HBO revives ‘In Treatment’ with Uzo Aduba looking for truth

Aduba’s Taylor has three patients: “In the Heights” actor Anthony Ramos plays a troubled home health aide, John Benjamin Hickey plays a white-collar criminal angry at the world and Quintessa Swindell portrays a wealthy teen with an overbearing grandmother.

Ramos said he leapt at the chance of portraying a complex Latino character who embraces talk therapy. The actor, who said he’s personally benefited from therapy, hopes he can remove any stigma from seeking help.

“I remember I told someone in my family I was going to therapy and they were like, ‘Well, what’s wrong?’” he said. “I was like, ‘A lot. What do you mean what’s wrong? Life is hard.’”

Ramos’ character is quarantining with a wealthy family to look after one of their members. He and Aduba’s doctor bond over their love of Gabriel García Márquez. He’s having trouble sleeping, but she worries about prescribing medication. “This work — it’s not sexy, it’s not fast,” she tells him.

Unlike the therapist’s other patients, Ramos’ character has his sessions on Zoom, a challenging prospect for both actors. Ramos and Aduba were in different rooms on set.

“I was afraid that it wouldn’t be as connective an experience, but it actually was in the end when we did it,” said Aduba. “I could see a world where teletherapy is now just a part of the therapeutic experience.”