Wilfred:
Season:     1     / Episode:     9    
Compassion

Description

Ryan's mother Catherine (Mary Steenburgen) is seemingly ready to leave the mental institution she has been staying at for more than 20 years. Jenna leaves town with Drew to improve their relationship. Ryan and Wilfred visit Catherine and the doctor suggests that she stay at his house during her transition. Jenna's absence makes Wilfred resentful and he becomes infatuated with Catherine, thus guilting Ryan into consenting that she may stay at his house. While Catherine is there, it is revealed that she also smokes marijuana, and is not as ready for the world as she believes. After many awkward situations which culminate in Jenna's return and Catherine embarrassing Ryan, he snaps and returns his mother to the institution. However, Wilfred's infatuation with Catherine makes him angry at this and finds Ryan's suicide note (appended to an 8-page conspiracy about the US Postal System) which results in Ryan being held at the institution on a 72-hour psych hold. During this time, Ryan realizes he and his mother are more alike than they both know and uses the chance as an opportunity for them to be closer. The episode ends with a curious mirroring of Ryan and Wilfred's relationship as Catherine and her cat mittens (Rhea Perlman) talk to each other. Opening quote: "Make no judgements where you have no compassion." - Anne McCaffrey