Review: 'The Shrink Next Door' Has Panache, Impact

Apple TV+ presents "The Shrink Next Door," a limited series starring Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Kathryn Hahn, and Casey Wilson. Michael Showalter ("The Big Sick," "The Eyes of Tammy Faye") and Jesse Peretz ("High Fidelity," "GLOW"), directs from a script by Georgia Pritchett ("Succession"); the film is based on the 2019 podcast written and hosted by Joe Nocera.

This new dark comedy, streaming on Apple TV+, is inspired by true events. It follows the three-decade long manipulative, exploitative, and mentally abusive relationship between psychiatrist Dr. Isaac "Ike" Herschkopf (Paul Rudd) and his longtime patient, Martin "Marty" Markowitz (Will Ferrell). Dr. Ike is accompanied by his unsuspecting wife, Bonnie Herschkopf (Casey Wilson). Marty's stubborn, but loving, sister, Phyllis (Kathryn Hahn), is not duped by Dr. Ike's psychobabble chicanery.

Ferrell and Rudd are nearly unrecognizable in their portrayals of an abused patient and his gaslighting therapist. Ferrell is 6'3" and humbles his stature to give Rudd power in the room and on the screen. Rudd, at a more modest 5'10", eagerly absorbs Ferrell's energy and dominates their scenes. Ferrell as Marty is kind, generous, good with kids, and is easy to be around. Rudd as Ike is a power-hungry jerk. Ike would have to have boundaries in order to have boundary issues. The two have an excellent onscreen camaraderie and charisma that would be difficult to fake. They act well together; their trust in each other is apparent in their every scene.

Marty is ready to cede his entire life to Ike just so he doesn't have to feel alone. And he does. Episode by episode, Marty grants Ike access to his business, his family, his home, and his assets. It isn't until there's no one left in Marty's life except Ike that Marty is able to come back to himself.

"The Shrink Next Door" is a TV series that delves deep into a sociopathic trauma bond. The series starts light, but then takes a deep dive into mental and emotional abuse on personal and professional levels. Folks who are triggered or sensitive to issues such as mental and emotional abuse, gaslighting, isolation tactics, and fiscal abuse should please consider their needs when watching this program. Ferrell, Rudd, Wilson, and, especially, Kathryn Hahn deliver intense, entirely believable performances with panache.

Those coming to the Apple TV+ series from the Bloomberg/Wondery podcast will be delighted. "The Shrink Next Door" is as true to the podcast, and Joe Nocera's journalism, as Hollywood can allow it to be. All of the momentous exchanges are included in the series.

"The Shrink Next Door" makes its global debut Friday, November 12, 2021 on Apple TV+ with the first three episodes, and new episodes will premiere weekly, every Friday.