Shrinking Season 3, Episode 5, “Hold Your Horsies” Spoilers Ahead
Written by Sofi Selig and directed by Randall Keenan Winston, Shrinking explores choices that are both right and wrong through distinct character moments that feel organic and are simultaneously shocking. With Alice leaving for college and Paul retiring, Season 3 was always going to be a transitional period, and the writers are carefully breaking the significant beats down for us.
More than anything, a large part of this episode feels like it’s thrusting us into something even bigger, and that’s where the season shines best. We have the assurance that every chapter means something.
Shrinking Season 3, Episode 5 Touches on Necessary Disruptions
Genuinely, how does every word out of Paul’s mouth feel so incredibly important and fully evocative? If he says it, it’s twice as easy to believe than if it were to come from someone else on TV, and a large part of the reason is Harrison Ford’s remarkable delivery. It’s easy to believe in the words and feel okay about internalizing them when it feels like the characters believe in them, too, and this has been a constant on Shrinking. It’s also believable when Gaby brings back Paul’s words about how we don’t know whether we’re making the right choice or a wrong one until we actually make said choice.
Whether through news they weren’t expecting or a seemingly small occurrence that forces them to make significant choices, “Hold Your Horsies” is full of intentional disruptions for every character. For Sean, the disruption comes in the form of Marisol persuading him and everyone else to take the night off and go out to a party. But the Sean we know today isn’t the Sean we met in Season 1, and he isn’t okay with leaving his responsibilities. In many ways, it’s easy to understand where he’s coming from, especially when the business is in your hands. If they all leave the food truck for one night, who’s running it? There’s literally no one else right now.
Luke Tennie does such a great job of touching on Sean’s frustrations while simultaneously giving us a glimpse into the whirling emotions inside of him in a manner that feels believable. He wants to do right by Marisol this time, but simultaneously, he’s come this far on his own, and it’s understandable that changes would continue to concern him. It’s even more understandable that he’d feel like he needs to change when he’s already done so much heavy lifting to get to where he is today. With this, the decision to give us a quiet moment between Sean and Alice works even better to add depth to the situation, because in a lot of ways, their growth has happened at the same time.
Both Sean and Alice are compelling foils of each other, so it makes their friendship especially meaningful while giving them both a safe place to sit in order to get to where they need to. It’s why it makes so much sense that Alice would be the one to talk Sean into going inside the club to give them all the night out they deserve.
Continuing with the disruptions, this whole Jimmy and Meg thing is so wild, yet on any other show, it wouldn’t work. Yet, here, it makes total sense because of the episode’s theme, and oddly, the two of them kissing feels necessary for both of them, and maybe even for Paul. (If he even finds out about it.) It feels essential for Jimmy to finally do something about his feelings for Sofi by getting the awkwardness of intimacy out with other characters in a consensual moment.
Simultaneously, Meg dropping the news that Paul will be moving with her to Connecticut is both understandable and a total gut punch. We knew he’d be retiring, but the fact that he’s moving miles away is the biggest disruption of all. It’s particularly heartbreaking to think about when it also comes in an episode where we’re reminded of how everyone needs him, not just Jimmy. And while this is something that we expected, it still doesn’t change the blow from actually hearing the words said aloud. There are six more episodes of Season 3 left, and it’s devastating to think of how we’ll get to the end, whether he’ll change his mind, or how many more disruptions will come to these characters before that.
Gaby and Derrick Take a Significant Step in Their Relationship
The concept of a therapist needing a therapist might just be the most important reminder Shrinking has put out, and it’s even more relevant that it comes from Gaby this week. For three seasons now, we’ve had to worry about Jimmy consistently, but Season 3 is flipping the see-saw to showcase that even those who seemingly have it all together fall apart at times. (We’re also seeing it with Paul, but the juxtaposition of a physical illness and a mental one is crucial here.) It doesn’t matter how or why a person needs another human being’s guidance, only that we do because that’s the crux of humanity.
Gaby might seem like she has it all together, but as Season 3 has presented so far, she feels she needs a bigger purpose, and that’s a struggle countless people can relate to. After last week’s “The Field,” helping Maya is allowing Gaby to come to terms with the fact that her job not only matters, but she can make an impact on someone’s life. Here, we learn that Maya self-medicates because of her depression, and it pushes Gaby to confront the idea of potentially opening up some sort of wellness center. A safe space where people can feel comfortable opening up about their struggles without the fear of judgment coming from those who are supposed to help them.
But in line with this week’s episode’s theme, this revelation also comes with a disruption when Derrick finds her a potential location, and she realizes that their plans to hold off on talking about the future are coming to a head. Gaby rallies the circle to vent about why Derrick’s actions are worrying her, and it’s here that she eventually understands she’s waiting for permission to be happy. She’s keeping up walls out of fear of getting hurt again because Derrick isn’t someone she needs to take care of, but as someone who’s trying to be an equal partner, he’s trying to take care of her. For the first time, someone’s fully looking out for Gaby when she isn’t looking out for herself, sneakily trying to plan for a bigger future because he wants it all with Gaby. All he wants is to ensure Gaby’s happiness in the same way that being with her has clearly helped him tenfold.
And it’s this very scene (with the involvement of Gaby’s circle, which also hilariously includes her mom teaming up with Paul) that makes Shrinking Season 3, Episode 5, “Hold Your Horsies,” an effective reminder that the people we surround ourselves with matter. Maya’s entire sessions thus far have been about how her loneliness is forcing her into places she shouldn’t go to, and even Matthew fully shutting out Liz is a sign that disruptions with our people can be the biggest roadblocks. Someone somewhere is likely going through the same thing at this moment, and maybe the knowledge that these disruptions are a part of life can help them feel a little bit better.
Related Content: Interview: Michael Urie Discusses the Les Mis Sing-Along in Shrinking and Praises Harrison Ford’s Inimitable Range
Yes, we need them. Yes, the universe is almost always going to throw another curveball when things finally feel like they’re aligned as they should be, but the fact that we’re going to be okay is a hopeful reminder we should be consistently grateful for when it comes to a show like Shrinking. It’s why every episode not only feels like something we need, but something we can turn back to on a rainy day.
Stray Thoughts
- “A glowing biracial couple.” / “I wasn’t chill, was I?” / “You’re never chill.” Liz and Derek remain goals.
- Gaby trying to carry Derrick onto the counter 😂
- “Girl dads!” Brian is so hilarious.
- I need you all to understand that the second I heard those first few notes of “Confrontation” from Les Mis, I got up off my seat and watched the scene while standing up. In our interview, Michael Urie breaks down the entire thing while also praising Harrison Ford in the background, and this is a scene I’ll forever be so grateful for. Watch Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYG8dmlw1ck
- “I’m all about that cocoa butter.” / “Your hands feel 25.”
- Jimmy is me, and I also keep crying over Paul.
- I need a taco hair clip as well. Where do I get a taco hair clip?
- Hahaha Alice’s accent
- Everyone hounding Derrick and Gaby about babies is so funny.
- Everyone’s now ganging up on Charlie. I’m gonna fight 😂
- Derrick taking Gaby’s dreams so seriously is so delightful. What a man.
- “But I’m okay with not narrating the rest of my life.” Not gonna lie, I feel like this episode is calling out TV shows that are leaning too heavily on exposition because they know that people are looking at their phones while watching, and if so, it’s a perfect way to call it out: if not, it’s hilarious regardless.
- “Everybody needs to be disrupted sometimes.” Oh, OKAY, that’s fine.
- Emotionally elusive really is such a good way to say someone sucks.
- Why does Brian still not have a rock?
- “Derrick’s got pros. Derrick’s got cons. Derrick’s got a fun a$$.” I literally can’t with this show.
- “It’s like you’re waiting for permission to be happy.” Oh, okay, call me out specifically, too.
- Paul and Gaby’s mom are an epic team together.
- “You don’t know whether your choice is right or wrong until you make it.” Help, I’m crying again.
- Alice and Sean’s friendship is so lovely.
- “I got kidnapped again.” 😂 Paul is so dramatic.
- This last scene with Gaby and Derrick is genuinely so cute. I also really appreciate these two making Taco Bell a fancy meal. Can they adopt me?
- This kiss wouldn’t be as weird if they hadn’t mentioned being step-siblings 😂 but you know, whatever. Get it, weirdos. I guess.
- “We’re not related, Jimmy.” BUT YOU FEEL RELATED.
Now streaming on Apple TV+: What are your thoughts on Shrinking Season 3, Episode 5, “Hold Your Horsies?” Let us know in the comments below.
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