Actually, “The Patient” is written out as a miniseries. Is there still hope for The Patient Season 2?
If you were shocked by the ending of “The Patient,” you feel the same way as lead actor Steve Carell (via USA Today). The series finale leaves the audience with a lot of questions that we will probably never get answers to. That’s because according to series creators Joel Fields and Joseph Weisberg (“The Americans”), “The Patient” has officially ended with ten episodes. But is there any chance that they will reconsider their decision?
Warning: Spoilers for “The Patient” follow
The Patient Season 2: What about a sequel?
Will Shoshana (Renata Friedman) and Ezra (Andrew Leeds) be able to cope with the death of their father (Steve Carell)? Will Sam (Domhnall Gleeson) ever be held accountable? And how will Candace (Linda Emond) deal with her son’s self-imposed fate? If you’re wondering what happens next for the surviving characters from “The Patient,” you’ll probably have to use your own imagination – just like Dr. Strauss does in the series. The gripping ten-episode thriller was conceived as a miniseries from the start, and the showrunners have no intention of deviating from that, despite the series’ success, as Fields clarified in an interview with USA Today:
“We’re done with it. This is ‘The Patient,’ and we hope you enjoyed it. But we’re not going to stop doing other shows, of course. We just have to figure out what we’re going to tackle next.”
For lead actor Domhnall Gleeson, the series finale is also a successful conclusion (via Decider):
“It’s the only way the series can end. It’s perfect. […] It says so much about Steve [Carell’s] character and what it means to be alive. I thought it was really emotional and honest and yet surprising. They just did a great job of keeping the balls in the air.”
The Patient Ending Explained: Here’s what the final minutes mean
In the company of his family, Alan Strauss enjoys his life of freedom – but that turns out to be merely an illusion. The therapist took refuge in his imaginings several times beforehand, deceiving the audience as well. In fact, Sam kills Dr. Strauss after his failed attempt to leave the hideout.
We then see Sam informing his victim’s children, Shoshana and Ezra, of their father’s death by letter and revealing where the body can be found. The letter reveals that Dr. Strauss is aware of past mistakes. But it is not only Shoshana and Ezra who suffer from the loss of their father; Sam also struggles with what he did.
One scene reveals how Sam describes himself in his mind as being out of treatment. He promises not to hurt anyone else. But the imaginary Dr. Strauss makes it clear that he will not succeed. In order to be able to keep his promise, Sam therefore makes a decision: he puts on the anklet himself and gives his mother the key.
Finally, Ezra sees a therapist to deal with his relationship with his father. He confesses that he is worried about his family, but he does not know where to start. Before we learn what specifically is bothering him, a black screen ends the therapy session. So what Ezra has to say remains hidden from us forever.
Nevertheless, the end of the thriller series is much more satisfying than in these cases. cases:
Gleeson reveals what might happen next for Sam
Even though it’s expected to remain a miniseries, Gleeson mused with Decider about the future of his character Sam:
“I think Strauss has helped him have an incredible breakthrough. But without the real Strauss, the therapy can’t go on. […] Strauss has gone to another therapist in his mind – and I think Sam would do the same and imagine Strauss. But it would be his own version of Strauss, because Sam doesn’t have his expertise. Gradually, he would convince himself that he was cured. I don’t know if it would hold. I don’t know if the illusion would take over. But I think he learned a lot in those moments. I just wonder how capable he would be of sticking with it without real therapy.”
Perhaps that’s at least a small consolation for fans of the series. Those who continue to mourn the series’ decided end may find some distraction in “The Americans.” You can find the series by “The Patient” creators in the stream at Disney+.
