“The Patient.” / “The Gold.”

“The Patient” (Hulu) psychological thriller. A therapist is held captive by a serial killer who seeks help to curb his homicidal urges. On first look, I didn’t bother to check this series out. Later, I did, when I couldn’t find an interesting series to add to my list at that particular time. I didn’t realize this series is quite good! 

       The always-reliable Steve Carell is expectedly, reliably watchable here as Alan Strauss, a therapist mourning the recent death of his wife and then held captive in a basement. But it is Domhnall Gleeson as Sam Fortner, a serial killer and Alan's patient, that totally owned this quietly macabre psycho-show. Sans the sinister cliche of a deranged soul, Mr Gleeson terrified us still. He was nominated for a Golden Globe supporting actor plum for this one. Didn’t win because awards for “whites” that time were already distributed, I guess. Otherwise the awards fiasco’s diversity quotient would have suffered? LOL!

       “The Patient” is majority a two-actor study. Scripting by Joe Weisberg is tight, non-lumbering, yet keeps nervously focused. Mr Weisberg is known for writing many episodes of the kickass series “The Americans.” 📺🎥📺

“The Gold” (Paramount+) British drama, dramatization of events around Brink's-Mat robbery in 1983, in which £26 million worth of gold bullion, diamonds, and cash was stolen from a warehouse near Heathrow Airport, and the widespread events that followed over the following decade. At the time it was the biggest robbery in history, and led to a number of international criminal investigations. 

       As usual, true-to-life crime thrillers capture my fancy. “The Gold” had enough storytelling flair, passable suspense, and credible ensemble acting to merit your weekend. Jack Lowden as Kenneth Noye is stereotypical boring but Hugh Bonneville as DCI Brian Boyce is robust, engaging, and restrained. Not the yelling boss kind. 

       But what I noticed is the sterling support role by Dorothy Atkinson as simple-minded, gullible “victim/suspect” Jeannie Savage. She also had a fine role as the religious zealot Florence Scanwell in “Harlots.” Be on the look-out for Ms Atkinson. 📺🎥📺