Shrinking Season 2 Review by Ryan Balkwill

Plot: A grieving therapist starts to break the rules by telling his clients exactly what he thinks. Jimmy has lost his wife and wants to try a new approach to his loss, but it is unclear how this will help others

Season 2 of Shrinking was So Good.

Pros: Jason is dealing with much challenging situations this season. Alice has earned more of a bigger role this time around. Brett Goldstein was really good as Louis Winston. I like how its keeps its dry humour in tack along with emotional heartfelt drama. I like a lot of the new characters shown this season & I did emotionally touch by how well its still keeps up the same quality from the first season.   

Cons: Is how they handled their topics with rough edges. I had issues with some plot elements & pressure of keeping up on watching each episode week to week.   

Genre: ComedyDrama

Created by Jason SegelBill LawrenceBrett Goldstein

Starring: Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, Ted McGinley, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, Lukita Maxwell, Christa Miller & Harrison Ford.

Theme Music Composer by Benjamin Gibbard, Tom Howe

Composer: Tom Howe

Executive producers: Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, Brett Goldstein, Neil Goldman, Jeff Ingold, Liza Katzer, James Ponsoldt, Randall Keenan Winston, Annie Mebane, Rachna Fruchbom, Brian Gallivan

Producer: Kip Kroeger

Cinematography: Jim Frohna, John Brawley

Editors: James Renfroe, Katie Abel, Missy Hernandez, Peggy Tachdjian, Sarah Lucky

Production companies: Bill LawrenceJason SegelBrett GoldsteinNeil GoldmanJeff IngoldLiza KatzerJames PonsoldtRandall Keenan Winston

Network: Apple TV+

Casts & Characters:

Main:

  • Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird, a therapist who works at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center, and is grieving the death of his wife
  • Jessica Williams as Gaby, a fellow therapist working with Jimmy at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center
  • Luke Tennie as Sean, a patient suffering from anger management issues who has sessions with Jimmy
  • Michael Urie as Brian, Jimmy’s best friend who is a lawyer
  • Lukita Maxwell as Alice Laird, Jimmy’s teenage daughter with whom he has a strained relationship
  • Christa Miller as Liz, Jimmy’s next-door neighbor who also helps with looking after Alice
  • Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhoades, a senior therapist and colleague of Jimmy’s at the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center who has Parkinson’s disease.
  • Ted McGinley as Derek (season 2; recurring season 1), Liz’s husband

Recurring:

  • Heidi Gardner as Grace, one of Jimmy’s patients
  • Lilan Bowden as Tia, Jimmy’s wife and Alice’s mother who died in a car accident
  • Devin Kawaoka as Charlie, Brian’s fiancé
  • Rachel Stubington as Summer, Alice’s best friend at school
  • Kenajuan Bentley as Tim, Sean’s estranged father
  • Lily Rabe as Meg, Paul’s daughter
  • Wendie Malick as Dr. Julie Baram, a neurologist treating Paul’s Parkinson’s disease with whom he eventually begins a romance
  • Kimberly Condict as Wally, one of Jimmy’s patients who has obsessive–compulsive disorder
  • Tilky Jones as Donny, Grace’s abusive husband
  • Gavin Lewis as Connor, a son of neighbors Liz and Derek, and friend of Alice
  • Mike C. Nelson as Dan, one of Jimmy’s patients
  • Neil Flynn as Raymond, one of Paul’s patients
  • Brett Goldstein as Louis Winston (season 2), the drunk driver responsible for Tia’s fatal car accident
  • Courtney Taylor as Courtney (season 2), Gaby’s sister
  • Vernee Watson as Phyllis (season 2), Gaby’s mother
  • Josh Hopkins as Mac (season 2), Liz’s ex-boyfriend who reenters her life
  • Damon Wayans Jr. as Derrick #2 (season 2), Derek’s friend who hits it off with Gaby

Guest:

  • Kelly Bishop as Susan (season 2), Paul’s ex-wife and Meg’s mother
  • Meredith Hagner as Sarah (season 2), Louis’ former fiancée
  • Tanner Zagarino as Dylan (season 2), Alice’s classmate with whom she goes on a casual date
  • Claudia Sulewski as Ava (season 2), a pregnant mother who interviews Brian and Charlie for adopting her child
  • Cobie Smulders as Sofi (season 2), a woman who Jimmy and Derek look to purchase a car from
  • Nora Kirkpatrick as Kellie (season 2)

I highly recommend watching this season on Apple TV+ to those who like the last season.

Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars

Ryan Balkwill:

Resident Film reviewer,

Level Best Art Cafe

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