After winning another BAFTA for their hit comedy series, "Lyman's Boys", writers Sean and Beverly Lincoln are approached by American television executive Merc Lapidus who tells them that he'd be thrilled if they'd accept his offer to write an American remake of the show. After some trepidation the couple decide to make the journey from London to Los Angeles. On their first day in pre-production, Sean and Beverly are told that Julian Bullard who stars in the successful British series will need to re-audition for the American adaptation. They also learn that Merc has lied to them and has never even seen an episode of their show and that the luxurious house they've been given is in fact, just an unused set. Bullard is not given the job and the Lincolns are told that Matt LeBlanc will get the role instead.
Sean and Beverly are still reeling from the network's decision to cast Matt LeBlanc as the star of their show. However, when they meet him at a swanky LA dinner party at Merc's house, Matt couldn't be more charming or flattering about their show. Unfortunately, over time the natural animosity between Matt and Beverly rises to the surface, and Beverly learns just how much you don't want the former friend as an enemy.
Beverly can't stand Matt, and the feeling is mutual. As it's all she can do not to throttle the star of her show, she tells her husband, "He's yours." Sean and Matt bond after spending the day together, including an extended adventure in Las Vegas, leaving Beverly feeling excluded. In a confrontation with Matt, Beverly learns just how 'big' a star Matt LeBlanc actually is.
Sean and Beverly have to retrieve Matt from a seedy bar outside LA so that the paparazzi waiting outside won't see him driving home drunk. What follows is an all-night road trip which takes the trio from a run-in with a paparazzo to Matt's ex-wife's house and finally to his son's bedroom, where Matt is forced to confront the mess he's made of his life. The transformative evening even manages to bring Matt and Beverly closer together.
Sean's infatuation with the lovely "Pucks!" actress Morning Randolph is given an opportunity to blossom when Matt invites the two of them to a charity benefit. Sean realises that his attraction to her may be mutual. Meanwhile, Beverly and Carol share a joint and commiserate about the men in their lives. At the end of the night, Sean has a difficult choice to make, and Beverly learns that she has more to worry about in regard to her husband and the actress than even she realised.
Convinced that Sean is having an affair with Morning, Beverly packs a bag and leaves, intending to head back to London. However, in her distress, she is unaware that she's driving on the left side of the road. Beverly doesn't realize her mistake until she has a head-on collision - a collision which leads her down a road with even more dire consequences.
A final goodbye between Matt and Sean takes an unexpected turn involving a missing Jaguar, a red-nosed reindeer, and the smell of cinnamon.
Sean and Beverly's marriage has been ripped apart by Beverly's fling with Matt, and Matt's friendship with Sean appears to be beyond salvage. But as their sitcom Pucks! premieres in the US, the three are forced to find a way to continue working together.
Matt misses his "bromance" with Sean and tries to rekindle their friendship by buying him the sports car of his dreams. But Sean is not willing to forgive or forget that easily.
When network head Merc Lapidus' father dies, Sean and Beverly get a lesson in grief, Hollywood-style.
The ratings for 'Pucks!' are plummeting, and the network asks Sean and Beverly to reduce Matt's role in the show to make way for his teenage co-stars - the increasingly popular 'Pucks!' boys.
Sean meets Labia, a super-fan of Matt's, and Morning suffers a major plastic surgery disaster. Merc and Carol plan a weekend getaway to Mexico. Jamie and Matt pack for a tryst in Napa.
To boost flagging ratings, Merc asks Matt to get one of his former 'Friends' cast mates to make a special guest appearance on 'Pucks!'. Not above asking favours of his own, Matt asks Sean and Beverly to write his speech for Merc's upcoming man of the year event.
The network insists that Sean and Beverly confront Matt about his recent weight gain; the star does not take the news well. Beverly agrees to go out to dinner with Morning's brother, even though she insists that she is terrible at dating. She is not wrong, and she turns the evening into a date from hell.
Matt's life continues to fall apart when he falls foul of his fierce ex-wife. Beverly prepares to go on a second date with Morning's brother, but things have become much more complicated now that Sean is aware that she is seeing someone.
It's the night of Merc's 'Man of the Year' event, but his moment of glory turns sour when Carol tells him about Matt's affair with Jamie. Beverly's relationship with Rob grows deeper. Sean is forced to decide whether he's willing to forget the past and fight for his wife.
Matt continues to fight for custody of his children, trying to convince his ex-wife to forgive him for sleeping with his stalker. Sean and Beverly are back together, but they soon discover that it's not so easy to heal old wounds, especially when additional secrets are revealed about their time apart. Carol's ambitions are dealt a cruel blow.
Matt's custody battle for his kids continues, a situation he has only made worse by getting a DUI with them in the car. Sean is still reeling from the news that Beverly spent the night with ruggedly handsome Rob. Carol falls under the spell of her charismatic new boss.
Matt continues to fight for custody of his children, trying to convince his ex-wife to forgive him for sleeping with his stalker. Sean and Beverly are back together, but they soon discover that it’s not so easy to heal old wounds, especially when additional secrets are revealed about their time apart. Carol’s ambitions are dealt a cruel blow.
Matt’s career takes an unexpected turn – and not a good one – when he goes to appear on The Tonight Show. Merc comes in to pitch new shows to Carol.
The future of 'Pucks!' hangs in the balance as the network hosts its annual party for the television press. Sean and Beverly's romantic future is looking equally tenuous. Merc steals all of his blind ex-wife's artwork, and Matt is forced to come to her rescue.
'Pucks!' is finally pulled from the schedule and, although not officially cancelled, the writing is clearly on the wall for the doomed hockey comedy. Everyone reacts in different ways: Sean is in denial, Beverly is mentally packing her bags, and Matt finds solace in the arms of a 19-year old super-fan.
Beverly prepares to return to England, while Sean hangs onto hopes of keeping his Hollywood dream alive. Matt is crushed to learn that his former stalker is no longer obsessed with him. Carol is equally despondent when her dreams for a future with Castor are dashed.
Filming on 'Pucks!' draws to a close, and everyone focuses on what's next.
As interest in 'The Opposite of Us' intensifies, Beverly struggles to keep Sean on course and return to London. Matt has his own battles to fight when he learns that NBC expects him to audition for the lead in a new drama pilot.
Sean and Beverly are forced to return from London to make new episodes of 'Pucks!'
Matt tries to solve his financial troubles. Networks compete for Sean and Beverly's new show.
Sean's former writing partner shows up. Merc's career is revived.
Sean's former writing partner tightens the screws on Sean and Beverly. Carol throws herself into a new and unexpected romance. Matt finds what he believes is the answer to his disastrous love life and his financial woes.
Sean and Beverly are forced to consider a writing partnership with Tim.
Matt is forced to spend a day at the hospital, when his father undergoes heart surgery.
Sean has his feelings hurt when Matt doesn't display any interest in his new show. Carol tries to slow down the pace of her new relationship with Helen.
Beverly and Carol are forced to hide their friendship from an increasingly jealous Helen. Meanwhile, Matt struggles with the decision of whether to sell his beach house or accept a job as a game show host.
It's show time for Matt and "The Box!"
Matt's game show, 'The Box' is now a runaway hit. Unfortunately for Matt, success also means having daily contact with his producer, Merc. Sean and Beverly are forced to work for Sean's loathsome ex-partner after Helen puts him in charge of their new show. Unable to find another job, Carol goes into a dope and real estate show-induced tailspin.
The video of Matt's escapade with the girl in the box goes viral.
Matt leverages his newfound celebrity to get a new series guarantee from the network. Convinced that his best chance for success lies with Sean and Beverly, he tries to woo the reluctant Brits away from Tim. Carol hits rock bottom, but finds solace in the most unlikely of places.
Matt takes Sean and Beverly to his ranch for a working weekend to come up with a new series. Carol confesses to Beverly her newfound happiness with Merc.
Carol reveals that she's pregnant and plans on keeping the baby. Matt's father drops dead, which leaves Matt to deal with his remains.
Sean and Beverly get into an ugly dispute with Matt when he demands a writing credit on their new show. Meanwhile, Carol decides to leave television, move home to Michigan and raise Merc's child on her own.
Sean and Beverly learn that Matt - offering no explanation - has passed on the new show they created for him. Now they must figure out what lies ahead for their lives and careers without Matt. Carol continues to pursue her lawsuit against Helen and the network. But an encounter at her deposition may take her life in an entirely unexpected direction.
Matt LeBlanc, Stephen Mangan and Tamsin Greig talk about making Episodes, with Executive Producer Jimmy Mulville. Matt, Tamsin and Stephen talk about the programme's evolution, working with writers David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik, and what it is like to be an actor in Hollywood. ...and Stephen reveals Matt's handy audition tip!
Matt LeBlanc, Tamsin Greig and Stephen Mangan talk to Executive Producer Jimmy Mulville about making Episodes. They discuss the realities of filming in different locations and how Episodes used green screens. What the business that is show means on both sides of the Atlantic. And how writing for different voices means exploring the variations between American and British English, which Tamsin discovered in episode 2.
Jimmy Mulville interviews Matt Le Blanc, Tamsin Grieg and Stephen Mangan, discussing the making of Episodes and the cast’s own real life experiences of the TV industry both here and across the pond in LA.
