Shrinking Season 2 Review — Harrison Ford and Jason Segel Dramedy Continues to Charm

Created by Ted Lasso‘s team, Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence, along with Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall), the Apple TV+ dramedy Shrinking won over the hearts of audiences with its star-studded cast, led by Segel and Harrison Ford. The show’s second season offers more hilarity and moments of tremendous emotional heft, allowing its cast to deliver career-best work.

Shrinking Season 2 Review

Shrinking continues many of the storylines from the first season, following therapist Jimmy (Segel) and his friends and family as they try to deal with their problems, grieving and trying to move on — often to comedic results. There are a lot of characters in this show, and while many shows with large ensembles like this frequently struggle to keep viewers invested, season 2 of Shrinking does so effortlessly.

Michael Urie, Jason Segel and Christa Miller in “Shrinking,” premiering October 16, 2024 on Apple TV+.

This season admittedly leans even more into the melodramatic tendencies of the story. Big events are constantly happening to everyone in a way that’s not exactly believable, but they are depicted with such emotional gusto that it’s hard not to be charmed. It’s sentimental — maybe even cheesy — but there’s no moment where the show’s emotion doesn’t feel earned.

A case in point is Jimmy’s arc in season 2, which is full of complicated emotions. He goes through many trials and makes decisions that aren’t always right for himself or the people he loves. Yet, part of the charm of Shrinking is getting to see characters like these — who are supposed to be “perfect” and “put-together” — make mistakes and be flawed, relatable human beings.

Paul’s (Ford) storyline in this season goes more into his struggles with his Parkinson’s diagnosis, and the result is more fertile ground for what might be Ford’s best performance ever. He nails the comedic line deliveries, bringing a hilarious (yet lovable) sarcasm to the role, but he also thrives in the more subtle, emotional moments. Ford shows a side of his range here that we haven’t often seen, even in the first season of Shrinking.

 Lukita Maxwell and Jason Segel in “Shrinking,” premiering October 16, 2024 on Apple TV+.

The supporting character who gets the biggest chance to shine in season 2 is Brian (Michael Urie), who gets an arc of his own — no longer feeling subservient to Jimmy’s arc. Although his storyline is one of the cheesiest of the season, it’s also the most heartfelt and sincere, offering some of the show’s most moving moments thus far. 

The rest of the supporting characters aren’t quite as effective this time around. Gaby (Jessica Williams) is mainly relegated to a romantic storyline; Sean (Luke Tennie) isn’t given nearly as much to do this season; Alice (Lukita Maxwell) has some interesting growth, but a lot of what she is given is conventional teen coming-of-age content; and Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek (Ted McGinley) are given more to do here, but it’s not always compelling.

Harrison Ford and Jason Segel in “Shrinking,” premiering October 16, 2024 on Apple TV+.

However, perhaps the most surprising thing about season 2 of Shrinking is that it’s not the returning characters who make the most impact, but Goldstein as a guest star. He has one of the most emotionally complicated roles in the show, and he brings such warmth and vulnerability to a character that easily could have been cheesy and melodramatic. It’s also the complete opposite end of the spectrum from what fans may be used to seeing from Goldstein in his star-making turn in Ted Lasso.

Is Season 2 of Shrinking worth watching?

The second season of Shrinking doesn’t achieve the perfect balance between comedy and drama that the first season did, but it remains one of the most lovable shows on the air. Shrinking is proof that sometimes, all it takes for a winning comedy is a pitch-perfect ensemble playing lovably flawed characters. It’s hilarious; it’s tear-jerking; it’s moving — and what else could you want from this team?

Shrinking streams on Apple TV+ beginning October 16, with new episodes airing on subsequent Wednesdays. Eleven out of twelve episodes reviewed.

Written by Sean Boelman

Articles Published: 243

Sean is a film critic, filmmaker, and life-long cinephile. For as long as he can remember, he has always loved film, but he credits the film Pan's Labyrinth as having started his love of film as art. Sean enjoys watching many types of films, although some personal favorite genres include music documentaries, heist movies, and experimental horror.