Ep 1. A Decent Proposal

The New Adventures of Old Christine season 4 episode 1, titled "A Decent Proposal," follows the comedic misadventures of divorced mother-of-one Christine Campbell (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) as she navigates life as a successful owner of a women's gym and attempts to balance her personal and professional lives.

In this episode, Christine is surprised to learn that her ex-husband, Richard (played by Clark Gregg), is planning to propose to his girlfriend, New Christine (played by Emily Rutherfurd), during their son Ritchie's (played by Trevor Gagnon) 5th birthday party. Christine's initial reaction is one of shock and disbelief, as she struggles to come to terms with the fact that her ex-husband is moving on and starting a new life with someone else.

To make matters worse, Christine also learns that Richard and New Christine have decided to move to a new house in the same neighborhood as Christine and Ritchie. Feeling threatened and overwhelmed, Christine begins to spiral into a state of anxiety and fear, convinced that Richard and New Christine are planning to take over her life and steal her son away from her.

As the preparations for the birthday party get underway, tensions between Christine and Richard reach a boiling point, as they argue over everything from the decorations to the guest list. At one point, Christine even considers sabotaging the proposal, but ultimately decides to be the bigger person and let Richard have his moment.

Meanwhile, Christine's best friend, Barb (played by Wanda Sykes), is dealing with her own issues as she struggles to come out to her homophobic mother. Barb turns to Christine for support and guidance, but finds herself surprised by Christine's lack of empathy and understanding. The two friends eventually make up and learn a valuable lesson about the importance of acceptance and compassion.

The episode culminates with a heartfelt speech from Richard, as he gets down on one knee and pops the question to New Christine, who is overjoyed and over-the-moon with happiness. Through tears, Christine watches the proposal unfold, realizing that it's time for her to let go of the past and move forward with her own life.

In the end, "A Decent Proposal" is a touching and hilarious episode that explores the complexities of relationships, the challenges of co-parenting, and the importance of forgiveness and acceptance. With standout performances from Louis-Dreyfus, Gregg, Rutherfurd, and Sykes, this episode is a must-watch for fans of the show and anyone who appreciates great comedy.