The Apple TV+ dramedy “Shrinking” is returning for its second season following a 19-month break due to last year’s industry strikes. The series centers around therapist Jimmy Laird, portrayed by Jason Segel, who distorts professional ethics after the death of his wife. While the first season built a compelling narrative around this theme of grief, the second season appears to shift away from its foundational premise and is left feeling unfocused and tonally jumbled.
In the season premiere, Jimmy’s boss and mentor, Paul, played by Harrison Ford, instructs him to stop treating Sean, a veteran dealing with anger issues. This decision raises questions about Paul’s timing, as he previously tolerated Jimmy’s unorthodox methods. The show, created by Segel alongside “Ted Lasso” writers Bill Lawrence and Brett Goldstein, refrains from presenting Jimmy’s behavior as a significant downward spiral or a teaching opportunity. Instead, it serves as a backdrop for a series of vaguely comedic moments.
Season 2 introduces the term “Jimmy-ing” for Jimmy’s controversial approach, but it seems he engages in this less frequently. A potential focus on Grace, a character who acted out violently in the season finale of the previous season, is overlooked as the narrative fails to develop serious introspection for Jimmy. His existing patients are introduced slowly, and Sean’s connection with Jimmy and Paul begins to resemble more of a friendship than a therapeutic relationship.
Meanwhile, Jimmy’s colleagues drift away from their roles. Paul encourages his longtime friend Raymond to navigate his Parkinson’s diagnosis and a new romance, while Gaby, played by Jessica Williams, seems more focused on teaching and personal family issues. Williams delivers one of the few performances that acknowledges the show’s comedic essence, although her character feels stranded in a storyline that lacks cohesion.
The overarching theme of grief persists, with Goldstein also appearing as a character significant to Jimmy and his daughter Alice’s healing process, although this storyline appears to be a dramatic pivot from the comedic tone established in “Ted Lasso.”
Overall, “Shrinking” in Season 2 resembles a disorganized collection of stories. Set in a peculiar version of Pasadena, characters frequently encounter each other in unlikely scenarios, creating a sense of randomness in relationships and connections. The disjointed structure of the narrative is reflected in the performances, with a lack of synergy among the cast members, particularly between Segel and others like Michael Urie. The second season seems more fragmented than its predecessor, straying from its initial aim to explore the complexities of healing.
The first two episodes of the new season are now available for streaming on Apple TV+, with subsequent episodes released weekly on Wednesdays.