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-Payton
Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg
October 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 Long
Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg
October 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 Long
Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg
October 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 Long
Joel Fields & Joe Weisberg
October 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
Development
In October 2021, the series was announced and given a ten-episode order. Steve Carell was set to star and executive produce the limited series. Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg created the show and serve as showrunners, as well as co-write each episode. Caroline Moore, Victor Hsu, and Chris Long are the other executive producers,[2][3][4] with Long also directing for the series.[5]
According to Whip Media, The Patient was the ninth most streamed original series in the United States across all platforms, during the week of September 4, 2022,[10] the sixth during the week of October 9, 2022,[11] the fifth during the week of October 23, 2022,[12] and the third during the week of October 30, 2022.[13] According to the streaming aggregator Reelgood, The Patient was the fourth most watched program across all platforms during the week of September 9, 2022.[14]
Critical response
On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 88% with an average rating of 7.1/10, based on 57 reviews. The website's critics consensus is, "While The Patient might test viewers' patience by overextending its killer conceit, the arguably career-best work by Domhnall Gleeson and Steve Carell make this therapy session worth eavesdropping on."[15] On Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, the series has received a score of 74 out of 100 based on 30 critic reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[16]
^"The Patient - Production List". Film & Television Industry Alliance. December 6, 2021. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
