Think of all the relationships in your life — platonic or otherwise — and you’ll likely be hard-pressed to find one that hasn’t experienced some sort of conflict. Humans are chaotic messes. We make shit up as we go along. And it gets us into trouble constantly! We say the wrong things, react the wrong ways, screw things up left and right.
This is amplified when you cohabitate and share your life with another; imperfections are exposed and problems are picked at like old scabs. But when the relationship is important to us, we seek the help of experts like clinical psychologist Dr. Orna Guralnik, the centerpiece of Paramount‘s Couples Therapy, because there are simply too many stakes. Couples from all walks of life come to the celebrated American-Israeli psychologist and psychoanalyst to better understand themselves and their partners and bridge the gaps that separate them. The series doesn’t shy away from highlighting the darker, more intense sides of these relationships, which is a testament to the comforting and unlocking nature of Dr. Guralnik.
What Is ‘Couples Therapy’ About?
The series, now on the second part of Season 4, follows the acclaimed psychologist as she helps four couples better understand themselves and their partners to overcome obstacles in their relationships. Couples Therapy has always championed representation in its couples, which has allowed it to gain a broader audience of fans who can see themselves in the participants — undoubtedly one of the most beautiful aspects of the Edgeline Films-produced, TCA Award-winning series.
Season 4 Part 2 continues this trend, following couples like Nick and Katherine, individuals who obviously love each other deeply, but are both so filled with shame from different events in their pasts, that it bleeds into the life they created with their daughter. Before meeting with Dr. Orna, the pair embarked on an ayahuasca retreat that brought them closer together and revealed insights into the trauma that caused Nick’s shame. We’re also introduced to Boris and Jessica, a writer and a therapist, who sacrifice Boris’ stability in Montana so Jessica can take a chance on her career in New York, causing what seems like a never-ending battle between the pair.
Rod and Alison visit Dr. Guralnik to improve their communication because Alison, courtesy of her father, will steamroll and/or hijack a conversation to more forcefully assert her opinion, managing to be louder than the sparkly sequins that refuse to leave the sleeves of anything she wears (I fully respect the commitment to her style, I don’t say this knockingly.) Because of this, or perhaps despite it, Rod has trouble meeting Alison with the enthusiasm she needs. Oh, and (validly) Alison regrets having had to give up her career to stay at home as a mother, while Rod’s career flourished.
Most interestingly, Dr. Orna Guralnik meets with a deaf man, Kyle, who is pressuring his hearing partner, Mondo, into an open relationship in pursuit of a freedom he was unable to experience in childhood. Kyle’s tendency to meet and hook up with other deaf men, however, causes Mondo to become insecure and wonder if Kyle is looking for something he’d never be able to give.
Dr. Orna Guralnik Is Exceptional
Watching Kyle and Mondo work through various stages of discomfort and vulnerability as they navigate exploring other partners in their relationship is as tough as it is enlightening. Kyle’s cold dismissal of his partner’s anxiety, followed by his own bout of jealousy when Mondo finally embraces the openness of their arrangement, serves as a reminder of the complex emotional terrain partners must navigate in non-monogamous relationships.
There’s also a feeling of catharsis watching Nick and Katherine unpack their individual traumas that cause them each so much shame; two broken individuals deepen their love for one another while learning to embrace the true identities of their partners, faults and all. Couples Therapy succeeds in finding pairs that the audience can see themselves in. We might not fully be able to relate to the complexity of navigating open relationships, but in the root issues of every participant, we surely see sides of ourselves we might not recognize in the moment. And seeing these brave souls work through their issues on a very public platform is inspiring for anyone who might feel a little nauseous at the idea of privately relaying their darkest thoughts and secrets to a qualified stranger.
Because, as poignant as it is to see these folks overcome the roadblocks in their relationships, the true star of the show will always be Dr. Orna. The comforting atmosphere she exudes fills every space of the small office where she sees couples — from her adorable pup, Nico, to the dark, tranquil environment she curates. And that reflects in her therapeutic style at every turn.
Dr. Orna Guralnik has an almost supernatural sense of knowing when to push for an answer and when to let the subject speak of their own accord. Of course, it helps that she’s able to unpack her sessions with her mentor, Dr. Virginia Goldner, to discuss options and validate her observations. While the pair usually have similar perspectives — undoubtedly due to their history together — she also meets with a peer group, and their differing opinions add a shade of dispute on the clinical side.
‘Couples Therapy’ Is Healing
While watching Dr. Orna Guralnik is always a treat, in the end, you’re left with a feeling of wanting more. Nine 30ish-minute episodes are just enough to glimpse the main obstacles in each of the four relationships. Somewhere along the line, the couples go from various stages of “Oh shit, we might not make it” to an actual wedding ceremony. The viewer gets just enough info to sit on the periphery of these relationships, but not quite enough to fully dive in ourselves. There’s a vague middle area where problems are overcome or things are starting to run more smoothly at home, and it leaves a sense of incompleteness that’s hard to shake.
Still, Couples Therapy is as important a show as there is on television. In a world where people are increasingly disconnected (and let’s be honest, quite jaded), showing that there is a path forward through the toughest obstacles in a relationship is one of the most healing messages out there. I just wish I got to close my days with Dr. Guralnik more often.
Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for more entertainment news and reviews.
'Couples Therapy' Season 4 Part 2 Review
'Couples Therapy' Season 4 Part 2 ReviewThe Good
- Season 4 Part 2 continues to highlight partners from all walks of life.
- Dr. Orna Guralnik is one-of-a-kind.
- Hits of seratonin every time Nico shows up.
The Bad
- The episode count restricts the capacity to fully dive into the major aspects: the relationships, Dr. Guralnik's mentor meetings, and the perspective of the peer group.
