The second season of Shrinking on Apple TV+ ended on December 23 with the sad episode “The Last Thanksgiving.” This season finale not only wrapped up many important plots but also set the stage for the third season.
At a train station, Jason Segel’s character, Jimmy, steps in to stop Brett Goldstein’s character, Louis, from committing suicide. This is the episode’s most important scene. Since Louis was involved in the drunk driving accident that killed Jimmy’s wife, Tia, this intense scene emphasizes the season’s emphasis on forgiveness.
In Segel’s words, Goldstein was chosen as Louis because “I wanted somebody who really felt like a reflection of Jimmy.” The characters’ emotional connection was strengthened by their similarity in age, which he stressed was important. Long-lens cameras were used to shoot the scene across the train tracks, which created a cozy setting that showed how delicately they interacted.
Forgiveness is a big theme of the season, not just between Jimmy and Louis. Bill Lawrence, who helped make the show, said that many of the characters end up getting along again. Gaby gets back in touch with her mother and ex-partner, while Brian and his wife have different ideas about being a parent. However, Jimmy’s journey to forgive himself for his mistakes when raising his daughter Alice is the most important act of forgiveness.
Harrison Ford plays Paul, Jimmy’s role model and fellow therapist who helps him on his path to self-forgiveness. Ford’s acting gives it more depth by balancing professional insight with personal struggles, especially since Paul has Parkinson’s disease and has to deal with problems at work.
Another meeting this season is between Segel and Cobie Smulders, who worked with him on “How I Met Your Mother.” Jimmy sees Smulders’ role as a sign of moving on. Segel said that the fact that they had both been through a lot together gave their scenes even more meaning.
Lawrence talked about what will happen in the third season. Instead of sadness and forgiveness, it will be about “moving forward.” This change will affect all the characters, including Alice’s college plans and how different relationships grow.
Lawrence directed the finale, which is similar to the first season’s finish but ends on a more positive note. “We wanted the second year to feel like it was over,” he said. The characters have been through big problems, which sets them up to continue growing in the next season.
From now on, you can watch all of Season 2 of “Shrinking” on Apple TV+.
