of United States of Tara, titled Dept. of F'd Up Family Services, the Gregson family's issues with Tara's alters come to a head as they face intervention from Child Protective Services. The episode explores the impact that Tara's dissociative identity disorder has on her relationships with her family members and the consequences that arise from their failure to keep her condition under control.

Tensions are already high at the beginning of the episode, as Tara's daughter Kate faces expulsion from school after accidentally showing her classmates a nude photo of herself. In an effort to deflect blame from themselves, Tara's husband Max and her son Marshall blame Tara's alter Buck for the incident. This leads to an argument between Tara and Max, where she accuses him of not wanting to accept responsibility for their family's problems. Meanwhile, Tara's other alters T and Alice are struggling to keep their own secrets from the rest of the family.

The real trouble begins when the family receives a surprise visit from a Child Protective Services agent, who has received an anonymous tip that Kate is in danger due to her mother's disorder. This leads to a tense meeting where Tara and her family must convince the agent that they are capable of taking care of Kate and keeping her safe. The situation is made even more complicated by Tara's alters, who continue to emerge at the worst possible moments.

As the family grapples with the CPS investigation, they also have to deal with the fallout from Marshall's recent decision to come out as gay. While Max struggles to accept his son's sexuality, Tara attempts to be supportive by finding Marshall a date for the prom. This leads her to seek the help of her therapist Dr. Ocean, who is more than a little surprised to find herself being asked to set up her patient's son.

Throughout the episode, the cracks in the Gregson family's relationships become more and more apparent. Each member is struggling to deal with their own personal issues while also trying to hold the family together in the face of Tara's disorder. As the episode comes to a close, it remains uncertain whether they will be able to overcome these challenges or if they will be torn apart by their own dysfunction.

Dept. of F'd Up Family Services is a powerful and emotional episode that delves deep into the complex dynamics of the Gregson family. It showcases the incredible acting talent of Toni Collette, who masterfully portrays each of Tara's alters with nuance and empathy. The episode is a testament to the show's ability to handle difficult subject matter with sensitivity and grace, and it leaves the viewer eager to see where the story will go next.