As the second season begins, Joan returns from summer therapy following what she perceived as hallucinations and refuses to discuss the "`G' word" with Adam. Meanwhile, Helen is considering coming back to the Catholic faith; and Will is losing his faith especially as he's sued by the family of the boy who paralyzed Kevin.

As part of a physics project, Joan decides to plant a garden "in the rankest place" in school to see if it can survive, and the experiment elicits varying responses from her friends. Meanwhile, Will and Helen shield Kevin from the details of the lawsuit.