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Shrinking Season 2 Review

The second season of Shrinking premiered on Apple TV+ in 2024. It consists of 12 episodes. It’s an improvement upon its predecessor.

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“Lucky guy. I’m a lucky guy“

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While I definitely really liked the first season of Shrinking, I did not love it as I found its tonal and structural issues quite problematic. But this sophomore outing is an example of a stronger, better structured and more confident show, which often happens for the genre of comedies on television. It still has its numerous flaws, but it’s mostly quality television and I cannot wait for the next one to arrive and hopefully sooner rather than later.

The main reason why I preferred this second installment lies in its shift in priorities. Gone are therapy sessions and insignificant clients in favor of an established crew of characters spending time talking to each other and interacting in their shared spaces. This led to the communal feeling of the series that reminded me pleasantly of 2000s sitcoms.

I also continue to appreciate the series’ traditionalist approach to moral and societal issues. You have the condemnation of a woman pursuing sex instead of relationships for instance. There is this support for women to pursue motherhood if they really want to. And there is primarily this strong emphasis on family values and the importance of friendships and good neighbors that made it feel like an endearing fairy tale of sorts.

Jimmy is just as well realized as he was before, although this time around numerous other characters got their many moments to shine as well. Jason Segel is fantastic in the main role and I found his plight genuinely touching. How the show shifts from comedic to truly tragic is best exemplified through this character’s complex arc.

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I have to say that I liked Harrison Ford much more this time around as I wasn’t a big fan the previous time. He was a stronger and more natural performer here and the casting was perfect in this instance as he very much is like this in real life. There is a very touching speech that Paul gives in the finale that was quite heartbreaking to hear.

I continue to find Gabby quite annoying and overly cocky. Her ghetto jargon is getting on my nerves. Still, I appreciated that the show actually critiqued her toxic behavior toward her newfound relationship partner and her sister as well. She is by far the least likable and most problematic person on this show, but the series acknowledges that. As for Sean, I found him to be forgettable here and his drama with his father overwrought and overly accentuated when it has never been all that interesting in the first place.

Brian is a gay male stereotype, but Michael Urie is genuinely funny at times in his strong line delivery, so the character didn’t bother me much, though the baby storyline felt way too long. Liz and Derek are a great couple and Liz truly grew on me throughout this season and I’d come to appreciate her as a great, interesting character who shares terrific dynamics with others on the show.

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As for Alice, the series excused her behavior way too much at times and I found her friendship with the man who killed her mother quite odd to say the least, but I still like her a lot and her scenes with her father were genuinely moving toward the end. Louis’ story was also unexpectedly sad and poignant.