Ep 7. Duke's Chorus

Better Things season 1 episode 7, titled "Duke's Chorus," explores the complexities of family dynamics and the struggle of balancing personal and professional life. The episode opens with Sam being woken up by her daughters, who are getting ready to go to school. But when Sam tries to take a shower, Duke, her youngest daughter, follows her into the bathroom and insists on humming a song while Sam tries to get dressed. This small encounter sets the tone for the rest of the episode, which revolves around Duke's innocence and her curiosity about the world.

Later in the day, Sam goes to pick up Duke from school and is surprised to find that Duke has taken an interest in singing. She was chosen to sing in the school's upcoming talent show, and she is thrilled about it. However, as Sam takes Duke's new hobby more seriously, she realizes that it will be difficult to juggle everything else that she has going on. This includes a date with a new guy she met through a dating app, an audition for a new TV show, and dealing with her oldest daughter Max, who has been acting out lately.

Throughout the episode, Sam tries to balance her personal life with her obligations as a mother, and it becomes clear that it's not an easy task. While on her date, Sam gets a phone call from Max, who needs her help dealing with an uncomfortable situation. Sam has to leave the restaurant abruptly, quickly realizing that her kids come first. Meanwhile, at the audition, Sam has to channel her frustration and anger towards Max into her performance, which proves to be both therapeutic and challenging.

One of the episode's highlights is Duke's singing, which is both innocent and heartfelt. As Sam tries to help Duke prepare for her performance, she realizes how much she loves her daughter and how important it is to support her passions. The episode's title, "Duke's Chorus," alludes to the idea that even though Duke is just one person, her singing has the power to make a big impact, not only on her family but on the world as a whole.

As the episode comes to a close, Sam attends Duke's talent show and watches with pride as her daughter takes the stage. Even though Sam has faced a lot of challenges throughout the day, she recognizes that her family is what really matters and that being there for Duke is more important than anything else. "Duke's Chorus" is an emotional episode that highlights the struggles of motherhood and the importance of supporting your children's passions.