Shrinking - The Last Thanksgiving

After Alice temporarily moved in with Gaby, the season finale of Shrinking opens with Jimmy hitting rock bottom once again, just as Paul had foreseen. Thankfully he ends up doing what he promised he would most definitely not do: Call Paul and ask for help. The older therapist reminds him that he already knows what he needs to do to pull himself out of this downward spiral – open up to Alice. Jimmy needs to bare his soul and tell her how much it’s been destroying him to know he failed her as a father when Tia died. However, Jimmy is hesitant, worried that his confession might make Alice blame herself. Despite his fears he makes the decision to talk to her. However, he expected it to be difficult to get a hold of her as she is trying to avoid him. To his surprise, he finds her waiting for him in their kitchen. Alice tells him it wasn’t fair of her to expect him to talk to Louis and that she doesn’t need any further explanation from him. But Jimmy knows he has to explain anyway.He admits he messed up in every possible way, confessing that Louis is a living reminder of his failure as a father. He tells Alice: “You are this amazing woman… INSPITE of me”. Alice acknowledges that, yes, there was a time when he wasn’t a great father. But she also reminds him of all the good times, the happy memories that still hold meaning. She reveals that even when he was at his lowest, she could see glimpses of the dad she needed – like the time he carried her to bed after she fell asleep on the couch. She knew the real him was still in there, buried between grief, guilt and desperation. This beautiful scene is a defining moment in their father-daughter relationship and an equally significant milestone in Jimmy’s healing journey.

As revealed in the previous episode, Brian and Charlie are officially set to adopt a baby after all. The expectant mother, who initially chose another couple to adopt her child, had a change of heart. In just four months, Brian and Charlie will proudly welcome their little miracle into their lives.

When Liz learns that the couple hasn’t done a single thing to prepare for the baby yet, she’s indignant. There’s no time to waste! They need to start immediately! Step one: find a nanny. The search proves to be long and arduous, with Liz disapproving of nearly every candidate, until they finally come across someone, she deems acceptable. However, there’s a catch: the nanny can only work part-time. They’ll need someone else to cover the two days she’s unavailable.

Derek has the perfect solution: Liz. He even offers to pay Brian and Charlie to convince them to give her the job. Derek knows Liz is still struggling, searching for a sense of purpose, and he firmly believes that her calling is raising children. Brian and Charlie agree to the plan and promise not to let Liz know it was Derek’s idea. Of course, Liz sees right through it and immediately realizes her husband is behind the arrangement. Still, she accepts the offer. Derek is right – her purpose in life is nurturing children. Whether they’re her own or not doesn’t matter; what fulfills her is simply being there for them, offering her care, love, and guidance.

In the season finale, we see a rather heartbroken Gaby, grappling with the fallout of having wrecked not one, but two important relationships in her life over the past few weeks. It’s clearly eating away at her. She’s throwing a big Thanksgiving dinner for all her friends, but two key people won’t be there: her mother and her now ex-boyfriend, Derek II.

Meanwhile, Paul, despite being invited to the Thanksgiving celebration, opts for a quiet evening at home with Julie. Or so he thinks. Julie, however, has other plans. Before he knows it, Paul finds himself “kidnapped” yet again, as Julie takes it upon herself to drag him to Gaby’s party. Unlike Paul, she knows exactly what’s good for him.

And she’s absolutely right. Much to everyone’s surprise (including his own), Paul finds himself enjoying the gathering, surrounded by the people he loves, annoying as many of them may be. In a touching and unexpected moment, Paul gives an emotional speech to his friends. He openly acknowledges his Parkinson’s, admitting that things are likely to get harder soon, and thanks them for being there for him. He humbly admits he’ll need to rely on them even more in the future.

This vulnerable display highlights just how far Mr. Grumpy has come. Over time, Paul has continuously pushed himself to be better: to open up, to connect, to rely on others. Julie’s steady presence has certainly helped, but there’s no denying that Paul himself did the heavy lifting in this transformation.

The Thanksgiving celebration becomes even more heartwarming when Derek II unexpectedly shows up – with Gaby’s mom in tow. Gaby lights up at the sight of her mom and boyfriend, she feels a weight lift from her shoulders. The room fills with joy as the entire friend group comes together, sharing laughter and love, underscoring the beauty of chosen family and the connections we make along the way.

The scene starkly contrasts with the isolation Louis is grappling with. After his coworkers discovered his past – his drunk driving and the tragic consequences of his reckless actions – he was uninvited from their Friendsgiving. Just as Louis had started finding a semblance of stability, this rejection pulls him back into the darkness, undoing the fragile progress he had made.

I felt a deep sense of pride when Louis reaches out to Alice, admitting he needes someone to talk to. It takes incredible strength to fight against the darkness pulling you down, and even more to ask for help. Sadly, his text message doesn’t reach Alice right away, as everyone at the Thanksgiving party had agreed to put away their phones for the evening.

Louis’ state of mind deteriorates rapidly. He finds himself at the train station, a place he often used to frequent with his ex-girlfriend. Staring at the approaching trains, he contemplates ending his pain once and for all. Slowly, he steps closer to the edge of the platform. Just as the moment turns dire, a voice calls out to him. Louis turns around – it’s Jimmy.

Alice, it turns out, had sneaked a glance at her phone after all and saw Louis’ message. However, Jimmy came to see him in her stead. And he arrived just in time.

The two men sit down on one of the station benches, an air of quiet heaviness between them.

Jimmy: “What a shitty couple of years, huh?”

Louis: “…Yeah.”

Despite sitting beside the man responsible for his wife’s death, Jimmy remains calm and composed. It’s as if he’s come to realize that he and Louis are not so different. They’ve both been profoundly broken by the same tragedy. Both lost the woman they loved; their lives irreparably shattered.

In an unexpectedly poignant moment, Jimmy points at someone standing nearby and asks, “What’s her story?” Together, they begin to guess the stories of the people around them, just as Louis used to do with his girlfriend before everything fell apart.

Then, in a quiet gesture of solidarity, Jimmy puts a reassuring hand on Louis’ shoulder. The message is clear: despite everything, they’re going to be okay. Jimmy will help him. For the first time, he’s in a place where he actually can.

The season finale of Shrinking masterfully weaves together themes of personal growth, healing, forgiveness and the strength found in chosen family. Pretty much every character takes a step forward in their journey, no matter how messy or painful. As the credits roll, we’re left with a sense of hope and a reminder that, even in the darkest of times, the people around us can light the way forward.

Did the season finale live up to your expectations? Let us know your take in the comments below!

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