Maybe More Isn't Better

A growing number of Americans find comfort in a psychologist. The overly worked and overly stressed American lifestyle often leads to repressing problems. Americans unable to conjure enough time to work through their own matters employ a psychologist. HBO, recognizing this common denominator in Americans, airs its original series In Treatment. Cornering an audience, HBO allows viewers to look into the psychoanalytical appointments of fictional characters. Addressing the depressing problems of others In Treatment fails to hold the viewer’s attention. In Treatment’s plot line is overtaxing, the action of it’s characters are unbelievable, and its short episodes address a depressing topic.

In an opening episode the patient Laura (Melissa George) sits weeping for an exuberantly drawn out period. Long enough to merit changing the station. In a frantic ultimatum between marriage and separation Laura leaves her boyfriend. Escaping to a bar she randomly has sex in the bathroom with an unknown man. The sound of pissing in the neighboring stall conjures different feelings in Laura. After halting the unknown man’s penetration Laura pleasures him in other ways. She explains all of this to her psychoanalyst Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne) down to every last detail, and then leaves the room to throw up. Laura then ends the session by confessing feelings for Paul. Placing Laura, the emotionally distraught and love seeking women, next to the well-composed psychoanalyst made Laura’s love confession all to predictable from the beginning. Furthermore, the writers take Laura’s story too far making it unbelievable and hard to identify with the character of Laura. A one nightstand at her place might have been believable but a bar bathroom is gross. Sex may sell but the extent to which it is taken leaves a sickly aftertaste.

To end each week of episodes Paul visits his own therapist Dr. Gina Toll (Dianne Wiest) who was an old mentor to Paul. A long mentor/mentee history is drawn between them, yet the reason for their fallout is never brought to light. Fighting through their session together the dissonance between them is also failed to be resolved. The problem would seem easy for two psychoanalysts to address but is only danced around. Paul the central character of the series would presumably be the character most developed. However, little information about Paul is given. Instead more problems with his life are presented that tax the viewer further. Pleading for information about the relationship between Gina and Paul the conversational session only leads to more tangles that frankly just annoy. The poorly written episode ends with no idea of why Paul has chosen now to visit Gina. The limited information given does not intrigue, it angers.

In Treatment looks at the problems of our overstressed Americans head on. Americans in an awkwardly ironic scenario have turned to the unrealistic dilemmas of television for enjoyment and release. Finding release in the overly complex problems that Laura brings on herself seems counter intuitive in this age of stress. Theses depressing problems aren’t a release but a form of masochism that only prompts further stress. In Treatment is designed for the rising mass of overly worked overly stressed Americans who will stay up for thirty more minutes to get a fix of drama.