Darren has to be careful doing a tattoo for a man with type 1 diabetes, Nunez gets a little out of control with spending, Kat tattoos a man's daughter's portrait, and Ami creates a winged penny design for a woman in remembrance of her father, who believed in the value of saving pennies.
Former apprentice Yoji Harada, now a full-fledged member of the design crew, joins Ami in doing simultaneous tattoos for a pair of best friends. One customer gets a cartoon version of herself, and another asks for a Buddha design to help cover up a scar from scoliosis. A woman with no tattoos comes in to apply for the shop manager position.
Nunez designs a tattoo to honor a woman's soldier father, a graffiti artist has a tattoo created from her own artwork, and Garver makes a Japanese-style snake design for a local club owner.
The crew tests the latest applicant for shop manager by having a friend poses as a bookie who has come to confiscate Nunez's stuff.
Nunez is having trouble dealing with his mother's surgery. Darren faces change after an important phone call. Ami tries to help with Yoji's communication problem. Meanwhile, Garver struggles with personal issues.
Garver does a tattoo of a Spanish skull for one woman. Another gets an image of an Asian woman. But newcomer Kat is feeling left out.
Garver's back problems flare and may jeopardize his career. Meanwhile, the crew tests another applicant in their quest to find a new manager for the shop.
The "Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Lady" gets a tattoo of her namesake sandwich image from Kat. Ami gives two people matching star tattoos. Yoji's daughter goes to the beach with Ami.
Ami gets in an argument with Darren's wife. Darren designs a koi fish tattoo for a man to celebrate his losing 100 pounds. Applicant Lee is chosen as the new shop manager.
One woman gets a tattoo with her grandfather's favorite Latin saying, another gets a blue-ringed octopus tattoo from Ami, and a third gets an image of her favorite band, Guns N Roses.
Lloyd Banks of G-Unit gets a tattoo to mark his new album, "Rotten Apple," from Chris Garver.
Ami creates a large tattoo on a man's back to represent significant turning points in his life, including his father's suicide and his coming out as gay. Kat creates an image of fifties pinup Bettie Page. Another man gets a design symbolizing the good and bad things of his life.
Garver uses a local pinup model to get inspiration for Roger's tattoo. Philip memorializes his dad's battle against cancer. Kat celebrates a full 10 years as a tattoo artist with a design by Corey Miller.
Carver works on a novel design to celebrate a woman's brother, who died in Iraq. Ami has a morale dilemma with a client and may refuse the tattoo. Nunez and Ami do some charity work for "Amigos for Kids" and tech them how to draw.
Garver draws a "Day of the Dead" skull to memorialize a legal battle. Ami creates a hot rod design to help a client reconcile with his father.
Circus sideshow workers get tattoos of a rubber-chicken prop and the Coney Island Wonder Wheel ride.
A man in medical school honors those who helped him; a woman pays tribute to her mother with a special pinup tattoo.
A rapper gets the words "forgive us" inked; Darren designs a tattoo for a line of custom choppers.
Overhaulin' host Chris Jacobs gets a tattoo.
A Madre de Agua (mother of water) tattoo is done by Kat for a woman who lost her father; a man gets a clock and crying-woman image to symbolize time he lost with his loved ones while incarcerated.
When Ami's buddy Yaniv comes to Miami with his Japanese apprentice Kosuke, to drop off Ami's bike, Ami and Yaniv decide to swap apprentices for the day, leaving Yoji to experience a new world of grease.
Miami Ink celebrates its first year; Ami helps Crystal heal the pain of her mother's murder with a guardian-angel tattoo; a hip-hop artist is back for round two on his back piece.
Yoji moves his family into a larger place. Kat does a tattoo of slain pop singer Selena for her brother. Darren has Garver give him a tattoo in the image of his tiny dog, Pachuco.
Visiting Korn's Family Values tour, Darren gives the bass player tattoos of his band-mate's autographs. Nunez works on a friend's back tattoo. A kid on a Make-a-Wish trip comes by the shop.
Nunez helps a woman redo her tattoo tribute to her late husband. Ami creates a freehand dragon design for a man who has overcome a terrible addiction. Kat makes a portrait of a man's mother.
Ami's dog Bella goes wild in the shop, so Nunez and Yoji decide to pay for her to be professionally trained. A fan of Nunez's work comes in for a tattoo that will serve to put the past behind her. A friend of Ami's comes in from Seattle to have a Hanya mask added to her arm.
Living in a different time zone from her husband Oliver is taking a toll on Kat's marriage, so when he comes to visit they consult a psychic for counseling. Nunez creates a memorial to a client's dog. Ami makes a complex back design in tribute to Eastern medicine.
Graffiti artist G-Wiz has abandoned illegal activities in favor of a mural project for a local charity, and asks Darren and Nunez to assist, but they aren't sure if they still have the necessary skills.
Kat comes up with a design that's a tribute to extreme sports, gets a cooking lesson, and is visited by her mom. Garver doesn't seem so strong around women anymore after a special customer visits.Garver also creates a design for a woman in the style of a 1940s-style pinup.
Yoji decides to put together a punk-rock band. Garver resumes work on Nunez's back tattoo after an eight-year hiatus. Ami continues his detail work on tattoos of a pin-up girl and a motorcycle.
Ami and Nunez's bar may not open as scheduled because of problems with their business partners.
Ami and Nunez do some tattoos for the gang at "American Chopper."
Problems mount between Ami and Kat as a friend of Kat's visits the shop.