The Hurt Man

I didn't know who Cooper Koch was but I sure as heck do now, and will definitely watch his previous work as well as his work in the future.

The episode is one take and he pretty much does a 20 minute monologue (with some remarks/questions here and there from the lawyer), which is a feat in itself...actors in plays that don't have the luxury of multiple takes rarely even get monologues as long as this, yet he did an incredible job.

Then on top of that, he basically has another 6 minute monologue to close the episode.

I felt and believed every word he said, and I can't wait to see what he does in the future.

Then there's the camera work that I didn't even realise was slowly zooming in the whole time, adding to the intensity, which I didn't even realise until about 20 minutes in.

This episode is the definition of a bottle episode done right.

It was about twenty minutes into this episode before I realized it was being done in one take. Cooper Koch? Who is this kid that is delivering the performance of ALL performances!? Absolutely gut wrenching and extremely hard to watch but man, did this kid nail it. Kudos to the casting crew for finding this kid.

This show is seemingly getting farther away from the sometimes hysterical moments of the first three episodes. It is DARK just like the entire first season but I am absolutely blown away by this episode. My jaw was on the floor. This episode will have Cooper Koch as a favorite for Emmy season.

An entire episode of one shot and Cooper Koch delivers one of the best performances I've ever seen. The one shot that zooms so slowly you don't even realize it's zooming at first because it takes up an entire 32 minute episode. The intensity of the conversation Erik has with Leslie Abramson increases as the camera zooms, and yet even at the very beginning of the episode, you're locked in at the edge of your seat, ready for Erik to spill everything about his trauma to Leslie. By the end of the episode, you're up close watching tears stream down Erik's face as you're in shock and crying right along with him. I don't think I blinked, 10/10.

I don't think I've ever seen something like this before. I didn't realize it until about half way through, but the whole episode is a one take. Cooped the actor playing Erik was absolutely incredible! He better get an Emmy for this episode. One takes are hard enough, but to do a one take that is so long and emotional and complex is something most actors couldn't do.

I do understand why they filming this episode this way. Cuts would have taken away from the emotional delivery of the dialogue. The content of the conversation was so heavy and disturbing that it demanded your attention. I got so engrossed in it, I didn't even realize how much time had passed.

This episode as a tv show was pure genius! As for the legitimacy of the content, I definitely can't say I hope it's true, but I can't imagine that would be made up and passed as being true.

This needs a trigger warning for sure. The entire show does need a trigger warning card at the start. This is so hard to watch...but you cannot look away. This is going to go down as one of the best single episodes in TV just based on the fact that it's only one shot. 30 minutes.

I dare anyone to sit down and watch this, within the series story or not and force themselves to watch this. This is why film and television can be art. This is why you watch. It's not fun, it's not easy but you take it because it's the craft of the art at hand. And any good actor would kill to get this chance to show their love of acting.

It is about CSA and if you're not in a good headspace DO NOT watch this. That being said, it's a 10/10.