Shrinking Season 2, Episode 1, “Jimmying,” units up a season about avoiding or confronting demons and coping with the fallout from each. It’s a really perfect begin after final season’s literal cliffhanger when Jimmy’s affected person Grace pushed – or “booped” – her abusive husband off the facet of a cliff. In a telling teaser, the episode recontextualizes that scenario by means of a dream created by Jimmy’s responsible conscience, making a prism for the remainder of the episode.
Written by Rachna Fruchbom and directed by Randall Keenan Winston, “Jimmying” delves deeper into what that mindset means for Jimmy’s progress and that of his shoppers. The episode additionally takes steps ahead in Paul and Gaby’s private {and professional} lives. All of this has overwhelmingly constructive results on “Jimmying” and instills confidence on this season.
Gaby, Liz, and the Rock That Binds Them
Gaby and Liz’s friendship is well the most effective components of the present. Frankly, it’s refreshing that Shrinking focuses so closely on a feminine friendship as a result of that’s nonetheless fairly uncommon on TV. Christa Miller and Jessica Williams work so effectively collectively. Their chemistry creates a hilarious rhythm for the already good and humorous dialogue. The depth of Gaby and Liz’s well-written banter in Gaby’s workplace (The rock in her desk drawer!) is among the episode’s finest scenes.
Hopefully, this season begins to veer away from Gaby and Liz’s primary matter of dialog being when Gaby will finish her buddies “with bennies” dynamic with Jimmy. Gaby admitting the dynamic’s flaws to Liz is understandably completely different than Gaby doing so to herself and Jimmy. That story received’t finish in a single episode. Not solely would that be unreasonable and unrealistic for the character, but it surely additionally wouldn’t service a present like Shrinking that sees longevity in its arcs.
Consequently, it’s reassuring that “Jimmying” introduces extra storylines for Gaby and Liz. This premiere tees up a strained dynamic between Gaby’s sister and mom, of which Gaby is within the center. There’s additionally an thrilling story about Gaby’s affect as a professor. After seeing Paul help her in securing the job final season, it’s rewarding to see Gaby already navigate that function. As for Liz, “Jimmying” barely scratches the floor of her work with the meals truck, and it suggests an eventual exploration of some communication points with Derek. This season additionally seems to wish to do extra with Liz and Derek’s son, but it surely’s all too obscure and peculiar (the latter on goal) to know the place that’s going.
Paul and the Most (Un)Anticipated “Woof”
Seeing Paul understand in actual time that he can’t keep away from the love he feels for Julie or push her away anymore is extremely endearing. Their relationship is pleasant, and “Jimmying” places them in a great spot for the season. It’s telling (and fairly humorous) that Paul and Julie’s love confession has the tone of a breakup. Harrison Ford and Wendie Malick play that change so effectively that it’s concurrently heartwarming and heartbreaking. The connection’s significance encourages a stage of consideration that, hopefully, the remainder of the season delivers.
For now, Shrinking continues to do nice work with considered one of its finest dynamics – Paul and Jimmy. In truth, “Jimmying” means that the latter might influence the previous, making all of this interpersonal battle richer. In spite of everything, Paul ends what finally turns into a significant dialog between him and Julie to deal with Jimmy. In Paul’s protection, Paul is the one individual from whom Jimmy will obtain that stage of constructive criticism.
So although Paul tries to keep away from the massive “Woof” of telling Julie that he loves her, the extra surprising “Woof” is Paul being sincere with Jimmy about failing Sean along with his “Jimmying.” Shrinking is just one episode into its second season, and it’s already addressing a few of Season 1’s extra evident pink flags, like Sean being a affected person of Jimmy’s and residing with him. Fortunately, this episode rectifies that by having Paul grow to be Sean’s new therapist, creating thrilling alternatives for Ford and Luke Tennie to work collectively extra this season.
Jimmy, Alice, and the Massive “Increase”
That sequence of occasions creates a false sense of normalcy that makes the coda of “Jimmying” particularly emotionally efficient. Shrinking pulls this off a number of methods, and considered one of them is Alice and Jimmy voicing how far they’ve come because the present’s sequence premiere. Then, “Jimmying” places that development into visible perspective with a fantastically directed flashback of the evening when a drunk driver induced a automobile accident that killed Tia. That sequence’s consideration to sensory element anchors the viewer within the scene; it’s unimaginable work. It additionally leaves the drunk driver hidden in a darkish shade of anonymity. The episode – and the sequence, for that matter – by no means dwells on who induced the accident. As an alternative, Shrinking focuses on Tia and the influence of her loss.
Alternatively, “Jimmying” locations extra emphasis on the id of Sean’s army good friend, so it’s simple to imagine that’s the guest-starring character that Brett Goldstein will painting this season. Within the episode’s remaining act, Shrinking introduces Goldstein as the opposite unnamed character with a distinctly seismic impact on the sequence – the drunk driver. That reveal – the way it harks again to the directional selections of the flashback and Jason Segel’s efficiency – is a few of the finest work this present has finished. It takes your breath away. Goldstein can be improbable within the quiet, delicate responses to Segel’s flip.
That change is such an enormous punctuation level to the episode that it feels just like the “growth” Paul refers to in his session with Sean. For all intents and functions, it’s – it’s an plain “growth.” However Shrinking delivers one other, extra delicate one when Jimmy comes house and repeats the strains Alice has heard all too many instances. Lukita Maxwell – with a single expression – represents that different “growth” in Alice’s eyes. Identical to that, all the pieces is completely different once more, and what a spot to finish a season premiere.
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New episodes of Shrinking Season 2 stream each Wednesday on Apple TV+.