The Worst Episodes of United States of Tara
Every episode of United States of Tara ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of United States of Tara!
Tara's multiple personalities include "T" the wild-child teenager, "Buck" the rough and tumble biker dude, and "Alice" the type-A homemaker. But with a family that loves her just the way she is, Tara never gives up hope that someday she can just be herself.
Lowest Rated Episodes Summary
The worst episode of "United States of Tara" is "Work", rated 7.4/10 from 330 user votes. It was directed by Craig Gillespie and written by Diablo Cody. "Work" aired on 2/1/2009 and is rated 0.1 point(s) lower than the second lowest rated, "Aftermath".
7.4/10 330 votes#1 - Work
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 2/1/2009
When Tara and Max can’t connect in the bedroom, Tara worries Max may be more interested in her alters than her. After gaining reassurance from her therapist Dr. Ocean,Tara plans a “sex date” with Max to get them back on track. Tara’s sister Charmaine recommends she meet her new boss for a potential mural project. As Tara prepares for her “sex date” with Max, the pressure becomes too much and she becomes “Buck.” That night, “Buck” doles out advice on women and Max ends up male-bonding with his own wife.
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Diablo Cody
7.5/10 374 votes#2 - Aftermath
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 1/25/2009
Tara feels like a failure as a mother when she is unable to counsel her children about school and sex, so she turns to her perfect-homemaker personality "Alice" for help.
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Diablo Cody
7.5/10 176 votes#3 - The Road to Hell is Paved with Breast Intentions
Season 3 Episode 6 - Aired 5/2/2011
Tara seems to be making progress with her new contract but Dr. Hattaras discovers something disturbing in a tape from one her therapy sessions; much to the sisters' chagrin, Neil invites Tara and Charmaine's mother to visit her grandchild; Max is unhappy at his new job but can't talk to Tara about it; Kate is surprised when a handsome flyer rebuffs her flirting.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Writer: N/A
7.6/10 196 votes#4 - Doin' Time
Season 2 Episode 5 - Aired 4/19/2010
Max’s violent outburst comes back to haunt him. Tara learns she is now able to be aware of what her newest alternate personality, Shoshana, does. Kate’s music video is an internet success. Marshall decides he has to break up with Courtney. The doctor gives Charmaine surprising news about her pregnancy.
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Sheila Callaghan
7.6/10 189 votes#5 - Explosive Diorama
Season 2 Episode 8 - Aired 5/10/2010
Tara and Lynda make preparations for their art show. Kate sets up a new business, while Lionel and Marshall's friendship deepens. In the meantime, Charmaine struggles trying to balance Neil and Nick.
Director: Penny Marshall
Writer: Diablo Cody, Joey Soloway
7.6/10 181 votes#6 - The Electrifying & Magnanimous Return of Beaverlamp
Season 3 Episode 7 - Aired 5/9/2011
Tara motivates Max to relive his old rock band Beaverlamp. Meanwhile, a depressed Dr. Hattaras makes her take a break from their therapy sessions and Marshall and Noah interview Max for their film festival project.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Writer: Sheila Callaghan
7.7/10 309 votes#7 - Inspiration
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 2/8/2009
Tara feels the best she’s felt in a long time. She loves the mural she is working on and feels she’s found a new friend in Tiffany. That night, while Charmaine, Tara, and Tiffany are out for drinks, Tiffany decides she wants to see one of Tara’s alternate personalities and begins probing Tara in a way that turns ugly. Tiffany wakes up the next morning horrified when she finds the mural is destroyed and she suspects Tara.
Director: Mark Mylod
Writer: Alexa Junge
7.7/10 291 votes#8 - Revolution
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 2/15/2009
Tara turns into “T” and takes off in her car. Max and Charmaine go after her, creating the perfect opportunity for Marshall to throw a party as an excuse to be near his crush, Jason. Charmaine, Max, and “T” all return to the house to discover a raging party going on -- the buzz gets killed in more ways than one.
Director: Mark Mylod
Writer: Alexa Junge
7.7/10 228 votes#9 - Yes
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 3/22/2010
Season two opens with a bang as the Gregsons' neighbor commits suicide and the family unexpectedly is given responsibility of the house. Now well and dissociation-free for several months, Tara sets out to make new friends with Max's help. Marshall struggles to fit in at school while Kate lands a new job. Nick pops the question to Charmaine
Director: Craig Zisk
Writer: Diablo Cody
7.7/10 206 votes#10 - The Truth Hurts
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 4/5/2010
The family discovers the truth -- Tara’s alternate personalities are back. Buck’s actions have brought serious consequences that unleash a new side of Max. Neil finds out about Charmaine’s engagement. Marshall and Courtney begin to experiment as Kate grows closer to Lynda.
Director: Adam Davidson
Writer: Tracy McMillan
7.7/10 209 votes#11 - Dr. Hatteras' Miracle Elixir
Season 3 Episode 5 - Aired 4/25/2011
Tara tries to drop her Abnormal Psychology class but instead receives an intriguing pitch from her instructor, Dr. Hattaras; Charmaine and Neil find parenthood a struggle but still refuse Tara's help; Max finds himself at odds with his boss at his new job; Kate prepares for flight attendant training; Lionel catches Marshall with Noah, jeopardizing their student film project.
Director: Tricia Brock
Writer: Elizabeth Benjamin
7.8/10 508 votes#12 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 1/18/2009
Suburban mother and wife Tara Gregson does her best to lead a normal life while dealing with multiple personalities that include a spirited teenager called "T," a Vietnam vet named "Buck," and the perennial 1950's-style housewife, "Alice."
Director: Craig Gillespie
Writer: Diablo Cody, Steven Spielberg
7.8/10 271 votes#13 - Alterations
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 3/1/2009
Charmaine has decided to get her breasts re-done and has asked Tara to be her caretaker while she recovers. Kate gives Marshall Love advice, telling him to play hard to get with Jason. When Charmaine wakes after her surgery, she is surprised to see “Buck” at her bedside, not Tara. While “Buck” takes care of Charmaine, she comes to appreciate him in a way she never has before.
Director: Tricia Brock
Writer: Diablo Cody
7.8/10 205 votes#14 - You Becoming You
Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 4/12/2010
Tara sets out to find a new therapist as Max struggles to come to terms with Buck’s affair. Marshall and Courtney take their relationship to the next level. Tara and Max disapprove of Kate’s friendship with Lynda. Charmaine tells the family some big news. A new alternate personality is born.
Director: Adam Davidson
Writer: Dave Finkel, Brett Baer
7.8/10 185 votes#15 - The Family Portrait
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 5/17/2010
Tara starts working on a family portrait in order to re-connect with her family while Max tries to get away from Pammy.
Director: Jamie Babbit
Writer: Craig Wright
7.8/10 201 votes#16 - ...youwillnotwin...
Season 3 Episode 1 - Aired 3/28/2011
Max is worried when Tara returns to college to finish her college degree. Meanwhile, Charmaine with a baby on the way is avoiding a commitment to Neil, Kate tries to figure out a plan for her future and Marshall and Lionel sign up for a filmmaking class.
Director: Craig Zisk
Writer: Diablo Cody
7.8/10 188 votes#17 - Crackerjack
Season 3 Episode 2 - Aired 4/4/2011
Her psychology professor humiliates Tara when she transitions in his class. Meanwhile, Kate considers giving English lessons in Japan and Max gets a business offer.
Director: Craig Zisk
Writer: Dave Finkel, Brett Baer
7.9/10 266 votes#18 - Abundance
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 3/8/2009
Max has his hands full while “Alice” is out again. Marshall fears Jason’s father knows about his crush on Jason. The boys grow closer, albeit platonically. Max decides to embrace his time with “Alice,” even though he misses his wife.
Director: Brian Dannelly
Writer: Alexa Junge, Joey Soloway
7.9/10 275 votes#19 - Possibility
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 3/15/2009
Needing a break from real life, Kate and Tara head out on an impromptu road trip. Max uses this time away from Tara to search for answers about her past. That night, Tara and Kate get into an argument causing Tara to transition into “T.” “T” heads to the nearest tattoo parlor and Kate tries to stop her before she makes a permanent mistake.
Director: Tommy O'Haver
Writer: Dave Finkel, Alexa Junge
7.9/10 256 votes#20 - Snow
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 3/29/2009
Tara decides to check into an in-patient facility that specializes in dissociation. There, Tara meets a new doctor, Dr. Holden, a charismatic expert, who pushes her to recover lost memories. The facility has support groups for significant others too, but Max is wary. As Tara tries hard to delve into her past, her alters are resistant to allowing the truth to surface, and Max learns he’ll have to be stronger than ever to help Tara take the next step in her recovery.
Director: John Dahl
Writer: Dave Finkel, Alexa Junge, Brett Baer
7.9/10 217 votes#21 - Trouble Junction
Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 3/29/2010
Tara realizes her alternate personalities are emerging again, but keeps it a secret. Newly engaged Charmaine asks to move in with Tara and her family. Max decides to take on a new project by buying the neighbor’s house to flip it. Kate meets a mysterious older woman, Lynda (Viola Davis), while Marshall begins a new relationship… with a girl
Director: Craig Zisk
Writer: Joey Soloway
7.9/10 187 votes#22 - The Full Fuck You Finger
Season 3 Episode 3 - Aired 4/11/2011
The stress of juggling school and Charmaine's baby shower causes Tara to transition, with negative consequences for Charmaine. To sell the family business, Max must get the approval of his eccentric mother. Kate meets a flight attendant who inspires a new idea about her future.
Director: Craig Zisk
Writer: Rolin Jones
7.9/10 187 votes#23 - Wheels
Season 3 Episode 4 - Aired 4/18/2011
Tara and Charmaine are rushed to the hospital in the same ambulance, where Charmaine declares her baby off limits to her crazy sister; Tara attempts to make a deal with her alters, which intrigues her Abnormal Psychology professor; Marshall, Lionel and Noah put Charmaine's empty house to some creative uses; Kate is embarrassed to confess that she backed out of going to Japan.
Director: Penny Marshall
Writer: Ron Fitzgerald
7.9/10 183 votes#24 - Chicken 'n' Corn
Season 3 Episode 8 - Aired 5/16/2011
A new alter comes to light that put Charmaine's new baby at risk. Soon later, Alice visits Dr. Hattaras and intrigues him in Tara's case again. Kate, Max and Marshall fly to New York where they get to meet Kate's new friend Evan and his son.
Director: Craig Zisk
Writer: Dave Finkel, Brett Baer
7.9/10 177 votes#25 - Train Wreck
Season 3 Episode 10 - Aired 6/6/2011
Max and Marshall return home from New York to bad news on all sides. Max learns of the new alter, Bryce, but a highly medicated Tara assures him all in under control. Marshall learns that a close friend has been killed in an accident. Tara offers support, which he gladly accepts, but on the day of the funeral Bryce emerges and apparently will not go away. It's all too much for Kate and Marshall who look to strike out on their own.
Director: Bille Eltringham
Writer: Sheila Callaghan, David Iserson