Ep 2. The Trainee

Chip Baskets is at rock bottom. He's been kicked out of the prestigious clown school in Paris, his wife has left him, and he's forced to move back in with his mom in Bakersfield, California. In the second episode of Baskets, titled "The Trainee," Chip starts his new job as a rodeo clown, but it doesn't go exactly as planned.

From the first moment on the job, Chip is thrown into the middle of the action. He's tasked with rescuing riders who fall off their horses and end up in harm's way. But when a bull named Arnie gets loose, Chip freezes up and can't perform his duties. It's not exactly a good start to his new career.

At the same time, Chip's twin brother Dale is preparing for his own rodeo event, but his focus seems to be more on his girlfriend Martha than on his job as a rodeo clown. Meanwhile, their mother Christine is dealing with her own issues, namely trying to sell her homemade jams at the local farmers' market.

Despite all of these distractions, Chip is determined to prove himself as a rodeo clown and is open to learning from his experienced coworker Eddie. But when Eddie takes Chip under his wing, it's not exactly the type of mentorship Chip had hoped for. Eddie is more interested in partying than teaching Chip the ropes, leading to more disasters in the arena.

As the episode progresses, Chip's incompetence becomes more and more apparent. He's unable to catch a chicken, can't corral a pig, and can't even successfully perform the most basic rodeo clown tasks. But despite all of his struggles, Chip remains passionate about his work and is determined to improve.

"The Trainee" is a charming and funny episode that showcases the distance between Chip's dreams and his reality. Despite his failures, Chip's unwavering passion for his work and determination to improve are endearing and make the audience root for him to succeed.

Throughout the episode, we see glimpses of Chip's past and the events that led him to become a clown. These flashbacks add depth to his character and help to explain his motivations. We also see the strained relationships Chip has with his family members; his mother doesn't understand his career choice and his brother Dale seems more concerned with his own personal life than with helping Chip succeed.

In the end, "The Trainee" is a heartwarming episode that leaves the audience rooting for Chip and his rodeo clown dreams. Despite his failures, his passion and determination to improve make him a likable and relatable character. With plenty of laughs and heartwarming moments, "The Trainee" is a great episode in an already great series.