Ep 2. Period

Sam Fox (played by Pamela Adlon) is a single mom raising three daughters, which comes with its own set of unique challenges. In "Period," the second episode of Better Things' first season, Sam has to deal with the fact that her youngest daughter, Duke (Olivia Edward), has started her period.

The episode opens with Sam's morning routine as she tries to get her daughters ready for school. Duke comes to her with stained underwear and it becomes clear that she has started her period, but is too embarrassed to talk about it. Sam tries to make it a positive experience by giving Duke a new pack of underwear and shares some of her own experiences with puberty, but Duke remains embarrassed and uncomfortable.

Despite Duke's discomfort, Sam is determined to make sure her daughter has all the resources she needs to navigate her new experience. She runs to the store to buy Duke some feminine hygiene products, but is overwhelmed by the options. She tries to call her friend and fellow mom, Sunny (Alysia Reiner), for advice but gets her voicemail instead.

As Sam continues to struggle with how to best support Duke, she attends a parent-teacher conference where she becomes increasingly frustrated with the teacher's lack of understanding about Duke's needs. When Sam brings up Duke's period as a potential issue, the teacher dismisses it as a non-issue, further highlighting the lack of awareness and support for girls' reproductive health.

Back at home, Sam tries to have a heart-to-heart with Duke about her own experiences with periods and how she copes with them. While she is able to share some important insights with her daughter, Duke remains uncomfortable and self-conscious.

Throughout the episode, Sam also deals with her own period and the discomfort and annoyance that comes with it. She tries to hide the fact that she's menstruating from her daughters, but they eventually find out and are bemused by their normally unflappable mother's irritability.

As the episode comes to a close, Sam takes Duke out to dinner to celebrate her first period, hoping to create a positive memory for her daughter. However, despite their best efforts, Duke remains embarrassed and uncomfortable, highlighting the lack of cultural support and understanding around periods for young girls.

Overall, "Period" is a powerful exploration of the challenges girls face when they start puberty and the lack of support and understanding around menstruation. While Sam tries her best as a mother, she is up against a culture that still treats periods as taboo and shameful. The episode underscores the importance of open communication and support around menstruation for young girls, and the need for larger cultural changes to end the stigma and embarrassment surrounding this natural bodily function.