Psychiatric care and therapy are very delicate things. Firstly, mental illnesses are the most stigmatized diseases in the world. But they are not safe from creating the most comedic situations. And when you pair up two giants of comedy like Paul Rudd (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, This is 40) and Will Ferrell (Elf, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby), you’re bound to get a good show. Here’s the thing. It’s not a comedy. And that’s exactly what Apple TV did for this show. In case you don’t know what we’re talking about, this is The Shrink Next Door episode 1 in Otakukart.
A psychiatrist and a patient with a long-time record of mental illness morph their doctor-patient relationship. The whole thing turns into a twisted, manipulative, and dysfunctional relationship. The psychiatrist is Ike Herschkopf, and the patient is Marty Markowitz. As we will see, Ike manages to get a hold of Marty’s life is frankly unethical ways. Moreover, this series is closely based upon a podcast that goes by the same name. Now, without any further ado, let us begin covering this topic here at Otakukart.
The Shrink Next Door Episode 1 release date
The Shrink Next Door episode 1 will release on Friday, November 17, 2021, at 12:00 Eastern Time, United States, on Apple TV+. Firstly, this Apple TV+ production is a limited series that consists of eight episodes. Secondly, the premiere episode will only last 35 minutes. But the rest of the episodes will last up to one hour. Moreover, this show drastically spins the self-help culture rooted in the 1970s. And with Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd doing their best to perform a dark role with funny undertones, we’re bound to have some fun streaming this show. In the next section, we share with you details regarding where to watch this show.
Where to stream The Shrink Next Door?
The only place to stream “The Shrink Next Door” is Apple TV+. In consequence, you need a subscription to this platform to enjoy this show. An Apple TV+ subscription costs US$ 4,99 a month, and you get a seven-day trial when signing up. Additionally, Apple TV+ gets bundled in Apple One who joins up to five other Apple services into a comfortable monthly payment of US$ 14,95. Moreover, the subscription gets you all the exclusive Apple TV originals in crisp, clear 4K HDR in all of your screens and in any device.
Previously, if you wanted to have access to the Apple TV, you were limited to the Cupertino hardware, you needed either an iPad, iPhone, or an Apple TV. But in the present, you can get Apple TV+ in pretty much every smart TV and operating system in the market. In consequence, it’s not essential to possess an Apple device. But if you still want an Apple TV, you have two choices, the 4K version, which goes for US$ 179, or the HD version, which goes for the US $149. With one of those, you get access to the bulk of the big three streaming apps: Netflix, Hulu, Disney+. You can also get HBO Max. Pretty much in the same fashion as you would with a Roku, WebOS, or Tizen.
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Cast
Will Ferrell (from The Anchorman and The Other Guys) stars as Martin “Marty” Markowitz, a patient with a dilated record of mental illness who embarks into an abusive relationship at the hands of his psychiatrist. The shrink is played by Golden Globe Award nominee Paul Rudd (Ant-Man and The Wasp, Romeo + Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes). Rudd plays Jewish psychiatrist Isaac Herschkopf, a man who sees the opportunity to take advantage of his patient by persuading him to let him take over his life, finances and estranging him from his family.
Kathryn Hahn (We’re The Millers, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy) plays Marty’s sister Phyllis Markowitz. And Casey Wilson (The Breakup Girl, Always Be My Maybe) plays Bonnie Herschkopf, the shrink’s wife. Allan Wasserman plays Rabbi Sherman, the man who recommended Marty to start seeing Dr. Herschkopf. Moreover, Sarayu Blue (from the Sons of Tucson) plays Miriam, Kesia Brooke plays Tracey. Amir Talal plays Joe, and Larry Weissman plays Benjamin.
The Shrink Next Door episode 1 recap
The Shrink Next Door, based on actual events that became a famous podcast, begins in 1982 when we meet Marty (Ferrell), a sweet and compassionate but hopelessly naive schmuck who operates his family’s fabric business. Marty suffers from crippling panic attacks after even little confrontations, and his sister Phyllis (WandaVision’s Kathryn Hahn) urges him to consult a therapist. She refers him to the bearded Dr. Ike (Rudd), who makes it his goal to help Marty regain his confidence: “You let others take advantage of you.”
However, there are several early warning signs: Ike hangs out with Marty outside the workplace… but then bills him for it. He slowly infiltrates Marty’s life — and his money. (Marty is wealthier than he looks, with Swiss bank accounts and a Hamptons home, and Ike’s eyes light up with money signs when he discovers this.) Ike is a natural schmoozer with a penchant for the better things. And he has no issue spending Marty’s money to get them. Over many decades, Ike steadily drains Marty dry, pummeling his patient’s mind with a torrent of cruel insults and blatant guilt trips. “Why do you feel the need to claim things?” he wonders after Marty admits to a visitor that the Hamptons mansion is truly his. “It’s unseemly.”
The Shrink Next Door is based upon a true story.
The series, based on actual events, depicts the odd, extremely dysfunctional relationship between celebrity psychiatrist Dr. Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf (Rudd) and his long-term patient Martin “Marty” Markowitz (Ferrell). Over the course of their nearly 30-year relationship, the seemingly genial Dr. Ike slowly worms his way into Marty’s life, persuading him to break off contact with family, moving into his beautiful green Hamptons home, convincing Marty to name him president of the family business. Hosting extravagant parties at Marty’s expense and using Marty’s considerable wealth to start a charitable foundation.
There are a few moments of humorous flare here and there — Marty enthusiastically painting his office to the Laura Branigan pop song “Gloria” is a highlight — but for the most part, this is a strange and melancholy narrative. (Writer Georgia Pritchett comes from Veep and Succession, so she’s no stranger to vicious dark humor.) It’s almost like What About Bob? in inverse, with the psychiatrist turning parasitic on his patient. Phyllis becomes concerned about Ike’s effect on Marty. And Ike builds a gap between the siblings by engaging in a tug of war in which Marty is caught in the middle. It’s a slow burn, and it’s not exactly a barrel of laughs along the way. But it’s curiously intriguing throughout, becoming more scammy and uncomfortable with each episode.
Review commentary
Ferrell and Rudd have a great connection that they built over years of working together on comedy like Anchorman, and it shows here, with both dressed in early ’80s eyeglasses and beards. (If nothing else, this exhibition is a thorough examination of awful ’80s fashion.) Ferrell isn’t as silly as normal, but as Marty, he delivers some of his greatest dramatic work. With his gentle eyes and pleasant manner garnering our sympathies (and pity). As Ike, Rudd uses his inherent charms for nefarious purposes, displaying a startling ferocity when his evil side emerges. And, as Phyllis, Kathryn Hahn maintains her trend of dramatically improving every TV program she appears in; simply hearing her utter “racquetball” in her ’80s Upper West Side Jewish accent is a pleasure.
However, Hahn vanishes in the later episodes, while Casey Wilson is underutilized as Ike’s wife. It gets a bit stifling when just Ferrell and Rudd are left to play off one other. The plot becomes trapped in a rut, hitting the same beats again and over. (This might easily have been a two-hour film.) I kept waiting for anything to develop to a climactic finale. But when it happens, it’s ultimately unsatisfactory. Even while Ike’s infatuation is unnerving, it never becomes completely scary. Overall, it’s worth seeing Ferrell and Rudd stretch their acting muscles a little and go deep into a subject that’s so bizarre, it has to be genuine. With this, we conclude our coverage of The Shrink Next Door here at Otakukart. Thank you for reading this article. And please keep coming back to our website for more daily updates on all your favorite shows.
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