Essential Viewing for Psychologists: 20 Notable Television Shows Worth Watching
In the realm of television, few genres have captured the hearts and minds of viewers quite like psychological series. These shows delve deep into the complexities of human behaviour, offering a unique blend of drama, suspense, and character development that keeps audiences hooked. Here, we take a look at some of the most engaging and thought-provoking psychological series that have graced our screens.
First on our list is "Eva's Fish Tank," a Spanish series that explores the intricate relationships between a high school psychologist and his teenage students. Next, we have "Real Humans," a Swedish series set in a future where human-like robots (hubots) are common consumer goods. The series follows a political movement threatening to disrupt the social fabric of the country by eliminating the use of robots.
One series that has garnered widespread acclaim is "Bates Motel," a prequel to the film "Psycho" that delves into the inner workings of Norman Bates' mind and his relationship with his mother Norma Bates. For those who love psychology, there are 20 series recommended, including "Breaking Bad," "The Sopranos," "Under therapy," "Lie to me if you can," "Two meters underground," "Dexter," "Hannibal," "Les Revenants," and more.
"The group" is a Spanish series about a group of people attending the consultation of an experienced psychologist under the condition of not interacting with each other when leaving these sessions. "Hannibal" is praised for its symbolism and the art of connecting with the viewer, while "Westworld" is a psychological series set in a theme park populated by androids who interact with human visitors.
The importance of character psychology in film production, particularly in television series, cannot be overstated. Series like "Perception," which uses a neuroscientist to solve crimes based on understanding human behaviour as a direct product of biochemical relationships between neurons and hormones, exemplify this. "Two meters underground" is praised for its tearjerker ending and the intertwining of four different psychologies within the Fisher family.
"Dexter" is a series about a forensic police officer who kills criminals in his spare time, exploring the game between the public and private faces of a person. "The Sopranos," considered the best series in history and a masterpiece in psychological series, offers a gripping portrayal of a troubled family and their interpersonal dynamics.
Not all psychological series are dark and dramatic. "My Mad Fat Diary" is a British series centered around Rae, a young woman struggling to lead a normal life after leaving a psychiatric hospital due to her depression and eating disorders. "Masters of Sex" is an audiovisual fiction based on a book, focusing on the lives and professional careers of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, two human sexuality researchers who changed the way the West understood sex and relationships during the 50s and 60s.
Some series, like "United States of Tara," offer a more comedic approach to psychological drama. Toni Collette stars as a suburban mother with dissociative identity disorder, humanizing the disorder with humor and empathy rather than horror stereotypes. "Seinfeld," although a comedy, is notable for its portrayal of George Costanza, one of TV's most neurotic characters, realistically portraying self-doubt, negative self-narratives, and coping difficulties that resonate with many viewers.
In the world of anime, "Wonder Egg Priority" grapples with depression, suicide, and self-harm through a surreal and symbolic narrative. It realistically explores mental illness and trauma, albeit in a heavy, sometimes disturbing manner. "Baby Reindeer" is a tough, dark drama illustrating the long-term effects of trauma on its protagonist and his family, offering a deeply honest depiction of trauma's complexity and the difficulties of healing.
"Tiny Beautiful Things" is a character-driven drama that meditates on grief, family ties, midlife crises, and personal growth, portraying emotional complexity in a realistic and heartfelt way. Psychological thriller series like "Tell Me Lies" and "Wilderness" explore toxic relationships and complex interpersonal dynamics with queer characters, adding layers to psychological character studies.
These series are recognized for their nuanced character development, realistic emotional struggles, and insightful portrayals of mental health and personality complexities, making them highly engaging to viewers interested in deep psychological narratives. "Lie to me if you can" is based on the studies of psychologist Paul Ekman, and is a lesson in non-verbal language and lie detection. "Breaking Bad" is praised for its first season as a great class in psychology, with a transformation within the character that occurred over the series. "Under therapy" is a series that focuses on psychological therapy sessions, and is a master class in dialogue and psychology. "Mr. Robot" is a television fiction about Eliot Alderson, a computer security technician and hacker who suffers from depression and delusions, and becomes involved with a secret group of hackers who want to bring down the oligarchies that control the world. "Friday Night Lights" focuses on the lives of members of an American football team and the community that surrounds them, serving as a guide for personal development. "Les Revenants" is a successful French series that focuses on the adaptation of families and neighbors to a situation where people who died years ago begin to appear alive.
Whether you're a fan of dark dramas, comedies, or anime, there's a psychological series out there that will resonate with you. These shows offer a unique and engaging exploration of human psychology, making them a must-watch for anyone interested in delving deeper into the complexities of the human mind.
- In the TV realm, psychological series hold a special place, delving into human complexities and offering a captivating blend of drama, suspense, and character development.
- "Eva's Fish Tank," a Spanish series, examines the relationships between a high school psychologist and his students, while "Real Humans," a Swedish series, explores a future where human-like robots disrupt social fabric.
- Bates Motel, a prequel to "Psycho," delves into Norman Bates' mind and his relationship with his mother, while "Breaking Bad," "The Sopranos," "Under therapy," "Lie to me if you can," "Two meters underground," "Dexter," "Hannibal," "Les Revenants," and more explore various aspects of psychology.
- "The group" is a Spanish series about individuals visiting a psychologist, while "Hannibal" is praised for its emotional connection with viewers and symbolism. "Westworld" is a psychological series set in a theme park with androids, and "Perception" uses a neuroscientist to solve crimes based on understanding human behaviour.
- "Dexter" explores the game between a forensic police officer's public and private faces, while "The Sopranos" offers a gripping portrayal of a troubled family's interpersonal dynamics.
- "My Mad Fat Diary" focuses on a woman's struggle with depression and eating disorders, while "Masters of Sex" explores human sexuality and relationships during the 50s and 60s.
- "United States of Tara" offers a comedic approach to psychological drama with its depiction of a suburban mother with dissociative identity disorder. "Seinfeld" portrays one of TV's most neurotic characters, George Costanza, realistically.
- In anime, "Wonder Egg Priority" explores mental illness and trauma, while "Baby Reindeer" presents a deep and honest depiction of trauma's complexity and healing's difficulties. Whether you prefer dark dramas, comedies, or anime, there's a psychological series for you, offering an intriguing examination of human psychology.
