In Treatment: Season 2 [Dutch Import]

Season one devotees of this fine and ground-breaking series will not be disappointed by this follow up. Essentially the same format but a year on and we find Paul relocated both in geography and in status. Those who have been through divorce after a long marriage will recognise the sense of the wound, the worry, and the wildness that seems to accompany Paul almost everywhere he goes. Although the main action is still, quite rightly, in the therapy room (a much darker setting than in the last series) we see more glimpses of Paul outside in the world. Therapist viewers will wince knowingly at the short scene in which Paul is reluctantly regaled by a fellow passenger's life story on the train. Worryingly, Paul has become an accident waiting to happen, and his therapeutic interventions and judgements are even more risky and questionable than in the first series; but his heart is still in the right place, even if it's aching and in need of attention; though perhaps the kind of attention Paul's heart really needs isn't to be found in therapy. The sessions with Gina who still falls somewhere between therapist and supervisor, are as complex and powerful as ever. The clients are all new, each of them will draw the viewer in and we'll each have our favourites... for me, Walter stands out, but the acting and performances are top notch right across the cast.

One tip, do NOT watch the TV series on SKY, it's ruined by adverts that were absent from season one. Instead, buy the DVD, sit back, watch one episode a night, and enjoy.

Kevin Chandler, therapist and author Listening in: A Novel of Therapy and Real Life

Notice: This is a review of the R1 (US) edition of 'In Treatment', season 2 (which will probably be identical to the R2 (Europe) edition).

In 'In Treatment' we follow Paul (Gabriel Byrne), a therapist, in his sessions with various clients during 7 weeks (=one week per DVD in the box-set (R1)). Often, Pauls clients don't seem to know exactly why they are there, or deceive themselves. And the same with Paul when he meets with his former tutor, Gina (Dianne West).

The action takes place almost exclusively in Pauls home/office/treatment room with client and therapist engaged in conversation. What is so great with 'In Treatment' is that these sessions are totally captivating as we delve deeper into different persons, including Paul himself whose private life we are showed interiors of, in between sessions for example, or in his dialogues with Gina. As a therapist Paul seems very professional and in control, but we also see his more problematic sides.

The difference with season 2 is, to begin with, new clients: a lawyer and previous patient of Paul, a young girl with cancer diagnosis, a young boy and his parents and a elder man who is CEO of an international company. Each week/DVD has one episode with each patient, and ends with Paul meeting psychoanalyst Gina for a session.

The other difference with season 2 is the setting: Paul is now divorced and has moved to an apartment in Brooklyn. Also, the father of one of his former patients from season 1 is suing him for mistreatment.

For some reason I was slightly more captivated by season 1. I don't know why. Perhaps it's because then the idea was fresh. But there is no question: if you liked season 1 you will like this one as well.

I don't know how truthful "In Therapy" is compared to the real thing, but as I see it this is of minor importance. Also, I don't know how to categorize Paul as a therapist: perhaps some kind of cognitive therapy-school with an existentialist touch, where the treatment mostly consists in asking questions that forces the clients confront themselves and their life situation.

The picture quality and sound is good. The acting is great. The only 'minus' is the lack of extras in the DVD box-set.

I was completely engrossed in these stories of the lives of Paul's patients.Having worked as a therapist and having been in therapy,I noticed so many reverberations and connections to my own experience.That is another way of saying how "authentic" and convincing the dramas felt to me.The narratives of people's lives can be endlessly fascinating, and therapy is one way of keeping curiosity alive about how each narrative is constructed and how it can change and adapt and founder.
Paul is convincing as a fallible therapist who still regularly struggles with his own stories about himself.The interactions between him and his patients are the meat of the drama and their unpredictability keeps us coming back for more.