Has anyone else been watching The Shrink Next Door miniseries on Apple, starring Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell? The series finale drops this coming Friday.

It's based on the Joe Nocera podcast of the same name (which I have not listened to), about a real-life psychiatrist, Isaac Herschkopf (Rudd), who exploits (not sexually) his patient Marty Markowitz (Ferrell). The supporting cast includes Casey Wilson and Kathryn Hahn.

I've found it fascinating and disturbing, particularly since it's based on a true story. I am not a huge podcast person, but watching the news is doing in my head, so I've been thinking about giving it a go. Has anyone else listened to it?

I haven't been watching it but have definitely been interested from the previews. I know absolutely nothing about it other than who's in it, and didn't even know it was based on real people.

I didn't know TSND was based on a true story, until after we watched the first episode. I was afraid that would make it too heavy for me, but mostly, it has just increased the holy-shitness of it.

Here's a link to a Time article on Isaac Herschkopf and Marty Markowitz, but beware, it will SPOIL you for the basic plot of The Shrink Next Door. [link]

As usual, I wish I'd waited until the whole season dropped to watch it. I don't think I would have straight-out binged, but I prefer to decide when I'm done, and waiting for a week between episodes now gives shows a chance to slip my mind. < / old>

WoT: Moiraine has had some choice lines these last two episodes. " They're both big and they both brood. " indeed.

The cold open was fantastic. Though their de-aging of Tam effect was really rough. Can't wait to see more Aiel in action later in the series.

I'm a little iffy on Min. It's the only casting so far that hasn't made me really feel like it's the book character brought to life.

Glad we got to see all the pieces put together for the Dragon Reborn reveal though the editing felt a little off.

The cold open was fantastic.

I thought so too.

The Wheel of Time

This episode (1.07) is where I, as someone who didn't read the books, really started to care. I'd been enjoying it well enough, but now I'm in. Of course, this is one episode shy of what could be a year's hiatus. On the plus side, Amazon picked it up for a second season months ago.

I think I'll rewatch this whole season after the s1 finale, so I don't feel so at sea.

The Mindy Project

I caught some of this series when it debuted on Fox as a broadcast show, but I was still working for TWoP then, and it was hard to commit to shows I wasn't covering. I remember Fox cancelling it after season three, and Hulu picking it up for 4, 5, and 6, but I never got back to it until now.

I'm really enjoying it. It's light and sweet, but still manages to be funny (at least in season one). I need the sweetness and light, right now.

I think Kaling is a romantic. I like that about her. It occurred to me when I was watching her Four Weddings and a Funeral miniseries, and now I notices touches here and there in TMP. She favors flattering establishing shots of cities, often at night, that feel iconic, even in her little streaming TV series. I appreciate her sensibilities.

I very much enjoyed The Mindy Project. It’s totally Kaling playing around with rom-com ideas, and it’s done with a real love for the genre which I always feel strengthens that kind of effort

More WoT:

I was surprised that the actress playing Tigraine has only really done stunt work before. I think she really did an excellent job of portraying everything she was going through with just her face and body language. Some book purists are angry that she didn't veil her face again after she was attacked but I don't think the scene would have worked nearly as well emotionally if she had.

I am totally planning to rewatch the season from the beginning after next week. I think it will be interesting to see how things are setup for what the show actually delivered rather than me mentally comparing it to the books.

I just hope the Amazon overlords give them sightly longer episodes and/or a 10 episode season going forward so they can give things a chance to breathe a bit more instead of having to race through the plot.

The Expanse

S6.E2

I am liking how they are doing the child/critters scenes. I'm curious where that storyline will go.

I really liked the action sequences. I could mostly follow along, but had to do a little re-watching. Even with that, I'm not sure what Peaches actually did, but I'm glad it saved Bobbie.

Once the series has finished, I'll have to try reading the books. It will be hard going, my failing attention span and memory might not be up to it.

I didn't follow what Peaches did, either. I was highly amused that Holden called her Peaches, though. Mostly, I didn't check to see how much of the episode was left until practically the end, so I was clearly pretty engrossed and that's good.