Typically, TV comedies get a quiet smile or a soft chuckle out of me – rarely a true, belly-shaking laugh. Yet the latest episode of Shrinking on Apple TV+ had me laughing out loud more than once. With razor-sharp writing and stellar performances from the entire cast, this episode was an absolute delight to watch.
It kicks off with a brilliant opening scene fueled by a sharp dialogue and delivery: Jimmy, Paul and Sean are hanging out, watching sports (the details of which are delightfully irrelevant). Paul and Jimmy have agreed to share Sean as a patient, a surprising move for two reasons: First, Paul isn’t exactly the sharing type – especially not with patients, since it means considering professional views other than his own. Second, spending personal time with a patient contradicts Paul’s own strict rules, which he’s repeatedly criticized Jimmy for ignoring. The three men banter and bicker with ease, the dialogue quick-witted and perfectly timed, capturing each character’s personality perfectly.
Honesty Era centers on the theme of facing hard truths, even when they’re ugly or difficult to hear. Jimmy, typically the lead character, takes on more of a supporting role this time around, allowing other characters more space to come forward with their own truths.
Despite being only 30 minutes long, the episode masterfully explores multiple characters’ lives without feeling like anything was left out or merely hinted at. Many shows struggle with this, often leaving me feeling like I’ve missed key moments in character arcs. With Shrinking, however, that’s rarely the case. While I’d never say “no” to more scenes with Harrison Ford and Wendie Malick, I don’t feel deprived of any essential moments between their characters.
Since I am already talking about Paul, let’s delve into what this episode has in store for him: His daughter Meg is in town to give a talk at the university. It’s kind of a big deal. So she, her husband, their daughter, and her mom, Paul’s ex-wife Susan (the ever-charming Kelly Bishop), are all staying at his house. Unsurprisingly, Paul is miserable about having guests over. “They’ll murder me with small talk,” he grumbles to Gaby at work. He’s also unsettled by how well Susan and his girlfriend Julie get along. Part of Paul’s discomfort stems from guilt over his past: he and Susan drifted apart, he was working long hours and eventually had a one-time affair. His confession ultimately ended their marriage, and he still carries the weight of it to this day. Susan’s sudden interest in reconnecting only heightens his unease.
Surprisingly, it’s Brian, Paul’s seemingly superficial lawyer and Jimmy’s best friend, who pushes him to talk to Susan to resolve their issues. It is visible how hard it is for Paul to open up, but he pushes through, just as he has done earlier this season with Julie. He has truly come a long way since season 1, actively working to break old patterns.
SHRINKING, Pictured: Harrison Ford, Michael Urie and Kelly Bishop. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. All Rights Reserved.
Paul admits he’ll never forgive himself for breaking up their family, but Susan reveals she forgave him a long time ago – she just never bothered to tell him. The scene wraps up with the two of them poking fun at their son-in-law, who may well be the most boring person either of them has ever had the displeasure of meeting.
Meanwhile, Alice has a rough couple of days when Conor tells his girlfriend Summer – Alice’s best friend – that he and Alice slept together. Jimmy wants to know why she made that choice, but Gaby quickly reminds him that it is none of his business; his role as a father is simply to be there for Alice. So, instead of dropping her off at school, Jimmy takes her to a tattoo parlor. Getting inked is something she’s wanted for ages, and with her 18th birthday around the corner, it feels like the perfect time to make it happen and show her some grown-up trust. Alice chooses a tattoo of her mom’s initials. With a bit of cajoling and guilt-tripping, she even convinces her dad to get Tia’s initials tattooed as well. Judging by his screams, it’s probably Jimmy’s first and last tattoo.
Another character going through a tough time is Liz. Jimmy casually reveals to her husband Derek that they ran into one of her old boyfriends while out together. Although Derek is rarely rattled, he’s notably upset to learn it wasn’t just any ex – it was Mac, the one he suspects still has feelings for Liz. While Derek gives her the silent treatment, Liz discovers her son, Connor, skipped his return to college to stay close to Alice. She also finds herself regretting selling her stake in the food truck; she misses working there and spending time with Sean. She realizes that all of her recent problems trace back to Jimmy: HE is the one who convinced her to sell her share in the food truck, HIS daughter is the one distracting her son, Gaby has distanced herself from their friend group because of HIM, and, to top it all off, HE’s the one who blurted out the encounter with Mac to Derek. Running into Jimmy on the balcony, she unleashes a tirade, making sure he fully grasps just how livid she is.
Sean is having an equally rough time when, following Paul’s advice to approach his father with love and goodwill, he opens up about feeling abandoned when he once reached out to him for help. He approaches the conversation with maturity – calm and non-accusatory. Although it briefly seems like his dad might understand, it quickly becomes clear he does not. Instead, he blames Paul and Jimmy, claiming therapists always scapegoat parents. Making matters even worse, his dad confesses he never actually wanted to work in the food truck with him. He storms off, leaving Sean hurt, angry and once again struggling with feelings of abandonment. He is slipping back into old, self-destructive patterns.
Meanwhile, Gaby faces her own family issues when her sister asks her to persuade their mom to get eye surgery. As Gaby has helped her sister through addiction for many years Gaby now expects her to handle their mom’s health issues by herself as a kind of payback. However, her sister knows their mom only listens to Gaby – the favorite child that can do no wrong, so she will need her ongoing help. Though Gaby instinctively knows it’s unfair to put it all on her sister, she’s reluctant to admit it – until Jimmy confronts her with the hard truth.
I found the storyline with Gaby’s sister to be the least engaging part
of the episode. Without much insight into their relationship dynamics,
it was hard to feel invested. However, I’m open to exploring their
sibling relationship further, providing we get more background
information on their past together.
As I am writing this, I’m genuinely amazed at how much unfolded in just 30 minutes, all without feeling rushed or packed too tightly. The episode covers impressive ground: character development, complex relationships, and humor – all flowing seamlessly and showcasing the show’s mastery in storytelling and pacing.
How did you like the episode? Which character’s journey stood out to you?
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