The Patient review: A serial killer-meets-therapist story that starts well, meanders along, and is just okay in the end

3/5

Story: Therapist Alan Strauss’ (Steve Carell) new patient Gene (Domhnall Gleeson) wants to address the problems stemming from the abuse he suffered as a child at the hands of his father. But the therapy doesn’t get anywhere, because Gene isn’t opening up enough. Gene is harbouring a secret, a big one, which he feels confident enough to confide in Alan only after kidnapping him and chaining him to a bed in his basement back home. Turns out, Gene is actually Sam, a food inspector with a murderous bent. And Alan’s job now is to talk Sam out of committing his next murder, which he is already hell-bent upon. Can Alan get through to Sam after all?

Review: Ten episodes that play out mostly in one setting – a neat basement with a bed, side-table, chairs. This is where Alan Strauss (Carell) has to get his act together and not only prevent Sam from acting on his murderous thoughts, but also get to the bottom of why his patient is the way he is. Accomplished as he is as a therapist, Alan has his own failings as a parent, especially with his son Ezra, who has embraced a more orthodox form of Judaism, something that weighed heavily on him and his now late wife. His patient/captor, Sam, is indeed a victim of childhood abuse that manifests as murderous instincts, triggered at the slightest hint of rude behaviour towards him.

In their now changed therapy environment, Alan doesn’t immediately have a breakthrough with Sam, and some of his suggestions have disastrous consequences. So much so that Sam even changes up his modus operandi.

The Patient is not only about Sam learning to control his emotions and, thereby, not killing, but more about Alan’s inner reflection, recognizing his faults and coming to terms with the outcome. The show barely skims the surface of Sam’s psyche. Yes, he was abused as a child by his father and his mother did not nothing to stop it. Yet it is only the father Sam despises. The Patient has shortcomings, no doubt, but what works for the show is its cast. Steve’s strong yet measured performance as Alan is the highlight, with Domhnall matching it step-by-step.

Strangely, even though most episodes of the show are only about 20-25 minutes long, except the finale, the mid-sections feel stretched and wafer-thin. The makers get their game back on towards the end and wrap it up well, although we saw it coming all along.

Verdict: This is not a show about murder and mayhem or even a police investigation, even though the central character is a serial killer. So, if you are expecting any of that, well, fat chance. What you will get instead, is some decent story-telling and stellar performances.