Ep 9. Sunil: Week Three

Sunil: Week Three is the ninth episode of the third season of In Treatment. In this episode, we continue to follow the therapy sessions of Dr. Brooke Taylor and her patient Sunil Sikka, a widowed retiree who is struggling to adjust to life in America after moving in with his son and daughter-in-law.

Dr. Taylor begins the session by asking Sunil how his week has been and he shares that he has been feeling more at ease in the house and enjoying spending time with his grandson Arlo. However, he seems hesitant to discuss his relationship with his daughter-in-law Julia and Dr. Taylor gently pushes him to explore these feelings.

As the session progresses, Sunil opens up about his past experiences with women, including his wife and a former lover back in India. He also shares his worries about Julia's happiness in her marriage and his own feelings of guilt and jealousy towards his son's relationship with her.

The conversation becomes tense when Sunil reveals that he has been chatting online with a woman named Anjali, who he met on a messaging forum for writers. Dr. Taylor expresses concern that Sunil may be seeking out emotional connections with others to fill the void left by the loss of his wife, but Sunil denies this.

The session ends with Sunil asking Dr. Taylor for advice on how to proceed with his relationship with Julia and whether he should continue talking to Anjali. Dr. Taylor encourages him to take his time and consider the impact of his actions on his family.

Throughout the episode, we see the growing relationship between Dr. Taylor and Sunil as they navigate his complicated emotions and cultural differences. Sunil's struggles with grief, loneliness, and identity are beautifully portrayed by actor Irrfan Khan, who sadly passed away shortly after the airing of this episode.

Overall, Sunil: Week Three is a poignant and thought-provoking episode that highlights the challenges and rewards of therapy. It showcases the importance of empathy, communication, and vulnerability in building meaningful connections with others.