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The Patient

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The Patient
Genre
Created byJoel Fields &
Joe Weisberg
ShowrunnersJoel Fields &
Joe Weisberg
Written byJoel Fields &
Joe Weisberg
Starring
Composers
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes10
Production
Executive producers
  • Joel Fields
  • Joe Weisberg
  • Chris Long
  • Caroline Moore
  • Victor Hsu
  • Steve Carell
ProducerMichael Maccarone
Cinematography
  • Dan Stoloff
  • Moira Del Pilar Morel
Editors
  • Amanda Pollack
  • Daniel Valverde
  • Kate Sanford
Running time21–46 minutes
Production companies
  • The JS
  • Scallie Filmworks, Inc
  • FXP
Original release
NetworkFX on Hulu
ReleaseAugust 30 (2022-08-30) –
October 25, 2022 (2022-10-25)

The Patient is an American psychological thriller limited series created and written by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, who also serve as showrunners and are executive producers Chris Long, Caroline Moore, Victor Hsu, and Steve Carell. The series stars Carell alongside Domhnall Gleeson and Linda Emond in lead roles. It premiered on August 30, 2022, on FX on Hulu and concluded on October 25, 2022, after a ten-episode run.

The series follows a therapist (Carell) who is held captive by a patient (Gleeson), seeking unconventional therapy for his homicidal urges. The narrative delves deep into the psychological tension between the characters, focusing on themes of trauma, morality, and control.

The Patient received positive reviews from television critics. Carell's performance earned him a nomination for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie, while Gleeson received nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries.

Synopsis

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A therapist (Steve Carell) is held captive by a serial killer (Domhnall Gleeson) who seeks help to curb his homicidal urges.

Cast and characters

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Main

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  • Steve Carell as Dr. Alan Strauss, a therapist mourning the recent death of his wife[1]
    • Jackson Dollinger as young Alan Strauss
  • Domhnall Gleeson as Sam Fortner, a serial killer, new patient of Alan's, and fan of Kenny Chesney. He also works as a restaurant inspector.[1]
  • Linda Emond as Candace Fortner, Sam's mother who is aware of the situation[1]

Recurring

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  • Andrew Leeds as Ezra Strauss, the son of Alan and Beth, estranged after he became an Orthodox Jew[1]
  • 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[1]
  • 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[1]

Episodes

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No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Intake"Chris LongJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergAugust 30, 2022 (2022-08-30)
2"Alan Learns to Meditate"Chris LongJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergAugust 30, 2022 (2022-08-30)
3"Issues"Kevin BrayJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergSeptember 6, 2022 (2022-09-06)
4"Company"Kevin BrayJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergSeptember 13, 2022 (2022-09-13)
5"Pastitsio"Kevin BrayJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergSeptember 20, 2022 (2022-09-20)
6"Charlie"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergSeptember 27, 2022 (2022-09-27)
In the aftermath of Elias' death, Alan finds ways to cope. As Sam digs Elias' grave, Alan imagines himself in a session with his former therapist, Charlie, who advises Alan to address with Sam how his mother was partially responsible for the abuse he suffered as a child. Alan convinces Sam not to bury Elias' body, but to leave it somewhere it will be found, as that is the nicer thing to do for Elias' relatives. As Sam gets ready to take the body, Alan writes Sam's name on a piece of paper and stuffs it into Elias' mouth for the police to find.
7"Kaddish"Gwyneth Horder-PaytonJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergOctober 4, 2022 (2022-10-04)
Alan continues to disassociate, experiencing visions of a concentration camp and a series of flashbacks to events in his own life. Sam returns to find Alan attempting to recite the Kaddish for his wife but struggling to remember the words. Later, Sam tracks down his elementary school's therapist, Mr. Buchella, and asks if he will be his therapist. Mr. Buchella tells Sam he will consider it, but needs a few days to do so.
8"Ezra"Chris LongJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergOctober 11, 2022 (2022-10-11)
Alan imagines having dialogue with his therapist Charlie. He goes through his various family problems that stem from his son being an orthodox Jew with imaginary Charlie. His son Ezra actively looks for him and is worried, he even changes his rigidity about following Jewish prescriptive traditions in small measures. Sam gets agitated after confronting his boss at work, and later that evening stalks and murders his boss in a back alley. Sam informs Alan that he is changing his therapist.
9"Auschwitz"Chris LongJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergOctober 18, 2022 (2022-10-18)
Alan continues to hallucinate having meaningful talks with Charlie while sharpening an ointment tube to a blade. In a session, he says to Sam that he has to find meaning to his life and has to build relationships, and as a first step he has to rebuild his relationship with Mary, his ex-wife. When Sam complains that it doesn't work, Alan confronts him by saying that the real object of killing is not his victims or their actions but his father. Sam takes the message wrongly and decides to kill his father.
10"The Cantor's Husband"Chris LongJoel Fields & Joe WeisbergOctober 25, 2022 (2022-10-25)
Sam confronts his father about his childhood abuse, and almost kills him before stopping himself and leaving. Alan says it was because Sam doesn't want to become like his father and because Sam is changing as a person who can tolerate other people's shortcomings. He further says it's time to let him go. Sam doesn't feel like honoring his agreement with Alan and prepares for making Alan stay there longer and hints it would be years. Alan isn't ready for it. In the next day's session, he says to Sam that the only proper option for Sam is now institutionalization and that he has to turn in himself. Sam doesn't agree. Alan tries to hurt Sam's mother but ends up being killed by Sam. Alan's family receives a letter written by him from Sam. Sam decides to lock up himself where Alan was locked in and gives the key to his mother.

Production

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Development

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In October 2021, The Patient was officially announced and given a ten-episode order by FX on Hulu. Steve Carell was confirmed as the lead star, playing a therapist held captive by a serial killer, and also served as one of the series' executive producers. The series was created by Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, who are also credited as showrunners and co-writers for each episode. Other executive producers include Caroline Moore, Victor Hsu and Chris Long, with Long also taking on directing duties for several episodes.[2][3][4][5]

Casting

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Alongside the announcement of The Patient in October 2021, Steve Carell was confirmed to star in and executive produce the series.[2] In January 2022, Domhnall Gleeson, Linda Emond, Laura Niemi, and Andrew Leeds were added to the cast.[5][6] The following month, Alex Rich and David Alan Grier joined the series in recurring roles.[7][8]

Filming

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Filming for The Patient began in mid-January 2022 in Los Angeles.[9]

Release

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The Patient premiered on August 30, 2022, on FX on Hulu.[10] Internationally, the limited series became available on Disney+ in select regions.[11] Later, it aired on FX on April 27, 2023.[12]

Reception

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Critical response

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On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Patient holds an 89% approval rating, with an average rating of 7.2/10 based on 62 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "While The Patient might test viewers' patience by overextending its killer conceit, the arguably career-best work by Carell and Domhnall Gleeson make this therapy session worth eavesdropping on."[13] On Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average score, the series has a rating of 74 out of 100 based on 30 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[14]

For RogerEbert.com, Nick Allen praised The Patient for its gripping performances by Carell and Gleeson, highlighting their nuanced portrayal of psychological tension. However, he critiqued the show’s pacing, stating that it "feels stretched too thin over its runtime." He concluded by saying, "The show is more like a short story that’s been pulled into a novel, with some chapters feeling more filler than thriller."[15] For The Guardian, Rebecca Nicholson commended The Patient for Carell’s "absolutely faultless" performance, praising the intensity he brings to the role. She appreciated the show’s psychological depth but critiqued its slow pacing, noting that it "can be almost unbearably drawn out." Nicholson concluded by calling it "a thriller that grips, but not always tightly enough."[16]

Daniel D'Addario of Variety described The Patient as "grim and well-acted" but criticized it for being "too sparse to fully satisfy." He added that "its slow pace and narrow focus leave it feeling like a psychological exercise rather than a compelling drama."[17] For Slant Magazine Pat Brown described The Patient as a "moody psychological thriller" but criticized it for being "too self-contained," arguing that "its themes of guilt and redemption feel underdeveloped." Brown concluded by saying, "While Steve Carell gives a compelling performance, the series never quite lives up to its tense, thought-provoking premise."[18]

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2022 Peabody Award Entertainment The Patient Nominated [19]
2023 28th Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Domhnall Gleeson Nominated [20]
80th Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Television Limited Series/Motion Picture Nominated [21]
29th Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series Steve Carell Nominated [22]
39th TCA Awards Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials The Patient Nominated [23]

Audience viewership

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The Patient performed strongly in streaming rankings. According to Whip Media, which tracks viewership data from over 21 million global users via its TV Time app, the series debuted as the ninth most-streamed original in the U.S. during the week of September 4, 2022.[24] It later rose to sixth place by the week of October 9 and climbed to fifth place the week of October 23. By the week of October 30, it reached third place.[25][26][27]

Reelgood, which tracks real-time streaming data from 5 million U.S. users, reported The Patient as the eighth most-watched show by August 31, 2022.[28] By September 9, it had moved up to fourth place.[29] Additionally, JustWatch, which collects data from over 20 million users globally, ranked the series as the third most-streamed in the U.S. between September 5–12.[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Cast – The Patient on FX". FX Networks. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Petski, Denise (October 7, 2021). "Steve Carell To Star In & EP FX Limited Series 'The Patient' From 'The Americans' Duo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  3. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (October 7, 2021). "Steve Carell to Star in FX Comedy From 'The Americans' Duo". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  4. ^ "The Patient (2021-2022)". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  5. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (January 11, 2022). "'The Patient': Domhnall Gleeson To Star, Three Others Join Steve Carell In FX Series From 'The Americans' Duo". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  6. ^ Porter, Rick (January 11, 2022). "Domhnall Gleeson to Star With Steve Carell in FX's 'The Patient'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  7. ^ Otterson, Joe (February 7, 2022). "FX Limited Series 'The Patient' Casts 'GLOW' Alum Alex Rich (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  8. ^ Petski, Denise (February 10, 2022). "'The Patient': David Alan Grier Joins Steve Carell & Domhnall Gleeson As Recurring In FX Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "The Patient - Production List". Film & Television Industry Alliance. December 6, 2021. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  10. ^ Creahan, Danica (August 5, 2022). "What's new on Hulu in August 2022 - CBS News". CBS News. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  11. ^ Palmer, Roger (October 20, 2022). "FX's "The Patient" Coming Soon To Disney+ (UK/Ireland)". Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  12. ^ Pantoja, Kevin (April 19, 2023). "TV Listings Schedule - April 27". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  13. ^ "The Patient: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  14. ^ "The Patient: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  15. ^ Allen, Nick (August 26, 2022). "The Patient". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  16. ^ Mangan, Lucy (November 30, 2022). "The Patient review – Steve Carell is absolutely faultless in this intense kidnap thriller". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  17. ^ D'Addario, Daniel (August 22, 2022). "'The Patient' Is a Tiresome Examination of Domhnall Gleeson's Criminal Mind: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  18. ^ McIndoe, Ross (August 22, 2022). "'The Patient' Review: A Psychological Thriller with a Lot on Its Mind". Slant Magazine. Retrieved September 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "The Patient". The Peabody Awards. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  20. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 15, 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  21. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2023". Golden Globes. Archived from the original on August 2, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
  22. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®". Screen Actors Guild. January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Hailu, Selome (June 30, 2023). "TCA Award Nominations: 'The Bear,' 'Succession,' 'The Last of Us' Lead With Five Nominations Each". Variety. Retrieved March 6, 2024.
  24. ^ Prange, Stephanie (September 6, 2022). "'Elvis,' 'She-Hulk: Attorney at Law' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on October 4, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  25. ^ Prange, Stephanie (October 11, 2022). "'Werewolf by Night,' 'She-Hulk' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved October 23, 2022.
  26. ^ Prange, Stephanie (October 25, 2022). "'The School for Good and Evil,' 'Andor' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on October 28, 2022. Retrieved October 26, 2022.
  27. ^ Prange, Stephanie (November 1, 2022). "'Barbarian,' 'Andor' Top Weekly Whip U.S. Streaming Charts". Media Play News. Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  28. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (September 2, 2022). "Reelgood: HBO Max's 'House of the Dragon' Tops Weekly Streaming; Sylvester Stallone's 'Samaritan' Has Strong Debut". Media Play News. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
  29. ^ "The most watched TV and movies of the week: 'The Rings of Power' rules them all". Mashable. September 9, 2022. Archived from the original on October 2, 2022. Retrieved October 4, 2022.
  30. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (September 12, 2022). "JustWatch: 'Top Gun: Maverick,' 'Rick and Morty' Top Weekly Streaming Through Sept. 11". Media Play News. Retrieved September 18, 2024.
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