JOURNAL
Shrinking
Apple TV+'s "Shrinking" has quietly established itself as one of the streaming platform's most emotionally resonant series, earning both critical acclaim and passionate fan devotion since its January 2023 premiere. Created by Jason Segel, Bill Lawrence, and Brett Goldstein, this comedy-drama follows grieving therapist Jimmy Laird (Segel) who decides to abandon professional boundaries and tell his patients exactly what he thinks.
At first glance, the concept seems problematic: a therapist who breaks every ethical rule in the book. "Shrinking" follows a grieving therapist who starts to break the rules and tell his clients exactly what he thinks. Ignoring his training and ethics, he finds himself making huge, tumultuous changes to people's lives … including his own. Yet the show succeeds precisely because it doesn't endorse Jimmy's unconventional methods. The show is certainly not advocating for them — Jimmy's malpractice aside, it takes the actual values and principles of therapy seriously, and there's plenty of great perspectives on mental health management packed into Shrinking.
The series strikes a careful balance between entertainment and responsibility. While Jimmy's boundary-crossing creates compelling television, the show does little to accurately represent the experience of attending therapy, mainly because Segel's character, Jimmy, is violating multiple boundaries that are in place to protect patients. However, this exaggeration serves the story's larger purpose of exploring grief, healing, and human connection.
The series stars Segel as a grieving therapist who decides to become drastically more involved in his patients' lives. Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, Lukita Maxwell, and Ted McGinley also star. Ford's performance as Dr. Paul Rhoades has been particularly praised by critics and audiences alike. Harrison Ford plays Jimmy's mentor, an old-school therapist attempting to hide his Parkinson's symptoms.
The show's approach to character development has resonated strongly with viewers. Shrinking does a great job of humanising therapists—they are people just like us. As a regular therapy-goer, I am embarrassed to admit that I usually assume therapists and other mental health professionals don't have issues in their relationships with others. This humanization extends to all characters, creating a world where professional knowledge doesn't automatically translate to personal wisdom.
The series premiered on January 27, 2023, on Apple TV+. It has received positive reviews, with praise for its performances, writing, humor, and examination of grief. The second season has maintained this momentum, with a 97% approval rating with an average rating of 8.35/10, based on 50 critic reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
Critics have consistently praised the show's emotional authenticity. Genuinely hilarious but also deeply affirming, Shrinking isn't a show for cynics, despite what its biting banter might seem to want you to believe. The series has been recognized for finding humor in difficult situations without minimizing the real pain of grief and trauma.
One of "Shrinking's" greatest achievements is its tonal balance. Shrinking can stumble when it feels a little too… ugh, therapeutic, but it also offers great commentary on the blurred lines that can exist between laypeople and mental health professionals, and it's fucking funny. The show avoids the trap of toxic positivity while maintaining hope and humor.
Shrinking's creators, as fans of therapy, wanted to make a show that advocates for it, and the result is a product that certainly shows off the long-term benefits. Rather than presenting quick fixes, the series demonstrates that healing is a gradual, often messy process that requires patience and support.
On October 17, 2024, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a third season, which started filming in mid-February 2025. The upcoming season promises significant developments, including five-time Emmy winner Michael J. Fox returning to acting with a major guest-starring role, which feels particularly meaningful given that it was revealed at the end of Season 1 that Paul has Parkinson's, a disease Fox has been battling for three and a half decades.
According to Lawrence, the series was originally pitched to Apple as a three-season arc. However, the creators remain open to continuing if compelling stories emerge, suggesting that the show's future will depend on maintaining the quality and authenticity that has made it such a standout series.
What sets "Shrinking" apart from other shows about mental health is its commitment to showing rather than preaching. The lessons of Shrinking are simple: Choose each other, especially when it's hard. Listen always. Apologize when you know you've done something wrong. Be present for the people who matter to you.
Shrinking is one of those rare shows that effortlessly balances laugh-out-loud comedy with deeply emotional storytelling, sometimes within the same scene. In an era where authentic human connection feels increasingly rare, "Shrinking" offers a reminder that our shared vulnerabilities can be sources of strength rather than shame.
For viewers seeking television that treats mental health with both humor and respect, "Shrinking" represents something special: a series that understands that sometimes the most profound healing happens not in spite of our imperfections, but because of our willingness to acknowledge them honestly.