I started the series because Apple had portrayed it as a comedy (and fit given the actors), and the excerpts used, isolated as they were presented to us for gaining viewership, did in fact make it appear like it would be a funny show. Queue however the quickly developing 'ick' factor and knowing from the on-screen blurb its true story basis compounding the horrors portrayed, and it became very clear soon enough that this was no comedy. Nonetheless, I found myself continuing to watch and notwithstanding its being very hard to watch often, precisely because the show's character portraits prompted that kind of horrified "what's next?" and thus mesmerizing attraction to find out how it would all go/end.
Like watching a car crash or train wreck you could not prevent but were doomed to see unfold in a sort of slow-motion in front of you, this screenplay and acting, the drama unfolding, made it equally too uncomfortable to stop watching! I withheld final judgment until the series completed. Certainly, I know I was both repelled and horrified at this representation of something so awful that could go on for so long, a situation largely unknown and un-investigated presumably, because of a lack of formal complaints. Hardly surprising, given the demoralized patients who were incapable to overcome such finessed manipulation or, if/when they realized and they escaped the doc's clutches, they most likely simply wanted to stay as far and un-involved from their former narcissist doctor's clutches as possible. There were some loose ends, like why Bonnie stayed and did not report his professional misconduct. Similarly, how his sister also just gave up her brother rather than apparently take a similar action of complaint, for e.g., and even perhaps, loss of shared use of the house, to force the issue. We will never know (or maybe the podcast reveals more; TBD!)
Many will perhaps, in sticking with the series, have learned much about the nature of human vulnerability, when lack of confidence and seemingly trivial "common" anxiety that should respond to modern, evidence-based therapeutic interventions, instead lands you being manipulated into dependence and financial and emotional servitude, by a supposed mental health professional. The whole idea a psychiatrist could be such a narcissist and find his narcissistic supply in his patients, that he thought and envisaged as being psychologically and financially 'helpful' is pretty amazing. But it happened to this one man for 27 years, and others too, clearly, so ... Yikes! A cautionary tale.
The production excelled, in my opinion, at making us see and feel how those decades of abuse of power by the therapist could have happened and why. Anyone not getting that, not understanding Marty's vulnerability on meeting Dr Herschkopf, may have a paucity of empathy, and very likely, I suspect, a simplified viewpoint on how people's lives vary and can derail due to yes, their own 'stuff', but also significantly, the shrewd, criminal even, manipulation of someone like this despicable psychiatrist. It's ultimately not only about one man's personal growth and redemption, this show, but a cautionary tale as already noted.. That old phrase, "But for the grace of God, go I," seems apt!
All that said, I can agree that some episodes in the middle of the series especially, could have been accelerated and so probably have been a series of 6 shows; the 8 included a tad more repetitive emphasis than certainly I felt I needed. But they also showcased well the long trajectory of abuse over the years, how truly, persuasively and masterfully manipulative the doc had actually been. Maybe the creators were right though, knowing some privileged viewers with less trauma and experience of abuse in their own lives would have needed that extra repetition to see the crux of things, in which case, the painful road through the middle quagmire may have been necessary and propitious.
The acting was, I thought right until the last two episodes, mostly unremarkable. Good, yes, extraordinary no. I did have little trouble with believing Marty's character by Will Ferrell all along, while Dr Ike's was less entrancingly acted, IMO, and it took a lot longer to be more than just seeing Paul Rudd in a psychiatrist's role. Admittedly, that might link somewhat to the dislike for whom he represented I experienced so strongly, possibly making me less generous re his portrayal than Ferrell's. It adds up to a quality production overall though. Not spectacular, but solid in the final analysis. Kudos to Apple TV productions for tackling difficult subject matter and putting this story on TV. For me it's a 7/10 and worth watching.
Like watching a car crash or train wreck you could not prevent but were doomed to see unfold in a sort of slow-motion in front of you, this screenplay and acting, the drama unfolding, made it equally too uncomfortable to stop watching! I withheld final judgment until the series completed. Certainly, I know I was both repelled and horrified at this representation of something so awful that could go on for so long, a situation largely unknown and un-investigated presumably, because of a lack of formal complaints. Hardly surprising, given the demoralized patients who were incapable to overcome such finessed manipulation or, if/when they realized and they escaped the doc's clutches, they most likely simply wanted to stay as far and un-involved from their former narcissist doctor's clutches as possible. There were some loose ends, like why Bonnie stayed and did not report his professional misconduct. Similarly, how his sister also just gave up her brother rather than apparently take a similar action of complaint, for e.g., and even perhaps, loss of shared use of the house, to force the issue. We will never know (or maybe the podcast reveals more; TBD!)
Many will perhaps, in sticking with the series, have learned much about the nature of human vulnerability, when lack of confidence and seemingly trivial "common" anxiety that should respond to modern, evidence-based therapeutic interventions, instead lands you being manipulated into dependence and financial and emotional servitude, by a supposed mental health professional. The whole idea a psychiatrist could be such a narcissist and find his narcissistic supply in his patients, that he thought and envisaged as being psychologically and financially 'helpful' is pretty amazing. But it happened to this one man for 27 years, and others too, clearly, so ... Yikes! A cautionary tale.
The production excelled, in my opinion, at making us see and feel how those decades of abuse of power by the therapist could have happened and why. Anyone not getting that, not understanding Marty's vulnerability on meeting Dr Herschkopf, may have a paucity of empathy, and very likely, I suspect, a simplified viewpoint on how people's lives vary and can derail due to yes, their own 'stuff', but also significantly, the shrewd, criminal even, manipulation of someone like this despicable psychiatrist. It's ultimately not only about one man's personal growth and redemption, this show, but a cautionary tale as already noted.. That old phrase, "But for the grace of God, go I," seems apt!
All that said, I can agree that some episodes in the middle of the series especially, could have been accelerated and so probably have been a series of 6 shows; the 8 included a tad more repetitive emphasis than certainly I felt I needed. But they also showcased well the long trajectory of abuse over the years, how truly, persuasively and masterfully manipulative the doc had actually been. Maybe the creators were right though, knowing some privileged viewers with less trauma and experience of abuse in their own lives would have needed that extra repetition to see the crux of things, in which case, the painful road through the middle quagmire may have been necessary and propitious.
The acting was, I thought right until the last two episodes, mostly unremarkable. Good, yes, extraordinary no. I did have little trouble with believing Marty's character by Will Ferrell all along, while Dr Ike's was less entrancingly acted, IMO, and it took a lot longer to be more than just seeing Paul Rudd in a psychiatrist's role. Admittedly, that might link somewhat to the dislike for whom he represented I experienced so strongly, possibly making me less generous re his portrayal than Ferrell's. It adds up to a quality production overall though. Not spectacular, but solid in the final analysis. Kudos to Apple TV productions for tackling difficult subject matter and putting this story on TV. For me it's a 7/10 and worth watching.