Darcy Shean

While atoning for stealing from a convenience store, Earl (Jason Lee) spots Natalie (guest star Beth Riesgraf), a very needy, clingy girl whom he broke up with by faking his own death. After getting some advice about women from Catalina (Nadine Velazquez), Earl decides that he and Randy (Ethan Suplee) must go tell Natalie the truth so he can cross her off his list. Luckily for him, the blow is softened by the presence of Natalie's new boyfriend Dirk (guest star Dax Shepard), who seems absolutely perfect for her. Just when Earl thinks he's free of her, Dirk takes a hint from him and fakes his death to break up with Natalie. Earl believes that he should tell Natalie about Dirk in order to be in the karmic clear, but Catalina convinces him that it’s much better to keep this from her than to crush her spirit. So Earl decides to merely be nice to her, a seemingly harmless act that traps them back in a torturous relationship.

The glee club decides to write and perform its own songs in hope of winning regionals; Quinn intends to get Finn back.

Gallo, Violet and Ritter debut their microbrewery business at Winterfest. Brett prepares to present her paramedicine program to an oversight panel. Firehouse 51 gets in the holiday spirit.

Sydney must guide a nervous and pensive Rachel on her first solo mission; Sloane contemplates honoring his agreement with Gordon Dean.

Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver) is a mom on a mission who will do anything for her husband, Jimmy (John Ross Bowie), and kids Ray (Mason Cook), Dylan (Kyla Kenedy), and J.J. (Micah Fowler), her eldest son with cerebral palsy. As Maya fights injustices both real and imagined, the family works to make a new home for themselves and searches for just the right person to give J.J. his "voice."