Mantis Toboggan
There are few shows/movies that develop a different point of view for people. This show strayed from a standard home life of what the majority of people experience, to a crazy situation that had a really good balance. It helped promote the idea that not all families are considered "normal" and that's perfectly okay. To be honest, I'd say that the Gregsons were closer than most of the families I've met in my years and I think it was a beautiful way to display of how indifference can actually bring a family closer together. I thought Tara's personality disorder made things quite exciting, and the way her family was able to accept the struggles each of them had to face that came along with her trauma was very inspiring. I'd rather have a family full of crazy people who loved each other rather than a traditional family who believed in the idea of normal. So I'm not sure why this show was ever canceled, it promoted a very nice message and it made me feel okay. Also, the theme song is perfect.
herbert-blank
I grazed over this show for its first three seasons, enjoying occasional episodes and guest stars but mostly frustrated. Fred Ward and Pamela Reed were early standouts. And of course, Collette is one of the best actresses alive today. Watching her perform her craft on multiple personalities is to like watching Olivier perform Shakespeare. Corbett, though unremarkable, was sturdy and a nice contrast/foil for Tara. The actress playing Charmayne was excellent throughout and helped keep things together for me.However, there were many things in the first 3 years that varied from boring to annoying to pointless. I thought Brie Larson was totally devoid of talent and her relationship with her mother was strictly ho-hum teenage angst. The young actor playing Marshall was much more talented but over-the-top and his character seemed to be permitted to get away with too many things (like burning down the garage) simply because he was gay and sensitive (talk about bending over backwards).I also thought setting the show in "Kansas" was a big mistake from a multitude of perspectives. At no point did I believe that anyone in that family had ever actually lived in Kansas. The next two alters added, Gimme and Chicken did little to enhance anything either in my opinion and weren't even fun watching Collette portray.All that changed last year - easily the best season for the show. I had resolved not to watch after last year's pointless trials and tribulations UNTIL I heard Eddie Izzrd would guest star as an imperious professor. That sounded promising It fulfilled every bit of its promise and then some. Starting with the alter Shoshanna, followed by his rejection of multiple-personality disorder, and the introduction of the dean -- all of this gave balance, meaning, and purpose to the other things around them. Marshall's film festival entry generated little enthusiasm from me at first but making the film about Max and what did to his subsequent relationship with Max and Max's eventual catharisis was also the stuff of genius. Finally, getting Charmayne and Neil together and having the baby worked well - and they were strong throughout the year. Perhaps the biggest surprise to me personally was the training program for the daughter to be a flight attendant and eventually getting the job and a real love interest. Given I thought the actress was terrible, I thought this was when I would run to the bathroom during the program. Little did I know that this subplot would wind up actually giving the family its center back in the last episode. Wow! Never saw that one coming.Of course, I have yet to mention the most brilliant stroke of genius of all both from a plot development standpoint and from Collette's acting. What more can I say about the stunning portrayal of murderous and lascivious Bryce Crane, unabashedly swaggering, and killing off the other alters - INCLUDING TARA! The way she was brought back and in turn, killed off Bryce, also worked well. What can I say. What had been a 3.5 out of ten show for me turns into a 7 overall by earning an 11 out of 100 in its fourth and final season.And bravo to the cancellation. Without it, I'm not sure they would have emptied out the toy box and given us the best. The ending was a true ending and marvelous. Way to go!
zeetoddy
Season one and two of The United States of Tara are a fascinating character study of a woman with schizophrenia. The first two series shine exactly unlike no other series. It's unique. Then, season 3 airs and I stopped watching the series and now it is canceled. The question is, did the producers quit trying? Why did the bottom fall out from underneath this series? Please don't resurrect Tara for any more seasons because whoever made the decisions on season 3 ruined it completely. I agree with the cancellation on this! You should have actually canceled it after season two and spare us the pain of season 3. I just know SOMEONE is responsible for ruining this series!
copperncherrio
Very much like Nurse Jackie, season one starts with a likable main character that has an interesting problem (In Tara's case, she's has multiple personalities), who is surrounded with lovable or at least likable minor characters. We feel distant towards the title character but still is fond of her despite her unconventional personality.In Tara's case, we love all her personalities except her real one. So everything was just fine and dandy, and she has the most understanding husband in the world, Max (who's also the man who was too good for Carrie in Sex and the City: Arian), until she turned bitch face. She became unreasonable and hate-able, and this time it wasn't her other personalities that got in the way of her life, rather it was her original personality. I would have given the show a higher rating if it was only season one, but this title character Tara has no excuse to be a bitch when her family is overly understanding of her.Despite those problems, her sister's character Charlmane (who I detested in season 1) has grown into someone we actually understand. The kids are likable, and surprisingly stable considering their mother's inconsideration towards their life. Her alternate personalities actually help her children, but it's her real one that is menace to her family life.