Taking stalking to a whole new level. . .
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With comedic giants Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd at the helm, it’s no wonder The Shrink Next Door is one of the most highly anticipated new TV shows, writes Georgia Humphries.
The eight-part Apple TV+ comedy series is rather dark. It follows the unorthodox relationship Dr Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf (Rudd) – a psychiatrist to the stars – builds up with his long-time patient, Martin “Marty” Markowitz (Ferrell).
After first seeking help at a vulnerable time, to cope with the loss of his parents, Marty finds the charming Ike inserts himself into his life, over several years.
Not only does the doctor move into his patient’s Hamptons home, but he even manipulates his way into being named president of the family business.
Unsurprisingly, those close to Marty start to question what is really happening with Ike and the care he’s giving – leading to plenty of family drama.
Based on the podcast of the same name by American network Wondery, The Shrink Next Door is inspired by true events – which only makes it all the more gripping.
Here, we find out more from cast members Kathryn Hahn and Casey Wilson and director Michael Showalter.
REAL PEOPLE
Hahn, 48, plays Marty’s sister, Phyllis, who was previously interviewed for the podcast.
The Illinois-born star admits she felt as though she had “accountability” when she stepped on set.
“I was able to meet and Zoom with and be just blessed enough to listen to the actual Phyllis, hear her story. So that was the most attractive part to me, to be able to put myself in that person’s shoes.”
Reflecting on the role further, Hahn – who also stars in Disney+ series Wandavision – quips with a hearty laugh: “I would say Phyllis probably thinks I swear too much in it. She was always on my mind. Even though I’m not doing an autobiography of Phyllis, it does shift it a little bit. You are playing somebody and giving their experience breath, and so you want to honour that.”
Essentially, The Shrink Next Door is a story of someone being brainwashed.
New Jersey-born Showalter, 51, suggests this is “something that happens in our society quite often, where people in a position of power convince other people to make decisions against their own best interest”.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Part of the role’s appeal for Hahn was portraying a sibling relationship with a long-lasting rift, “and how to find the room in one’s heart and soul to forgive that person”.
“Or at least start the road to forgiveness, because I couldn’t see it at the beginning,” follows the star, who has previously worked with Ferrell on films such as Step Brothers and Anchorman.
“I could not honestly imagine it, and so that felt like a challenge to me, acting-wise.” Wilson – who also starred in the film Gone Girl – says she’s used to doing more out-andout comedy roles, and so was excited to do something a bit different from normal, while playing a complicated character.
“We see what we want to see in our partner’s behaviour and, in some ways, there are things you pretend you don’t know, and riding that line of acceptance and being in denial about things was a very interesting place to land for me as a performance.”
The first three episodes of The Shrink Next Door debut on Apple TV+ on Friday, November 12, followed by a new episode weekly every Friday.
Streaming on Apple TV+ from November 12