Episode Title: Season 1, Episode 5 : Roads not Taken

A torrential rainstorm batters Milbridge, mirroring the stormy mood in the kitchen at Sharkey’s Place. As Myra battles a finicky fryer and the "wonky" weather, she whips up a culinary masterpiece of a lunch special—homemade sourdough, corned beef, and smoked gouda—that leaves regulars Aiden and Caiden stunned by the quality.

Later that evening, the storm traps Myra and Kirini at the bar, leading to a deep heart-to-heart. Myra confesses her anxieties about her son Ethan’s new relationship and reflects on the path not taken, obsessing over a high school crush who became a successful politician. Kirini offers Myra a reality check about the "successful" life she thinks she missed and proposes a getaway to Florida to help the chef find some much-needed perspective.

Major Themes

• The Burden of Regret: Myra struggles with "what if" scenarios, specifically regarding her decision to marry her ex-husband Glenn instead of pursuing her high school crush, Charlie Goodman.
• Artistry vs. Environment: The episode highlights the contrast between Myra’s high-level culinary skills (corning her own beef, smoking cheese) and the setting of a "dive bar" where the clientele usually expects simple fried food.
• Parental Anxiety: Myra projects her own past mistakes onto her son, Ethan, fearing that his new girlfriend is leading him down a "wrong path" similar to her own youth.
• Perspective and Envy: While Myra envies the life of the wealthy politician Charlie Goodman, Kirini reveals that his life is actually filled with unhappiness and moral compromise, suggesting the "grass isn't always greener".
• Female Solidarity: Kirini acts as a support system, offering financial help (tickets to Florida) and emotional grounding to help Myra cope with burnout.