‘Shrinking’ Season 3 was my favorite stream of the week
‘Shrinking’ Season 3 was my favorite stream of the week
The show’s ensemble cast shines once again in the latest season of this Apple TV comedy.
With the news seemingly offering nothing but heartbreak and disaster in every headline these days, having TV as an escape is more important than ever. That’s why I was so glad to see that “Shrinking” was debuting its third season on Wednesday, Jan. 28, on Apple TV. The importance of therapy is such an important theme in “Shrinking,” but the show itself can serve as something of a therapist. Therein lies the genius of the show’s escapism in my eyes: it doesn’t encourage the viewer to escape by avoiding problems, but by confronting them with the appropriate tools.
“Shrinking” follows therapist Jimmy Laird, whose grief over the death of his wife in a car accident leads him to a rather unorthodox technique in his practice: tell clients what he really thinks about their problems, and what he thinks they should do. When the consequences predictably rain down on his head, Jimmy falls back on his colleague and professional hero, Dr. Paul Rhoades.
Each season of “Shrinking” follows a particular theme, and Season 3 centers on the idea of moving forward. When we rejoin the show, many of the characters are getting ready for big life changes. Jimmy’s daughter Alice is preparing to go off to college, and while Jimmy grapples with that, his father comes back into the picture to throw off the fragile emotional equilibrium he’s found.
Meanwhile, Paul is focusing on his relationship with Julie, determined to live his life to the fullest as his Parkinson’s progresses. Jimmy’s colleague Gabby makes a major career change, and Sean has to grapple with new challenges in his personal life.
As in seasons past, what I appreciate most about this season of “Shrinking” is the honesty with which it approaches its central theme. Moving forward is easy to talk about, but much harder to do; it requires courage and a willingness to fail that most people are taught is a bad thing. The characters don’t move forward at a linear rate — they struggle, they backslide, and they spend more time wallowing in self-pity than they do trying to fix their problems.
Despite the punchy humor each script is packed with, that’s what makes “Shrinking” feel so relatable to me. Its characters are flawed, and each has their own way of holding up a mirror to the human condition with empathy, not with judgment. The show is hilarious, but the reason I keep coming back to it is the way it entertains its audience, while encouraging them to be more open about mental health by showing that good can come from doing so, not just consequences.
“Shrinking” Season 3 will release one episode per week on Wednesdays between now and April 8. The series stars Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Harrison Ford, Lukita Maxwell, Michael Urie, Christa Miller, and Ted McGinley. The show is available to stream on Apple TV, with plans starting at $13 per month after a seven-day free trial.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.