Call me late to the party, but I can’t heap enough praise on Shrinking. It had me laughing one minute and tearing up the next.
If you’re looking for a show that blends heart and humor perfectly, Shrinking delivers.
It takes you on a journey through grief, healing, and the messy beauty of life — and trust me, you’ll be hooked from the very first episode.
Shrinking follows Jimmy (Jason Segal), a therapist who’s grieving the sudden loss of his wife while trying to raise his teenage daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell).
As he struggles to navigate his own grief, Jimmy shakes things up with an unconventional therapy style. He pushes his patients to break free from their emotional ruts — because, well, he’s kind of stuck himself.
His advice is exactly what he needs to hear, and watching his journey unfold is what makes this show so sweet and special.
Now, I’ll admit, one of the big reasons I decided to check out this show — though I didn’t catch it when it originally aired — was Harrison Ford. (Who wouldn’t?)
He plays Paul, Jimmy’s boss and fellow therapist, with all the gruff charm you’d expect (and humor you might not). But what really kept me glued wasn’t just Ford — it was the deeply relatable characters and the honest portrayal of grief and healing.
Having experienced loss myself, I saw bits of my own experience in Jimmy’s struggles. The show nails the reality that grief isn’t something you just “get over” in a year or two.
It’s a long, winding process full of setbacks and tiny victories, and Shrinking captures that beautifully.
Full of Heart and Humor
One of the show’s best parts is watching the father-daughter relationship between Jimmy and Alice evolve. In the beginning, Jimmy is so wrapped up in his grief that he barely notices that Alice needs him, too.
The dynamic between them feels real and raw, particularly when they confront the inevitable reality that memories — like Alice’s fading recollection of her mom’s laugh — can slip away.
One of the most touching moments of the season was watching Jimmy take the huge step of removing his wedding ring and sharing his late wife’s belongings with Alice.
Then, there’s the supporting cast that makes this show even better.
Liz (Christa Miller), Jimmy’s well-meaning but overbearing neighbor, fills in as Alice’s surrogate mom while dealing with her own empty nest syndrome.
Meanwhile, Gaby (Jessica Williams), Jimmy’s colleague, friend, and, later, friend with benefits, brings endless laughs with her bold and unfiltered personality.
Jimmy’s best friend, Brian (Michael Urie), has his own emotional journey. He navigates strained family dynamics before finding peace and joy in his new marriage to Charlie (Devin Kawaoka).
And then there’s Sean (Luke Tennie), a patient Jimmy takes under his wing, whose growth from a troubled young man to a budding entrepreneur is one of the show’s most rewarding arcs.
Shrinking stands out because while it touches on serious issues like grief, trauma, and strained family relationships, it never loses its heart or sense of humor.
There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, especially with Gaby’s vibrant personality, Brian’s unwavering enthusiasm, and Paul’s wry, no-nonsense attitude. But underneath the humor, the series is full of emotional depth.
Every character is growing in their own way, and it’s impossible not to root for them as they work through their pain, mistakes, and, ultimately, their healing.
Sure, Jimmy’s approach to therapy is unconventional, and there are moments when things don’t work out the way he — or we — expect. But that’s life, right?
The show doesn’t sugarcoat the complexities of healing or shy away from showing the consequences of Jimmy’s unorthodox methods (even if he hasn’t yet been held accountable for some of the more controversial ones, ala Grace).
But when you see characters like Sean finally finding their way, you can’t help but believe that maybe there’s something to Jimmy’s madness after all.
What stands out most, though, is how Shrinking nails the whole idea of a makeshift family and how they support each other through their ups and downs.
By the end of season one, you’ll be invested not only in Jimmy and Alice’s journey but also in everyone’s story, whether it’s Jimmy’s friends and co-workers or his patients.
And despite the more dramatic turns the show takes, it’s really about people coming together and supporting each other through life’s messiest moments. It’s just a sweet show all around.
Shrinking Season 2 premieres on October 16 on Apple TV+. Be sure to join me here at TV Fanatic to discuss each and every new episode!
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