Monday, November 22, 2010

In Treatment: Sunil, Week 5


Week 1: Sunil - Frances - Jesse - Adele
Week 2: Sunil - Frances - Jesse/Adele
Week 3: Sunil - Frances - Jesse - Adele
Week 4: Sunil - Frances - Jesse - Adele
Week 5: Sunil - Frances - Jesse - Adele
Week 6: Sunil - Frances - Jesse

ClinkShrink, where are you when we need you?

The buildup continues as Paul worries that Sunil might be homicidal.

He feels like a prisoner in Brooklyn, while back home the monsoons are causing devastating floods. Paul believes that his problems could be fixed by better communication. Tell your son you want to move. Sunil is frustrated in his attempts to get Paul to understand his life. He can't leave, can't go home, and must stay put in his son's residence. Paul thinks Sunil could get a job and move into his own apartment. To make matters worse, Paul insists on talking about Sunil's dream, and Sunil gets outraged when Paul concludes that a character in the dream is the former girlfriend, despite Sunil's protests. So what else is new?

Sunil is convinced that his daughter-in-law is having and affair, and that she is mocking him-- something he finds humiliating. He is enraged and wants to smother her, or perhaps her laughter. He tries her bedroom door, and thinks of calling Paul in the middle of the night.

Paul is clearly worried, and he says so. He doesn't ever ask outright if Sunil is thinking of killing Julia. He talks to Sunil about what stress he is under, and just as I think he's going to suggest that Sunil go into the hospital, he recommends he come twice a week for therapy. It's certainly understandable that Paul would want to keep closer tabs on Sunil, but is digging deeper a good idea? The patient seems to be unraveling, and Paul tends to find the strands then pull and pull.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, if the guy goes into hospital, the hospital shrink takes over and Paul isn't in the picture. Since this is a TV show, Paul has to stay in the picture. Since this is a TV show, Paul has to help get the momentum of the crisis going to keep people watching. A murder HAS to happen. What is a TV show without some huge awful terrible thing, or the threat of a huge awful terrible thing?

Rach said...

and just as I think he's going to suggest that Sunil go into the hospital, he recommends he come twice a week for therapy.

Interesting point Dinah. At what point do you make the decision to hospitalize someone versus up the number of sessions... Ah the joys of 'reality' tv.

e jerry said...

Can you say TARASOFF LETTER?