The Shrink Next Door Review: The Party (Season 1 Episode 6)
It’s party time on The Shrink Next Door Season 1 Episode 6, “The Party,” but not everyone is enjoying themselves.
Me included.
This is a very depressing show and this episode, in particular, is a real downer. Ike’s manipulations are getting more severe and malicious and are not only directed at Marty. This, in conjunction with the series of festive parties that comprise the episode, hits harder than it has so far.
Additionally, there are two well-known funny men in the main roles, but there really is nothing funny about the toxic relationship between Dr. Ike (Paul Rudd) and Marty (Will Ferrell).
Marty is slowly starting to realize it. The keyword there being “slowly.”
The parties start in the 90s and are still going in the mid-2000s, and Marty is still there manning the grill and deferring to Ike on almost everything. He easily lets Ike talk him into pushing party-goer and fellow patient, Miriam (Sarayu Blue), into the pool, fully dressed.
It does not go over well, and as Marty helps Miriam dry off, she tells him the way Dr. Herschkopf has also been manipulating her. It is so sad to see her break down while sopping wet, and for Marty to not put two and two together. Her story of cutting out her mother from her life, under Dr. Ike’s advisement, is exactly how it went with Marty’s sister, Phyllis (Kathryn Hahn).
Sarayu Blue plays Miriam’s frustration, anger, and grief in a perfect mix of those emotions. How Marty could still go through with part two of Ike’s plan to oust Miriam after she confided all that to him, is extremely disappointing.
Seriously Marty, what’s not clicking?
Like I’ve said in pretty much every review before this, it is difficult to watch someone get taken advantage of. It’s sad that this man can have such power over these people that he is supposed to be helping and who trust him with their most vulnerable feelings.
I’m used to Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell making me laugh, and while they are just as good in dramatic roles as they are in comedy ones, this major bummer schtick is getting quite tiresome. It’s making me really look forward to Dr. Ike getting his comeuppance which seems to be just around the corner.
Well, at least I hope it is, along with Phyllis—I need Kathryn Hahn back, as does the show—and justice for Miriam.
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.