- Genre: Drama, Psychological thriller
Created by Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg
Writtning by Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg
Starring: Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson & Linda Emond.
Composers: Nathan Barr, Justin Burnett
Executive Producers: Joel Fields, Joe Weisberg, Chris Long, Caroline Moore, Victor Hsu, Steve Carell
Producer: Michael Maccarone
Cinematography: Dan Stoloff, Moira Del Pilar Morel
Editors: Amanda Pollack, Daniel Valverde, Kate Sanford
Production Companies: The JS, Scallie Filmworks, Inc, FXP
Distributor: Disney Platform Distribution
Plot: A psychotherapist who recently lost his wife, finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer with an unusual request to curb his homicidal urges.
This limited Series was 50/50 to me.
Pros: It was so well acted by both Steve Carell & Domhnall Gleeson. The show had a lot of intensity where you don’t know what’s going to happen next. The main story was quite simple, and this series took me about three days to complete.
Cons: Towards the end of this series it does feel like it is dragging on for too long. At times I was irritated seeing Alan being strapped to the bed in the basement, without trying to escape.
Casts & characters:
Main:
- Steve Carell as Alan Strauss, a therapist mourning the recent death of his wife.
- Jackson Dollinger portrays a young Alan Strauss
- Domhnall Gleeson as Sam Fortner, a serial killer, a new patient of Alan’s, and a fan of Kenny Chesney. He also works as a restaurant inspector.
- Linda Emond is Candace Fortner, Sam’s mother who is aware of the situation.
Recurring:
- Andrew Leeds as Ezra Strauss, the son of Alan and Beth, estranged after he became an Orthodox Jew.
- Laura Niemi as Beth Strauss, the recently deceased wife of Alan who died of cancer and was a beloved cantor at her community’s Reform synagogue.
- Alan Blumenfeld as Chaim Benjamin
- Alex Rich as Elias, a man held captive by Sam, and the trigger for why Sam sought out Dr. Strauss.
- David Alan Grier as Charlie Addison, Alan’s former therapist.
I would recommend this series only if you are a Steve Carell fan. It’s on Disney+
Rating: 6 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe.