Shrinking - Season 2
- Sacha L. Roy
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
If Season 1 of Shrinking was about grief, then Season 2 is really about forgiveness.
RECAP
Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off, with Jimmy forced to deal with the consequences of his unorthodox therapy methods.
After Grace pushes her abusive husband off a cliff — the infamous “boop” — Brian steps in to defend her legally and tries to keep her out of prison. Meanwhile, Jimmy focuses on her emotionally, trying to convince her that one terrible act doesn’t make her a terrible person, and that she still has value.
Jimmy also comes to an important realization about Sean. He finally admits he can’t be both Sean’s friend and therapist, and refers him to Paul. It’s a small moment, but it shows real growth from Jimmy.
Sean, still trying to find direction in his life, struggles with traditional jobs. With Liz stepping in as a business partner, he starts a food truck — and it actually begins to work. However tension will build up as Liz will sell her share of the business to Sean’s dad, without asking, after Sean mentions that it had been a dream for him to start a food truck with his dad.
Another important storyline this season is Louis — the drunk driver responsible for the crash that killed Tia. He comes back into the picture looking for forgiveness, but Jimmy is absolutely not ready for that. His reaction is raw and very natural — he shuts Louis down completely. But where Jimmy can’t forgive, others slowly open the door. Brian, and eventually Alice, are willing to at least listen. And over time, that evolves into something unexpected: understanding… and even a form of friendship.
Derek sets Gaby up with his friend Derrick — or Derrick #2. What starts as something casual and a little messy slowly turns into something more genuine. But for it to work, Gaby has to confront her own fears about commitment and vulnerability.
Brian and his husband Charlie seriously explore becoming parents this season. After some initial hesitation from Brian, they decide to move forward with adoption, and we see the emotional ups and downs that come with that journey. Liz, after stepping away from the food truck business, naturally ends up butting in along the way — even volunteering to be a part-time nanny… as long as she gets to be in charge.
Paul remains the quiet mentor figure for everyone this season. His relationship with Julie continues to grow, and he eventually has her move in with him. At the same time, he’s forced to face the reality that his Parkinson’s is progressing, as the effectiveness of his medication begins to decrease.
Strength
Like in the first season, the show isn’t just about Jimmy or Paul’s mentorship — it really works as an ensemble. Every character gets their own growth and meaningful screen time again this season.
The performance of the whole cast remains a huge strength. They make the emotional beats land naturally. Nothing feels overplayed, and the humour works because it feels grounded in the characters— and every character adds their own uniqueness to the story.
In my Season 1 review, I mentioned that the tone shifts might not appeal to everyone. Season 2 still has those emotional shifts moments, but the balance between comedy and drama feels almost perfected. It really feels like the show has figured out its rhythm. The humour comes directly from the characters and themes rather than random jokes — whether it’s the “my bad” moments or the recurring cornhole gag.
Weekness
My biggest issue with the season is Jimmy’s breakdown in the final episode. As much as it’s explained — and I understand where it comes from, with Jimmy not really processing his own grief and then hitting a kind of emotional emptiness once he realizes he doesn’t have anyone left to “fix” — it still feels a bit like a last-minute twist. For me, it felt slightly unnecessary.
And this might be a bit nitpicky, but the food truck storyline between Sean and his dad feels a little unresolved. Yes, we see Tim reconcile with Sean in the hospital, but after that he’s not seen present around the food truck. Unless I missed something, the show doesn’t really explain that shift.
Acting
I would have reason to place all of the main cast in this top 3…
Third Star : Christa Miller as Liz
Second Star : Ted McGinley as Derek
First Star : Harrison Ford as Paul
Final Verdict
Overall, Shrinking Season 2 feels like a show that has grown and found its cruising altitude. It keeps the heart and humour that made Season 1 work and even improves on it.
For me, this second season confirms that Shrinking isn’t just a good comedy, but a must-watch. It deserves to be considered as good as, if not better as Ted Lasso when it comes to fun heartfelt comedy in Apple TV lineup
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