Joel Fields and Joe Weisberg, creator and executive producer of The Americans, burrow deep inside a twisted mind as co-writers of a 10-part psychological thriller. Alan Strauss (Steve Carell) is a therapist, whose calm demeanour in sessions conceals a turbulent emotional state. He hasn't fully processed the recent death of his wife Beth (Laura Niemi) and continues to be estranged from his religious son Ezra (Andrew Leeds). In the midst of turmoil, Alan welcomes an intriguing new patient, Sam Fortner (Domhnall Gleeson), who discloses that he is a serial killer determined to curb his homicidal urges. To achieve this goal, Sam kidnaps Alan and holds him hostage so they can conduct intense one-on-one sessions to nullify his compulsion. Faced with the terrifying prospect of becoming one of his patient's victims, Alan attempts to defuse Sam's rage before he slays again.