Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9, “Daddy Issues” Spoilers Ahead
With two episodes left, Shrinking fires up the engine and delivers one of its most emotionally shattering episodes to date. There’s plenty of hope sprinkled in every frame, but as we near the end of the season and find ourselves closer to the dreaded goodbyes, we’re forced to sit with our sadness a bit—the discomfort, if you will. And for any other show, it’d be too upsetting to do this with, but never Shrinking.
Gorgeously written by Rachna Fruchbom and directed by Anu Valia, “Daddy Issues” feels like looking into an hourglass. It’s a reminder that time is passing, and this period of these characters’ lives is coming to an end. Alice’s graduation is right around the corner, Paul has a week left in Pasadena, and Jimmy isn’t ready to deal with any of it.
Paul Deems Gaby as His Legacy in Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9
With the way the show began, it was easy to think that maybe Paul would eventually pass down his practice to Jimmy. But one of the most beautiful details in Shrinking is the frequent reminder that sometimes, life has different plans. Despite his unconventional methods, Jimmy is a great therapist, but he isn’t suited to run a practice. He doesn’t fit the requirements, nor would he want it. Gaby, on the other hand, is the perfect choice in every way—the kaleidoscope of light and colors in the darkness. After last week’s “Depression Diet” and all that Gaby’s been trying to grapple with since Maya’s death, it’s fitting that this episode would again conclude with her and Paul back in the same space.
It’s fitting that he’d ask her to come back to work because this is his last week, then do everything to ensure that she feels she has agency again before he confesses that she’s his legacy. Harrison Ford always makes me cry on this show, but so help me God if this isn’t the year where he finally gets an Emmy for this role. At the moment, we’re all rightfully talking about Project Hail Mary, and one of the leading discussions is that no other actor could’ve played the role of Dr. Ryland Grace like Ryan Gosling. There are a ton of exemplary actors in this industry, but really, the same can be said about Harrison Ford. The legendary actor’s gifts are inimitable, but there’s something wholly indescribable about his performances as Paul Rhodes: the right role, the right screenplay, the right time. There’s something cosmic in that when we look at it closely.
It’s easy to believe every word that comes out of Paul’s mouth, and in this season especially, Ford is subtly delivering his best work to date. He’s baring it all for us, laying his heart right at the center of every line delivery to showcase just how deeply Paul loves those around him.
And of all characters right now, Gaby is the one who needs to hear that she can do this. She can even surpass his legacy because of all that she’s taught him in the time they’ve spent together. He’s grown with her, and that growth sometimes equates to knowing with absolute certainty that the person in front of you is stronger than you are. Paul doesn’t have to be a stubborn old man here because Paul’s learned how to cope with the injustices life’s dealt him. He even admits to Gaby that when he lost his first patient, he was also deeply affected by his inability to help. But in the same way that The Field shows people what they need, Paul grants Gaby the agency to choose whatever she wants to do with the practice. It’s hers, regardless. (And sure, Liz threatened him to be more gentle in his approach, but part of his growth is taking the advice necessary in the same way that he gives it.)
More than anything, Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9, “Daddy Issues,” makes it abundantly clear that the way we move forward after sitting with the discomfort matters. Throughout the three seasons we’ve sat with these characters, they’ve each had issues that’ve haunted and governed their actions. They’ve lashed out, or they’ve shut down, and in the end, they’ve hurt the people closest to them. But the community that the series shows in the form of this unconventional found family is the reminder that the best we can do as human beings is to love one another through it all. We can show up. We can be there. We can either sit in silence or we can aggressively throw mics; it doesn’t matter so long as we show up.
Jessica Williams remains the season’s MVP, and everything we see in “Daddy Issues” continues to prove as much. How she holds her own alongside Ford is magnetic—breathtaking, really. She deserves a career as long and as illustrious as his, and episodes like this continue to cement why this show’s special. It leaves me speechless, to be quite honest.
Sean Accepts the Job From Dre Thibodeaux
If I think about the fact that we might not see Paul when Shrinking returns for Season 4, I’ll cry too much and won’t be able to get these reviews out promptly. So, in my delusional state, I’m treating these goodbyes as temporary, hoping that these characters will cross paths again because otherwise it’s too sad, and I’m too fragile. Still, there’s something enormous in the simplicity of Paul getting up to tell Sean that the last thing he’s going to teach him is a hug. Sean has come so far since Season 1, and the fact that he’s now on his way toward becoming a sous chef is huge.
It’s everything for the kid whose trauma once had full control over him. The levity this arc also provides, with Derek taking Sean to talk to Brian in order to teach him how to be selfish and confront Jorge about leaving the food truck, is a hilarious contrast to the emotional moments we see with Paul. It makes the episode easier to get through; otherwise, these goodbyes would start to feel too daunting. And while we still feel the weight of them, the humor makes it substantially easier to cope with it all.
Will Jorge eventually understand why it’s important for Sean to move forward? Will someone else come to help with the food truck? Will Sean and Marisol stay together? It’s going to be so exciting to see what comes from Sean’s arc at the end of all this, but right now, the hope is enough.
Jimmy Shuts Down Again
Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9, “Daddy Issues,” places a large portion of its focus on Jeff Daniels returning as Jimmy’s dad, and things start to feel bleak again. We learn that Tia and his dad also had issues, so the fact that Sofi is accepted and tries to reason with him about believing in the changes he’s promising, understandably, doesn’t sit well with Jimmy. At the same time, his dad drops the bombshell that a last-minute fishing trip with his friend isn’t an opportunity he can pass up, and as Jimmy had predicted, he’ll be missing Alice’s graduation despite the promises. The news leads to Jimmy and Sofi’s first real argument, where she mentions the fact that she doesn’t appreciate that he’s essentially throwing Tia in her face, and Jimmy breaks things off, realizing they’ve moved forward too quickly.
With two episodes remaining, it makes complete sense that the show would throw such a huge wrench for Jimmy right as he’s preparing to lose both Paul and Alice to distance. And knowing how Jimmy typically reacts to big changes, it’s going to make the penultimate and finale extra emotional.
In addition, I remain so floored by the subtlety with which Jason Segel allows us to see the layers in Jimmy and how hard he’s fighting to stay above water. He wants things to work out with Sofi, but he’s also still harboring the abandonment from his dad and the grief from losing Tia. He has all the tools to move forward, and he’s made great progress so far, but these small matters understandably still have a way of getting to him, forcing him to sit with the discomfort. In this case, it can be a good thing because it’s exactly what Paul says is necessary, but how Jimmy will move forward is what’s going to be so interesting to see.
Stray Thoughts
- Tia flashback’s always get me! ☹️
- “I wasn’t invited on hikes back then because you guys thought I was edgy and difficult.” Liz is proof that everyone’s time will come at some point.
- “Who introduced this guy to Smash Mouth?” is SENDING ME.
- “Brian, we love you, but you’re old, my guy.”
- “Dude, you were there when I was born.” “You have a landline.” Ganging up on Brian is so hilarious
- Paul does look like a pimp in this episode.
- “She’s perfect for you.” But is he wrong??? Sofi being Paul-approved is so important to me.
- “I’m proud of you. Keep being brave.” I would pay for a cameo of Harrison Ford as Paul, telling me he’s proud of me. It’ll keep me going.
- Summer is actually so funny sometimes.
- “Who needs twinkle lights and a bean bag chair when you have grandpa’s love?”
- Gaby’s apartment is goals. Who’s the interior decorator?
- I WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THIS BEING PAUL’S LAST WEEK!!!
- “That place is just white privilege and boat shoes.”
- “If you ignore them, they stop on their own.”
- Jason Segel and Jeff Daniels are a fantastic father/son duo.
- “You’re a 42-year-old therapist with daddy issues.”
- “Swap me out for Freud.” He’s so right. Paul Rhodes belongs on the Mount Rushmore of thearpists.
- “I, Brian Lorenzo, am a selfish person.” I’m cackling.
- “Newsflash: we are all already selfish.”
- Aw, this Sofi and Jimmy hug.
- “‘Cause you’re a sociopath with no boundaries.”
- Oh, it bothers me that Jimmy’s dad didn’t get along with Tia. My poor girl.
- Liz and Paul fighting over Gaby is incredible.
- “This one’s called a hug.” “It’s been a privilege to watch how much you’ve changed and grown.” I’m SOBBING.
- “I feel like throwing your wife in my face isn’t fair.” Oof.
- Seeing the picture of Tia and Gaby on her desk in this scene shattered me.
- “You’re stronger than I am.” 😭😭😭
- Paul opening up about his own dad actually broke me more than I thought it would.
- “I’m hydrated AF.” 😭
- You are my legacy 😭
- 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
- Is anyone on this show willing to pay for my therapy bills because I ran out of tissues during this episode?
Now streaming on Apple TV+: What are your thoughts on Shrinking Season 3, Episode 9, “Daddy Issues?” Let us know in the comments below.
First Featured Image Credit: ©Apple TV+