Puberty wasn’t supposed to be this complicated—for the parents.

Nick Birch is officially in the thick of it: mood swings, spontaneous boners, confusing crushes, and existential dread. Judd’s gone full dark poet and barely speaks unless it’s a growl or an eye roll, and Leah’s obsessed with reclaiming her independence now that she’s almost out of the house.

But the one taking it the hardest? Diane Birch.

Watching her sweet, snuggly little Nicky morph into a hormonal, unpredictable teenager is breaking her heart. She keeps trying to force family dinners and childhood traditions, only to find her son retreating behind locked doors and sarcastic remarks. It’s like she’s losing him day by day—and she doesn’t know how to let go.

Elliot Birch, ever the open-hearted optimist, does his best to be the glue. But even his enthusiastic talk about body hair, safe sex, and healthy masculinity is starting to get eye rolls from everyone in the house.

Feeling useless, out of touch, and more alone than he’d like to admit, Elliot decides to try something new: making friends his own age.

Elliot Birch is trying his damnedest to keep everyone emotionally hydrated, sexually liberated, and feeling seen. But as his family starts pulling in different directions, he realizes he’s… lonely. Not in a romantic way—he’s still passionately devoted to Diane, with a libido matched only by his need for positive affirmations—but in a social way.

So Elliot does what Elliot does best: enthusiastically, lovingly, awkwardly, searches for community.

It starts with him joining a book club at the library that turns out to be hosted by a group of queer men who immediately fall in love with Elliot’s earnestness, emotional openness, and overuse of words like “yoni.” What was supposed to be a one-off meeting turns into brunches, fashion critiques, reality TV marathons, themed dinner parties, and unsolicited life coaching.

They call him “Papa E,” dress him better, teach him to contour (just in case), and offer a safe, sparkly space where he can process Nick’s emotional meltdowns and Diane’s grief over the passing of their sons childhood. Elliot, in return, showers them with affection, unsolicited dad jokes, and his famous “open-minded meatloaf.”