Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
You can’t think of Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd without reliving the sophisticated silliness of Adam McKay’s Anchorman. From Sex Panther to “Afternoon Delight,” the duo exude comedic chemistry. And while Ferrell and Rudd are predictably terrific in their new Apple TV+ series The Shrink Next Door, the show isn’t exactly what you’d expect from a Rudd/Ferrell comedy.
Premiering Friday, November 12 on Apple TV+, the dark comedy follows the bizarre, highly dysfunctional relationship between psychiatrist to the stars Dr. Isaac “Ike” Herschkopf (Rudd) and his longtime patient Martin “Marty” Markowitz (Ferrell). Inspired by true events and based on Joe Nocera’s podcast of the same name, Dr. Ike’s veneer of self-help and benevolence almost immediately begins to crack. Over the course of their almost 30-year relationship, the delicate line between doctor and patient is obliterated beyond recognition as the seemingly genial Dr. Ike slowly worms his way into Marty’s life, convincing him to cut off contact with family members, moving into his lush Hamptons home, persuading Marty to name him president of the family business, hosting extravagant parties at Marty’s expense, and using Marty’s considerable wealth to start a charitable foundation for social clout.
The concept is intriguing and the cast is awash with your favorite actors — certified scene stealers Kathryn Hahn and Casey Wilson portray Marty’s younger sister Phyllis and Dr. Ike’s wife Bonnie, respectively, and Michael Showalter directs a number of episodes — but the tone is erratic and, well, you just expect a series starring Paul Rudd and Will Ferrell to be… you know… funny. And while there are small pockets of hilarity throughout the eight-episode series, Dr. Ike’s sycophantic behavior and covert cruelty towards sad sack incarnate Marty is a viscerally uncomfortable viewing experience that severely diminishes the humor.
Dark comedies are nuanced by design and often eschew hard jokes for more dramatic elements, but while similar shows like Barry, Kevin Can Fuck Himself, Succession, and HBO Max’s Made for Love are able to strike an entertaining tonal balance, the majority of The Shrink Next Door evokes too much cringe to be sustainably enjoyable.
The series isn’t without its highlights. Ferrell is beloved for his comedy, but the actor is also adept at drama, injecting his character with an interesting blend of neurotic timidness, light-hearted humor, and pathos. While the chemistry between Ferrell and Rudd is undeniable and Rudd pulls off the seemingly impossible feat of making a Paul Rudd character both unlikable and (gasp) OLD (we get a glance at what the real Paul Rudd might look like in the year 3021), I wish The Shrink Next Door would have found more time for Kathryn Hahn and Casey Wilson, who both predictably shine in limited roles.
Without wading into spoiler territory, the most interesting aspects of the show are finally explored during the last episode. The series would have benefited from making the finale the midpoint, condensing the middle of the season, and diving deeper into the aftermath of Dr. Ike and Marty’s corrosive relationship — but so go the perils of adapting a story based on real-life events.
Mixing tragedy, comedy, and drama is an extremely difficult balance to achieve, something that, for example, fellow Apple TV+ series Ted Lasso managed to do deftly in its first season. Unfortunately, despite tremendous theatrical performances from all involved, it’s an equilibrium The Shrink Next Door fails to reach.
The first three episodes of The Shrink Next Door premiere Friday, November 12 on Apple TV+.
