Monica’s return is the emotional core of the season. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder, she attempts to be a good mother but fails spectacularly. The Thanksgiving episode ("Can I Have a Mother") is brutal. Monica tries to cook a turkey, has a mental breakdown, and attempts suicide in the kitchen. The shot of Lip carrying his younger siblings out of the house while Fiona screams is one of the most harrowing moments in television history.
Major themes