The Shrink Next Door: Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd reunite in true crime tragicomedy

Instead, what you have is emotional manipulation, financial exploitation and a twisted power game between an unscrupulous therapist and his vulnerable client.

Doesn’t sound like laughs-a-plenty but casting two comedic actors in what could’ve been a really dark drama only highlights the wild and absurd aspects of this true crime series.

Spanning decades starting in 1982, The Shrink Next Door is a based on a podcast from Wondery, the network that also produced other true crime podcasts turned TV dramas Dirty John and Dr Death.

It’s a strange, fascinating story about co-dependency and how a charismatic personality can completely take over someone else’s life.

Marty Markowitz (Ferrell) owns a successful fabric business in New York City, left to him by his parents. Marty is a meek man who’s relied on his sister Phyllis (Kathryn Hahn) as a crutch to handle the more difficult things in life, like an irate customer who doesn’t want to pay for the curtain backing or his ex-girlfriend.

Concerned about her brother’s anxiety and unwillingness to take charge, she books him a session with a therapist, Dr Ike Herschkopf (Rudd). Even though Marty first denies anything is wrong – “I’m fine, everything’s fine” – Ike can see Marty’s crippling fear.

And he knows how to give Marty confidence. But is it confidence Ike imbues in Marty or is his unconventional approach a means to a more sinister end?

When Ike admonishes Marty for letting people take advantage of him, it raises exactly the kind of red flags The Shrink Next Door wants you to see – you already know the ending, the intrigue is in how Ike pulls it off, and how Marty finally wises up to what a violation it was to hand over control of his business and his house to his therapist.

The series, a tragicomedy that is often uncomfortably funny, toys with your expectations. Because you see Ferrell and Rudd in the lead roles, you expect it to be a raucous comedy, but the story is actually quite distressing.

It’s a fine tonal line to walk and The Shrink Next Door, written by Georgia Pritchett (Veep, Succession) and directed by Michael Showalter (Wet Hot American Summer, Search Party) mostly pulls it off, even if sometimes it comes off a little lightweight.

Ferrell is sympathetic and effective as the manipulated Marty and the casting of Rudd is perfect — it’s what elevates the show.

Ike is also a relatable character – to a limit – because he sees Marty not just as a mark but as someone who squanders all the privileges Ike desires. He’s able to justify his actions to himself.

Rudd has made a career out of playing likeable if sometimes misguided characters. Where they’ve been bratty, entitled or a manchild, they haven’t been malevolent and definitely not quietly villainous.

So, to have him portray this charming criminal who stealthily destroys someone is not only disquieting but also something you’re subconsciously resisting because you can’t possibly dislike Paul Rudd. And that plays into how our empathy as viewers is messed around.

That interplay between Marty and Ike, and between Marty and Ike and the audience is what makes The Shrink Next Door a strangely compelling if imperfect series.

The Shrink Next Door is on Apple TV+

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Originally published as The Shrink Next Door: Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd reunite in true crime tragicomedy