Shrinking is a comedy series that premiered on Apple TV+ in 2023. The series stars Jason Segel as the therapist Jimmy Laird. Jimmy is a therapist who, after experiencing the death of his wife, decides to shift how he handles his patients radically. The show has had widespread success, achieving a highly positive critic and audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes. One of the reasons the show resonates with audiences and critics alike is its authenticity in handling grief and loss. Let's take a look at the elements of the show that help it perfectly capture the recovery process.
Great Storyline That Captures Grief and Loss
The show's premise takes inspiration from classics like Office Space and Liar Liar to set up a scenario where one character disrupts the lives of those around him by telling the truth. This storyline is the perfect way to introduce the character of Jimmy Laird's grief and loss. The premise follows Jimmy's journey as a therapist as he begins to tell patients what he really thinks. This act breaks down the ethical barriers in psychology professions that are meant to protect the mental health of therapist and their patients. Jimmy's decision to do this directly reflects his desire for self-destruction, where he knows the damage it could cause to him and others but does it anyway. Many times when a bad thing happens to someone, they seek to psychologically balance the scales by making harmful decisions.
People often seek to deal with loss by creating more loss to feel more in control of their lives. Jimmy ignoring his training and ethics is a desperate attempt to conquer grief by becoming as impassioned as possible. Jimmy has to find his way toward recovery by discovering the path to help him return from the depths of his grief and loss. As is often the case in real life, the path to recovery is often through the help of other people. Jimmy discovers that by helping others, he can find his way back to the pursuit of his own happiness again.
Characters That Keep You Invested In Their Recovery
Apple TV+
Shrinking features several well-crafted characters that keep the audience invested in their path to recovery. Jessica Williams plays the character Gaby, who is a fellow therapist in the same unit where Jimmy works. She provides a contrast to Jimmy and brings a fun, weird energy to the role. Jimmy's behavior is absurd, but Gaby keeps the drama grounded. Harrison Ford plays Jimmy's colleague, who has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. As a jaded therapist, Ford's antisocial performance fits perfectly within the show's tone. Sometimes therapists need as much counseling as their patients, and this show invests you in the drama of the plot line and its characters.
A Sincere Approach
Apple TV+
With so many cynical shows streaming today, it's nice to have a show that makes being heart-warming and sincere a focus of the drama. This quality is reflected in the chemistry between its characters working so well. Everything in the show feels natural and unforced. The jokes are well-timed and executed, and the show relies on something other than undercutting its emotional moments with a joke too often. The main character Jimmy is a flawed and damaged character who is lashing out, but he is also trying to become a better therapist and father.
Compelling Writing
Shrinking is a well-written story that is supported by the brilliant performances and character work present in the show. Clever writing allows topics relating to mental recovery to be tackled in an authentic way that lets the audience care. The witty dialogue goes a long way to help the viewers identify with the struggles of the characters that are supposed to be sympathetic. Many similar shows miss the mark in trying to be too heavy-handed with the writing. This show is an excellent example of how its writing elevates it despite its simple and effective positive message.
It Shows Weakness
The show does a great job of humanizing the grief and loss of its characters by showing the weaknesses in people. While the show is generally optimistic and uplifting, it does contain darker elements that are there for people to see. Joy is often the way we move on from pain on our way to recovery. People often don't like to be told that they have to move on from grief, wanting to stay in the place that they are. The show outlines this weakness in many of its characters to show how each of their mental problems can be somewhat relieved by thinking positively about life, slowly but surely.