As I’ve found with most of my favorite Showtime shows, a certain suspension of disbelief is required in order to really get into their new series The United States of Tara. Because I don’t have an in-depth understanding of multiple personality disorder (except that I know it’s extremely rare in real-life, but a really convenient way to end an episode of any given procedural crime drama), I can’t refute the way it’s portrayed onscreen.

Suffice to say, I have my doubts, but mostly because shady Diablo Cody is involved. Her influence is apparent any and every time anyone under the age of twenty opens their mouths, including Tara’s teenage alter-ego “T.”

However, because I have much love for the star of the series, who is none other than Australian actress Toni Collette, I am able to put my reservations aside and revel in her performance. Much like one of my other favorite actresses, Kate Winslet, Collette is clearly comfortable with her body enough to joke about having a “muffin top,” flaunt her real-life jiggles in both “mom briefs” and sparkly, teenage G-strings, an occurrence that I feel (or maybe just hope) is becoming less rare these days on television.

You can watch the first episode here on YouTube. In case you haven’t yet, you should change your YouTube settings on your computer to utilize the ability to always watch video on the highest quality available. It makes a huge difference, and you should do it, if you’ve got the speed and bandwidth for it.