Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
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based on child development research. How do we rate?
Daring, mature drama won't interest kids.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
What's the Story?
IN TREATMENT follows seemingly successful psychotherapist Paul Weston (Gabriel Bryne) as he meets with both old and new patients (including Blair Underwood and Embeth Davidtz) over the course of about two months. Burdened by fears that he's on the brink of yet another midlife crisis, Paul also begins weekly visits to his own therapist (Dianne Wiest), a woman who just so happens to be his somewhat estranged former supervisor.
Is It Any Good?
In a departure from typical TV fare, In Treatment airs five nights a week, structuring each episode as a real-time session between Paul and a patient. Over the course of the series' nine-week run, the patients return for another session on the same night every week.
In terms of format, In Treatment is certainly daring. But in this case different isn't necessarily better. While some viewers will undoubtedly appreciate the series' subtle approach to drama -- fueled by dialogue-driven tension and nuanced performances by a crop of fine actors -- others aren't likely to find it enticing enough to stick around and see what happens next. After all, In Treatment not only asks viewers to be patient, but also asks to draw their own conclusions -- and to really and truly think. For most people, that's an awful lot to ask.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this series (which is based on the critically acclaimed Israeli show BeTipul) takes drama in a new direction by essentially moving the action along in real time over the course of several weeks. Do you think other real-time dramas like 24 might have inspired this show's creators? How else could the show have been structured? Do you think the unusual format makes it more interesting to watch, or does it make the action seem too real -- and therefore boring?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 28, 2008
- Cast : Blair Underwood , Dianne Wiest , Gabriel Byrne
- Network : HBO
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Award : NAACP Image Award - NAACP Image Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 11, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
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