Plot Synopsis

Created and executive produced by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K., BETTER THINGS is a half-hour comedy series that centers on Sam Fox, a no-filter, single-working actress in Los Angeles who is raising her three daughters: Max, Frankie and Duke. Sam is mom, dad, referee and the cops, all while also watching out for her mother, Phil, an English expatriate, who lives across the street. Sam is flawed and fierce with her love for her daughters, and her own mother, as well. Sometimes, heaping the love on when she feels guilty. Sam's just trying to earn a living, navigate her daughters' lives, have fun with a friend or two and also -- just maybe -- squeeze in some private time once in a while.

FX premiered the 10-episode second season of BETTER THINGS on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 10pm ET/PT, with Adlon directing every episode of the new season -- in addition to her role as showrunner, writer and series star. In the season opener, "September," Sam has people over. Later this season, Sam arranges for her daughters to hold a mock funeral for her, helps her mother through her daily drama, berates a date for being needy, and endures whatever else life -- and her family -- throw at her. Guest stars for Season 2 include: Henry Thomas, Rade Serbedzija, Jane Carr, Nigel Havers, and more.

The 12-episode third season of BETTER THINGS premiered on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 10pm ET/PT on FX. Series star Pamela Adlon, who directs all 12 episodes of the new season, also serves as writer, executive producer and showrunner. Season 3 welcomes several new faces: Sharon Stone, Matthew Broderick, Doug Jones, Glynn Turman, Judy Reyes, Cree Summer, Charlie Robinson, Janina Gavankar and Marsha Thomason to name a few. Additionally, recurring players Diedrich Bader, Greg Cromer, Rebecca Metz, Kevin Pollak and Alysia Reiner return this season, inhabiting their familiar roles. In the season opener, "Chicago," Sam and Max go on a trip.

Season 4 of BETTER THINGS premiered on Thursday, March 5, 2020 from 10-11:15pm ET/PT, as FX debuted back-to-back episodes. In the season opener (10pm), "Steady Rain," Sam picks up the girls from a trip. Then, in the second episode, (10:30pm), "She's Fifty," Sam embraces her state of being. Both episodes were written and directed by series star Pamela Adlon.

The fifth and final season of BETTER THINGS premiered on Monday, February 28, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT, with back-to-back new episodes on FX. Season 5 focuses on 'the road ahead' for Sam Fox, so devoted to her life as a working actor and single mother of three that she's left little time for that one elusive thing: herself. As she navigates three daughters, each coming of age; the challenges of her chosen career; and her mother's increasing signs of aging (as well as her own) -- Sam embraces each moment, and each member of her family, with a fierce love, raw honesty and biting humor. As each of the Fox women come of age into the next phase of their life, they are inspired to reevaluate themselves, learn from the past and find their own direction. The final season features guest stars Lena Waithe, Ron Cephas Jones, Danny Trejo, Marty Krofft, Clive Russell, Casey Wilson, Rainbow Sun Francks, Angela Kinsey, Kevin Michael Richardson, Nelson Lee, Lennon Parham and Usman Ally, as well as the return of Diedrich Bader, Kevin Pollak, Rosalind Chao, Judy Gold, Cree Summer, Alysia Reiner, Greg Cromer, Dominic Burgess, Matthew Glave and Mario Cantone.
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On Monday, April 25, 2022 at 10pm ET/PT, FX premiered "We Are Not Alone," the one-hour series finale of BETTER THINGS.