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Maniacis an experimental show about an experiment in curing mental illness.
role that slyly tips its hat to her Emmy-winning performance in the mini-seriesSybil.
You know how sometimes in life you dont realize how much you needed something until it appears?
(Nick Cuse, who co-wrote that episode ofThe Leftovers, is also a writer and co-producer ofManiac.)
ButManiacis more than an exercise in switcheroos of form and tone.
Maniacdoesnt unfold in a consistently defined setting, particularly with regard to the time in which it takes place.
These kinds of paradoxical details are part of what makes the world of this series so fascinating.
Its also fun to watch the cast take some off-kilter risks.
Field is … well, shes the great Sally Field.
(Yes, one of the roles Field plays is a computer.)
Repressed, fixated on the study, and constantly smoking, shes a compulsive tic in human form.
Stone turns into that kill machine in the ninth episode, a real banger, complete with aDr.
Maniacis exhilarating to watch and a lot to process.
The fact that its so consistently able to elicit laughter is one ofManiacs best qualities.
That, and its full embrace of utter randomness.
Did I mention that at one point, Jonah Hill turns into a hawk on this show?
Because if I didnt, its worth noting.
No one sees into your heads but us, James promises his subjects before the study gets underway.
But thats not true.Maniaclets us see right into Annies and Owens synced-up, askew minds.
Once we start peeping around in there, its next to impossible to look away.
