Inner music example type: TV Programmes

Wakefield. Directed Kristen Dunphy. 2021. The show’s protagonist, Nik, is a psychiatric nurse at a hospital near Sydney Australia undergoing a mental health crisis. He frequently has ‘Come On Eileen’ by Dexys Midnight Runners stuck in his head. This appears to both trigger and be associated with the mental health episodes and/or breaks from reality.

Mordecai helps Rigby forget the song that is stuck in his head

Sheldon feels like he is descending into madness because he cannot remember the name of the song that is stuck in his head

Star Trek: Next Generation, S3E3: ‘The Survivors’. Directed by Les Landau. 1989. On the surface of Delta Rana IV, the away team finds a small music box in the home of Kevin and Rishon Uxbridge. Later, aboard the Enterprise, Counselor Troi begins to hear the music (without having heard it in person) from the box ... Read more

Dr Who, S3E11–13: ‘Utopia’, ‘The Sound of Drums’, and ‘Last of the Time Lords’. Directed by Russell T. Davies. 2007. Professor Yana/The Master has heard drumming all his life, sending him mad. This reflects the dual beating if his two hearts, and affects the way in which he plans world domination.

Curb Your Enthusiasm, S3E4: ‘Nanny From Hell’. Directed by Larry David. 2002. A nanny that had worked at a Loony Tunes theme park is driven to psychosis when she hears the music that was forced on repeat at her job and she constantly repeats it through the episode. Sometimes it is externally heard, sometimes she ... Read more

Ally McBeal, S1E17: ‘Theme Song of Your Life’. Created by David E. Kelley. 1998. The show’s protagonist, Ally McBeal, is prescribed a theme song by her therapist.