United States of Tara: Season 3
This third and final season did a lot of jumping the shark. I didn’t like it as much as the first two (The first was still the best in my mind), but there are definitely worse things still being shown on television.
Not only did we introduce a new character- played by Eddie Izzard, who had a forgettable failed show on FX- but they killed off Marshall’s first love. Whilst I generally tend not to care about such things as being “jumping the shark”, the fact remains that something about Lionel’s death just fell flat. It wasn’t the big tear jerking moment that they might have been hoping for when filming it. In fact, it felt a lot like what I imagine the meeting going through, in the producer’s office with the actor who played Lionel. Although one could argue that’s what life is anyway: Being called into a producer’s office and being told “I’m sorry, we don’t have any story ideas left for you. You will no longer be receiving financial support from us, but we wish you the best in your future endeavors”.
What’s more interesting than this season itself is what this season could have lead to had the show not been canceled. At the conclusion of this season, we found Max driving Tara to Boston to get the best professional help possible. On some levels, yes, that is as close to a happy ending as one could expect. At the same time, though, just think of all of the doors that could possibly open for another season. Forget seeing Tara and Max in Boston and the rest of the family members scattered—I want to see what happens after that.
We’d start the fourth season with Tara and Max returning from Boston, fully believing that all of Tara’s alters are finally dead, her traumatic past left behind her and she is ready to move on and start anew. Of course the family would have to come back for moral support. Kate could break up with her older boyfriend who has an obnoxious child that isn’t hers. Marshall could move back home, as could his Aunt and Uncle (and cousin) that he was living with in Texas.
With Kate having broken up with her boyfriend, she would come to the realization that she didn’t dislike children; she just disliked that particular child. This would leave Kate feeling like she wanted a child. With the kids growing up and moving on in their own ways, this could also lead to Tara wanting to have another baby since she seems well. Marshall would need some kind of storyline having to do with movies or his sexuality or death or whatever, but he could be the voice of reason in ways, having spent three months with his infant cousin.
What would happen? Would Tara transition again? Would she get pregnant, and then transition to Buck while having the baby? The possibilities are certainly there for them to have the breakout season they seemed to be searching for, but alas it doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
