In Treatment

It’s the show that made me pay for HBO in my apartment. The network’s new daily series features a psychologist and a 30-minute session with a different patient each day.

On Monday, the patient is an attractive young woman who was sexually abused as a child and has started falling for the psychologist (and he has fallen for her). On Tuesday, you have an Iraq veteran who is dealing with issues regarding his sexuality. On Wednesday, a teenage gymnast who has attempted suicide and who has issues with her parents has her session. On Thursday, it’s couples therapy with a wannabe rock star (Josh Charles from the most underrated show in history, Sports Night) and a deeply troubled but career-oriented businesswoman. On Friday, the shrink sees a shrink and talks about his own marital issues.

Simply put, the show has not just lived up to my expectations. It has far exceeded them. Now, the show isn’t flashy. It pretty much only takes place in the psychologist’s room (though sometimes a scene on the porch or on the street outside), there are no flashbacks, and you have to simply take for what the patients say, knowing that they might be lying or exaggerating.

But it feels real and voyeuristic, probably the appeal of the show. I hope the ratings are good, because this is a show I can’t get enough of.

This is only a two-minute recap of an episode, so it doesn’t really do it justice. The silence and the awkward moments and lulls are some of the best parts about the show.