“Shrinking” is a series that blends comedy and tragedy following Jimmy (Jason Segal), a grieving therapist who becomes drastically more involved in his patients’ lives as an escape from his own problems. Jimmy has to adjust to a world without his wife, while also being the best father and friend he can be to the people he loves most.
Mourning his wife Tia (Lilan Bowden), Jimmy feels lost and struggles to connect with his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell), but also his clients. He neglects his work and distances himself from everyone, unsure of how to deal with his pain. Fed up at work with the traditional therapy methods, he decides to be brutally honest with all of his patients, ignoring his boss Paul (Harrison Ford), who believes getting too involved deters their progress. Using his “unprofessional” tactics, he is assigned a new patient, Sean (Luke Tennie), by one of his closest friends Gabby (Jessica Williams). Sean and Jimmy build a trusting and lasting friendship, after opening up about both of each other’s troubled lives. This includes Jimmy inviting Sean to live with him, hoping it will help them heal. With his new way of helping people, his colleagues, Paul and Gaby, worry for him. Meanwhile, Alice stays disappointed in her father, Paul has his own health issues (Parkinsonś), and Gaby deals with the divorce of her husband. After long conversations and a lot of effort on Jimmy’s side, Alice and Jimmy finally connect and repair their relationship. With the support of his friends, and shared vulnerable moments, Jimmy begins to realize the importance of being surrounded by loved ones during a period of suffering. The season concludes with Jimmy, for the first time in a long time, feeling hopeful for new beginnings.
“Shrinking” is a touching and honest perspective of grief and how everyone handles it differently. The show is admired for its real and raw portrayal of the process of loss. The show does a great job of exploring darker themes by using humor, making it more lighthearted and understandable. It perfectly balances the blend of sorrowfulness with comedic relief, so the audience stays engaged with the storyline.
The Apple series also does an excellent job at presenting authentic characters. By having flawed characters experiencing real growth, it makes it easy to relate to them early on in the show. They deal with realistic and difficult situations that resonate with viewers. By tackling real-life trauma, it leads to hopefulness, making it a unique and comforting story.
“Shrinking” receives a 5/5 star rating for being a wholesome comedy while touching upon themes of grief and forgiveness, making for an important message of finding joy after heartbreak.
