Freud: Fascinating, even if inaccurate

 One of the first series I binge watched as the lockdown began was the Netflix original Freud. I was looking forward to watching it ever since I had first seen it's trailer. The dubbed version of this Austrian-German series didn't disappoint me.

Ostensibly based on the life of the father of psychoanalysis Sigmund Freud, the series actually seems to have a life of its own which may well be far removed from the the actual events of his life. It is quite entertaining though. It's partly a serial killer murder mystery, partly an exploration of the thin veil between psychic abilities and mental illness, partly a story of political intrigue and yet another about the early struggle of the doctor.

I really enjoyed the characterisation in the series. Freud's character as the the young doctor trying to to gain acceptance for his unique work is just one part of it. He's shown as coming from a family of two sons who have much sibling rivalry going on between them. Copious use of cocaine seems to be his coping mechanism as well as a way of accessing his subconscious mind to come to a better understanding of the world around him.

His attraction for his psychic patient Fleur, forms a crucial axis around which the story spins. On the one hand it threatens to destroy the world he has built for himself and on the other hand it's exactly what gives him the fuel to continue his work. 

Fleur herself is an intriguing character. Brought to Vienna from war torn Hungary in the early 20th century she seems to have found a way to transform her pain into power. She is seemingly taken over by a superior force when in danger and also has the ability the see into situations where she couldn't possibly have known what was going on. However despite possessing these powers young Fleur is overpowered by her adoptive parents who belong to the Hungarian royal family.

Her parents are just two of the other characters that froms the rich tapestry of the series. There are plenty of others. These include Freud's friends and allies, his colleagues, his family and even an Austrian prince.

The series has been slammed for its historical inaccuracies and it is probably weak in that department. But in itself I found the series vastly enjoyable to watch. It's dark and it's edgy which seems to be the hallmark of many Netflix series. I'm hoping it's renewed for another season.