With Apple TV announcing that Shrinking has been officially renewed for season three, we’ve been feeling nostalgic for the best episodes our favourite dark comedy.
The series follows therapist Jimmy Laird (Jason Segel), who begins to erode a few ethical barriers between doctor and patient as he grieves the sudden death of his wife. It also tracks his relationships with mentor Dr Paul Rhodes (Harrison Ford), who is living with Parkinson’s disease, and colleague/sometimes lover Gaby Evans (Jessica Williams).
So far, the series has struck the right notes of chuckle-worthy comedy and heart-wrenching drama. From its quick-witted script to its deeply complex characters, Shrinking has earned critical success, and will hopefully nab some Golden Globes for its leads down the track.
If you’re ready to catch up on previous seasons (but don’t necessarily want to dive back in to every episode), we took it upon ourselves to compile the 10 best episodes of Shrinking, ranked from ‘must watch’ to ‘no, seriously. Stop everything and watch’.
10. Potatoes
Season one, episode four
This episode marks a lowpoint for Jimmy, who can’t seem to get a handle on his patients, who are officially suffering amid the fallout of Jimmy’s unconventional methods. We also witness one of his ‘finest’ moments, when he loses all control and blows up at his nosy neighbour Liz (Christa Miller). Meanwhile, Ford’s character, Paul, struggles with what (or how) to connect to his estranged daughter.
9. Made You Look
Season two, episode four
This episode focuses on Paul, showing his flaws and deep fears around his developing Parkinson’s disease. During the episode, Paul finds himself jealous of his mentee, Jimmy, who seems to have a better relationship with Paul’s new patient (and Jimmy’s old patient!), Sean (Luke Tennie). This is a rare glimpse into the cracks in Paul’s life. Usually stoic and level-headed, ‘Made You Look’ gives us some insight into his weaknesses. Fortunately, this ep’s deeper moments are also balanced by Gaby’s dashing new love interest, Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.).
8. Moving Forward
Season one, episode nine
After a string of more upbeat instalments, the second-last episode of season one brought the suckerpunch to the gut we knew was coming. This is the ep we appear to get a climax of Jimmy’s grief, as he breaks down looking back on his relationship with Tia (his wife), and the amorphous grieving process for both him and Alice (his daughter).
7. Imposter Syndrome
Season one, episode six
A highlight for comedy fans, ‘Imposter Syndrome’ delivering some fine Paul moments, as the wise therapist gets high on gummies. Meanwhile, Jimmy turns to another substance and gets embarrassingly drunk. This is also a key episode for Jimmy and Gaby shippers, marking the first time they make out.
6. Changing Patterns
Season two, episode 10
This is one for How I Met Your Mother fans for ‘Changing Patterns’ sees Segel’s former co-star, Cobie Smulders, aka Robin Scherbatsky, make an appearance. The episode hinges on Alice’s 18th birthday, and Smulders plays Sofi, the owner of a car Jimmy wants to buy Alice as a gift. The rest, they say, is history.
5. In a Lonely Place
Season two, episode six
This episode is offers a dose of teary catharsis as Alice comes face-to-face with Louis, the man whose drink driving killed her mother. Lighthearted balance is provided by Paul trying his hand at Jimmy’s unconventional therapy technique. Plus, there’s a canoe.
4. Closure
Season one, episode 10
The season finale of season one brings us to Brian’s wedding. A wedding always makes for great television, thrusting multiple characters against various stresses and personal pain points that force them to grow (or crack). This is the case for Jimmy, who needs to confront his grief in a more-urgent-than-usual way.
3. The Drugs Don’t Work
Season two, episode 11
In the penultimate episode of season two, Alice and Jimmy are feuding, and Jimmy throws himself further into his work. As we know, this fraught coping mechanism isn’t going to yield the results Jimmy wants. Instead, he inches closer and closer to a breaking point we know is on the horizon. The other characters are also ticking clocks in their own sense: Paul is on a literal time limit, as we find out it’s going to be only six months before his medication stops working; and Gaby and Derrick call time on their relationship.
2. Last Drink
Season two, episode eight
This unconventional episode offers a much-needed look into the past, when all the characters were vastly different to the chaotic group of misfits we’ve come to love. The episode largely serves to establish Jimmy’s life prior to Tia’s passing—and just how far he’s fallen. It also goes further in establishing Louis’ past, and contextualising Jimmy’s journey to forgiveness (or not).
1. The Last Thanksgiving
Season two, episode 12
The final of season two of Shrinking is a holiday episode that brings all the storylines to a head. It’s fitting that an episode hooked on Thanksgiving—a possibly infamous family holiday—is about the value of support networks, however flawed they may be. There’s a lot of bleakness in this series, but The Last Thanksgiving offers a more hopeful view of the future.
Related Articles:
- Interview: Jason Segel on the making of Shrinking season 2
- Everything we know about Shrinking season 3
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