tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post4224687919677084540..comments2024-03-28T18:01:28.997-04:00Comments on What's Alan Watching?: In Treatment week five threadAlan Sepinwallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68453559223169931202009-01-16T23:46:00.000-05:002009-01-16T23:46:00.000-05:00I thought Josh Charles was really affecting this w...I thought Josh Charles was really affecting this week as Jake. I do believe he loves her (although that doesn't mitigate that he's a slacker insecure guy who just attacks people), but you realize when he says awful things, he just wants her to love him. But as he cried, I kept thinking "He now looks vulnerable and weak, and she's going to turn into an ice queen. She doesn't love him." You know Amy hates weakness, and needs a strong man to match her. She doesn't want to see him cry. She just looked...done. Embeth Davditz does frosty so well.<BR/><BR/>I swear to God--Sophie talking to her mother that way? It's hard for me to relate, one-- because I <BR/>love my parents, and two--because I was never that neurotic and hormonal as a teen. I know that I'm unusual, but when i see teens acting like Sophie (and talking to her mother that way!) I just want to slap her. I was annoyed when Paul laughed the first time her mother left. She needed a good lecture! Hence the reason I'm not a therapist...<BR/><BR/>Random note: I like how the blue of the opening credits matches the ship in Paul's office that see-saws back and forth with blue water and sand in the background. Nice touch of symmetry.<BR/><BR/>This show is one of the more addicting ones I've seen in ages. I HAVE to stop watching because i have things to do tomorrow. But man, it's difficult!erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16186483042206438665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-78988907677915781272008-03-03T14:26:00.000-05:002008-03-03T14:26:00.000-05:00Thanks, Stacie.I could definitely be wrong, as I h...Thanks, Stacie.<BR/><BR/>I could definitely be wrong, as I haven't had a chance to watch it again. But if it happened, it was before the outburst by Alex, and I remember it catching Paul off gurad, with him actually looking kind of taken aback and asking Alex why he chose that refernce.<BR/><BR/>I'll rewatch it tonight...Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136037545032145740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-24030146215900616472008-03-03T14:11:00.000-05:002008-03-03T14:11:00.000-05:00I don't even remember hearing anything about a 3rd...I don't even remember hearing anything about a 3rd grader, Dsilver415! Anyone else?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-58832503612777563542008-03-03T10:30:00.000-05:002008-03-03T10:30:00.000-05:00Just watched Alex, Week 5. I thought it was amazin...Just watched Alex, Week 5. I thought it was amazing. And I think it was totally with-in Alex's character to do the things he did. (And agree that as therapy gets closer to his own truths (very likely his own homosexuality) Alex pushes harder and harder against Paul to compensate for his own vulnerability.<BR/><BR/>I have known several Alex's who are just ultra competative in everyting, and find it beleivable that this is how Alex might react. <BR/><BR/>In week 4 with Gina, Paul acknowledges that he chose to see her because it had to be her: He could outsmart anyone else and never have to confront his reality about loving Laura. I think it is the same with Alex. He chose Paul because he wold have bullied anyone else entirely.<BR/><BR/>The thing that really shook me though, was Alex's casual reference, before his full recital of things he knows about Paul, to a 3rd grade girl being raped by her father. I only have 2 theories on this:<BR/>1. As Alan and others have mentioned, he might have bugged the room and be twisting something he heard there. I say twisting because though there were similar stories spoken, none of the victims were close to being a 3rd grader. Alex may have just been using it for effect.<BR/><BR/>2. That this was, and I hope I am completely off base here, a horrible prelude to the littany of things he now knows about Paul. <BR/><BR/>So why would I even bring it up? Knowing Paul's current relationship with his own family, especially with his daughter, I think it is at least remotely possible. His daughter sure does seem kind of lost now.<BR/><BR/>And I wouldn't put it past Alex to have tracked her down and talked to her, either. <BR/><BR/>Please shoot this theory down and convince me it was nothing.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15136037545032145740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30153411504096933522008-03-02T17:36:00.000-05:002008-03-02T17:36:00.000-05:00Is anyone else surprised at how affecting Michelle...Is anyone else surprised at how affecting Michelle Forbes is? Her sci-fi characters (Ensign Ro, Admiral Cain, whatshername from the Global Frequency Pilot) that I've seen have been really tightly wound, and I've interpreted that as woodenness in the actress (although I'm always happy to see her pop up in something.) But she's been emotionally affecting here in a way I haven't seen before and wouldn't have considered her to be capable of.Erichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18351452512636422112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-68940379578045828892008-03-02T14:10:00.000-05:002008-03-02T14:10:00.000-05:00BUt he let it affect their marriage just as much a...BUt he let it affect their marriage just as much as Kate ever did. Whether or not paul acted on his feelings, he let Laura come between him and his wife.<BR/><BR/>He may not have acted on Laura, but his inaction towards her still created a rift.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13633016192933165782008-03-02T04:53:00.000-05:002008-03-02T04:53:00.000-05:00Laura definitely means something to Paul, but on t...Laura definitely means something to Paul, but on the other hand, is he guilty for having the hots for her? The choice lies in whether he acted on his feelings or not, and he didn't. I mean, this whole thing is not ideal, but he resisted and that's gotta count for something!dark tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461345493748899275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-31393163640588979852008-03-01T22:26:00.000-05:002008-03-01T22:26:00.000-05:00I think what Paul is starting to see in Sophie is ...I think what Paul is starting to see in Sophie is Laura (with all her self hatred and daddy issues) in the making... Perhaps this will offer him some perspective in treating both those patients. <BR/><BR/>Jake is turning into a suicide risk himself at the moment. I was truly afraid for him at the end when he broke down.Li Wenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06704116527776708335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37482417184908912202008-03-01T21:35:00.000-05:002008-03-01T21:35:00.000-05:00I think Kate is somewhat justified in her anger. ...I think Kate is somewhat justified in her anger. She and Paul both knew her relationship with the "insurance salesman" was just an escape, and would never be anything more than physical. The fact that she had a miserable time in Italy proved it to her.<BR/><BR/>Paul on the other hand, has an emotional affair with Laura. He has feelings for her that, even though he hasn't acted on them, have clearly taken him away from their marriage long before Kate started her affair.<BR/><BR/>Now Kate has ended her relationship, and it is possible for her to try to come back to the marriage and fix what is broken, but Paul can't because he is still in this relationship, albeit only emotionally, with Laura.<BR/><BR/>I find it interesting that Kate knew precisely when he started treating Laura. It wasn't a gradual thing that developed over time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-79931020240559955192008-03-01T15:35:00.000-05:002008-03-01T15:35:00.000-05:00I thought Kate was a bit too unreasonable in regar...I thought Kate was a bit too unreasonable in regards to the Laura situation. Paul agreed to go couples therapy knowing that the Laura thing was bound to be revealed, and when it eventually was he did not deny any of its aspects. He was uncharacteristically straightforward about the whole thing, plus he hasn't actually done anything with Laura. So he went clean about it and is trying to do something to fix it. I just don't see how Kate can take the moral high ground in this case.<BR/><BR/>It's not that I like Paul that much, but that final moment in Monday's episode where he resisted Laura's ultimate attempt to get him... I dunno, you gotta respect that.dark tylerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13461345493748899275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-54885779994168186262008-03-01T12:10:00.000-05:002008-03-01T12:10:00.000-05:00I was surprised to see Kate there, and she certain...I was surprised to see Kate there, and she certainly brings another dynamic to the session. At least in bringing her and admitting the "love" for Laura, Paul appears to want to fix the relationship with Kate. <BR/><BR/>It may change the revelations to Gina, but anything that adds more screen time for Michelle Forbes is fine by me.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317568565085893849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-10398074581564733272008-03-01T10:21:00.000-05:002008-03-01T10:21:00.000-05:00Finally caught up again. Whew!I found myself oddly...Finally caught up again. Whew!<BR/><BR/>I found myself oddly giggling at the 'Amy used to be fat' revelation, instantly thinking back to <I>30 Rock</I> and what Jack said when he found out C.C. had serious cosmetic surgery. "You know, I thought you made love like an ugly girl. So... present. So grateful."Shawn Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05703481653646144923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-2549514340794537252008-03-01T01:07:00.000-05:002008-03-01T01:07:00.000-05:00I honestly thought this was one of the best episod...I honestly thought this was one of the best episodes yet, though. It was a little eyebrow-raising that Kate was there (I initially assumed he brought her in so he wouldn't have to talk to Gina about last week's admission) but then it went on from there, and eventually found its way back onto the admission, and...yeah.<BR/><BR/>That was the most like an actual therapy session I've seen this show be, too. And Kate was dead-on when she said Paul was being textbooky when he was saying things about how her affair hurt his feelings. Ouch.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-53632541800866661362008-02-29T21:57:00.000-05:002008-02-29T21:57:00.000-05:00And now the Gina sessions get more complicated -- ...And now the Gina sessions get more complicated -- and less -- with the arrival of Kate. On the one hand, Paul certainly needs to work on his marriage. On the other, Kate's presence significantly limits his ability to talk about the other patients, which was one of the best parts of these episodes.Alan Sepinwallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03388147774725646742noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-37293097521021429062008-02-29T16:10:00.000-05:002008-02-29T16:10:00.000-05:00The moment Amy said that her baby fat "melted" awa...The moment Amy said that her baby fat "melted" away, I knew she was lying, because girls gain weight over puberty and don't lose it unless they are in intense sports training or make an effort at dieting. Unlike guys who seem to eat all they want and then a growth spurt removes the pudginess, the opposite almost seems to happen for most women. <BR/><BR/>Clearly the excessive junk food is some kind of over compensation for something, probably for not actually liking her kid, and her self-loathing.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I was glad that Paul eventually stood up to them because both Jake and Amy were especially obnoxious this week.<BR/><BR/>Paul will have a lot to talk about with Gina tonight.Nicolehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11317568565085893849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-30952460149749917102008-02-29T15:51:00.000-05:002008-02-29T15:51:00.000-05:00There's a good article about real-life psychs' rea...There's a good article about real-life psychs' reactions to the show in today's L.A. Times (no spoilers): http://tinyurl.com/ypqrssAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-47685267570329324502008-02-29T13:26:00.000-05:002008-02-29T13:26:00.000-05:00I can't remember which episode it was, but one of ...I can't remember which episode it was, but one of the sessions this week was the first time I've ever seen a character in anything misuse the word "infer" (when they mean "imply") without being called out on it. I'm not sure if this is good writing (people misuse it all the time, and whenever somebody writes a call-out like that, it always seems like the writer showing off what they know) or sloppy writing, but I thought it was interesting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-41396659883248009472008-02-29T13:12:00.000-05:002008-02-29T13:12:00.000-05:00Her weight issues may have also been a factor in h...Her weight issues may have also been a factor in her not wanting to have the baby.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-32835284733970807672008-02-29T12:51:00.000-05:002008-02-29T12:51:00.000-05:00Can't believe I never figured out that Amy grew up...<I>Can't believe I never figured out that Amy grew up fat.</I><BR/><BR/>How interesting that we should find that out in the first episode where Amy shows up coming straight from a run. That, paired with her smoking, leads me to believe that perhaps the pounds didn't "melt away" as easily as she would have us believe. When she said that, I really thought Jake was going to say she had an eating disorder then or something.Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15433685942766758829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-21186499320038224622008-02-29T11:20:00.000-05:002008-02-29T11:20:00.000-05:00I couldn't help but think when Jake said "I don't ...I couldn't help but think when Jake said "I don't want you to leave me," he wasn't saying that he wanted her, but that he didn't want to be left. It wasn't about Amy, or even the two of them together. It was about HIM. I don't want you to leave ME.<BR/><BR/>Can't believe I never figured out that Amy grew up fat.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-12174363709730372302008-02-29T01:23:00.000-05:002008-02-29T01:23:00.000-05:00So is that story of the couple with marital probs ...So is that story of the couple with marital probs who ultimatley stay together Paul's wish for what will happen with he & Kate, just a story to get Jake & Amy to open up, or both? Jake's a jerk, but the way he cried and begged Amy to stay with him teared me up a bit.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-88496082861342372522008-02-29T00:37:00.000-05:002008-02-29T00:37:00.000-05:00I agree. Both with Sophie last night and with Jak...I agree. Both with Sophie last night and with Jake and Amy tonight he seems to really be focusing on addressing their problems. Hearing him say that boundaries must not be crossed because then it's just chaos and not effective therapy was quite the revelation (and reflecting upon exactly what went wrong in his session with Alex). Now if he can only live up to his words, it'll be a miracle. Maybe it's a wake-up call. One can only hope...Theresahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15433685942766758829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-8782452421505931632008-02-29T00:17:00.000-05:002008-02-29T00:17:00.000-05:00anyone else think that paul's session with alex wa...anyone else think that paul's session with alex was a turning point for the whole series. in the aftermath of his snapping at alex's provocations, he seems to have reflected upon his descent into personal and professional self-destruction. this was the first jake/amy session where he seemed focused on identifying and solving the problems of their relationship instead of watching the train wreck before him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-69539900114759056912008-02-28T18:39:00.000-05:002008-02-28T18:39:00.000-05:00WOW! Hadn't thought about Alex bugging Paul's off...WOW! Hadn't thought about Alex bugging Paul's office via the coffee machine! Good thinking Eric. I just can't imagine that Alex could really get that kind of personal information by asking around. No one close enough to Kate to know would tell a stranger, like Alex, right? Alex's "bomb" on Paul was very precise and deadly, just like the one in Bahgdad?MMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15465912650766957681noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17517257.post-13304266451071560552008-02-28T14:10:00.000-05:002008-02-28T14:10:00.000-05:00I think Sophie's reference to the photo shoot befo...I think Sophie's reference to the photo shoot before she passed out in last week's episode, and her statement that her father "doesn't have to say he loves me, I just feel his love," are certainly pointing in the direction of her father having sexually abused her.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com