I need my own psychedelic therapy after watching season two

9 Excellent Strangers (season two) ★★

Is it ever a good suggestion for a TV sequence to broaden a narrative past its supply materials? I’m The Handmaid’s Story, however now I’m additionally pointedly scowling at this second season of 9 Excellent Strangers, which imagines a situation that didn’t exist in Liane Moriarty’s bestselling novel. That story targeted on a “wellness retreat” for individuals trying to heal trauma by way of psychedelic-assisted remedy. Issues didn’t go nicely, because of the retreat’s director/cult chief Masha (Nicole Kidman with a wildly inconsistent Russian accent) and her free thought of consent.

After the unique adaptation’s ambiguous ending, all we actually learnt was that Masha had escaped jail and was nonetheless getting excessive on her personal provide. However now, sadly, we’re aware about what Masha does subsequent.

This new season opens along with her as a visitor speaker at a “disruptors conference”, the place she’s launched as a girl whose title has turn out to be synonymous with psychedelic remedy, and the topic of a bestselling guide known as – sure – 9 Excellent Strangers.

She’s there to debate her new “psychedelic delivery system” that permits sufferers to revisit formative reminiscences “as if for the first time”. It’s unclear how, however this can apparently assist individuals transfer previous their trauma.

Masha finally ends up again on the place the place she first learnt about these therapies, in a mansion within the picturesque Austrian alps, which may solely be reached by funicular. It’s a spectacular setting, and, together with beneficiant manufacturing design and costume budgets, mercifully helps take your thoughts off what’s occurring within the foreground.

Masha is working with Martin (Lucas Anglander), the son of her mentor, Helena, who isn’t satisfied Masha’s new remedy has been adequately examined however has been cajoled into it, partially due to the money owed hanging over him.

9 individuals have signed up for Masha’s new “wellness retreat”, and every have their very own points. There’s Brian (Murray Bartlett), a former youngsters’ TV host; Dolly de Leon as Agnes, a nun; Imogen (Annie Murphy), who had deliberate to fulfill her mom, Victoria (a high-camp Christine Baranski) there, however finds Victoria has turned up with a brand new, a lot youthful lover, Matteo (Aras Aydin); Wolfie (Maisie Richardson-Sellers) and her girlfriend, Tina (singer King Princess); and Peter (Harry Golding) and his well-known billionaire father, David (Mark Sturdy).