User reviews

The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, and Rome ending, left a gaping hole in the heart of HBO for me.

I was ready to drop my subscription when I realized that Gabriel Byrne was going to be a key player in the new series, In Treatment.

WOW! I'm so glad I stuck it out...Gabriel Byrne...I first admired him years ago when he played in a robust movie called "Into The West" which I now own on DVD. He is one damn fine actor in a tour de force of a show that he can easily sink his teeth into.

Diane Wiest as the therapist's therapist is noteworthy as well!

The plot is addictive...I quickly became committed to the weekly patients, some of whom I really hate. The script is detailed, intense and very well written. The simple sets and the subtle camera action during emotional moments, serves well to keep one purely focused on the drama. And man what drama! Even though it has no comedy, In Treatment is almost destined to be another big hit for HBO.

Some one suggested Robin Williams should have had the part of the psychoanalyst...what? I hope that was a joke.

I just watched the very first episode and after it was over I just sat there, silent, amazed at what I had just seen. It's dialog and character driven. It's simple and yet complicated. Gabriel Byrne seems to be the perfect choice for the therapist character. He's an actor who says a lot with his face and his eyes. Frankly, I can't wait to see what happens with these people.

Very engaging first episode. It drew me in with just two people sitting in a room talking. There really aren't many things out there that can do that. Definitely give it a chance, especially if you enjoy most things HBO.

I think it should be understood, that therapy is not always the cliff-hanger that these episodes are. But, if you made a show that was truly realistic to what occurs in therapy, no one would watch it. So I feel the writers/producers of "In Treatment" made the smart move in focusing on the aspects of therapy (psychoanalysis, to be precise) that are most riveting; these tend to be issues of transference and counter-transference. The Friday supervisions/treatments that Paul receives provide vital clues to keep an eye out for in the subsequent sessions that he has in the following week. In the most recent episode (2-5-08), Paul is seen to be projecting onto Alex his own feelings towards his marriage by telling alex that he's probably known these marital concerns were at a "boiling point" for some time. This is a small example of the attention to detail that the writers/producers have paid to the realities of therapy; and if they did this without a psych consult, all the more credit to them.

Lets not forget that this is a television show. It can't be a perfect portrayal of the reality of the therapeutic environment. Lets ALSO remember that therapists are not perfect people. They can be idiots who foolishly leave medicine in their office bathroom cabinets; they can project their own issues into a session; and they can clog their toilets up, resulting in an argument with a client over boundaries (Laura, week2). Paul is being portrayed as an adept psychoanalyst with issues of self-worth that were probably never thoroughly analyzed during his training. When the narcissistic thrill of being a gifted therapist wears off, everything starts to make its way to the surface.

Kudos to HBO on a well-done series.

This Show is a definite contender for the Emmy awards this year. The writing was superbly well done and even if it always remains in his office it keeps me on the edge of my seat.

Personally its Gabriel Byrne's best job since " The Usual suspects". The characters all have amazing depth in their histories and personalities. My personal Favourite is Sophie, she shows what many true teenagers are feeling everyday but are to afraid to get help. Diane west playing Gina was an excellent choice because of her inviting motherly aspects as well as her coldness.

I personally think it was a brilliant idea even if it was already done in another country. It is the best new HBO show in my opinion and one of the best show's ever produced.

OK all of you who've read the first draft of this article thank you for saying it helped you and now that i've finished the series i can say that i stand behind everything i said before. I honestly cant wait for the next season.

So i've just finished watching the first 5 episodes of HBO's new therapy session adaptation, "In Treatment", and I can say that I'm am more than satisfied. This show is really great! I'm not one to fall for 'buzz', and i'd seen a few interview/promotions for the program before I had sat down to watch it but this program works purely on its script and sharp camera work. it's quite easy to get pulled into it. It is of course a bit 'over'-dramatic (or just dramatic as this is TV) for the sake of entertainment, but the dialogue is kept realistic and subtle enough to be engaging.

Each of the characters bring something totally different as well and the final therapy session of the week is probably the most ironic and consequently the most fun.

I would like to say this feels totally original, though truthfully it reminds me a bit of the Soprano's, specifically Tony's therapy sessions, it has that same feel but with a little more spice to last that whole 30 Min's or so. The cinematography is also really tastefully done.

All in all its a well carried out show, and i could say a ton more at the risk of sounding like a advertisement so i won't. its a really great show and can't wait for the next slew of episodes.

Don't hesitate to check it out!

"In Treatment" is a great show that for some reason only ran for three seasons. It's a shame because it was well produced, well acted and had good scripts.

Gabriel Byrne stars as psychiatrist Paul Weston, who, during the run of the show, goes through a few changes himself. My first quibble, though I loved the show, is what straight woman or gay man could possibly have Gabriel Byrne as their psychiatrist? One of the main features of psychiatry - explored throughout the series - is that of transference, where a patient believes he or she is in love with the psychiatrist.

Now, if Byrne were truly a psychiatrist, he probably would have had to close his practice with all the patients throwing themselves at him. That's just my opinion. That being said, we saw several instances of transferences throughout "In Treatment."

The patients were fascinating: married couples, a potential teen Olympian (Mia Wasikowska), an angry gay teen (Dane DeHaan), a sexy beauty (Melissa George) who falls for Paul, an old patient who returns, a young woman (Allison Pill) refusing to seek treatment for her cancer, a successful businessman (John Mahoney) with panic attacks, a pilot (Blair Underwood) responsible for the death of children, a successful actress (Debra Winger) whose sister is dying, and others. The most interesting for me was the Indian man (Irrfan Khan) who has been brought from Calcutta after he was widowed to live with his son and his family.

I agree with others, that this was representative of real-life therapy, the high points. Psychiatry is like police work - pretty humdrum, so smartly, the writers did not include the more pedantic parts.

Along the way, Paul faces his own demons and works with two different therapists. One is his old supervisor (Dianne Wiest) and a young woman (Amy Ryan).

Gabriel Byrne is fantastic -- circumspect at times, vulnerable, and completely human.

I really will miss this series, which I viewed on Amazon prime.

I was ready to be seduced by a new HBO series and here it was. Perfect timing coincided with perfect writing and acting had made an immediate fan out of me before the end of week 1. We follow week-by-week the therapy sessions of four individuals (which includes watching Paul Weston, the therapist go through his own therapy) and one couple. For anyone who has ever been in therapy there is an automatic connection to the whole process as we see it unfold with different characters and being able to relate to pieces of all of them.

The acting is incredible though this show belongs to Gabriel Byrne and Diane Wiest. I'm having my own erotic transference to Dr. Weston but am I relating to him as an actor or a therapist? That's how wonderful he is in this role.

"In Treatment" is what "Tell Me You Love Me" tried to be but didn't quite hit the mark. Promise you, after 2 sessions, you will be hooked.

I nearly judged this one by its first episode, which I think pointed the series in the wrong direction. This show is a cleverly constructed concept that feels quite like it belongs on the stage. Gabriel Byrne uses his greatest talent - subtly of style - and performs exceptionally in the long pauses and lingering shots. Its addictive. Come 'Thursday' night you may feel cynical, but after 'Friday's' episode you just have to know what transpires the next week. In an age where we are all obsessed with over-analysing everything, this is a show that will appeal to many people with its everyday issues and obvious psychology that we are so keen to recognise in others, but not ourselves - a fact blatantly realised when the tables are turned and the therapist effectively goes to therapy.

I don't know why, but everyone who comments on this show feels a need to outline each of the characters, with a short "bio" and some personal remarks.

What's curious about this is that the show's uniqueness comes from Gabriel Byrne's performance, and the subtle variations in his dealing with each patient. Their problems and dilemmas are somewhat secondary to his attempts to address them, which, ironically, is only possible because the other actors are absolutely brilliant.

All that said, Sophie is fascinating, not only from the character/plot/script standpoint, but from the unbelievable performance by Mia Wasikowska. She was the only one in the show I had never heard of or seen anywhere else, and for this kind of incredible performance to spring out of nowhere, it's clear she's sold her soul to the devil, and truly gotten her money's worth. Looking forward to seeing her in everything else she does.

Still well written and acted, but regrettably, the writers 'California-ized' the original which takes away some of the edginess of the show. Venue has a lot to do with series such as this. It should have remained in Brooklyn. The locale change lessens the quality of what was one of HBO's finest hours. Bad decision!

In Treatment is one of those series that doesn't need anything more than creativity, because it's all about it. There's no need for more than a director, a camera, an effective editing, great few actors and interesting cases. OK, any other series need all of that too but here everything's much more simple, fitting in a low budget that results in a high profile series that holds your attention just by amazing performances in a room.

When I heard about it for the first time I thought that it could be a lot boring, but I was completely wrong. HBO's philosophy about realistic drama shows never goes wrong on the target.

In Treatment really is something like 6 different series in just one. I mean... you can follow each one of the 5 weekly patients individually or you can just opt following all of them. So you will keep understanding the primal idea anyway you choose. And that is a lot interesting and innovative.

Boring? No way. The actors and their characters have their very own personality and problems a part, and each one of them has their own meaning and importance in a way that it's impossible choose the most interesting or the best performance between them.

First season is filled with great actors and amazing characters. You have Laura (monday) - brilliantly performed by Melissa George - a person who have relationship problems with her fiancé because she's in love with Peter, her psychotherapist; Alex (tuesday) - performed by Blair Underwood - an arrogant navy pilot that is always testing Peter and himself without balancing consequences; Sophie (wednesday) - performed by Mia Wasikowska - a teenager that seems to be a potential suicide but in fact problems are too much worse than that; Jake & Amy (thrusday) - performed by Josh Charles and Embeth Davidtz - a couple which husband has trust problems with a wife that's always hiding truths to avoid his jealousy behavior; and at least and last Peter himself (friday), performed by Gabriel Byrne, who searches for his once a time mentor and now a retired psychotherapist Gina - magnificently performed by Dianne Wiest - because psychotherapists are also humans and have their own personal and professional problems.

But the best thing for me is the realistic tone of each chapter, making us fell like in a real psychotherapy session. If you like consistent dialogs and enjoy a lot to be an observer of human behaviors and also all those psychotherapist manners to take away hidden truths like playing a game, you'll be mesmerized with this show. It's simple, consistent, dense and emotional with no shame.

Unfortunately, with the change over to Uzo Aduba replacing Gabriel Byrne in season 4, the show became about Uzo Aduba, her distracting weight (painfully tight clothing making you wonder how she could breath) and improbable affair with Joel Kinnaman. Season 4 felt awkward with no one looking comfortable, particularly Ms Aduba. Her patients were secondary. Season 4 was no longer the show we grew to intimately love for the prior 3 seasons. If you love Uzo Aduba, you'll love season 4. If not, stick with seasons 1-3.

Gabriel Byrne was the perfect 'father figure' for a therapy session but Uzo Aduba, literally, switched from councilor chair to patients - making the show more about her - and far less inviting.

The first three seasons are really interesting. I really recommend you to watch them if you're interesested in psychoanalysis. There isn't really any show that portraits therapy.

But the forth seasons is just a shame. It's perfectly in line with many of the politically correct remakes. Don't torture yourself with this.

It felt like i was in therapy myself.. powerful drama and deeply emotional..strong dialogs.. i have never seen something like this before.. i was sick with all these special effects and stuff that we see now-days in all the movies and series and i wanted to see good stories.. and finally here i was!I saw two seasons in one and a half week!! isn't that crazy?i'm about to see season 3. i was surprised to see a little bit of myself in many of the "patients" and i also saw a different point of view in specific acts.. how weird.. it make me think after every episode and this i call it a success! how it seems simple but also complicated..just two people talking but doesn't make you bored at all! Gabriel Byrne couldn't be better it was a successful choice and all the characters were in role in such way that amazed me! i still can't understand why the brilliant HBO canceled season 4. big big mistake..i really hope they reconsider and i believe there are a lot like me that want the series to continue.

10/10 for the first 3 seasons! The fourth was completely different, they could've made it it's own show instead of making it season 4 of in treatment. Personally, could not finish it. It felt, I don't know, disingenuous?

I don't usually give reviews like this. In fact, I don't even login IMDb. But, for this title, I HAD to create an account and just had to tell people what an amazing show it was. I'm completely in awe of it. The superb acting, the extremely engaging script, the perfect camera-work, the subtle and soothing music in the backdrop, and the layers of complex story lines associated with each character. This show is just perfect. And the last episode in season 3 provides just the perfect end. So beautiful. As a psychology student myself, I have got to learn so much from this show. I'm no one to even comment on the brilliance of this show, but I just couldn't resist doing so anyway! I have just finished watching the last episode of the series.. such a perfect ending. Thanks to the directors and producers of the show for giving me the privilege of having such an experience; for providing an alternate reality for me to go back every week and experience the world with a part of me that heavily empathised with the protagonist.

I've been left truly humbled by the show.. the raw emotions of each character and the brilliant acting did justice to the whole concept. As much as I would like them to continue making new episodes, I think there couldn't be a more perfect ending to the show.

I loved every single bit of this show. Missing it already...

"In Treatment" is television at its finest. Every episode is a perfectly faceted jewel. From the complex and nuanced writing, crisp dialogue, superb casting, exquisite performances, and deft directing to the consistently moving and reflective scores. I can't rave enough about this series. I sat down to watch one episode and instantly became addicted; inhaling all three seasons in a non-stop psychotherapy marathon. I laughed, I cried, I marvelled. In a sea of network television fare populated by 'women on a slab' crime series, vampires, zombies, and inane, juvenile sitcoms, this series stands alone. Thank you HBO and all of the creators and performers who helped make this a remarkable and transcendent series.

I think the earlier versions of "In Treatment" with Gabriel Byrne were better. The writing in Season 4 (2021) feels a little slow. But in general I do like therapy TV, so I am watching season 4 anyway. Also, the rating scale for "In Treatment" only allows for a single rating for all seasons, so I would rate the earlier versions of the show much higher. One thing worth mentioning.....Uzo Aduba was excellent. I wish that some of the patients were more interesting though.

What the actual F did i just watch? This is beyond my comprehension. Don't watch the new season. First three seasons are masterpiece though :) But the new one.....

Loved first 3 seasons of In Treatment, but as usual the show has deteriorated and it's not worth watching. Gabriel Byrnes was excellent very convincing, the show was well written. Season four is exactly the opposite, don't waste your time.

The best way to determine if you'd like In Treatment is to ask you if you're a fan of theatrical 2-character dramas. If you are, then In Treatment delivers the goods, with enough realism and plot twists to make each 20-25-minute dose as hard to stop popping as eating your favorite snack. And with over 120 episodes, it'll keep you glued for months.

Gabriel Byrne is the cement that grounds the first three seasons and it's this show that really opened my eyes to his range of talent. He brings endless layers to an already conflicted and complex role that's generally even more interesting than any of his client's characters, even though they're also played with aplomb by some of the best dramatic actors on TV. As a bonus, you get Michelle Forbes as his put-upon wife (spectacular) and the unsinkable Dianne Wiest as his supervisor, whose character is just as deep as Byrne's and maybe a bit more mysterious. That role was later filled by Amy Ryan in Season 3, so you get the idea... not exactly amateur night.

Until Season 4, that is, which tried to surface in 2021 and quickly sank. But the fault there lies almost entirely with the production and writing, which strives for a relevancy it never earns, due to uneventful, hackneyed storylines and giving Byrne's replacement (a capable Uzo Aduba) a weakness that long passed its expiration date in melodrama in about 1964. But it's passable, barely.

But this is one of those shows that (other than its Israeli predecessor, which In Treatment just Americanizes) is truly nothing like anything else on modern TV --- it's closest relative is probably Playhouse 90 from the '50s, when theatrical (rather than musical) theater was gladly welcomed by mass audiences. No catchphrases, no laugh tracks, just good solid drama and the acting to pull it off.