‘Shrinking’ Season 2 series review: Tears of laughter rain down on the sophomore season of the Jason Segel, Harrison Ford tragicomedy

‘Shrinking’ Season 2 series review: Tears of laughter rain down on the sophomore season of the Jason Segel, Harrison Ford tragicomedy

A still from ‘Shrinking’ Season 2
A still from ‘Shrinking’ Season 2
| Photo Credit: Apple TV
Season 1 of Shrinking, which follows the life of therapist Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel), ended with one of his patients, Grace (Heidi Gardner), pushing her toxic, abusive husband, Donny (Tilky Jones) off a cliff. She is in jail awaiting trial. Jimmy feels responsible, as after his wife, Tia’s (Lilan Bowden) death in an accident, he spiralled out of control and told his patients exactly what he felt, including telling Grace to “boop” Donny. One of the joys of Shrinking is the people around Jimmy — including his daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell) colleague, Gaby (Jessica Williams), mentor, Paul (Harrison Ford), neighbours, Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek, (Ted McGinley) and best friend, Brian (Michael Urie) — are well written and have a rich life. Shrinking Season 2 (English)Creators: Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, Brett GoldsteinCast: Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller, Harrison Ford, Ted McGinleyEpisodes: 12Runtime:  29 – 44 minutesStoryline: The entry of a significant stranger in Jimmy’s life, causes a great tumult Sean (Luke Tennie), Jimmy’s patient and houseguest, is doing well with his food truck, but still has unresolved issues with his father, Tim (Kenajuan Bentley). The therapists at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center have their problems too. Paul, who has difficulty letting people into his life, has to deal with the loss of control due to Parkinson’s disease. Gaby is an inveterate carer and is always helping everyone except herself. This trait comes in the way of her relationship with Derrick #2 (Damon Wayans Jr.) who as she says “wants her but does not need her”. Liz, the incorrigible organiser, suffers a crisis of confidence, which almost drives her into the arms of an ex-boyfriend. Derek, meanwhile, who was always dismissed as being a lightweight, actually comes across as having depth, proving every person is the hero of their story. Paul admits to having feelings for his hot neurologist girlfriend, Julie (Wendie Malick) and makes up with his first wife. Julie’s husband suffers from dementia and in one of the many touching scenes in the show, Paul goes with Julie to visit her husband. A still from ‘Shrinking’ Season 2

A still from ‘Shrinking’ Season 2
| Photo Credit:
Apple TV
Shrinking is also about parenting — Jimmy feels he let Alice down, Paul feels guilty for being largely absent when his daughter, Meg (Lily Rabe) was growing up and Liz, though she loves her three sons to bits, wishes they would grow up. Gaby does not know how to tell her mother, Phyllis (Vernee Watson) not to move in with her.There is Brian and his partner, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka) planning to have a baby, even though Brian does not know if he is ready. Alice, apart from the usual teen troubles, has also to contend with being the “girl who lost her mom” and have everyone behaving differently to her. Into this powder-keg of emotions, comes Louis (Brett Goldstein) the drunk driver responsible for Tia’s death. Is he looking for absolution or trying to explain what happened that fateful night. Also, should he not be in jail? Season 3 will hopefully reveal more about the fatal car crash.Shrinking’s approach to grief and forgiving oneself is empathetic and witty. It is a show you can laugh and cry with. There are heavy-duty takeaways wrapped in a warm hug. The acting is extraordinary — from Segel’s goofy vulnerability to Ford’s Paul, whose bark is so much worse than his bite; Shrinking is peopled by an incredible cast bringing all these incisively written characters to life. The finale with Paul’s emotional speech is the cherry on the cake. Woof.Shrinking is presently streaming on Apple TV+ Published – January 03, 2025 11:29 am IST

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