Apple TV’s new TV series The Shrink Next Door is about a man called Marty and a therapist Dr. Ike. This is a mini series so there will not be season 2. The entire story is told in 6 episodes. The new series was released on 12 November 2021 on Apple TV+. The Shrink Next Door is one of those strange stories where the lives of two different people mix up and integrate.
1. Based on a Podcast
The Shrink Next Door is based on a podcast. This podcast was hosted by Joe Nocera who was a journalist in Bloomberg. The story and the podcast started as Joe Nocera started to check on his neighbour living next door in the Hamptons. Nocera thought that the man he saw in work clothes was the groundskeeper. However, in a short time, he saw that the man was Markowitz who was the owner of the property he was working on. Nocera thought that the property belonged to charismatic psychiatrist Herschkopf.
2. Life Integrated to Another Life
The Shrink Next Door TV series is actually based on this podcast series. Here, we can see Will Ferrell as Marty Markowitz and Paul Rudd as Isaac ‘Ike’ Herschkopf. Markowitz experienced some problems in his life and he was referred to psychiatrist Herschkopf by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. The therapy sessions were not like the average therapy sessions where the patient lied on a coach and talked about his or her problems. Instead, Herschkopf took Markowitz to walk around the city and talk about his problems. Later, Herschkopf started to take more part in Markowitz’s life and their lives became integrated.
3. A Life Built On Lies
Since this is a real story, Markowitz told to a magazine that “I was living a lie when I was with Ike. Ike sucked me into this cult of Ike and I was spending six or seven hours a week with him, he kept me constantly busy transcribing his handwritten books, throwing these parties, and I didn’t appreciate what was going on.” All of these can be seen in the TV show. Markowitz further emphasised how integrated Herschkopf was by saying “He didn’t let me have a girlfriend. I would go on a date, and he’d call her a gold digger. He would say, ‘Everyone is out to get you, I’m going to protect you.’ And I was stupid enough to buy it.”
4. A Good Cast and A Good Plot
The Shrink Next Door has a good cast and a good plot. Still, the critics were not happy with the outcome. Although Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd did everything, they can to save this TV series, the critics believe that this was no enough. However, it is still worth watching this TV show. The Shrink Next Door has an amazing story that makes you thing about what can happen to lives of different people. Also, the psychologic aspect of the TV show is attractive for audience who loves this genre.
