While it is clear that the show started struggling after season one, this episode is quite likely the highlight of the last two seasons. A disturbed Jesse appears at the door of Paul late in the night requesting a session. What happens next is nothing short of astonishing. You won't realize when the time has passed as you will be dragged into the story. Great episode.
2 Reviews
The visit
jotix10023 April 2011
Warning: Spoilers
We are taken to Paul Weston's kitchen, where he and his son Max, are trying to bake chocolate chip cookies. They are not experienced people in that department, but it is obvious Paul wants to bond with Max, now living with him. Paul is trying to get information out of his son to find out what Steve, the new man in his former wife's life, is really like. Max does not provide much information.
They are surprised by a distraught Jesse, who knocks on the apartment door. He needs to talk to Paul right away. Sensing a crisis, and only because of the situation at hand, Paul agrees to sit with his young patient. Jesse, for a change, is dressed more formally today, a departure in the way we always see him during hi s sessions.
We find out soon enough why is Jesse so upset. He had gone to see Kevin and Karen, his biological parents. He took the train to Westchester, and being early, he decided to explore the area where they live. There were some children outside the house playing. Jesse figured he was at the wrong address, but consulting his directions, he realized this is where Kevin and Karen live. He took pictures of what he saw. Jesse decided to find a place where to go and gather his thoughts before his visit.
Returning to the house, some time later, he was surprised to see all traces of children in the house completely erased. The biological parents were nice enough, but they did not show too much warmth toward him. The question of the children never came out in their conversation, but in showing the pictures he took to Dr. Weston, he captured the image of an invalid boy in a wheelchair. Jesse thinks Kevin and Karen's only concern about contacting him must be to have some kind of a donor for what is ailing the boy he saw.
Jesse gets out of control. As much as Paul tries to reason with him, he has his mind set on having been lied to by his natural parents. He feels they had an ulterior motive for wanting to see him. Jesse storms out of the office, only to sit in the stoop in front of Dr. Weston's building.
The episode was written by Sarah Treem, who is involved in the program and frequently provides screenplays that show an intelligent mind that cares about the people coming for therapy. Paris Barclay directed the chapter and got good performances from Gabriel Byrne and Dean DeHaan.
They are surprised by a distraught Jesse, who knocks on the apartment door. He needs to talk to Paul right away. Sensing a crisis, and only because of the situation at hand, Paul agrees to sit with his young patient. Jesse, for a change, is dressed more formally today, a departure in the way we always see him during hi s sessions.
We find out soon enough why is Jesse so upset. He had gone to see Kevin and Karen, his biological parents. He took the train to Westchester, and being early, he decided to explore the area where they live. There were some children outside the house playing. Jesse figured he was at the wrong address, but consulting his directions, he realized this is where Kevin and Karen live. He took pictures of what he saw. Jesse decided to find a place where to go and gather his thoughts before his visit.
Returning to the house, some time later, he was surprised to see all traces of children in the house completely erased. The biological parents were nice enough, but they did not show too much warmth toward him. The question of the children never came out in their conversation, but in showing the pictures he took to Dr. Weston, he captured the image of an invalid boy in a wheelchair. Jesse thinks Kevin and Karen's only concern about contacting him must be to have some kind of a donor for what is ailing the boy he saw.
Jesse gets out of control. As much as Paul tries to reason with him, he has his mind set on having been lied to by his natural parents. He feels they had an ulterior motive for wanting to see him. Jesse storms out of the office, only to sit in the stoop in front of Dr. Weston's building.
The episode was written by Sarah Treem, who is involved in the program and frequently provides screenplays that show an intelligent mind that cares about the people coming for therapy. Paris Barclay directed the chapter and got good performances from Gabriel Byrne and Dean DeHaan.
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