The Patient
The Patient
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The Patient

"No one said therapy was easy."

6.9
Yr 2022
Rt 22m
Status Ended
Drama Crime
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

A psychotherapist finds himself held prisoner by a serial killer with an unusual request: curb his homicidal urges.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 70 /100

The Patient generally receives praise for its strong central performances from Steve Carell and Domhnall Gleeson, with critics frequently pointing to the show's thought-provoking nature and its ability to explore complex themes like empathy and therapy under extreme conditions. Many reviewers appreciated the series' quiet intensity and its attempt to pivot away from blockbuster tropes in favor of a smaller, more intimate psychological study.

However, critical response is divided regarding the show's pacing and narrative structure. While some found the season to be an economically constructed and absorbing thriller, others felt the story was overly padded and would have functioned better as a feature film. Some critics also noted frustrations with the character development of the antagonist, arguing that his arc occasionally felt disconnected or tiresome.

“It's a small story leveraging big ideas to build a compelling tale, a perfect counterpoint to all the empty blockbusters now filling TV screens these days.”

“Steve Carell is absolutely faultless in this intense kidnap thriller.”

“Tension dissipates, conversations repeat, and while some flashbacks hit, other dream sequences... really don’t and too many episodes feel overly padded.”

“It’s more distinctive and complex than a synopsis suggests, and it's often highly entertaining in its modulated, cagey way.”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Hulu
US
Disney Plus
UK • CA
Why fans love it

The 2022 miniseries The Patient leans into the claustrophobia of its premise, turning a professional office into a site of psychological warfare. Steve Carell grounds the intense script, portraying a therapist tasked with navigating the mind of a patient who has abandoned social boundaries for violent compulsions. The series treats the central request as a desperate, high-stakes negotiation where every session carries the weight of potential death.

This drama avoids typical crime tropes, favoring a slow-burning character study over fast-paced investigation. By locking its two leads in a confined space, the narrative forces an uncomfortable closeness that feels more like a prison than a consulting room. It remains a serious exploration of control and morality, documenting how a professional boundary crumbles when faced with a serial killer who wants to be fixed.

Production Board

Crew

Executive Producer
Steve Carell Caroline Moore Victor Hsu Joe Weisberg Chris Long Joel Fields
Set Designer
Kevin McBee Carl J. Stensel
Set Decoration
Lisa Son
Art Direction
David Bridson
Sound Effects Editor
James David Redding III
Supervising Sound Editor
James David Redding III Ken Hahn
Creator
Joe Weisberg Joel Fields
Writer
Joe Weisberg Joel Fields
Costume Supervisor
Kelli Hagen
Director
Gwyneth Horder-Payton Kevin Bray Chris Long
Makeup Department Head
Cindy J. Williams
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ken Hahn
Costume Design
Hope Hanafin
Production Design
Patricio M. Farrell
Set Decoration Buyer
Kyle Davio
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Patient overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

miniseries serious intense
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
August 30, 2022
Status
Ended
Episode Runtime
22 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
336