Shrinking (S2): Makes You Sob & Grin, Again

Published by B Sameer on December 27, 2024December 27, 2024

Shrinking (Season 2/USA/2024) series takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride, one more time. And, this sensitive tale about fellow humans makes you sob and grin, once again.

The show depicts the poignant human stories of its characters. Notably, one of the good aspects of this dramedy is that all of these dramatis personae resemble real people.

Series Review [Spoiler-Free]: Shrinking (Season 2/USA/2024)

In FOCUS: It Tugs At Our Heartstrings, As It Digs Into The Characters’ Lives

Synopsis

Shrinking depicts the dramatic lives of three (psychological) therapists Jimmy (Jason Segel), Paul (Harrison Ford), Gaby (Jessica Williams), family and friends. Furthermore, in the show, Jimmy is attempting to cope with the grief of losing his wife Tia (Lilan Bowden), he must also manage his duties as a father, friend, and therapist. Maybe, that is why, Jimmy decides to take a different route in his interactions with others: one characterized by raw and unrestrained honesty.

Thus, he begins to disregard conventional practices and openly shares his candid thoughts with his patients. By setting aside his professional training and ethical guidelines, he embarks on a journey that significantly alters the lives of those around him, as well as his own. Notably, Jimmy has taken the liberty of naming his new approach “Jimmying,” a decision that has not been well received by his senior colleague Paul at their office.

Touching Screenplay

Without a doubt, it is difficult to put the right amount of happiness and sadness in a comedy-drama. But, kudos to its creators, writers, and directors. All of them did wonderful jobs in creating this heartwarming show about love, loss, family, friendship, and human relationships. We all are aware that life is tough and complicated. So, it helps when the support system of family and friends is always there to help one out.

The personal tales of the characters emotionally moved us. Their jokes made us laugh out loud (LOL* scene), as it has many smart one-liners. But then the grief and suffering of its humane characters made us teary-eyed. Most of the scenes in the series involving raw emotions landed perfectly. Last but not least, the season finale was flawless.

Top-class Acts

For us, it is really difficult to pick an actor or actress from this show as our favourite. Almost the entire ensemble cast has given splendid performances. Although, Jimmy (Jason Segel), Paul (Harrison Ford), and Gaby (Jessica Williams) are co-workers. But their bond is quite strong and they are part of an informal family/friend setup.

In this extended family-cum-friend circle, therapist (#1) Paul plays a kind of grumpy patriarch grandfather. Therapist (#2) Jimmy is a single dad with a teenage daughter Alice, and both are dealing with tragic loss in their ways. Lastly, Therapist (#3) Gaby is still trying to find the true love of her life. Maybe, their deeper understanding of human behaviour has made them genuine, relatable, lovable and endearing characters. We loved the on-screen human bond that exists among all of its characters.

Fascinating Lives

We loved our kind of sensible neighbourhood couple, Liz and Derek, who pitch in whenever there is some kind of crisis. Besides, their mutual family friend Brian is always there for support. Not to forget (the patient) Sean, who has become an integral part of their extended family and friend circle. Then there are a bunch of pleasant surprises, too.

Wish we could tell you more, but that will ruin your viewing pleasure. This drama is filled with so many good and well-meaning people. Besides, there are enough life lessons hidden in its smart screenplay. For example, to err is human and to forgive is divine. Or the fact that it takes a village to raise a child. And there are so many more.

Rating

Conclusion

We loved watching this stirring comedy-drama, as we bid farewell to another year when the world is becoming less humane. The world needs more healing and Jimmying, touché.

Poster

Key Details

Trailer

A grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks, ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making big changes to people's lives, including his own.

“This mixture of comedy and pathos and really emotional stuff, it gives you a sense of responsibility for the things you’re communicating and how you’re communicating. I think that shows up on screen, and it shows up in the work these people do every day and how they do it. I had never done anything like this before, and it was like suddenly recognising what I’ve always wanted [acting] to be.”

Harrison Ford (Paul)

Awards Nominations

Bonus FM Review of the Shrinking (Season 1/USA/2023) Series

Read the FM review of the Shrinking (S1/2023) Series.

Awards Won by the Shrinking (S1 & S2) Series

Bonus YouTube Video Link: Shrinking (LOL* scene) — Jimmy Meets Sofi - Season 2 Scene - Apple TV+ 
{Reunion of Marshall and Robin from How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014) Series, and this scene made us weirdly nostalgic}

The poster, Featured and Other Images of the Shrinking (Season 2/2024) Series are credited to Apple TV+.