User reviews

My wife has DID (and PTSD, BPD, anxiety, ...) due to childhood abuse. There have been very few movies/shows about this disorder, and I found that I could really relate to this one. It does a very good job showing just what happens with someone who has DID, especially with the nearly immediate transition to alters and back. That was spot on. The dysfunction was also covered fairly well. Nothing is normal with mental illness. Normal day-to-day activities can turn upside down, and planning things can become impossible due to the unpredictability of it all. Even going to your job every day can be a challenge. Then there are days where everything seems perfectly normal.

And that's an area they only lightly touched on. The suicide ideation/attempts, raging, depression, guilt, eating disorders, emergencies, money problems, lack of boundaries... these are much more severe and common than what they showed (but that probably wouldn't make for an as entertaining series.) And, at least in my wife's case, her alters aren't as well defined or as persistent. Some don't even have names, and frequently there is just dissociation without alters. None of them wear different clothes.

The difficulty with getting proper treatment is also shown. But they didn't touch on the cost very much. Most insurances must "pre-approve" treatment for mental health issues, which is a joke. Break your leg, go to the hospital. Have a meltdown and need immediate counseling? Ask your insurance for permission first. And don't even think about paying for it out of your own pocket (unless you're independently wealthy, which you probably aren't since someone with DID isn't likely to be holding down a job).

Overall, an entertaining but also educational look at DID. Someone did their homework.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine encouraged me to watch Showtime's series "United States of Tara." I was unsure, as I had heard the concept and expected something silly and outlandish, but I gave it a shot, because I'm a fan of creator Diablo Cody's film "Juno", and I had heard that Steven Spielberg was an executive producer. He popped in the DVD, and we watched the pilot on his computer. The instant it ended, I pushed him away, loaded up Amazon and ordered the first two seasons for myself! I was that taken by the show! Within two days of the DVDs arriving, I had watched both seasons, ran to my mothers house, hijacked her TV (and her Showtime on Demand), and watched every single episode available! "United States of Tara" is easily one of the best shows on TV right now. It is an often poignant, thoroughly dramatic, and generally hilarious look at the life of a woman suffering from dissociative identity disorder, and how she tries to hold her family together through her struggles.

Toni Collette easily earns her Emmy Award as Tara, the star of the show, and her (thus far) seven "alters" (her alternate personalities) who take over when Tara cannot deal with reality. The performance Collette gives is incredible, because Tara and each of the alters is it's own "being", with its own style, voice and traits. For all intent and purpose, Collette has played eight characters on the show, often switching between 2-4 per episode.

John Corbett, Keir Gilchrist, Brie Larson and Rosemarie DeWitt round out the cast as Tara's supportive (almost to the point of breaking) husband, her kind-hearted son (who happens to be gay), her sometimes troubled teenaged daughter, and her somewhat self-absorbed sister, respectively. This is one of those rare casts that perfectly "gels", and there is no sore thumb in sight!

The show itself is well structured. While I had heard it was comedic, it is actually more often a very serious drama, with comedy thrown in. While you will laugh at it, and with it, you will also often find yourself ready to shed a tear for the characters. Cody and the other writers prove themselves, establishing and paying off characters masterfully, in ways that most shows could only dream of. Story lines also draw you in, and you will feel a very human suspense. This is a show that feels real, feels edgy, feels funny... It just works.

Thus far, the show is comprised of three seasons (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a fourth, despite season 3's lower ratings). This is why the show didn't get a perfect 10 from me- a slight inconsistency with the second season's quality. The first season was outstanding. It truly was one of a kind. It tugged at my heart, and made me laugh. The second season was at times just a bit too... "blah." It was occasionally too dark (more than once forcing story lines and images that felt just too darned uncomfortable, and derivative of the first season), and it felt like there wasn't as much happening. It was still good, but it wasn't as fresh. There wasn't quite the sense of urgency that season one seemed to ooze. It felt like, for lack of better word, an unneeded movie sequel- sure, it's fun to catch up with the characters, but it's not quite as fresh. Thankfully, it did finally get back on track as the season wrapped up, and the finale was heartfelt and worth the "wonky" earlier episodes. And I'm happy to report that Season Three (the current season) is arguably just as good, it not better, than the first season! It was quite a comeback, and I'm glad the show found its legs again.

All-in-all, I highly recommend "United States of Tara" to all open-minded people who want a touching, thought-provoking and smart comedy-drama to follow. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a phenomenal show overall, despite an only so-so second season. I give it a near-perfect 9 out of 10!

This is such an enjoyable and entertaining series. And wow how awesome, beautiful and talented is Toni Collette. Always enjoy it when she is in a film/series. Awesome family dynamic, always something to laugh about and cry about and make you grateful it's not your family. But hey you still end up loving them all.

I started watching this show not knowing anything about it, and was expecting something along the lines of a Tracy Ulman variety show. I was surprised to find something much deeper. It's not really even a comedy, though it has some comic elements. I found the characters likable, and oddly enough...believable. Someone else mentioned that this is not the typical family, but what the heck IS a typical family? As for making a joke out of rape and incest, I don't find that to be the case here at all. Being able to laugh at our reactions to these atrocities is not nearly the same as laughing at the actions themselves. I watched all 12 episodes in a marathon sitting over 2 days (I'm on vacation, what can I say). Love it, and I hope it continues.

Again. Such an unbelievable fact that my brain cannot accept. This series is better and better by episodes after episodes, seasons after seasons, weeks after weeks. And suddenly it's announced that it's over? The last episode will air on June 20. I really could cry that I have to loose this show. I think I'll do after the finale. Nowadays it's so hard to find a good series which can complete your imaginary world. Instead of the up-to-date shows on TV, I only watch series which have already been over. United States of Tara is the only I'm following. And I'm just shocked with its cancellation's announcement. I cannot believe it's over. I cannot.

We recently found this show on Showtime - and wow. It's hard to stop watching. Good thing it's summer and very little is on TV. We watch 2-3 every night - and have trouble not continuing on. Gotta sleep LOL. Toni Collette is amazing - she is totally believable as she transitions from personality to personality. John Corbett is great as the long-suffering husband. AND the kids! SUCH A WONDERFULLY DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY. Hate that there's only three seasons...

I also don't understand the negative comments about this show, for example the fact that drugs and alcohol are present. This is what makes the show realistic (except perhaps for a subsection of the population who don't accept that alcohol and drugs are part of North American society). The characters are believable and sometimes quite funny. Some of the episodes, for example the one in which Tara's sister undergoes a second breast operation, push American obsession with perfect beauty to the limit. As others have said, Collette is outstanding as Tara but the other actors more than hold their own next to her various roles. This is a very idiosyncratic take on contemporary society.

Tara Gregson (Toni Collette) is suffering from a dissociative identity disorder. Max Gregson (John Corbett) is her long suffering husband. Her sister Charmaine Craine (Rosemarie DeWitt) is judgmental. Marshall Gregson (Keir Gilchrist) is her shy gay son. Her daughter Kate Gregson (Brie Larson) is trying to find her identity.

This is a great dysfunctional family drama. Toni Collette is amazing in portraying all her personalities. She really pushes her acting range to the limits. And the chemistry with the family is brilliant. They feel like a real family that has real love, real joy, real fights, and real struggles.

I'm unsure as to why there's so much negative reaction. Perhaps people are burnt out on the whole Sundance-is-hip thing and have form a I'm-even-more-obscure crowd. The dialog is clever, the acting -- especially by the magnificent Toni Collette -- is surprisingly good, the plot has been interesting so far and nothing seems forced. There are few shows on TV nowadays -- including the ever declining Weeds -- that I think have such merits going for it.

Toni portrays her personalities wonderfully; a very broad range of personalities. There's so much articulation in the portrayal of mixed happiness and stress in her family -- portrayed wonderfully by the cast.

It's only been on for one season but I can definitely see this being a show I will hold onto.

The opinion on this show seems divided, mostly because the show is extremely well done, and has stellar acting and some truly clever dialogue, but is also plagued with a self-conscious need-to-be-hip which ultimately begins to feel both preachy and forced (much as happened with Six Feet Under, another Showtime project).

Firstly, Toni Collete's acting is superb. Some people complain that it isn't an accurate portrayal of DID, and this may very well be the case; but this is a TV drama, not a documentary, and it's the depth and degree to which T.C. plays her characters that give this show so much strength. This is a show about one person's disorder and how it effects her family, not the whole community of people who suffer from DID. In this regard, the show is compelling and establishes a range of situational dramas that are much more original than any family-based drama has been in some while.

Much of the show deals with Tara trying to figure out why it is that she suffers DID in the first place, since this condition is usually premised by something traumatic in childhood (usually sexual abuse). This storyline is handled quite well, and becomes a more intriguing mystery as the show proceeds.

The other 'main' focus of the show deals with the complications arising from Tara's condition --- that her 'alters' have their own sexual libidos and desires, for instance, which strain Tara's marriage; that she may slip into another persona at critical moments (which sometimes turns out for the better, amusingly). This part of the show is also handled extremely well.

The dialogue is also notably better than the dialog in many shows as of late. There are some truly laugh-out-loud exchanges between characters, and a good deal of realistic conversation, as well. Most importantly, all the characters (even the alters) all have distinct ways of explaining, presenting, and relaying information. For the most part, it's an impressively solid bit of dialogue writing.

But alas, U.S.O.T. does suffer from some rather unfortunate indulgences, as well. Namely, it wears it's liberalism a bit too proudly on it's sleeve not to become preachy. The main place where this is evident is in the subplot through the series of Marshall (Tara's son) coming to grips with his own homosexuality as he grows up; personally, I think it's a brilliant way to toy around with the theme of identity, as it extends outside Tara's disorder. However, this subplot is handled so clumsily that it comes across as self-righteous and quite forced. It's as if Showtime decided they needed something edgy, and defaulted to 'gay teens', since that's apparently not been done enough. As more emphasis is put upon how gay Marshall is, he becomes a less and less interesting character, defined only by the fact that he's gay, rather than layered and clever as he is in the first season.

Another problem with the series is the formulas which it creates for itself with promising relationships turning bad. As new romantic interests are introduced, these new characters seem sweet and interesting, but all eventually turn out to be secretly neurotic stalkers and sociopaths. It gets a bit cliché within the small confines of the show, and sadly predictable.

Again, this show bears a lot of the same structural strengths and weaknesses of Six Feet Under (although U.S.O.T. is decidedly funnier and less bleak), so if you enjoyed Six Feet Under, you'd probably like this. If you found Six Feet Under too lacking substance for all it's provocation, then you'll find that same disappointment here, and this show's probably not for you.

Definitely worth trying, if for nothing else just to see Toni Collete's impressive acting.

We know Diablo Cody. She's the one that got famous with that Juno kid. She's smart, a lot intelligent and her mind is a terrific machine expressing thru modern writing and fictitious characters her own experiences and her interesting point of view as an observer. And now, she joined forces with Steven Spielberg in a so daring project. Having a SPIELBERG name in the show doesn't necessarily mean that it's good, just means that things are some way easier. Anyway... there's something that keeps punching my head: why is Spielberg in it? I mean... this show is completely out of his style.

Tara is another desperate housewife, but instead of having 4 friends also desperate, she has 4 different personalities, each one of them with their own problems. After watching entire first season, my general impression is that things got really interesting just after the 8th episode and that happened just because I forced myself to keep watching it cause I could see the great potentials on the show, but I couldn't feel it till that time. The show lacks of straightness, I mean... you don't know if it's a comedy, a drama, a dramedy... or whatever. Until 7th episode, despite some great acting level, something was missing and everything in it was always "a half": half of drama, half of comedy, half thrilling, half interesting, half funny... a bunch of "halfs" that together wasn't giving a "whole". There are shows that writers know how to travel thru these different kinds of styles as natural as a linear plot, but seems that Diablo was lost someway in her creation. On the last 4 episodes, drama was the highest point and that was comforting because some things just stopped being a blur in a point that I was not pushing myself to understand the point of everything anymore. We can feel that Diablo just relaxed on her ideas in the last episodes, because things were flowing with no pressures, and that's the tone that I was expecting during entire show, so I hope she keeps herself relaxed for the 2nd season.

About the actors, well... At first this show got my attention because Toni Collette is in it, she is awesome, and great roles is all what she needs because she's a lot versatile and for someone being Tara, Alice, Buck, T and the other strange one... there must be a lot versatile and she's doing an excellent work and is holding entire show on her back, her performance is mesmerizing as Tara or as any of her alters, mainly as Alice and Buck. Keir Gilchrist, as Marshall, is being a gem in the show... Although the show suffers from some problems, the subtlety under the character's teenage homosexuality is a very interesting thing that only Diablo would be able to explore amazingly and shameless. Kate (Brie Larson), is a very interesting character, dealing with those teenage existence crisis, never knowing what to do, what to want, what to expect.

The show also worths attention just for the interesting fact that Diablo's handling entire show not only as a creator but as a producer and writer - and maybe as a director in the future, who knows - but I think that after Juno and her Oscar, she's overrating herself and her capacities a lot in this project. It's not a bad show, but it's far from being one of the best things. In my opinion, the show still needs improvements inserting more substantial facts, replacing blank fields with things that would make audience keeps their attention or expecting something far from the obvious as happened just in the last four episodes. It was hard to know what was the point of entire show as its plot is a huge thing for something that seems not so interesting or different from what we're seeing in television right now. I repeat, it's not a bad show, and not an excellent one either, but it has excellent potentials to be something much better than it's being and I'm hopping for it.

I always had a thing for Toni Colette and Brie Larson. I fell in love with Max and Marshall, and the actors that portrayed them. I think this is a brilliant creation, the casting, writing, and acting are on par with some of the best shows out there. Is it completely accurate in its depiction of DID, dissociative identity disorder? Well, that one is still out for debate. But, it's a TV show so there is always going to be thematic elements that are sort of out there and over the top. If you can still find enjoyment, then this show will definitely tickle your fancy. As an ensemble I think it works 100%. They are very unique, individual and at times seem to just coexist. But their shared sense of humor is done really well and actually seems like an inclusive "family" way of conversation. It can be a dangerously fast watch! Clocking in at 25-30 minuet episodes and only 12 per season. If you have the DVDs/stream the whole series you will sit down and soon find your 5 episodes in and then wrapping up the season.

Is it a perfect show? In my heart, da-gone close. I think it's better then the IMDb 7.9. Give it a chance. You won't be disappointed!!

I had heard about this show but didn't think it was for me. The first to episodes were bonus featured on Dexter's Third Season, so I watched out of boredom. I loved it! I think you might have to have a twisted sense of humor to enjoy this show, thankfully i do. It was funny and entertaining. Toni Colletti is fantastic in this role and who doesn't want to eat John Corbit up with a spoon? Great cast, fun writing, new story that keeps me coming back for more!! I LOVE Tara! I LOVE T! I LOVE Buck! I LOVE Alice! The kids are fantastic in their respective roles. You won't be disappointed with this Showtime Hit. I would be shocked if they didn't have more seasons.

Have to completely disagree with the last reviewer, and question what makes them so down on this show, I have now introduced 15 friends to the show, and everyone of them has become an addict. The premise is different, the questions it brings up make you think, its not your typical 'doctors n nurses/murder investigation/ in side the box' show, so I could understand why it might offend someones sensibility. Tony Collette is an amazing actress, and her supporting cast shine just enough to steal the show here and there, the biggest disappointment I have with this show was the short season, and having to wait so long for the next one. Total addict here, I totally recommend the show, but not if your fairly right wing or not prepared to be challenged by a new subject matter. LOVE IT! :)

Again I was more then sad when this show got canceled when you see the amount of garbage series that go on and on forever. United States of Tara was a really good series, a mixture of comedy and drama. Toni Collette as Tara Gregson, a housewife with dissociative identity disorder, gave us a tremendous performance. All of the alters she played are a delight to watch. Her alter Gimme made me laugh out loud. The other actors are also contributing in making this series more then enjoyable to watch. I can't really fault anyone, I thought they were all superb in their roles. I truly enjoyed every second of this show and I am more then disappointed they didn't continue with it.

It is addictive. The whole cast is performing at its best. Colette is just brilliant and I can only imagine how difficult must be to play such a complex and multi faced (literally) role.

I do not see why anyone would feel offended. It is about a real disease which is not very well known and absolutely not very well diagnosed.

Well done... I hope sometimes soon we will get series 4!!

I have seen first series on Show tie and now I finished it on NetFlix.

The whole family characters absorbed my attention and yes, I get to some tears sometimes. We need more show like this.

It is not a show for youngters but with proper supervision it can be for everyone.

I was drawn to this for the same reason many people probably will be, the combination of Diablo Cody, Spielberg and Toni Collette.

I like the way the almost 'camp' portrayals of the alters contrast so heavily with the real situations Tara is dealing with. It seems a bit unnatural at first, but after a few episodes it also becomes apparent that the comedic elements of the alters also mock, in a dark way, the 'helpless/hopeless' situation Tara finds herself in.

I notice a few people unhappy that this isn't realistic enough, and I agree it doesn't ring true for what living in a family like this would really be like. Much like Superman, the way Tara can seemingly slip away and suddenly be made up and dressed up as another personality is one glaring example... but I think by so obviously being 'unrealistic' Cody is almost saying; "This Is Not Reality.. this is an interpretation written to suit a 30 minute episode format" and for me she has pulled it off very well.

Even if for nothing else, this is worth a look just to check out Toni Collette's performance.

I suggest planning to watch the first half dozen episodes before deciding if you like it though. A lot happens fast at the start and I didn't really 'get' where the other (non Collette) characters fitted in until then.

I doubt many people will ever say this is not entertaining, even if some won't appreciate the 'flippant' aspects of the writing.

Wish I had found this earlier! Toni Collette has always been a favorite of mine and the tests of the cast is amazing. Thank you COVID for letting me catch up on gems like this!

I'll admit the end was rocky but overall the series was great.

The premise may not be all that believable or factual; but, that does not mean the show is not original and entertaining. The show certainly makes for good water cooler conversation the next day.

Toni Collette's performance is excellent as are the other cast members.

In the first few episodes Diablo Cody's dialogue was a little distracting; as the show progressed it lightened up; not unlike Juno's dialogue.

I looked forward to the next episode every week. I just finished watching season one and I hope they bring the show back for a second season.

Just watch it , it is certainly one of the best programs to pop into your brain.