I’ve always wondered if my wife’s therapy clients have any clue as to the bedlam and stress in the wake of their arrival; the frenzied tidying and screaming to get five kids dressed and out of the house, creating a calm relaxing atmosphere to be healed in, and the rest of us traumatised. With the new series of In Treatment there’s a similar discrepancy between forced reality and reality reality, except the effort here may just leave you a bit bored.

It’s seemingly such a great concept for a TV show, every episode a rotating set of characters in therapy, with the therapist suffering from their own issues. That it was originally an Israeli production, BeTipul, remade in over 20 countries, and the first Israeli TV drama series adapted for America, should’ve put me first in line to devour it when it debuted more than a decade ago. HBO, Gabriel Byrne, and what Jew doesn’t like or couldn’t do with a bit of therapy? But something held me back, instinctively I knew it would require something I had limited supply of, emotional investment.

Now, after more than a decade off-air, In Treatment has returned for a fourth series, with a new therapist, the excellent Uzo Aduba, unrecognisable from her star turn as Crazy Eyes in Orange is the New Black. There are a few easter egg references to the original series but this is the perfect point to jump onboard. Things are going to be different this time, I’ve matured. Four episodes in, nope, I’m obviously still lacking.

It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly why I was constantly pausing to see how much time was left, not a good sign when the episodes are less than 30 minutes. Each element has a lot going for it. For what’s essentially a two-hander, it’s all beautifully and cleverly shot, but the precision brings out the artifice.

A similar issue, is the cast, mostly with extensive backgrounds in theatre, come across as very actory. The incorporation of Covid, Black Lives Matter and gender identity is done cleverly and with a light hand, yet whilst making it seem very fresh and up to date, somehow the show is robbed of the perspective necessary when exploring the human condition.

I suspect though, the issue may be the format itself. Information is delivered piecemeal, clues dropped, as over the full 24 episodes the puzzle of the principle four characters is slowly put together.

Will the reveal be worth it though? Maybe, but I’m not going to find out. Not everything I watch needs to be a quick fix, but I don’t have the patience for these patients.

I guess whether or not you’d enjoy this show comes down to how comfortable you are with delayed gratification. And whilst I try to focus on the journey not the destination, there’s nothing wrong with a few pitstops along the way.

At one point Jung is quoted, ‘There’s no coming into consciousness without pain.’ I just thought — you’re telling me!