Hagai Levi created this series, which is a remake or an adaptation of the 1973 series by Ingmar Bergman. Levi is originally from Israel. It's interesting because what put Levi on the map here in the United States was
In Treatment (2008), which was Rodrigo García's adaptation of Levi's 2005 series in Israel. I'm not sure but I believe
In Treatment was a pretty faithful adaptation. I suppose in turn Levi feels he should be faithful to Bergman's work. Levi has changed some things and played with things somewhat, but, otherwise, the adaptation is pretty faithful to what was done nearly 50 years ago.
The series is basically a deconstruction of a heterosexual marriage between a somewhat affluent couple. In my review for Stone Fruit (2021), I pointed out how there are a myriad of films about deconstructions of marriage, particularly between a straight couple. What made Stone Fruit unique is that it was a same-sex marriage. It was between a gay male couple. That set it apart from that myriad of films. Earlier this year, we got the third season of Master of None (2015). That season, written by Aziz Ansari & Lena Waithe, is itself a kind of remake of Bergman's 1973 series. However, Master of None stood out because it focused on a Black lesbian couple. It also did some things with the cinematography to make it stand out as well. Levi's series here doesn't really do much in that regard to differentiate it.
Oscar Isaac stars as Jonathan Levi, a writer who pretty much works from home, especially since the birth of his daughter. Jessica Chastain co-stars as Mira Phillips, the wife to Jonathan and mother to his daughter. She's a business-woman who works at an office and is the primary bread-winner of the household. After a harrowing experience, which brings them to a medical office, the two decide to divorce. This doesn't come about until the third episode really. The first, two episodes set up what leads to their eventual divorce process. Those two episodes are pretty incredible in terms of the acting performances from Isaac and Chastain. It's the rest that caused me to become rather bored.
The first episode presents a lot of potential. Corey Stoll plays Peter and Nicole Beharie plays Kate. Peter and Kate are friends to Jonathan and Mira. What's revealed is that Peter and Kate are in an open relationship. I thought the introduction of an open relationship or a poly-amorous relationship might be the new angle to this series. That's not quite the direction this series goes.
Instead, Levi swaps the dynamic from Bergman's series. In Bergman's series, it's revealed that the husband has the affair and wants to leave. Here, it's revealed that the wife has the affair and wants to leave. This perhaps allows for the series to explore certain things when it comes to women in contemporary times that Bergman probably wouldn't have 50 years ago. However, in the 50 years since, we've seen those certain things explored in various ways, particularly when it comes to white women of a wealthy or well-off, socioeconomic background.
Rated TV-MA-LSV.
Running Time: 1 hr. / 5 eps.
Available on HBO.
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