The Shrink Next Door
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To many people, the unknowns of therapy are scarier than murderous clowns or masked serial killers.
Based on a true story,The Shrink Next Doorwas originallya podcast collaborationfrom Wondery and Bloomberg Media.
Thats just a little fun fact for yall podcast noobs before we dive in.
The Apple TV+ series delves into the bizarre material in truesadcomfashion.
Rudds off-the-charts charisma is also put to excellent use as Dr. Isaac Ike Herschkopf.
I mean, wed all do pretty much anything for Paul Rudd if he asked, amirite?
As a therapist myself, Im always super-intrigued about how fictional narratives treat the therapeutic relationship.
But lets start at the beginning, shall we?
The meat of the episode opens in 2010, but lets hit pause on this timeline for now.
Instead, lets talk about our goddess and savior, Kathryn Hahn.
Hahn plays Martys sister, Phyllis Markowitz, and she is a fucking force of nature.
We meet her in the 1982 timeline, and shes repeatedly encouraging her brother to seek therapy.
But the dude is 38 and suffering a full-on midlife crisis.
So when his sister urges him once more to see Dr. Herschkopf, he does.
Marty and Ike meet.
Ike sits at his desk, keen to meet his new patient and get things going.
Hes an energy chameleon, and his goal in this session is to PUMP Marty UP.
Marty settles into Ikes office but doesnt move to take off his coat or his hat.
Hes not invested, and Ike can see this.
So he suggests that they try something different.
Why dont they just shoot the breeze?
Furthermore, why dont they go on a walk outside while they chat?
Propelled by manic charisma, Ike careens around the New York City streets with Marty as his tagalong.
Marty beams, but then Ike breaks the spell because he cant find his wallet.
She immediately assumes that Ike is a lawyer, and neither he nor Marty move to correct her.
But then, Ike shuts all of Deborahs Mexico Madness down, and Marty experiences a great catharsis.
This meeting has been documented!
Ike declares, with Marty following up with a sassy, Tis been documented, so.
Then the two of them race out of there like giddy caffeinated schoolchildren.
He says, Im not going to let anyone use you.
Remember when I said wed circle back to 2010?
At the top of the episode, Ike is depicted circulating at a party in the Hamptons.
Later that night, the green-shirt guy goes berserk.
He vandalizes the aftermath of the party and then buries those damn gaudy cows from 1982.
Shocker, the guy is Marty.
And things seem to have gone very wrong in his relationship with his therapist.
Our time is up for now, but Ill see you at our next session.
He asks, What do you do when a hero tells you youre a loser?
Marty check-in:In that same frame-shop exchange, Marty also discloses a fear.
You didnt have to pass it.
This line is the most curious and fascinating part of the episode.
When working with mental-health professionals, the answer to this question is complicated.
The first four episodes of the series are directed by Michael Showalter ofWet Hot American SummerandThe Big Sickfame.
Its curious why Apple TV+ with its Scrooge McDucksize moneybags didnt nab him to direct all eight episodes.
