Season Three of "Shrinking": An Emotional Odyssey of Relationships and Growth

Season One of "Shrinking" began as a personal exploration by creators Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel of the life of a therapist wading through deep waters of grief, included self-destructive tendencies and ethical questions. As the seasons evolved, the narrative took a turn to focus more on interpersonal relationships and the struggle between revealing and concealing parts of our selves to those closest to us.

"Shrinking" has transformed into a touching narrative about a group of interconnected people who would risk everything for each other yet struggle to fully open up emotionally. The show serves as an important reminder of the importance of relationships in our lives, particularly in times of difficulties.

The third season witnesses emotional upheaval as Jimmy (Jason Segel), grieves the idea of parting from his daughter Alice (Lukita Maxwell), who had once pulled him from his self-destructive path. The season delves into life-turning events: graduating, divorcing, having a baby and confronting Parkinson's diagnosis. The diagnosis is what Paul (Harrison Ford) faces, receiving guidance from Michael J. Fox in a guest appearance.

Paul intends to hand over his practice to Jimmy or Gaby (Jessica Williams) while dealing with a future filled with diminishing mobility and possible hallucinations, the realities of life when dealing with Parkinson's disease. Even through instances of seemingly contrived conflict, the superb performances by the cast, especially Segel and Ford, keep viewers engaged.

"Shrinking," along with these arcs, re-explores the theme of grief, focusing on how it can unexpectedly re-emerge and shake us to our core beyond the ability of conventional therapy to heal. The show makes it clear we can only extend our help to a point before the person needs to help themselves.

The season concludes with Jimmy facing his unresolved feelings towards his estranged father (Jeff Daniels), intertwined with the imminent departures of Alice and Paul.

Essential to the show’s success is its superb cast, who have seemingly unlocked their characters' inner lives. The production team attempts to balance the narrative giving Gaby (Jessica Williams) her share of storylines, although still seemingly sidelined. Further, the show takes its time with character development.

According to creator Lawrence, the third season's theme is "moving forward." It's about dealing with the challenges of life, such as children leaving home or the physical degradation of our bodies. "Shrinking" provides an honest and humanistic perspective of navigating these events, reminding us of the significance of those who've supported us during difficult times. The series returns for its third season on Apple TV on January 28.