Shrinking is a hilarious comedy on Apple TV+ that follows Jimmy (Jason Segel), a grieving therapist who spiraled after the death of his wife; using alcohol and drugs to cope. Instead of helping patients in the traditional way he was trained, he starts sharing his honest opinions with them, netting few wins and a long streak of losses. His neighbors and coworkers are around to pick him up when he’s down (or keep him down) and his daughter’s presence and mute silence serve as a reminder of how he’s failing as a father.
The shrewd comedy quickly became a hit on Apple TV+ and landed a successful second season. Some of the comedy is overdone but it lands more often than it misses. Jason Segel doesn’t possess the strength of character to be a lead, but he tries his best here. Normally, if you saw the name “Harrison Ford” you’d know he was the top guy no matter the project. But the sobering reality is that we’re existing in a realm 43 years after Raiders of the Lost Ark debuted. He’s transitioned from action hero to elder statesman and it’s been fantastic to watch. He balances being an elder of wisdom among the youth and a stereotypical cantankerous old man.
Season 1
In its breakout season, Shrinking introduces Jimmy in a bad light. He’s spiraling out of control because of his wife’s absence. If the drinking and drugs weren’t bad enough, he’s doing all of that at home with a teenage daughter present. Jimmy’s relationship with Alice (Lukita Maxwell) has been nonexistent since the death of Tia (Lilan Bowden). She was a wife, a mother, and a person that so many people looked to as a ray of light. We’re not immediately informed of how she died but eventually discover it was due to a drunk driver. Alice remains distant from her father because he’s been drowning himself in bad habits without considering how she feels. Even as he tries to dig himself out of the hole he’s dug with Alice, she doesn’t entertain him until the latter part of the season.
As a therapist, going off script is not only ballsy but frowned upon in the profession. Jimmy’s boss, Paul (Harrison Ford), is not digging the lack of professionalism and implores him to stop before he ruins people’s lives. The first two patients to heed his spur-of-the-moment advice are Grace (Heidi Gardner) and Sean (Luke Tennie). Everything went well initially, but as Paul warned, it all blew up in Jimmy’s face, which left him scrambling for solutions.
The first season explores relationship dynamics down to a therapeutic level. This can be good or bad, depending on the audience. For some, a comedy about a therapist should feel more humorous than educational. Others might feel like it adds a layer of authenticity to its principal cast. At times, it does fall off into a scholastic abyss, making one wonder if a punchline lies in wait. But rest assured, the comedy is there and some episodes fare better than others.
Gaby (Jessica Williams) works with Paul and Jimmy and is everyone’s comic relief. Her humor is lewd, crude, and all over the place. If she wasn’t making an ill-timed comment about her breasts, she was insulting someone (“You look like a Splash Mountain operator!”). But for all the good she presented, her problem was putting everyone else’s needs before her own, aiming to please those close to her to a fault. Paul was the most professional of the three, but even he had issues. For one, healing an absent relationship with his daughter Meg (Lily Rabe), and secondly, harboring emotions as opposed to sharing his true feelings (that good ol’ baby boomer tough guy act).
Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek (Ted McGinley) are Jimmy’s neighbors and have a unique relationship. With over 20 years of marriage, they coexist thanks to dry humor from her and dad-joke-level antics from him. They played a big part in Alice’s healing when her dad didn’t step up. Liz made an even bigger impact when she funded a food truck for Sean; a business venture that would see positive financial results and bring a sense of satisfaction along with it. Conner (Gavin Lewis), Liz and Derek’s son is a bit of a goof and is spoiled to a fault. As innocent as he is, he plays on his naivete when he needs attention.
There’s usually a gay best friend in the mix on these shows and for Shrinking, Jimmy had Brian (Michael Urie), a self-absorbed, highly entertaining attorney who brought as much comedy as he did drama. The first season was spent helping his friends with legal issues and working through his relationship with Charlie (Devin Kawaoka).
Season 2
By Episode Four, Season Two of Shrinking truly hits its stride as the main characters face pivotal turning points. Following their wedding, Brian and Charlie navigate the complexities of parenthood. Paul simultaneously cultivates a budding relationship with his daughter, Meg, while exploring a romance with Julie. Jimmy and Gaby’s awkward dynamic shifts with the arrival of “Derek squared” (Damon Wayans Jr.), a new contender for Gaby’s affection. This development rekindles Jimmy’s focus on his relationship with Sean, who appears to be regressing. While a minor conflict with Liz was quickly resolved, the lingering tension between Sean and his father remains unresolved.
Alice has double the trouble after she makes two selfish mistakes. First, was ignoring the sound advice Paul gave her about not approaching her mother’s killer. Second, was sleeping with Connor (again) knowing he was dating her best friend Summer (Rachel Stubington). After spending the entirety of last season mending her relationship with her father, screwing over her best friend would need a good bit of time to heal. Louis, the drunk driver who killed Alice’s mom, is having trouble atoning for his sins. He and Alice’s family are looking for closure but aren’t emotionally stable enough to confront their issues.
Gaby still holds her own as the fun friend in all of her circles, but her personal life isn’t as grand as it seems. She doesn’t get along with her sister Courtney (Courtney Taylor) and her love life is still fragile. After her mom’s accident, Gaby is forced to return home to convince her to get cataract surgery. Even though Courtney takes care of their mom’s day-to-day affairs, Gaby’s words hold more weight with her, which exacerbates the divide between the siblings.
Episode 7 is hilarious and probably has the best writing of the entire season. The dating lives of the characters get tricky. Gaby finally goes on a date with Derek No. 2 (Damon Wayans Jr.) while O.G. Derek warns Liz not to get too close to an old friend named Mac (Josh Hopkins). Alice and Summer are on the mend after the drama with Connor. There’s tension between Brian and Charlie as the adoption process was expedited. Brian thought he could warm up to the idea over time, but when a child becomes available in 24hrs., Brian has a bit of a meltdown. The most powerful part of the episode was the end where Brian and Alice met with Louis for dinner. She forgave him and they had a good time… Until Jimmy saw them together.
Episode 8 is the most powerful episode of the season. Titled “The Last Drink”, it flashes back three years ago to the accident that took Tia’s life. The 15-minute blast from the past gives audiences more insight as to what happened (without being graphic about it). There’s more to learn about Louis than what’s been given in episodes past and after the flashback, it’s easy to see why Jimmy isn’t in the same stage of healing as Alice.
The series is courageous in its approach to subjects that comedies would normally steer clear of. Its pairing with the perfect cast and superb writing made it a lot easier to digest. Rarely do you find issues like Parkinson’s disease, grief, or the closest I’ve seen to an enmeshed mother, get addressed in a comedy. But the show’s creators did themselves a great service by doing so. Managing such relatable topics adds a layer of authenticity we didn’t even need, but gladly accept. Watching the characters grow through their setbacks was not only wholesome but satisfying.
Shrinking gets a 9 out of 10. The way the season wraps is perfect. There’s a hint of suspense that grows into a serious concern that’s adeptly handled and is the perfect final act. There’s no word on when we’ll get a third season but Apple did announce it was happening. Harrison Ford is a gem and Lukita Maxwell and Jessica Williams are easy to love! The series is rated TV-MA due to its strong language, mature themes related to mental health struggles, drug use, sexual content, and topics inappropriate for young viewers.
Shrinking is now streaming on Apple TV+
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Apple TV+
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: TV-MA
Runtime: 35 mins. | Season One: 10 Episodes | Season Two: 12 Episodes
Trailer: WATCH
U.S. Release Date: October 16, 2024