Review: ‘Shrinking’ Season 3 is Another Knockout
Harrison Ford not winning any awards for Shrinking season 2 may be the latest travesty for the hit Apple TV+ comedy series. Thankfully, Shrinking season 3 could tee him up for another nomination and, hopefully, take home some trophies for his role as Dr. Paul Rhoades, mentor to our lead, Jimmy Laird, played by the hilarious Jason Segel. Fans of Segel and his iconic role in How I Met Your Mother will be delighted with the return of fellow HIMYM alum, Cobie Smulders. All the other brilliant and charming characters (and a couple of new ones!) return alongside Jimmy and Paul for another incredible season of Shrinking, now airing new episodes, Wednesdays on Apple TV+.
[Warning: light spoilers from Shrinking season 3 are below!]
Shrinking season 3 focuses on the little things that mean the most
As we’ve seen in the last 2 seasons of Shrinking, Jimmy’s daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell) is symbolically the center of the show. Witnessing Jimmy’s self-destruction through Alice’s point of view made it even more heartbreaking, knowing that he wasn’t being the father he needed to be. The death of Alice’s mother/Jimmy’s wife was the ripple effect for the series, and although they play “the dead mom card” a few times for Alice’s benefit, it’s still an understandably fresh wound. Not to say that the progress Jimmy and Alice made is to be wiped clean, but the pangs of guilt and grief pop up randomly, and Shrinking has always been a champion of portraying those emotions.
Here in Shrinking season 3, it all comes into play. Alice begins to finally realize how and what the support of her group really means to her. When a talent scout from Wesleyan University (on the other side of the country from California) presents an offer to play soccer for them, Alice has to slow down and process what it would mean to be isolated. Although a lucrative opportunity, the last couple of years were a setup for Alice to determine her future and who would be part of it. This includes Louis (Brett Goldstein), the drunk driver in Shrinking season 2 who was at fault for Tia’s (Lilan Bowden) death, who was last seen at a bench, contemplating suicide, until Jimmy stepped up in a powerful season finale.
Now, with Alice and Jimmy’s growth, their momentum propels them into encouraging Louis to face his past and forgive himself. What follows from this exchange is equally nerve-wracking and heartbreaking yet cathartic. The impressions made on Louis are profound and authentic enough to prompt him to attempt life anew. The buck doesn’t stop with Louis as the “Jimmying” method of psychology begins to find a new target: Paul.
Harrison Ford’s portrayal of Parkinson’s is emotional
One of the exciting announcements of Shrinking season 3 was the addition of legendary actor and activist Michael J. Fox as a fellow Parkinson’s affected patient. Although Fox has been with the diagnosis since the 1990s, Ford does well in showing the mannerisms of Parkinson’s disease. Shrinking goes as far as to talk about and show hallucinations, a lesser-known symptom of Parkinson’s. The severity of the progression of Parkinson’s is immediately shown when Paul starts to experience hallucinations within the first episode, acknowledging just how far along he is.
Toeing the line of comedy and drama can be difficult, particularly when the subject matter is physically debilitating. Balancing the humor of life and the intensity of an illness seems like the easiest thing in the world for Harrison Ford. Known for his gruff performances in the Star Wars, Indiana Jones, and Marvel franchises, it’s an impressively refreshing turn to see Ford be so vulnerable. Paul doesn’t immediately throw in the towel or mentally surrender, instead turning his energies to help all those around him. As a therapist, he knows his calling is to aid others and maintains his own counseling method.
What’s next after Shrinking season 3?
Initially planned as a 3-season series, Shrinking’s incredible popularity has positioned it for a 4th-season renewal. Jimmy is finally giving life beyond Alice a chance, pouring back into himself. Paul is now married to Julie (Wendy Malick), which puts him in a comfortable legal position for his affairs to be handled. Sean continues to progress in his culinary career, reaching heights he never even remotely considered. Alice is rapidly approaching college and must make a difficult decision about what and where she wants to pursue her future.
It’s hard to pinpoint the trajectory for Jimmy and Co., but it seems as if sunnier days are ahead for the lovably unorthodox therapist who helps his patients achieve success. The announcement of the 4th season was rather quick, posted before Shrinking season 3 had even begun to air. Luckily, we get to spend more time with all these wonderful characters again whenever the show airs the next season.
Shrinking season 3 is now airing new episodes on Wednesdays, exclusively on Apple TV+! Have you checked out the first couple of episodes of Shrinking season 3? Let us know what you think @bsb.insider on social media!
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