In the case of "In Treatment," the HBO series starring Gabriel Byrne, I originally resisted the concept. I mean, if you're someone who has done time here and there "on the couch" analyzing dreams and Catholic overlay, then the idea of a series devoted to analysis might not seem particularly, well, entertaining.
In fact, this series is utterly engrossing. And not because it's laden with Jungian symbols. Byrne's Paul is a therapist on a quest to name his patients' truth shadows and trade verbal acumen in the process. The spare writing style reveals a remarkably complex amount about self deception, struggle and desire on both sides of the couch. But the most startling first season character is Sophie, a teenage gymnast and Olympic hopeful, played with otherworldly intelligence by Mia Wasikowska. She arrives in therapy with two broken arms after a motorcycle accident, and many secrets which unravel onscreen.
Sophie resembles girls we all know, who might not say much but their presence exudes brilliance and an underlayer of painful mystery. And since a session lasts long enough for just a tease of information, I guess I'm in for several more treatments.
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