Two and a Half Men is hardly known for its subtlety, so be wary for a new plot in the final season of the Chuck Lorre CBS comedy.

The 12th season will kick off with Walden, played by Ashton Kutcher, experiencing a health scare that will lead him to an ‘existential crisis’.

In an attempt to add more ‘meaning’ to his life, he decides he wants to adopt.

Speaking to reporters at the Television Critics Association’s summer press tour, CBS Entertainment chairman Nina Tassler said Walden realizes that it would be very difficult to adopt a child as a single, straight man.

‘So once and for all he decides, “I’m going to propose to Alan [Jon Cryer] and we’re going to get married and adopt a child as a gay couple.”,’ Tassler said.

Describing it as a ‘great ride’, she said she views the storyline as a ‘very positive statement’ about the waves of gay rights across the US.

She said she does not expect a backlash from the LGBTI community.

GLAAD is concerned, telling The Hollywood Reporter: ‘We hope the show will acknowledge not only the progress made in acceptance of gay and lesbian couples, but also the fact that – in many areas of the country – same-sex couples are often under greater scrutiny or still barred from adoption options that straight couples have.’

The decision to explore same-sex couples adopting – and marriage – comes a year after the series introduced Amber Tamblyn who plays Charlie’s long-lost lesbian daughter.