by Chantal Ashford, Contributing Writer
The Patient isn’t the series I thought it would be. I believed it to be about a therapist and a patient; another In Treatment series. I was wrong. The Patient, which is streaming on Hulu, is 10 episodes following the story of Dr. Alan Strauss (Steve Carell), who is being held prisoner by his newest patient, Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson), who happens to be a serial killer. Sam asks his therapist to help him curb his homicidal urges. Well, digging into Sam’s past to help the man get through the root of his issues, Dr. Strauss starts to unpack his demons and realize the things in his life that needs work.
The interactions between Dr. Strauss and Sam are captivating. As a fly on the wall, you’re in the room with them, seeing everything unfold. There are moments when the series feels predictable, but you still stay on your toes, asking for more. There are also the WTF moments, especially early in the season when we find out Sam’s mother Candace (Linda Emond) is in on it.
When Dr. Strauss and Sam interact, Sam treats Dr. Strauss with respect (besides keeping him locked in the basement) — he brings him takeout from different restaurants, and acts as if nothing is wrong. He also tells Dr. Strauss about his Kenny Chesney concert trips and meeting people on the fan forum. Dr. Strauss is just doing his job and trying to stay alive to keep Sam’s urges at bay. The scenes between the two men show Dr. Strauss tries to talk Sam down from killing one of his customers because Sam didn’t like how the man spoke to him.
The standout is Gleeson, the loner restaurant inspector. His is terrifyingly good in the role. You can never tell what Sam is thinking, but his presence in his eyes alone is sinister. Watching Sam’s wheels turn, you are on pins and needles, wondering what the hell he will do next. Sam deals with familial trauma. He and his mother bore his father’s anger as a child, making him the man he is now. This character unravels at the seams, but also tries to find solace with the help of his therapist. Gleeson deserves an Emmy nomination for this murderous performance.
Carell gives a nuanced performance. We watch this man, whose livelihood is to help other people find their peace of mind, but we realize he is just like his patients. He has his past and present issues, and is just trying to keep himself alive. We see the therapist also be the patient — my favorite scenes are between Dr. Strauss and his former therapist, Charlie (David Alan Grier). Dr. Strauss needs someone to keep him company, and he dreams up company in the form of his shrink to get him through his days. Carell should be nominated right alongside Gleeson.
The last two episodes, “Auschwitz” and “The Cantor’s Husband,” are my favorites. The slow burn engulfed everything in flames. We see Sam’s breakthrough, but his epiphany isn’t good. Dr. Strauss sees no way out, but still fights until the end to make his way home. The captive is on his last resort and making a fight for his life. It’s a battle of wills. You’ll be on pins and needles, hoping for that old Hollywood ending. In the last few moments of the season, we see everything fall into place as the only way for this series to take its final bow.
The Patient does drag sometimes, but the filler scenes are needed so you can know what causes the turmoil between the two leads. The series can be a bit predictable, but it still has shocking moments. It is also a quick watch — all 10 episodes are under an hour. If you need psychological fun, The Patient is the show to enjoy.
Score: 7/10
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