In the first eight episodes of Shrinking Season 2, the supporting characters take a larger role in the story, creating a deeper and richer story.
Directors: James Ponsoldt, Randall Winston, Ry Russo-Young, Zach Braff
Number of Episodes: 12
Release Date: Season Premiere on October 16, 2024, followed by weekly episodes with the Finale on December 25
Where to watch: Apple TV+
The highly anticipated Season 2 of Shrinking makes its way to Apple TV+ and it is something special. The series premiered just as Ted Lasso was wrapping up, and people were hungry for more feel-good television. And while a show about a therapist who loses his wife and almost loses his daughter might not be the most obvious vehicle for that, creators Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel, along with a talented group of writers and actors, were able to make it work. Now, Shrinking is back for its second season, and based on the first eight episodes, it’s going deeper.
Where Season 1 focused largely on Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel, How I Met Your Mother), Season 2 branches out to his network of friends and colleagues. Already, this feels important at a meta level because much of Season 1 is how trauma and grief can cause your focus to point inward, sometimes at the expense of those around you. In this season, Jimmy starts in a much healthier place, so both he and the show are able to expand their lens a bit to focus on stories beyond the immediate problem of Jimmy and his loss.
Alice (Lukita Maxwell, Afraid) is back, and this season explores her emotional state far more than simply how she relates to Jimmy. Her experiences and decisions this season have more nuance and depth. As someone who underwent a significant trauma as a kid and then had to parent her remaining parent, it’s easy to forget that she’s a kid. This season reminds us of that fact in multiple ways while still showcasing the maturity that comes from that kind of experience.
Characters like Sean (Luke Tennie, Nickel Boys) and Paul (Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny) had some powerful stories last season, and that continues in Season 2. Sean has some important interactions with his dad that help us to better understand his anger. Paul also has a wonderful episode that allows us to gain greater insight into his relationship with his daughter, Meg (Lily Rabe, Presumed Innocent).
Gaby (Jessica Williams, Booksmart) gets a well-deserved arc that explains some of her family dynamics. We spend time with her and her sister and can see how those relationships function. This season also explores her romantic life a bit more, allowing us to see what drives some of the choices she makes regarding those relationships.
Brian (Michael Urie, Ugly Betty) plays a much more prominent role in Season 2 as well. He and Charlie (Devin Kawaoka, Chicago Med) are considering adoption, and that opens him up to some far deeper interactions with old and new characters.
Where this season goes far deeper is with Liz (Christa Miller, Cougar Town) and Derek (Ted McGinley, Revenge of the Nerds). In Season 1 of Shrinking, they are both pretty flat characters, but they are fleshed out significantly in Season 2. Being an empty nester is something that isn’t often touched on in television shows, so exploring that aspect of their characters is unique, and it is done so beautifully. McGinley gives an especially noteworthy performance in episode 7.
Speaking of noteworthy performances, if you have seen the trailer, you know that Brett Goldstein will be a guest this season. This is a spoiler-free review, so no hints as to who he plays, but do not go in expecting to see Roy Kent. His character brings an emotional heft that is jaw-droppingly good.
However, Shrinking is primarily about Jimmy, and he still plays a prominent role in the series. In the first season, Jimmy claws his way out of the hole that he dug after the death of his wife, which is a difficult and admirable feat. But climbing out of a hole still leaves the hole, and in Season 2, he is forced to examine that darkness. While he is not the focus of the beginning of the show, it seems like he will be front and center for the final few episodes.
When you first start therapy, you have an intake session, which is basically where you lay out all of your problems. A therapist may ask you a few questions to help you organize your thoughts, but for the most part, it is simply an opportunity to get to know you and what you want from therapy. The first season of Shrinking acted as a bit of an intake session. We got to know Jimmy and his struggles. He is taking the steps he needs to get back on the right track with his daughter, his friends, and his colleagues.
But therapy can’t stay on the surface. For it to work, you must be willing to dig in and get your hands dirty. In Season 2 of Shrinking, the gloves are off. This series is also a reminder that healing isn’t linear, and feeling good one day or even a stretch of days doesn’t mean that you’ve healed. But it also does a great job of showing why it’s worth the work.
Season 2 of Shrinking Will be released globally on Apple TV+ from October 16, 2024.
Loud and Clear Reviews has an affiliate partnership with Apple, so we receive a share of the revenue from your purchase or streaming of the films when you click on the button on this page. This won’t affect how much you pay for them and helps us keep the site free for everyone.
