In Treatment

As the third season of In Treatment kicks off this week, Dr. Paul Weston (played by Gabriel Byrne, Emmy nominated, Golden Globe-winner for this role) is dealing with three new patients and a new therapist of his own. But is the new season worth watching? If you're a fan of excellent writing and compelling stories, then this HBO series is for you.

In Treatment has always been something of a challenge for viewers because each half-hour primarily takes place in therapy sessions between Dr. Weston and the patient. Also, the multiple episodes that air on a given week are a challenge even in this age of the DVR. (The show airs on Monday and Tuesday nights and is OnDemand.) Thankfully, each story is interesting and engaging to keep you wanting to come back for more.

Three new patients

The best of the four new stories features Jesse (Dane DeHaan), a 16-year old promiscuous gay teen who also has a penchant for selling prescription drugs to his classmates. He is also adopted, and when he reveals that his birth mother wants to meet him, it becomes obvious that Jesse is more troubled than he originally let on. And with the recent media exposure on gay teen suicides and bullying, it's more than interesting to have a gay teen be the center of this plot line.

The remaining stories include an aging actress (Debra Winger, perhaps channeling her real life) facing memory loss as well as a yet-to-be-disclosed past connection with Dr. Weston through her sister. It's great to see Winger back in front of the camera and she doesn't appear to have lost any of her sharp acting skills. Finally, the last story is of a Calcutta immigrant (Irrfan Khan) who is living with his son and his white wife and dealing with the recent death of his wife. Acclaimed novelist Jhumpa Lahiri helped with the constructing of this story.

And a new therapist

A related story line follows Dr. Weston's therapy session with a new therapist (played by the always reliable Amy Ryan) as he confronts a possible Parkinson's diagnosis and his feelings about the moving on of his former therapist (Dianne Weist, who won an Emmy for her performance). While we may often think of therapists as the ones with all the answers, Dr. Weston shows his own vulnerability when talking about his scariest subject - himself.

The best thing about In Treatment is through its terrific dialogue and performances; the actors are allowed to shine no matter what the story is. However, be prepared to maybe feel a little antsy because the show is low-key and old-fashioned in its story-telling technique. Sometimes it's nice just to shut everything off and enjoy good writing and acting again.