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In Treatment

Alex - Week One

Season 1, Episode 2, Aired Jan 29, 2008

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Alex is a navy pilot who entered therapy due to a mission that went awry in Iraq. Alex talks to Paul about his service in Iraq and a heart attack he suffered while exercising.

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Cast & Crew

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Gabriel Byrne

Paul Weston
Blair Underwood

Alex

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Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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Alex is introduced

8.5

"Great"

By JaCkKbAuEr2424, Oct 30, 2010

I have nothing against Laura, the first patient, but Alex kept me enthralled all the way through. He provided Paul with an interesting dilemma: he was told by multiple people that Paul was the best, and throughout their session, he appears to expect nothing but the absolute best from him. This creates some legitimate tension as the two question each other and Paul listens to the story of how Alex accidentally killed 16 children after his Navy superiors give him the wrong target.

Alex is an extremely interesting character and it's a testament to the writing that we can't exactly figure out if what he's saying is a lie or the truth. I was particularly haunted by the idea that he wasn't much bothered by the idea that extremists out there have his picture and may be looking to kill him. He proves himself to not only be stubborn but also tries to challenge Paul's abilities as a therapist.

It should be interesting to see where the writing decides to take Alex. They leave a number of threads open to explore, including his death experience and his relationship with his wife and his gay friend Daniel. I liked Laura, but there's something tragic and interesting about Alex that I liked more.moreless
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Alex begins his therapy sessions with Paul.

9.5

"Superb"

By t-girl25, Sep 07, 2010

Alex is one of the best characters I've seen on television in a long time. Alex is a Navy Pilot who comes to therapy in order to get some advice about whether or not he should go back to Iraq where he bombed a school and killed 16 children. However, throughout the therapy session, his arrogance constantly gets in the way of his conversation with Paul. I am hooked. I love the way Blair Underwood plays this role. I can already see that Alex and Paul are not going to get along very well, which is one of the many reasons why I need to see what happens next. I can't wait to watch the next episode. If it is anything like this first one, I will be an avid fan.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- He has a brother who is a real estate agent. Alex's wife is Michaela.
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- Alex was a runner in high school and still does occasional runs with his friend Daniel.
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- Alex's weekly sessions with Paul is every Tuesday at 10:00 AM.
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QUOTES (7)
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- Alex: The best can be established by facts and figures.
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- Alex: (to Paul) While I'm sitting here talking to you a million fanatics are downloading my portrait and printing it out as a dartboard. Silly motherfuckers.
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- Alex: (about his work) It's not the business of body counts. It's about hitting our targets. We don't look back over our shoulder, believe me. We're out there doing thing so you can sit here in peace, talking to people for a living.
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- Paul: Sometimes the patient hides things from his therapist... From himself. And so part of our job is to uncover the things that we hide.
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- Alex: (to Paul) You have to understand that you're talking to a person here whose whole life was perfect. People in my line of work are born to excel, to be perfect. It wasn't our choice. It was life that chose us to be the best.
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- Paul: (to Alex) Remember you said that life chose you to be a member of an elite? That it wasn't your decision? Maybe that's an attitude you're comfortable with. You're comfortable with it because you don't have to make any decisions. It relieves you of responsibility. Your commanding officer, he makes the decisions, conveys them to you, and you execute them.
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- Alex: So, are there any rules? Paul: Rules? Alex: Ground rules. Anything I should know before we start? Paul: Oh... Not really. It's more or less... It's more or less up to you. Alex: Oh, right, right. I'm a customer. Paul: Yeah. Though in my profession we say that the customer is always wrong. (Alex looks surprised at Paul) Paul: That's a... It's a therapists joke.
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NOTES (1)
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- International Airdates Canada: January 29, 2008 on The Movie Network Finland: January 27, 2009 on YLE TV United Kingdom: October 6, 2009 on Sky Arts 1/Sky Arts 1 HD
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Alex: Let's call a spade a spade. The phrase originated from Plutarch's Apophthegmata Laconica and was introduced by Nicolas Udall in 1542 in his translation of Erasmus' Apophthegmatum opus. The line read: "Philippus aunswered, that the Macedonians wer feloes of no fyne witte in their termes but altogether grosse, clubbyshe, and rusticall, as they whiche had not the witte to calle a spade by any other name then a spade."
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