Closing out a superb season of In Treatment this week, last night’s final sessions with Hope Davis’ Mia and Alison Pill’s April were enough to put a tired smile on the face of Gabriel Byrne’s Dr. Paul Weston.
Mia entered by announcing with typical drama, "I’m stopping therapy"… and then spent the rest of her session wheedling Weston for his approval and his disappointment. It’s been Davis’ great achievement to render Mia a woman who is intelligent, infuriating, funny, exciting, hyper-self-conscious, and impossible. Paul was actually able to help her achieve — there’s no other word for it — closure on the therapy that had begun between the two of them 20 years ago. Just as important, he helped her through a few crucial steps in dealing with her Daddy issues, even if in a sometimes roundabout manner. (With perfect wryness, Mia said at one point, "Nicely done: You’ve managed to double-back to Dad without even mentioning him.") The door was left open for more work with Mia, though I assume Hope Davis has other commitments, and that the writers will move on to another Monday patient, don’t you?
As for April, the 23 year-old arrived with good news: "the mass behind my spine is shrinking." Her cancer is by no means gone, but she was ready to leave Paul’s tender care. And he understood it was time for her to leave, and conducted a lovely exit session. Of course, not without a few barbed observations from our prickly patient. When Paul pressed her to be more aware of what her mind and body tells her instead of trying to ignore psychic and physical pain, April said, "Teaching people to be self-obsessed? Do you really think I need more help in that department?" I admit it: I teared up when Paul gave her his dead father’s leather cap to replace the itchy wool one she was wearing on her scratchy shaven skull. God, I’m going to miss April.
Wow: two for two, Paul! See, you’re the good therapist your therapist, Gina, has been telling you you are. Make sure to watch In Treatment‘s final three sessions tonight, and then petition HBO to renew this marvelous series.
When April mentioned Sophie’s comments on Paul’s website, the look on Paul’s face made me want to cry. This season has been great. I only HBO had given it more than seven weeks, compared to the ten from season one.
Wow. I fear that Alison Pill, like Mia Wasikowska before her (the “Sophie” shout out was perfect last night), will fail to obtain an Emmy nomination she very much deserves. Hope Davis and Sherri Saum have been brilliant as well but Alison Pill “April” has put in the most fascinating performance of a young woman at the beginning of adulthood stricken with cancer in a television series. The performances on this show are so good and the roles are so splendidly complex – it really makes you look at network crap in a different light. No performances on network television can compare to anyone in this cast. Who on television has put in a better supporting (lead)performance than John Mahoney? Brilliant season. Thanks to HBO for sticking with this awesome production.
Utterly unfamiliar with this show, but the name “Allison Pill” makes me laugh.
I agree that this season and the episodes were great. I love the show PERIOD and think the acting and story line is great.
Love, love, love this show! Such a spellbinding half hour each show – yet it is usually only two talking heads. It is truly the best writing on TV right now. In treatment truly has fully developed, unconvential and unpredictable characters. It makes you ache for humanity, yet wonder at its amazing progress. Well done HBO!
if if jon and kate really and strongly belive that no matter what challenge that comes through thier life, then why dont they talk about it and solve it?
i quest kate wants to be single again. so that she do what ever she like and she will meet who ever guys she like. thats all. because i can see that jon dont like to be separate by his kids. if i were jon id rather not give support to the kids unless they come to me and stay wth me not with kate.
This is the VERY BEST show on TV right now. The acting is superb (even better than last season). I want to have Paul as my Therapist lol. As a side note and fan of Jon & Kate plus 8, I think they need Paul’s services.
Absolutely love this show, the acting is superb! Finale was thoroughly satisfying! I look forward to next season. This show is a refreshing change from the trash they’re peddling on TLC. We enjoyed everything from HBO this year, No. 1 detective, True Blood, Big Love! Bravo, HBO, keep ‘em coming!
Hate to disagree, however my friends and I beleive the first season was superior to this season. All these patients were too whiney. Last year’s stories with Alex, Laura, Sophie and “the couple” were much more gripping…liked the nightly (M-F)scehedule better, too.
When are we going to hear that HBO’s In Treatment is going to be renewed for third season. There are too many diehard fans out here who want to see Gabriel Byrne return. We love this show. I’ve sent in three bars of Irish Spring to the HBO Corporate Office as a symbol to renew it (Irish actor – spring showing) and numerous emails, letters, etc. but still no word.