Paul's an idiot.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — In Treatment
ervan50 — 15 years ago(March 15, 2011 08:14 PM)
I'm now at episode 9 in season 1; love this show. Very interesting.
Now I paused to write here, and it was the part when Paul and his wife fights (after Amy has miscarriage).
His wife talks about his kid and Paul comes with the most stupid argument and doesn't really care. This guy's an idiot, and just lives in apathy. He doesn't care about his life and he always comes with stupid arguments.
He acts like his patients when he's not the therapist. No patience, and no perspective. I really wanted to like this guy, and I thought it was going to be this cool therapist, but he's actually sad, pathetic, and tired. Disappointed.
I know; that's what makes the character, or; he's only human and they try to show that. But there must be something good about it. He doesn't even joke ffs.
I wanted another therapist. Well, just keep watching, maybe he'll change, or maybe my opinion will. -
9inchnail — 14 years ago(April 06, 2011 04:35 AM)
You don't get the point of the show, do you? Of course he is flawed and has A LOT of issues that he can't really cope with. That's why he goes to see Gina every Friday, he himself becomes a patient. Maybe you should watch more than 9 episodes to actually join the discussion here.
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ervan50 — 14 years ago(April 14, 2011 08:14 AM)
No, no, no! I didn't mean the show was bad because of this, and I DO get that point.
I just pointed his flaws, and that he actually is a really big jerk; and very hypocritical. I get so irritated by him. So the character got to me, as the writers intended I guess.
It just means this show is good and I care about the characters. -
Lootrock — 13 years ago(April 17, 2012 07:39 PM)
I reacted the same way. Paul is a big baby. I think you may enjoy where his character eventually concludes in season 3(you've probably seen by now. I always thought it was hilarious how little perspective he seemed to have. I can understand not having it in the heat of the moment, but it just seems to continue on with him. What I find interesting about him is, despite his reservations about his profession and performance, you never really experience that while he's in therapy with someone else. I think that's what Gina sees in him.
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cyberwoff — 11 years ago(January 17, 2015 08:43 AM)
I am on week six, with Sunil. I think that Paul is basically incompetent. He even told Adele that he thought about reporting Sunil to the police, but hie lack of a spine, makes him powerless to make a decision. But in week 6, Sunil has had a physical altercation, and voices the possibility of commiting violence. Paul even has a conversation with Julia, but dones not even give her a warning. He knows that her life may be in danger, but blankets himself, in protocol. I know he does not want to be permature in his actions, but I think caution, prudenence, is indicated here. All he does, is advocate for more Sunil therapy, when Julia blames Sunil's bad behavior on Paul, and terminates the sessions. He did not propose Pro Bono therapy to Julia, just the self serving, I would keep him in. If anything did happen to her, I deeply believe, that the should be sued, and lose his license. Perhaps, even more. I do not know the Protocols, for this issue, and I may be in error. But this is my opinion.
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bruce-129 — 13 years ago(June 16, 2012 12:01 AM)
Check out season 3 it is fantastic and goes into this stuff.
This is one of the best shows I've ever seen, and if you expect the hero to be perfect with super powers, well, you need to watch more!
You wrote this a year ago what is your opinion now.
If Paul is an idiot, give me an example of someone who is not an idiot and why?
But good post! -
huluchrome — 10 years ago(April 13, 2015 05:26 PM)
I've watched the entire serie and I must admit I agree. It's a possibly genuine clich that people that chose to become therapists are seeking help themselves. This is obviously the case with Paul. i can't believe that a man of this age and training could possible have so little insight or selv awareness about his own condition. It seems ridiculous and unnecessary. The series would be just as interesting if not more so.
I found the entire storyline of Paul sickening. I do believe competent therapy can be helpful and constructive. They portray some of the patients moving on, becoming more self aware and gaining insight. Why is it not possible for the therapist.
I don't know if Americans are different but the interaction portrayed in this series, between the therapists and the patients is extremely unprofessional and harmful in every way. I grew up in Canada but now live in Europe. I have at earlier stages in my life had therapy in one form of another and for one reason or another. It was nothing like this, and I must say extremely helpful. At a point I began to wonder what this series was actually about. I don't think I could make a worse advertisement for therapy if I tried. Maybe that is the point.. -
Dragon000 — 9 years ago(July 29, 2016 04:40 PM)
Therapy is not this way in America, I assure you! I have been in therapy as well as currently being a therapist myself. What Paul does is extremely out of the norm, and in real life he would have lost his license in Season One with the Laura situation. Much less other issues of boundaries and unethical, harmful behaviors with patients.