The Shrink Next Door Review: The Breakthrough (Season 1 Episode 7)
On The Shrink Next Door Season 1 Episode 7, “The Breakthrough,” it’s a breakthrough that Dr. Ike does not want to happen.
In addition to the premise making for a depressing watch, Paul Rudd is just too good as Dr. Isaac Herschkopf, the unscrupulous titular therapist. As his manipulations become more expected to the audience, his sleaziness really comes through in a disturbing way, instilling a sense of unease.
This feeling has been building since Day 1.
Along the way we’ve seen Dr. Ike use many narcissistic tools on Marty (Will Ferrell). Gaslighting, projection, guilt-tripping, circular arguments, and isolating have all been used on Marty by his therapist.
The timeline of the story ranges decades so knowing that Marty has been under Ike’s heel for such an extended period of time brings the mood down even more. These are things that have taken over his life and Marty sees people in Ike’s orbit also suffering.
It’s not until the death of Adam, the koi fish, that it sinks in enough for him to act.
His rage-filled act of destruction of the Hampton house’s backyard—his own backyard—is only mildly satisfying.
This could be one of two things (or a combination of). Firstly, we’ve been given a preview to said destruction at the start, we just didn’t know that Dr. Ike, host of the party, knew it was Marty taking his photo with Lisa Rinna.
It’s a ho-hum reveal and adds nothing to the narrative.
The second is Ike’s unbothered reaction. He sees the yard trashed and then goes back to bed.
Marty standing up to him later in the episode holds more weight, but is still a bit lacking. I can be proud of Marty but at the same time wonder if he didn’t have his supportive colleagues there to back him up, would he yield to Ike’s demands.
I suppose that should be looked at without prejudice. It’s good that they are there and willing to help Marty after their concerns about Dr. Ike were continually dismissed.
Which leads one to think of the possible reunion of Marty and his sister Phyllis, played exquisitely by Kathryn Hahn but appearing far too infrequently. Will she welcome him back into her life with open arms? What kind of repercussions will Ike see?
I’m not sure I can be okay with the finale if these things aren’t addressed well. After having a bad taste in my mouth these past seven episodes, it’s time to cleanse our palates.
And I don’t think it’s something Chef Pete, former chef to Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick, can whip up for us.
What did you think of this episode of The Shrink Next Door? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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New episodes of The Shrink Next Door stream Fridays on Apple TV+.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.