Gypsy is a new Netflix original starring Naomi Watts as a therapist who is apparently more twisted and in need of help than her patients.
Billy Crudup stars as Watts’ husband. Also in Gypsy are Sophie Cookson, Karl Glusman, Melanie Liburd, and Brenda Vaccaro.
The series is described, “Therapist Jean Holloway becomes too immersed in the lives of her patients. She begins to develop dangerous and intimate relationships with the people in her patients’ lives.”
In an interview at Variety, Watts was quoted as saying, “We’ve seen this character played out with a male protagonist many times over. It’s not that common for a woman to be playing someone seeking power and control but still having a lot of desire.”
Watts has two Academy Awards nominations to her credit, and she’s doing a TV series for Netflix. Once again, proof that television is ahead of Hollywood filmmakers in giving leading roles to women.
Women are in key roles behind the scenes, too. Gypsy was created by Lisa Rubin. Rubin and Jonathan Caren wrote the 10 episodes of the first season. Women directors led 6 of the 10 episodes: Sam Taylor-Johnson, Victoria Mahoney, and Coky Giedroyc.
Gypsy premiers on June 30. What do you think? Does it look interesting?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y67_16zSMwk
I love Naomi Watts, she’s a brilliant actor, but I’m definitely hesitant on this one. Sketchy therapists is a topic I’m particularly uncomfortable with. I don’t want to see it glorified, nor do I want to see the industry further maligned. There’s already a huge bias in our culture against mental illness and the mental health field.
The idea that therapists need more help than their patients bothers me about this one as well. It’s got all the female cred in front of and behind the camera, but it makes me nervous. I hope it’s better than we think.