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Home > Blogs > Reality Bytes > Archives > 2008 > January > 28 > Entry
HBO’s new series breaks the mold
With a few exceptions, the schedule for most TV shows revolves around the notion of a new episode each week(during the regular season and without a writers strike). HBO’s new series, “In Treatment,” will hold office hours every night of the week - Monday through Friday.
The first episode and the previews for upcoming episodes are pretty gripping. Many of TV critics have given the first few episodes high marks for originality and content. Based on what I’ve seen, the critics might have this one right helping to raise the hopes of all us TV watchers who love a great dramatic series, HBO style.
“In Treatment,” follows the life of a psychoanalyst Paul Weston as he makes his way through his week and his patients.
“In Treatment” -
Monday’s will be Laura’s (Melissa George) day, “An attractive young anesthesiologist who’s been Paul’s patient for a year, Laura is in the midst of a relationship crisis and faces an ultimatum - either break up with her boyfriend, Andrew, or marry him. But that dilemma seems simple in comparison to the revelations she unleashes on Paul during their sessions.”
Tuesday - Alex (Blair Underwood). “An arrogant Navy pilot who prides himself on his high standards, Alex is drawn to Paul’s reputation as “the best,” yet continually tries to poke holes in the therapist’s logic. A recent brush with death and a disastrous mission in Iraq sound like obvious reasons for Alex to seek counseling, but he maintains that neither have had any effect on him.”
Wednesday - Sophie (Mia Wasikowska). “A precocious teenage gymnast who won the Junior Nationals, Sophie saw her dreams of qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team fall apart when the bike she was riding rammed into the side of a car. Though she first shows up, in a cast, for Paul to validate her sanity on an insurance document, he coaxes her into returning after catching a glimpse at her complicated family relationships and general malaise.”
Thursday’s it’s Jake and Amy”s turn.
Jake (Josh Charles) - ” Struggling as a songwriter, Jake is clearly uncomfortable with the power differential in his marriage. Jake is prone to fits of anger, and when Amy provides vague details about her daily activities, he immediately assumes the worst and begins to interrogate her.
Amy (Embeth Davidtz)- After five years of struggling with infertility, Amy finally gave up… and then got pregnant. Having focused on - and excelled at - her career in the meantime, she’s no longer sure she wants to be a mother, which infuriates her suspicious husband, Jake.”
Friday - Paul is in the office with his own therapist, Gina. “
Paul (Gabriel Byrne) - “A psychoanalyst in his 50s who conducts his practice from a home office, Paul has two boys and a girl with his wife Kate, and his career has led him to a respected and successful place. But Paul is beginning to feel his tolerance wane behind the easygoing front he displays for his patients; even worse, his gut reactions are beginning to seep through the cracks. After four particularly trying days of therapy, Paul decides he needs the counsel of a retired therapist, Gina.”
Gina (Dianne Wiest) - “Gina served as Paul’s professional supervisor years ago. Since then, she has lost her husband, turned 60, retired as a therapist and started writing a novel. Yet when Paul unexpectedly calls her to discuss the growing issues with his practice, Gina allows him to return, renewing a complicated relationship between them.”
Character bios - HBO.com
The real challenge for the viewer will be trying to keep up with a five-day-a-week programing schedule - thank God, for the DVR and in demand. For those of you so inclined, the series will also be available via iTunes (although it isn’t showing up in the search).
“In Treatment” was adapted from a popular Israeli TV series “Be ‘Tipul.” - The show starts tonight, January 28 at 9:30 PM on HBO.
http://www.hbo.com/intreatment/
If you’ve seen the previews - what do you think? Groundbreaking?
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