Christy

By Christy Smith

In Treatment Wrap Up

Posted March 30, 2008

Nine weeks. That's all we've had with Paul and his collection of messed up patients. It's hardly enough time to resolve their problems. Some are so deep-rooted that I doubt they can be resolved. But Paul did manage to make some progress during this first -- and I hope not last -- season of one of the best television shows I've ever seen.

In the ninth week, there were only three episodes. As you'll remember, Laura is no longer a patient, and Alex is dead. So we begin with Sophie, the teenage gymnast who tried to kill herself because, as we've figured out over the course of the last few weeks, she is harboring guilty feelings about the demise of her parents' marriage. She's also feeling unloved by a father, who we finally get to meet in the finale. The actor Peter Horton was an excellent choice to play the talented yet irresponsible photographer who causes his daughter so much angst. At first glance, it is evident where Sophie gets her attitude, manipulative tendencies, anger and ego. Watching her father trying to impose himself on her final session with Paul was like watching Sophie fight Paul's helpful efforts early on. In the end, Sophie gets to tell off her father and admit to him that she tried to kill herself. That all must have been a huge weight off her shoulders. It was a huge weight off my shoulders. Watching her leave Paul's office for presumably the last time was a little unsettling though. She's off to Denver to train for the Olympic trials. Let's hope this new setting allows her to continue making progress.

Jake and Amy showed up, announced they are getting a divorce, and told Paul that they won't be back for more therapy. I think this was apparent early on. This couple thrived on arguments and chaos. That's not healthy. Funny thing is that their reactions to getting a divorce were exactly opposite of what I imagined. Jake, the co-dependent and controlling husband, was cool and calm and accepting of it all. Amy, the aloof career woman who found her husband boring, was resentful and upset. Hmmmm. I certainly hope they do better on their own than they did together.

Finally, Laura. Yes, Paul apparently spent all week calling Laura. She didn't return his calls for a while. She finally picked up the phone and invited Paul to her lair. Paul came clean about his feelings for her, but lo and behold she didn't believe him! The little spider has been weaving a web of seduction all this time. Now she doesn't believe Paul. Could it be that she enjoys the chase more than she does the capture? I think so. Laura and Paul did end up in the bedroom, though, but thank goodness Paul had an anxiety attack and couldn't follow through with his plans to destroy his family (loved the way he announced to his wife at the start of the episode that he was going to see Laura). Paul ends up back at Gina's office, where Gina tries to tell him that his anxiety attack was his subconscious protecting him from making a big mistake. Hopefully we won't have to hear about Laura anymore. Problem is, now Paul has to go home and face his wife and children. Wonder how that will go for him? Guess we'll find out next season.