Ep 3. Nesting

Pamela Adlon's Better Things heads into an episode called "Nesting" that explores the familiar glories and groans of preparing a home for a new arrival — in this case, Sam's (Adlon) mother Phil (Celia Imrie), who is moving in with her daughter to be taken care of after a fall.

The visit offers Sam's daughters an opportunity to learn more about their British grandmother and her knack for cracking jokes at unexpected moments. Sam is also transported back in time to when she was pregnant with her eldest daughter, Max (Mikey Madison), remembering the unease she felt about living in a one-bedroom apartment with no separation between her bedroom and a crib.

"Nesting" looks at how progeny often naturally transform homes that were once a place of fun and freedom and how those changes can cause anxiety, excitement and a rush of unpredictable emotions - all in one. For Sam, it's not just her mother in her house, but feelings of being crowded as the girls grow up and take over common spaces.

The episode also explores issues related to aging, especially as it relates to Phil's arrival. Sam needs to provide additional support for Phil who is feeling lonely and abandoned following the death of her husband, but also needs to reckon with a future in which she, too, may need to rely on her children for assistance.

In the heart of the episode is a scene in which Phil sits in Sam's living room, relishing the presence of her family, grateful for the ability to provide some measure of safety and security. Nesting is an episode that explores themes of love and change, offering a thoughtful meditation on the ties that bind, and how family members step up to support each other when it's needed most.

Ultimately, the episode is a testament to the way in which family members support each other through challenging times, a poignant exploration of the beauty of the family unit and of how experiences and emotions related to pregnancy can reverberate throughout the years, even and especially as Sam sees her girls growing up and pushing closer toward lives of their own. With Nesting, Adlon and her team in Better Things offer a compelling portrait of a family in transition, as they navigate the complexities of growing up, growing older and caring for loved ones, all while trying to hold onto to the love, support and connection that is at the heart of what it means to be a family.