Sleepin_Dragon

Purdue Pharma is desperate to land the next big pain medication, and it succeeds with OxyContin. But false promises and limitless greed spark a huge opioid addiction. Those brave enough to challenge the pharma giant soon discover their opponent has friends in very high places.

What an incredibly powerful series this is. It details a recent scandal in which many tragically lost their lives. The tone is icy and unflinching, telling the true story of addiction without holding back.

While the narrative follows several characters, the focus remains firmly on Dr. Finnix and Betsy - a small-town miner and her GP. Their descent from hard-working citizens to addicts, willing to lie and cheat to obtain a fix, is portrayed with striking impact.

Danny Strong's direction is superb: measured, precise, and never sensationalised. The series terrifies in its realism - it's chilling to realise that, among my three friendship groups, I appear to be the only one not on prescribed medication.

Performances throughout are exceptional. Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever deserve special mention for bringing extraordinary depth to their roles.

The series does jump around in time a little, which can take a moment to adjust to, but this is a minor quibble in an otherwise remarkable production.

9.5/10.

A lot rests on a nun and a country doctor, who bravely challenge Purdue Pharma, forced to decide whether to accept a huge payoff or stand their ground. Meanwhile, Richard Sackler maneuvers around Rick and Randy, gauging how close they are to the next breakthrough.

This series has been profoundly powerful - upsetting, shocking, and genuinely baffling. The final episode delivers in spades, showing how it all came tumbling down, with the legal battles unfolding alongside the human cost.

It's not just dramatic and hard-hitting; it should serve as a wake-up call. I don't actually know anyone over the age of 35 who isn't on some form of medication - that's deeply concerning.

We glimpse the family operating above the law, behaving like a cartel, a stark illustration of how crooked those in power can become when dollar signs are waved under their noses.

Dr Finnix's story has been extraordinary, from his downward spiral to his near-heroic efforts. His transference onto Elizabeth Anne from Betsy was portrayed brilliantly - Michael Keaton nailed it.

Let's be honest, the conviction was laughably light, but the huge payouts pushed the company to the financial brink.

9/10.

The DEA continue to fight to get OxyContin's label altered, to now include a black box. Richard Sackler announces to the board at Purdue that the product will now have a warning label, but only he spots an opportunity within it. Betsy continues to battle with addiction.

I was half expecting this episode to be a bit of a lull, the typical quiet hour before a big, heavy finale. At first it looked that way too - a legal battle, two sides flexing their muscles, with Purdue once again finding a way to come out on top. However... the ending.

Kaitlyn Dever's performance throughout has been exceptional, but here she is quite literally off the scale, taking Betsy to new emotional heights. Her story was unbelievably tragic; it genuinely brought tears to my eyes.

What struck me most was how far-reaching the consequences were - we're not just seeing addicts suffer, but entire systems bending under the pressure of a single drug. Every department, every person trying to push back against Purdue seems to hit the same brick wall.

As a fairly open-minded Brit, I find myself baffled by the freedoms Big Pharma has in the US. The balance between profit and health should never even be close, but here it was most definitely tipped in favour of business, and people lost their lives.

Compelling drama.

9.5/10.