For the pregnant Laura Linney, the death of her husband after a cocaine induced car accident makes her take the steps to become sober and deal with not only her addiction but being a new mother and dealing with her own mother, Senator Joanne Woodward, a domineering mother who loves deeply but judgmentally and domineeringly. This powerful TV drama shows the issues that leads to the addiction outside of recreation, and far too many people are not only impacted but must cope with their own involvement. Since her husband is dead, Linney can't confront him, but Woodward and loving but brutally honest husband Fritz Weaver must face their own ordeal and the impact this has on their marriage, neither of them without some responsibility, and far too stubborn to accept their responsibility, that is until they have to.
As a senator, Woodward's character uses these issues to promote programs for drug addicted mothers, having met Linney's fellow patients in rehab. As the director of the rehab center, Sharon Washington creates a very memorable character, quite tough, but without judgment and caring enough to really make a difference. She's by far the smartest and most compassionate character in the story, and really stands out, truly impressive with Woodward, Weaver and Linney in the leads. Linney's character is unique in the sense that she shows that even someone from an upscale background can get hooked, and the psychology goes deeper than what is visible on the street. A top notch teleplay makes this riveting from every aspect, and that makes this a modern TV classic.
As a senator, Woodward's character uses these issues to promote programs for drug addicted mothers, having met Linney's fellow patients in rehab. As the director of the rehab center, Sharon Washington creates a very memorable character, quite tough, but without judgment and caring enough to really make a difference. She's by far the smartest and most compassionate character in the story, and really stands out, truly impressive with Woodward, Weaver and Linney in the leads. Linney's character is unique in the sense that she shows that even someone from an upscale background can get hooked, and the psychology goes deeper than what is visible on the street. A top notch teleplay makes this riveting from every aspect, and that makes this a modern TV classic.