‘The Consultant’ Is No ‘Severance’, But It’ll Scratch Your Workplace Thriller Itch

Since Apple TV+‘s Severance aired its Season 1 finale on April 8, 2022, I’ve been desperately searching for a new series to scratch my workplace thriller itch. Enter The Consultant, Prime Video‘s new dark comedic thriller, which stars Christoph Waltz as a nightmare boss.

The eight-episode adaptation of Bentley Little’s 2015 novel of the same name premieres on February 24, and though it isn’t as masterfully crafted, compulsive, or believable as Dan Erickson’s critically-acclaimed series, it strikes a similarly eerie vibe, builds solid suspense, and will have you asking “WTF?!” until the very end.

Created by Tony Basgallop, The Consultant follows the app-based gaming company CompWare in the wake of its CEO’s mysterious murder. When consultant Regus Patoff (Waltz) waltzes into the office unannounced, perceptive employees Craig (Nat Wolff) and Elaine (Brittany O’Grady) start to question whether his conveniently-timed arrival is connected to their late boss’ demise.

As Patoff settles into his new job, his unpredictability and complete lack of boundaries swiftly instills fear in CompWare’s workers. He gives remote employees an hour to get to the office before their contracts will be terminated. He has no trouble firing someone simply because he doesn’t like the way they smell. He calls people into the office at ungodly hours of the morning. And he’s somehow entrusted to call the shots without the faintest idea what the company does.

On top of Pattoff’s mounting, maddening expectations lies a damning list of unanswered questions. What’s behind his aversion to staircases? Where’s his online presence? How did he get CompWare’s CEO to sign his company away? And why did the CEO of another company he consulted for die two weeks after he joined the team? All will be revealed before the finale concludes, but the information isn’t easy to come by.

Waltz effectively frightens and perplexes as Patoff, a menacing monster who can effortlessly turn on the charm. Though his character rarely displays awareness of his erratic behavior, glimpses into his manipulative psyche prove consistently chilling. Wolff, O’Grady, and Aimee Carrero — who plays Craig’s fiancé Patti — share quality chemistry and convey visceral terror through compelling performances. And a creepy score coupled with potent sound effects help set the cryptic mood, while flickers of The Consultant‘s comedic flair offer some much-needed respite from tension.

The two shows have their differences, but like Severance, The Consultant includes elements of workplace satire and inflates common frustrations with work and people in power. Both series push characters to fear for their jobs, sanity, and safety. And each tells a twisted tale of corporate horror that will make you feel better about your own job, if only for a few hours.

If you’re a fan of Little’s work and are familiar with his book it’ll be interesting to see how his complex characters translate from page to screen. But if you haven’t read The Consultant, the eight episodes made available for review include events so wild that they’re sure to pique any fan of workplace thriller genre.

The Consultant is now streaming on Prime Video.