Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy Review: An adaptation of Sebastian Fitzek’s bestselling thriller novel of the same name, this Amazon Prime Video adaptation (aka Sebastian Fitzeks Die Therapie) is directed by Thor Freudenthal & Iván Sáinz-Pardo and written by Don Bohlinger, Christian Limmer & Alexander M. Rümelin. The psychological thriller series stars Stephan Kampwirth, Helena Zengel, Andrea Osvárt, Emma Bading, Martina Eitner-Acheampong, Samir Fuchs and others. The series consists of 6 episodes, each with a runtime of around 60 minutes.
Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy Plot
4 years after the sudden disappearance of his daughter Josy (Helena Zengel), retired psychologist Viktor Larenz (Stephan Kampwirth) still tries to find a way to come to terms with the heartbreak and anguish of the situation. After moving to a small island called Parkum, he comes across a woman called Anna Spiegel (Emma Bading), who is suffering from schizophrenia. Her stories, however, coincide eerily with Viktor’s own life, especially with Josy’s disappearance. Does this mysterious woman hold the key to finding his daughter? Is Josy alive somewhere? Is there some conspiracy taking place against him?
– Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy Review Does Not Contain Spoilers –
Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy Review
If you know even a small thing about Sebastian Fitzek’s thriller novel, you will, unfortunately, be robbed of the experience of watching this psychological thriller and getting hit by the twists as they come. Thus, exposing yourself to the novel or its contents would probably not be the best of ideas if you are thinking of watching the show.
As Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy starts, the first few episodes will feel a bit dragged out and even confusing at times, which is probably a staple of shows of the genre. However, if you are able to push through the initial annoyance, you’ll probably let the thriller reward you heavily.
The series, as with others of the genre, gives us subtle clues about where we might be going with the storyline early on. But, apart from these, the series’s twists and turns get more and more chaotic as the runtime progresses, with Viktor’s psyche peeling off slowly as a scene at an apparently unrelated psychiatric hospital progresses with characters who seemingly have nothing to do with the Viktor’s current predicament. Or is it?
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Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy weaves the difficulties of being a teenager and growing up in a strict household when those around you are able to enjoy freedoms that you have yet to taste. It’s a scary time for the kids and their parents, who adjust to watching their young ones find their voice and their paths. Josy, 13 years old when she seemingly disappeared, finds herself when she becomes friends with Mila, who, although younger than her, enjoys certain freedoms that she has not been privy to.
The moment Josy is exposed to the outside world is when we see her butting heads with her parents, who don’t want to acknowledge that she’s slowly transitioning from a child to a young adult. It’s a subtle yet immediate change that gives you a nagging feeling at the back of your head – something is amiss with this family, and it started long before the disappearance. The answer might be hidden somewhere in the past, with the present showing small signs of unease and unsettling behaviours that might have been a direct result of said past.
The series goes back and forth between the past and the present, weaving an intricate web of confusion and unhealthiness that starts to fall apart after the second episode. Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy does a great job of making you wait for the shoe to drop, and it wastes no time in reminding you that good things come to those who wait patiently! Before it delivers the devastating ending, it gives us a thorough rundown of the important characters and who they are instead of meshing different things together for us to figure out.
The series also looks wonderful and is shot very well, which definitely adds to the intrigue of the series. The cinematography is excellent, and the background score goes well with Viktor’s frenzied search for answers and the harrowing events that unfold.
That being said, I must mention that the series will feel a little stretched out sometimes in spite of its non-linear storyline, tense storytelling and very odd characters. Some moments can be a bit too silly, and the fact that the series constantly reminded me of Shutter Island, to an extent, absolutely didn’t help. The way that they showcased some characters might give away who the actual perpetrator is, but, in this respect, you might be inclined to be more forgiving, thanks to a myriad of mental health issues plaguing the characters.
On top of that, Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy isn’t a new series in any way. As mentioned previously, even the twist will remind you of previous movies and shows of the genre that have already left a lasting impression on us. Plus, we also follow Trystan Pütter’s Dr Roth a bit too much sometimes, and his character is dubious at best, going against the rules and doing what he pleases because he thinks that’s what good doctors do. These grey characters are interesting to watch, of course, but sometimes Dr Roth really brings the interest down quite a bit.
The series rests on Stephan Kampwirth’s shoulders; his Dr Viktor Larenz comes across as a very sad and pitiful man at first until he starts to showcase who he truly is a few episodes in. He plays the role of a man going through a ton of trauma really well, and you won’t be able to figure him out until things come out in the open. The other actors are also great and are quite mysterious throughout.
Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy Review: Final Thoughts
Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy is a fine watch, albeit it feels a bit stretched out sometimes. It’s a mysterious and shocking series that has twists and turns to keep you mostly occupied. At the end of the day, though, the German psychological thriller has its merits, but it does really make you wait for its twists quite a bit.
Sebastian Fitzek’s Therapy is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
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