In Treatment

In these TV writer's strike challenged times, I've taken the opportunity to check out programs I wouldn't otherwise view.  One of these, HBO's In Treatment has been on the list.  The show's premise (which I gather was taken from an Israeli TV series) is to follow psychiatrist Paul Weston (played by the craggy Gabriel Byrne) as he conducts sessions with his various patients.  Set in the doctor's home office, "action" is effectively nil.  The patient arrives, is seen (and a little more of their story revealed each session), and leaves.  Doesn't sound promising, does it?  Yet, somehow I'm hooked.  Laura can't seem to have a healthy relationship and is obsessing over Paul who is trying hard to remain professional.  Alex is an ego driven Navy pilot who accidentally dropped a bomb on a children's school and refuses to face his emotions.  Sophie is a seemingly self-destructive teenage gymnast who's family life is in tatters.  In the above picture Paul is counseled by his own analyst, Gina (the talented Dianne Wiest).  And on and on.

Is the show for everybody?  Apparently not.  I've yet to find anyone other than me that's watching.