A five part HBO series based on a number of “semi-autobiographical” novels by Edward St. Aubyn starring Benedict Cumberbatch. What a weird series. How unpleasant. But, I think it is supposed to be.
Patrick is the only son of a dysfunctional father (a talented musician/composer who was trained as a doctor), who married a very wealthy dysfunctional woman and quit working, spending his days drinking, drinking, drinking, bossing his wife around, and abusing his son. Patrick himself does not have his father’s talent or education, but drinks and takes drugs and is generally out of control. Attractive to women, he is also married and has two sons, and spends most of his time out of control. His mother owns a beautiful estate in the south of France, where Patrick and family vacation, but she decides to give it to a foundation run by a young new-age guru, leaving Patrick and his family out in the cold. She dies, too.
Patrick’s wife leaves him, and at then end of the series he seems to be back with his old girlfriend, who has her own troubles. Not sure what will happen after that.
The story line is not chronological, but goes back and forth, increasing a bit the confusion of the viewer, but then again, it makes little difference, because whichever generation you are looking at, whether Patrick is 5 or 45, someone is always drunk or stoned and out of control. Cumberbatch and the rest of the cast do a fine job, but you can only do so much portraying the British idle rich.
Arthur Thinks (He Thinks) 