Ep 11. Mom

The show REL is a sitcom that follows a man named Rel as he navigates through life after his wife leaves him. He leans on his family and friends for support as he tries to move forward. In season 1 episode 11 "Mom," Rel's mother comes to visit him.

The episode opens with Rel receiving a call from his mother, who informs him that she will be in town for a few days and would like to spend some time with him. Rel is initially happy at the prospect of spending time with his mom but quickly becomes anxious about the visit. He shares his concerns with his best friend, Brittany, who tries to reassure him that everything will be okay.

When Rel's mother, Cynthia, arrives, she immediately starts to criticize everything from Rel's apartment to his recent life choices. Cynthia is a devout Christian and disapproves of Rel's party lifestyle, his divorce, and his career as a bartender. Rel tries to defend himself, but Cynthia refuses to listen and instead tries to convince him to return to the church.

As Rel continues to try to please his mother, he becomes increasingly frustrated and exhausted. He confides in Brittany that he feels like he can never please his mother and that he's always been a disappointment to her. Brittany tries to reassure him that he's a good son and that his mother's expectations are unrealistic.

Meanwhile, Nat, Rel's younger brother, is trying to impress Cynthia with his newfound success as a motivational speaker. Cynthia is initially impressed but quickly becomes dismissive of Nat's career choice, reminding him that he never finished college and that his success is shallow. Nat becomes frustrated with his mother's criticism as well and storms out of the apartment.

As the day progresses, tensions between Cynthia and the rest of the family continue to rise. Cynthia insists on cooking a big family dinner, but her attempts result in a burnt turkey and a ruined meal. Rel, who has been trying to keep the peace all day, finally snaps and confronts his mother about her constant criticism. Cynthia, taken aback by Rel's outburst, realizes that she's been too hard on her son and apologizes.

The episode ends with the family coming together to make a makeshift Thanksgiving dinner and Cynthia acknowledging that her expectations were unrealistic. Rel and Cynthia make amends, and Cynthia promises to support her son's choices in the future.

Overall, season 1 episode 11 of REL is a heartfelt exploration of the complicated relationship between a mother and son. It touches on themes of self-acceptance, family, and forgiveness, making it a touching and relatable episode that fans of the series are sure to enjoy.