With incredible pacing and thoughtful characterizations once more, Shrinking Season 3 proves that the show is in a unique league of its own. Poignant and profound from start to finish, it never once feels like something is missing, but when it’s over, a part of us feels the tremendous loss of it. But luckily, the weekly release schedule will help us sit with the emotions and feel every feeling down to our bones as these eleven episodes roll out.
In a conversation with the New York Post, Bill Lawrence specifies that the show’s initial pitch meant Season 1 would focus on grief, Season 2 would dive into forgiveness, and Season 3 would explore the action of moving forward. And this is exactly what transpires as the series expertly gives each character layered arcs to live through and grow from.
With an immensely talented ensemble cast like the brilliant actors we have featured on Shrinking, the equally distributed screentime allows each of their arcs to unfold with meticulous layers that are not only deeply relatable but achingly human. You don’t have to have the same experiences as the characters to feel every ounce of their pain and joy, yet that’s exactly what happens because the writing continues to be so exceptional.
In truth, it’s tough to talk about Shrinking Season 3 without spoilers, but as the trailer showcases, this arc is still very much focused on community and how people show up for each other. There’s a lot to explore off the heels of the Season 2 finale, “The Last Thanksgiving,” with Paul’s worsening Parkison’s symptoms, Alice reaching the end of her senior year, Jimmy grappling with the fact that he’ll be an empty nester, Brian and Charlie adopting their baby, Liz and Derek, being well…Liz and Derek (affectionately). In fact, it bears repeating that it’s incredible how much the season thoughtfully explores with each character.
With that in mind, it’s not a spoiler to say that in many ways, Shrinking Season 3 feels like Gaby’s season. My top performer for Season 2 was Lukita Maxwell, but in every way that matters, Jessica Williams is the undeniable MVP of Season 3. The journey Gaby goes on feels so earned and right for her character that it’s going to be exceptional to break it down weekly.
Beyond this, there are countless moments featuring her character that are so well-written that if she wasn’t already a top-three favorite of yours, she’s about to be. Williams has always been exquisite in this role, but the emotions she brings to life today are something else entirely. The build-up from the last two seasons comes to stunning fruition, making the series even more profound in its aftermath.
But really, to even pick a favorite on this show is wild when literally every actor and every guest star continues to one-up themselves. The full range of emotions they each bring to every episode not only makes the series a masterful comedy, but it’s ultimately rare to still affirm this three seasons in. Every arc is more impressive than the one before, and how it manages to make you grin one minute, then outright sob the next is no small feat.
Shrinking isn’t just a remarkable comedy, but it’s the kind of triumph that’s indefinable, and Season 3 gorgeously solidifies this fact. In a day and age where it feels like streamers don’t trust their audience to deliver well-rounded and intimate content without spoon-feeding us everything because people are busy doomscrolling while watching TV, Shrinking does the opposite. It carefully takes us on the journey alongside the characters, making every moment count in a manner that manages to be both familiar and surprising.
It’s a comfort show for many of us who know grief too closely. It’s a reminder that we aren’t alone in our suffering or our joy, and it continues to be the best kind of emotional blanket. There aren’t many writers at this point we can place full confidence in, but from day one, I’ve said that the team behind Shrinking is some of the best in the business.
Shrinking Season 3 premieres on January 28 on Apple TV+, with new episodes dropping weekly.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV+