Harrison Ford is one of those actors whose name everybody knows, even if they aren’t as invested in the industry. My entire Armenian family knows his name, and the majority of them aren’t even fluent English speakers. There’s a giant poster of A New Hope that hangs in my office, and Han Solo is a character who’s been a part of my life longer than many of my friends. Yet, as I said in my Shrinking reviews, Season 2 proved that the Harrison Ford character who now means the most to me is Paul Rhoades.
It’s abysmal that Ford wasn’t nominated for an Emmy Award for his work in Shrinking Season 1, but I would’ve hit the streets if the same snub occurred for Season 2. Thankfully, that isn’t the case, and his incomparable work in the show’s sophomore season is recognized.
Shrinking’s poignantly thoughtful manner of threading vulnerability and humor is no small feat. While the series contains heavy subject matters such as grief, physical and various mental health struggles, it’s equal parts hilarious and wholesome in how it manages everything. Taking this into consideration, it’s essential to acknowledge how Harrison Ford’s role as the most well-rounded therapist of the bunch is a large part of the reason. However, while Paul’s Parkinson’s worsens in the second season, and he’s forced to confront his new reality, he doesn’t stop being everyone’s go-to voice of reason. And more importantly, the series allows him to be vulnerable. Scared. Unsure. Human.
Considering the fact that he’s nominated in the comedy category, the 77th Emmy reel likely won’t include the emotionally haunting speech Paul gives at the end of Season 2, Episode 12, “The Last Thanksgiving.” Still, the entire season is proof of Ford’s inimitable range. To go from talking about Fun Dip to showing up at a bench in his pajamas to comfort Jimmy is part of the brilliant range that makes his performance so nuanced. To voice that he’s nervous about starting a relationship, dealing with his ex-wife, and voicing his fears at Thanksgiving? Awe-inspiring. Paul is consistently given the space to be human, and Ford brings every layer to life with astounding care. Plus, the jokes are limitless, and Harrison Ford’s delivery of each of them is so uniquely gruff that the entire thing is funnier because it’s him.
Dry humor isn’t new to Ford. It’s why so many of us fell in love with Han Solo when we did. However, the humor we get in Shrinking is completely different because it’s coated with an honesty that’s grounded, raw, and a little heartbreaking. Funnily, Paul, as a character, is nothing like my late father, yet there’s something about him and Ford’s portrayal that’s been comforting because it’s reminded me of my dad. Maybe that’s why this role means so much to me. Maybe that’s why I firmly believe that he not only deserves the nomination, but the win.
Maybe that’s why I sobbed as hard as I did during the finale while also cracking up at the beanie he wore. Regardless, Shrinking Season 2 is a near-perfect arc, and Harrison Ford’s first Emmy nomination is a special one. The right casting and the right time—everything all at once for a character who already means so much to so many of us.
Shrinking Seasons 1 and 2 are now streaming on Apple TV+. What are your thoughts on Harrison Ford’s Emmy Nomination? Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV+