Web Therapy: The Complete Second Season

Web Therapy does not really lend itself to binge viewing. A little cringe-worthy comedy goes a long way, and this Showtime series (expanded from the award-winning webisodes) is discomfort television at its cringiest, with a main character who is by all accounts “unsympathetic,” “unlikeable,” and “black-hearted.” Add to that delusional and supremely unqualified. And yet Lisa Kudrow somehow manages to make unaccredited therapist Fiona Wallice oddly compelling, and it's hard not to wonder what could possibly happen next, whether it's Fiona's Republican congressional candidate husband (Victor Garber) being shipped off to undergo gay aversion therapy, Fiona losing creative control of her own book, or having her life story co-opted by Hollywood. Fiona's (and the series') saving grace is that the majority of folks with whom she interacts (via Skype) are worse than her, including a blackmailer who's got the goods (and the video) on Fiona's husband, and her own mother (Lily Tomlin), a psyche-scarring terror. There is no real character development here (and less therapy), and the sophomore season shows some strain in the improvised dialogue; to wit, are we really to believe that Fiona has never heard of guest star Conan O'Brien? In addition to Conan, season two ups the ante with several celebrity turns, including a very game and very funny Meryl Streep, old Friends costar David Schwimmer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Minnie Driver. Compiling all 12 episodes from the 2012 second season, extras include a behind-the-scenes featurette, deleted scenes, and a gag reel. Despite a bit of a sophomore slump, this is still recommended. (D. Liebenson)