I've always enjoyed stories about the mind, so I like to give any film or TV show labeled psychological at least a chance. Most of them tend to go all the way, dealing with psychotic episodes, delusions, split personalities, or schizophrenia. Others are more subtle, focusing more on emotional changes or slightly altered perceptions. And then there is Maniac, a mini series I'm having a hard time placing anywhere. This alone makes it an interesting experience, which I am more than happy to recommend, and write about in my Binge on This series.
An Interesting Backdrop
Maniac is set in contemporary New York... or so you'd assume, until being confronted with the juxtaposition of autonomous dog-poop-cleaning robots and 1980's style computers. At this point I wasn't even sure about myself: Have I actually seen these kind of poop-removing robots in real life? I can't pinpoint it, but they were so familiar. Though I'm certain that I have not seen a floppy disk in decades!
My slight doubt was instantly lifted when I saw Maniac's idea of the Statue of Liberty: clearly a bit different than the actual one. So there it is, the show is set in a fictional world, not unlike out own, but still very different. Apparently technological development didn't happen on personal telecommunication devices, but in other areas. As it turns out later on, a sentient AI (with mental problems of her own) is one such advanced hi-tech.
A Pharmaceutical Trial
The bulk of the show's story is a test procedure of a new drug on a small sample of test subjects. The three pills of the trial are supposed to bring painful memories and experiences to the surface, forcing the subjects to face them, and eventually to resolve them. In a way, this new approach to treating mental problems is supposed to replace therapy. While I was expecting complex interactions between the members of this small group, it was mostly the two protagonists whose experiences kept intertwining with each other.
At each step of the trial the subjects go to sleep, experiencing dreams set in a number of worlds, ranging from some version of our past (again, reminiscent of the 80's) to a Tolkien-ish fantasy world. In these dreams the characters take personalities that are in a way a combination of their actual selves and the characteristics of the given situation. Again, this alone makes this series worth watching.
Psychological Issues Everywhere
Whether you are a trained psychologist, or are simply interested in the subject, you're bound to notice various disorders throughout the show. This could apply to the subjects as much as to the researchers, and even a famous and successful pop-psychologist called in to help, brings her own baggage of issues. And yes, as I mentioned before, even the sentient AI has her (it's a she!) share of mental problems. The result is a multi-layered, multi-faceted world, that comes close to rivaling our own. Watching it certainly keeps you on your toes, keeping in mind whose perception each scene is shown from.
Even before the drug trial starts, the introduction of the protagonists would suggest that they are completely unfit to participate in objective research. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that no-one really is, including the researchers conducting the trial. So any viewer conscious of the way scientific process works, could get a bit disillusioned at first... Until they realize the bizarre world this whole thing is set in. Well, in that case, why not? The only nagging feeling that remains until the end, is whether this distorted version of our reality isn't in fact due to the viewer's altered perception!
My Only Problem With This Series: It's Too Short!
Now that I've listed all the features that makes Maniac an interesting show, I have to turn it all into a complaint: there were way too many fascinating aspects of reality, perception, and mental disorders to pack into ten episodes of less than an hour. There are so many lost potentials! Given the fact that most episodes were entirely made up of the subjects' dreams, and the several layers of problems, or even just conditions that could possibly cause problems, both within and outside these dreams, I think there would have been sufficient material for a series of 2-3 times its length. If they include other test subjects, each with their own mental states, it would easily provide even more material.
Still, if you're looking for an engaging psychological TV series, I can highly recommend Maniac. Though the cases are not as extreme as 12 Monkeys or Mr. Robot, the way the benign is highlighted and emphasized makes this show just as interesting, if not more. Here's the trailer to take a look and get a taste for the feel of the series:
