[TV Profile] The Path

The Path is an American drama series which centres around a fictional religion/cult called Meyerism. It began airing in 2016 on the Hulu web streaming service, stars Aaron Paul, Michelle Monaghan, and Hugh Dancy and currently has three seasons under its belt.

I have a bit of a morbid fascination with cults, and have done for some time now. I'm most curious about the personalities behind the cults, what makes them tick and why they do the things that they do. Often it's hard to get many answers to those questions. The Path explores the fictional group known as Meyerists, who follow the teachings of a Dr Steve Meyer. There are many similarities to be drawn to a whole plethora of cults, including Scientology amongst others. It isn't a direct copy of any single one, but more a broad stroke that tries to encapsulate the essence of a cult and cult personalities.

The first season was fairly enjoyable, with elements of realism, the testing of belief, power struggles and seeming acts of God. The second season seemed far more drawn out, more rambling than the first and it struggled to fully engage me throughout. Things have shifted up a gear with the third season however, as some interesting plot developments have been introduced. Pacing issues seem to have been largely sorted out now as well, with the viewer feeling far more invested in what's happening on screen.

Issues with the earlier seasons aside, the show features some great acting. Aaron Paul and Hugh Dancy in particular really stretch their acting legs in this one. The characters all feel well fleshed out, with believable and at times relatable back stories. The Meyerist movement as a whole is well conceived, you're never quite sure if it is a nefarious cult, benign social community or a social movement for good. It feels more believable to me somehow, as things in the real world are often far more complex and well, absurd than we'd sometimes like.

If you enjoy a good drama series, I'd definitely recommend you look into this one. I've been binging the third season over the past few nights and I really hope it gets a fourth season. Have you seen this show? Let me know your thoughts and feelings in the comment section down below, and as always make sure to follow me for the latest Cryptocurrency, Internet and Pop Culture updates. Until next time Peace!

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