Ep 1. Steady Rain

Sam Fox returns in the highly anticipated season 4 of Better Things, with the first episode titled "Steady Rain." The episode begins with Sam rushing around as she prepares to leave her home amidst a morning downpour in Los Angeles. She has to drop her daughters' rain gear to them before their school bus arrives and also take care of her mother, Phil, who seems to have forgotten her medication.

As Phil grows irritable over the course of the morning, Sam tries to keep her calm while juggling her other demands. Meanwhile, her eldest daughter, Max, is experiencing the challenges of adulthood as she is trying to cope with a new job, a new boss, and being a new feminist. The second oldest daughter, Frankie, is struggling to find her identity and feeling left out, while the youngest daughter, Duke, is refusing to use any rain gear that isn't fashionable.

Throughout the episode, the theme of motherhood and the unique struggles that come with it are examined. Sam is doing her best to navigate all of her responsibilities, but it's clear that the weight of everything is taking a toll. She is trying to be a good mom, but also struggling to maintain her own identity as a single woman in the process.

As the rain continues to pour down, Sam finds herself trapped in a car with her mother, who has just experienced a manic episode. The scene is a raw moment as Sam tries to calm her mother down while also grappling with her own feelings of frustration and exhaustion. This scene serves as a reminder that being a caretaker for a loved one with mental health issues isn't easy, but Sam does it with patience and love.

Overall, "Steady Rain" is a fantastic start to the new season of Better Things. It showcases the raw and genuine moments of motherhood that many women experience, and how difficult it can be to balance everything that comes with it. The show remains as witty and funny as ever, while also tackling the complex and sensitive issues that make it truly stellar. Fans of the show should definitely check out this episode, and newcomers to Better Things will find it easy to jump into the season from here.