Region 1\n\nLanguage: English,Spanish

This first season establishes Taras uniquely dysfunctional family dynamic It doesnt have to be weird, Tara offers at one point as she is debriefed about one of her alters latest shenanigans and is propelled by the mystery of what traumatic incident caused Tara to crack. Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Juno, created and cowrote the series, and for the most part she cools it with the distracting Cody-speak at one point there is a gratuitous reference to the obscure syndicated series Small World. This series power-jams it with a superb ensemble cast, including Valerie Mahaffrey Eve on Northern Exposure as Taras overwhelmed therapist, Patton Oswalt as Charmains sometime lover, Nathan Corddry as Kates too-attentive boss, and Pamela Reed and Fred Ward as Taras parents. The United States of Tara is an unconventional family dramedy and a sly look at gender roles Over the course of a day, how many different women do we have to be?, a well-meaning new friend asks Tara at one point. And Collette is a marvel to watch. We pledge our allegiance. --Donald Liebenson