At the outset let me state that I have not seen any of series four yet and so my comments are based on the first three series.
The stories make for good television and the spacing out of the storyline for each "patient" is a good device that keeps the viewer interested. The back stories about Paul Weston's personal life provide interesting threads.
The standard of acting is very good and particularly so with the younger actors. Their portrayal of troubled teenagers is excellent. It is well scripted, well directed and superbly acted.
My one big issue with this series has nothing to do with its entertainment value but with its potential to mislead viewers. The "therapy" presented in this series is not what effective therapy is about. The therapist's habit of interpreting, sometimes criticising and frequently referencing people's mothers and fathers gets tedious. There is also an implication that therapy will inevitably involve many sessions. The use of terms such as "treatment" and "patient" point to one particular hypothesis about personal distress. Fortunately by series three, the standard of therapy has improved a little.
Will I continue to watch the series? Absolutely yes! As well as being entertaining, these sessions bring the viewer into a variety of personal trauma situations and make a reasonable representation of themes such as loneliness, rejection, relationships, culture shock, adolescence, and professional ethics. Watch the programmes with one or more people and you are likely to have a good discussion afterwards.
The stories make for good television and the spacing out of the storyline for each "patient" is a good device that keeps the viewer interested. The back stories about Paul Weston's personal life provide interesting threads.
The standard of acting is very good and particularly so with the younger actors. Their portrayal of troubled teenagers is excellent. It is well scripted, well directed and superbly acted.
My one big issue with this series has nothing to do with its entertainment value but with its potential to mislead viewers. The "therapy" presented in this series is not what effective therapy is about. The therapist's habit of interpreting, sometimes criticising and frequently referencing people's mothers and fathers gets tedious. There is also an implication that therapy will inevitably involve many sessions. The use of terms such as "treatment" and "patient" point to one particular hypothesis about personal distress. Fortunately by series three, the standard of therapy has improved a little.
Will I continue to watch the series? Absolutely yes! As well as being entertaining, these sessions bring the viewer into a variety of personal trauma situations and make a reasonable representation of themes such as loneliness, rejection, relationships, culture shock, adolescence, and professional ethics. Watch the programmes with one or more people and you are likely to have a good discussion afterwards.
