Ep 9. After-School Special

The Goode Family season 1 episode 9, titled "After-School Special," revolves around Helen Goode's efforts to find a new cause to champion after her previous crusade against bottled water ends in defeat. Initially, she is drawn to the idea of starting a community garden but quickly realizes that it requires too much work. She also considers advocating for solar energy, but her husband, Gerald, points out the impracticality given their cloudy location.

Meanwhile, Bliss, the Goode's teenage daughter, joins an environmental club at school and becomes passionate about saving a nearby patch of woods from developers. Helen becomes interested in the cause and starts to help, despite initially being dismissive of Bliss's efforts.

The tension between Helen and Bliss comes to a head when Helen is invited to speak at a school assembly on behalf of the environmental club. Helen uses the opportunity to talk about her own pet issue, animal rights, instead of the forest. Bliss is upset, feeling her mother is making a mockery of her cause.

Later, Bliss decides to take matters into her own hands and protests outside the developer's headquarters. Helen sees her daughter's dedication and realizes she has been self-centered in her own activism. The episode ends with Helen and Bliss working together to protect the forest.

Overall, the episode highlights the generational and ideological divides that can emerge even within a family dedicated to progressive causes. It also speaks to the importance of listening to and supporting younger activists who are often at the forefront of social and environmental change.