A Québécois series with Thomas Ngijol tackling mental health, the latest crime thriller starring Mark Ruffalo, or a psychological drama with Robin Wright as an overprotective mother… Since back-to-school season means fresh releases, Do It has prepared a short list of the series to watch this September. Grab your remote, get set, binge!
Empathie
For whom? Big-hearted empaths with unshakable optimism.
The pitch. Suzanne (Florence Longpré), a former Québécois criminologist, reinvents herself as a psychiatrist at the Institut psychiatrique Mont-Royal. Still haunted by past trauma, on her very first day she meets Mortimer (Thomas Ngijol), a warm-hearted intervention officer determined to support her in her new path. Between complicated patients, wary colleagues, and unresolved demons, she must confront her own struggles while helping those in need of care and empathy.
Why you’ll love it. Mental health can be a tough, taboo subject, but here it’s treated with a refreshing tragicomic touch. From Suzanne (a touching, sincere Florence Longpré) to her sidekick Mortimer (Thomas Ngijol, surprisingly tender), to the gallery of characters often reduced to cold diagnoses: the show makes us laugh, cry, and reflect. Blending humor with humanity and tenderness, it also delves into darker, heartbreaking moments. Beyond the patient/doctor dynamic, the series portrays people fighting daily not to fall into the abyss — including Suzanne and Mortimer — and questions our own ability to step into someone else’s shoes. No wonder it won the Audience Award at the Séries Mania festival.
Empathie, streaming September 1st on MyCanal.
Task
For whom? Hardcore Mark Ruffalo fans.
The pitch. In suburban Philadelphia, a wave of home burglaries is escalating. Tom (Mark Ruffalo), an FBI agent, leads a special task force to stop a string of crimes orchestrated by a seemingly ordinary father — one who refuses to get caught.
Why you’ll love it. From the creator of the acclaimed miniseries Mare of Easttown, Brad Ingelsby returns to Philadelphia with Task. This time he brings together Mark Ruffalo and a nearly unrecognizable Tom Pelphrey (Ozark, Love and Death). Expect a dark, suspenseful thriller where tension is palpable, the atmosphere moody, and the investigation gripping. The show explores crime through the lens of social determinism: Pelphrey shines as the troubled family man turned criminal, while Ruffalo convinces as both a disoriented father and a seasoned FBI supervisor.
Task, streaming September 8th on HBO.
The Girlfriend
For whom? Anyone who struggles with their in-laws.
The pitch. Laura (Robin Wright) seems to have it all: a thriving career, a loving husband, and a beloved son. Her perfect world collapses when her only child (Laurie Davidson) introduces his new girlfriend, Cherry (Olivia Cooke). From the start, Laura distrusts her and refuses to welcome her. With no real reason, this daughter-in-law unsettles her, shaking her motherly instincts and forcing her to share her son’s attention for the first time. What follows is an all-out battle between the two women.
Why you’ll love it. This psychological thriller, adapted from the novel by Michelle Frances (screenwriter of Shameless), is set to be one of the season’s highlights. With Robin Wright (House of Cards, Forrest Gump) as the sharp, controlling mother and Olivia Cooke (Ready Player One, House of the Dragon) as the mysterious daughter-in-law, the casting is impeccable. Expect plot twists, betrayals, and shifting loyalties — to the point where you no longer know who to trust. Could these two women actually be more alike than they think? An addictive series to binge in a single weekend.
The Girlfriend, streaming September 10th on Prime Video.
