The Patient
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In broad terms, there are four stages of therapy: commitment, process, change, and termination.
But the termination that finally occurs isnt exactly what he, or any therapist, would consider successful.
), and it is shocking, especially for those who were rooting for Alan to survive all along.
Alan doesnt have a great response because why would he?
However, when Sam visits his dipshit dad, things dont go the way Sam thought they might.
Then, when Sam confronts him about the abuse, the guy apologizes!
Its a brusque, offhand apology, but its an apology all the same.
Sam is floored and confused and furious.
Hes identifying new feelings.
His desire to kill his father fades even as hes in the middle of the act.
Confused, he runs home to talk about it with Alan.
To Alans credit, when Sam tells him about this breakthrough, he beams with pride and excitement.
Once Sam brings home a sofa and a fridge, Alan realizes he needs to switch gears.
And Alan isnt playing the game anymore.
That night, Alan calls out to Sam and tells him what hereallythinks.
Alan is done, and Sam needs to turn himself in.
In the wake of Alans new diagnosis, Sam leaves without a word and heads to the police station.
He sits outside until dawn, watching the cruisers come and go.
When Candace comes down to deliver his breakfast, Alan is waiting with a small smile on his face.
Not just with Sams killings but also with Sams abuse by his father as a child.
The camera utilizes sudden transitions to volley between the two desperate men as they venture to negotiate the situation.
Sam shouts that he doesnt think Alan is capable of murder, and then the scene abruptly cuts out.
For a moment, things are unclear.
Suddenly, Alan is transported to a gas chamber.
Beth is passively looking up at the vents.
Then Alan enjoys a Shabbat dinner at Ezras house.
His daughter, Shoshana, is also there, and all of his grandkids are gathered around the table.
(Fuck you, Candace.)
However, once the act is complete, even Sam himself seems a little shocked by what hes done.
Thankfully, Sam doesnt go that route.
Shoshana receives her dads heartfelt letter in the mail and reads it, sobbing.
She calls Ezra, and the two siblings hold each other and read their fathers final words to them.
The letter is beautiful, if a little meshuga, but it gets to the point.
Hes Ezra and Shoshanas dad; hes the cantors husband.
(Hey, thats the name of this episode!)
Oddly enough, Alans legacy also lives on in Sam.
Twisted progress but progress.
And as the series draws to an end, we get one last glimpse of the empty basement.
Sam enters and contemplates the space.
Alan appears in front of him, illustrating that now Sam has his own little therapist inside his head.
Alan/Sam tells him he will certainly continue to kill.
Theres no way around it.
After a moment, he calls for his mother and chains himself to the floor.
Is he trying to follow through on Alans recommendation?
A coda to the episode sees Ezra attending his own therapy session.
hey dont murder your therapist).
(Thanks,Genius!)
Emmy campaigns for Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson, and David Alan Grier start now.
Theres no coming back from the events of that finale.
Coincidentally, I spotted the cloud lamp from the basement at Ikea the other day.
Its called an Upplyst, andit retails for $24.99.
Sam kept delivering the zingers right until the end.
The biggest LOL in the finale?
My therapist said not to kill you.
Alan never used the pitcher, but I kind of get why now.
It was too risky.
But then again, so was using a flimsy metal tube as a weapon, so …
This article has been updated to correct an error.
