Series Name PAIN
On:                         Netflix
Episode total (6 x 50 minutes  (It may be 40 minutes pedant type)

Synopsis

A pharmaceutical company, PURDUE, sells ‘sugar coated’ heroin to the masses, emphasizing its effectiveness in reducing pain. They are not wrong; it can remove pain effectively because it is a class A addictive drug, heroin.

 If this ‘true story’ drama is true, the Sackler family did this purposefully; then their morals are questionable. The Sacklers managed to sweep the addictiveness issue under the current and not get it noticed by the government for quite some time.

Instead of selling it through conventional means, they employed young medical students, mainly female, to distribute it and flatter middle age doctors into prescribing it instead of through more traditional lines such as getting a patent—no more Spoilers.

Oxycotins effect was dramatic, The story has three viewpoints, the Sackler Family, who own and run Purdue and produce the dangerous, addictive drug Oxycontin. Getting this unethical drug licenced would be problematic, so we get the Sackler’s story, battling to make a legitimate drug, knowing it is terrible for patients.

The second story is through the eyes of Edie Matthews, Uzo Aduba, a hard-working state regulator who is cynical about the drug from the start. The longer it continues, the more problematic and damaging this drug is.

Thirdly, an American Dad, the victim, and his family hurt his back; this happens 10 minutes into the film, who is prescribed Oxycontin, so I will no longer spoil it.

Did I like it?

I did. Despite NetFlixes, Columbo syndrome which tends to show the ending before the beginning. When I say Columbo, I am referring to the 70s Peter Falk detective drama where at the beginning, they would show the murder. I advise youngsters who have never seen Columbo before to give it to go if you have some time between streams. It is good

Why was it good?

The Sacklers were more cartoonish, which bought comedy. In a serious subject, it is essential to have some light relief.

American Dad was too wholesome and one-dimensional. They may be trying to send a message that if it could happen to him, it could happen to anyone. A bit less cheese, please.

I may be a bit PC, but my favourite character was Edie, the Civil Servant. She was trying to stop the drug from being used. She was the one I was rooting for anyway.