| Shrinking | |
|---|---|
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| Genre | Comedy-drama |
| Created by | |
| Starring |
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| Theme music composer | |
| Composer | Tom Howe |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 25 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producer | Kip Kroeger |
| Cinematography |
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| Editors |
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| Running time | 29–63 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | Apple TV+ |
| Release | January 27, 2023 (2023-01-27) – December 24, 2024 (2024-12-24) |
| Network | Apple TV |
| Release | January 28, 2026 (2026-01-28) – present |
Shrinking is an Americancomedy-drama television series created byBill Lawrence,Jason Segel, andBrett Goldstein. The series stars Segel as a grieving therapist who decides to become drastically more involved in his patients' lives.Harrison Ford,Jessica Williams,Christa Miller,Michael Urie, Luke Tennie,Lukita Maxwell, andTed McGinley also star.
The series premiered on January 27, 2023, onApple TV+. It has received positive reviews, with praise for its performances, writing, humor, and examination of grief. It was renewed for a second season in March 2023. The second season premiered on October 16, 2024. In the same month, the series was renewed for an 11-episode third season, which premiered onApple TV on January 28, 2026.Shrinking was renewed for a fourth season in January 2026.
The first season received two nominations at the75th Primetime Emmy Awards:Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for Segel andOutstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for Williams. Ford received nominations at theCritics' Choice Awards and theTCA Awards for his performance, along with nominations for the series itself. For its second season, the series was recognized as one of the top ten television programs of the year by theAmerican Film Institute.
A therapist, Jimmy Laird, dealing with severe grief after his wife's death, begins to breach ethical barriers by telling his patients what he really thinks, resulting in massive changes to his and their lives.
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | Network | |||
| 1 | 10 | January 27, 2023 (2023-01-27) | March 24, 2023 (2023-03-24) | Apple TV+ | |
| 2 | 12 | October 16, 2024 (2024-10-16) | December 24, 2024 (2024-12-24) | ||
| 3[14] | 11 | January 28, 2026 (2026-01-28) | April 8, 2026 (2026-04-08) | Apple TV | |
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Coin Flip" | James Ponsoldt | Bill Lawrence &Jason Segel &Brett Goldstein | January 27, 2023 (2023-01-27) | T12.17451 |
Jimmy Laird, a therapist grieving his wife Tia's death from a car accident, has grown weary of his patients' inability to solve their own problems. He begins intervening in their lives to help them expedite the changes they desire. He convinces one patient, Grace, to leave her abusive husband, and enrolls Sean, a veteran prone to violent outbursts, inmixed martial arts training. Jimmy's approach initially seems successful, but he keeps it secret from his fellow therapists Gaby and Paul, aware there are ethical violations. Jimmy, whose relationship with his daughter Alice has strained since her mother's death, goes with Sean to her soccer game. Grace's husband, Donny, finds him there and assaults him, and Sean beats Donny in retaliation. Alice thanks Jimmy for coming to her game; Jimmy admits his struggle to be more present in her life owes to how much she reminds him of Tia. | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Fortress of Solitude" | Ry Russo-Young | Brett Goldstein | January 27, 2023 (2023-01-27) | T12.17452 |
Jimmy bails out Sean from the police station, and gets his best friend Brian, an estate lawyer, to successfully defend Sean from a lawsuit launched by Donny. Brian invites Jimmy to playpickleball; Jimmy declines, leading Brian to barge into one of his sessions and berate him for his yearlong absence as a friend. Paul, meanwhile, encourages Alice to reciprocate Jimmy's desire to be a better parent, but she inadvertently reveals the fight at her game to him. A furious Paul confronts Jimmy over his lapse in ethics. Gaby, meanwhile, asks Jimmy's neighbor Liz – who has largely been raising Alice since Tia's death – to step back in her caretaking, offending her. Jimmy, unaware that Alice has brought dinner home to have with him, visits Brian for pickleball, and the two reconcile. Alice opts to have food with Paul at his house. | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Fifteen Minutes" | Ry Russo-Young | Brian Gallivan | February 3, 2023 (2023-02-03) | T12.17453 |
Jimmy allows Sean to stay with him and Alice, since Sean's parents kicked him out of his house after his fight with Donny. Gaby reveals to Jimmy that she is divorcing her husband Nico, and admits to missing her close friendship with Tia. Alice and Sean become closer; Liz, feeling suspicious, tells Paul, who thereby learns about Sean living in Jimmy's house. He chastises Jimmy for moving a patient into his home and cuts off contact with him, even though Jimmy is grateful to Paul for helping Alice through her grief. While on a walk, Jimmy spots Grace with Donny, realizing she got back together with him. | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Potatoes" | James Ponsoldt | Rachna Fruchbom | February 10, 2023 (2023-02-10) | T12.17454 |
Jimmy struggles to get Sean to open up about his postwar PTSD. Brian is revealed to have been overseeing Paul's estate; Paul confides that he has not told his daughter Meg about hisParkinson's disease. Meg visits Paul, where Paul once again neglects to mention his illness. Alice and Gaby tell Jimmy that Alice lost her virginity to Liz's son Connor. Jimmy, overwhelmed, lashes out at Liz for overly involving herself in his daughter's life; he also angers Sean when he tries forcing him to tell him about his PTSD. Jimmy later reconciles with Connor, who has come to visit, and enjoys drinks with Gaby and Liz before also reconciling with Sean. That night, he overhears Alice admit her feelings for Sean. | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "Woof" | James Ponsoldt | Bill Posley | February 17, 2023 (2023-02-17) | T12.17455 |
Jimmy and Paul continue not to speak to one another. Jimmy encourages Sean to get over his resentment for his father, but Sean is shaken when his father gives him a war medallion and praises him as a hero. He and Alice go for a walk; Alice becomes concerned for Sean when he recklessly climbs a water tower. Brian tells Jimmy and Gaby he wants to propose to his boyfriend Charlie; they dismiss it, as Brian has brought up the idea several times without committing to it, and Brian later confides to Gaby his fear of taking risks ever since coming out to his parents. Gaby urges Paul to make up with Jimmy; Paul visits Jimmy's house while Jimmy is trying to persuade Sean not to leave, and helps Sean open up about his trauma. Paul later calls Meg to tell her about his Parkinson's diagnosis. | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "Imposter Syndrome" | Randall Keenan Winston | Annie Mebane | February 24, 2023 (2023-02-24) | T12.17456 |
Brian buys a wedding ring for Charlie, and makes plans to propose at a party at Jimmy's house. Jimmy is apprehensive about throwing the party, since it reminds him of the strain in his and Tia's marriage in the months leading up to her death. Paul is anxious about Meg's plans to come oversee his care, feeling guilty over her investment in his wellbeing given his absence as a father during her childhood. Liz helps him see the situation with gratitude instead. Jimmy gets heavily drunk at the party and throws up, but Brian's proposal is still a success. Alice tries to kiss Sean, but he becomes uncomfortable due to their age gap and leaves. Gaby assures Jimmy that Tia still loved him despite the difficulties in their marriage; Jimmy thanks her for her friendship, and the two impulsively have sex. | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Apology Tour" | Randall Keenan Winston | Brett Goldstein | March 3, 2023 (2023-03-03) | T12.17457 |
The morning after the party, Jimmy is consumed with guilt over sleeping with Gaby, but she helps him resolve his discomfort, assuring him their friendship is perfectly intact. Alice regrets attempting to kiss Sean, and is also comforted by Gaby. Liz's husband Derek tells her he has earned the right to enjoy living at home once he retires, and encourages her to go out and adopt new hobbies of her own. Meg comes to care for Paul, and Paul attempts to make up for years of lost time with her. However, he is unable to accept her invitation to move to the East Coast to stay with her and her family, causing her to leave angrily. At Gaby's suggestion, Jimmy has an imaginary conversation with Tia where he apologizes for becoming intimate with Gaby; however, Alice overhears him. | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Boop" | Zach Braff | Wally Baram | March 10, 2023 (2023-03-10) | T12.17458 |
Jimmy and Gaby make a fumbling apology to Alice for sleeping together. Alice attempts to vent her frustrations to Paul, but he rebuffs her self-centered attitude, still reeling from his argument with his daughter. Alice disappears that night; Paul thinks she is at a party with her friends, and Jimmy and Brian bring him along to search for her. On the way, Brian tells Jimmy that he and Charlie do not want him officiating their wedding, angering Jimmy. The trio eventually find Alice with an older college student and bring her home. Paul convinces Jimmy to assert himself to others despite his own personal regrets, and so Jimmy grounds Alice for her misbehavior. Meanwhile, Gaby brings Liz and Sean to her ex-husband Nico's art exhibition, but lashes out at him publicly when she sees him pass off his new girlfriend as his "muse". | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Moving Forward" | Randall Keenan Winston | Sofi Selig | March 17, 2023 (2023-03-17) | T12.17459 |
Paul learns he is being honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from theAPA inLas Vegas, but is uninterested in going in light of his strained relationship with Meg. Gaby discovers Paul is in a relationship with his doctor, Julie. Jimmy encourages Paul to take Julie to accept his award; Paul instead takes her to surprise Meg by attending her son's school play. Gaby reconciles with Nico and nearly sleeps with him, but instead has sex with Jimmy again. Brian agrees to let Jimmy officiate his wedding, while Liz agrees to finance Sean's catering business. On Tia's birthday, Jimmy visits her gravesite. Alice later realizes she forgot her mother's birthday and blames herself. | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Closure" | James Ponsoldt | Neil Goldman | March 24, 2023 (2023-03-24) | T12.17460 |
Alice gets upset with Jimmy for packing up Tia's belongings out of a desire to move on. Liz asks to become more involved with Sean's catering business, which he happily accepts. Jimmy asks Brian's father to be best man at his wedding to Charlie. Paul thanks Jimmy for his help in reconciling with Meg, but Liz chastises him for not putting in the work to write a recommendation for Gaby's professorship. Paul then personally visits Gaby's interview for the position to advocate for her. Jimmy uncovers Tia's belongings for Alice to reminisce. He delivers a passionate speech at Brian and Charlie's wedding, making Gaby realize she may have feelings for Jimmy. Meanwhile, Grace, recalling Jimmy's advice about not putting up with Donny's abuse, snaps when Donny insults her while on a hike and pushes him off a cliff. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original release date | Prod. code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 1 | "Jimmying" | Randall Keenan Winston | Rachna Fruchbom | October 16, 2024 (2024-10-16) | T12.18201 |
Grace is arrested for nearly killing Donny; Jimmy tries hiding his regret, making Alice worry he will fall into the same self-destructive patterns he exhibited after Tia's death. Paul tells Jimmy to revert to conventional therapy for the time being. Gaby has continued having sex with Jimmy for months in hopes of a serious romance, despite Liz's attempts to dissuade her. Paul and Julie confess their love for one another. Sean is hesitant to visit Jorge, an old army friend, due to fear of triggering his PTSD; Jimmy spars with him at the gym in exchange for him going, leading Paul to admonish Jimmy to stop seeing Sean as a patient due to theirdual relationship. When Jimmy realizes Sean is lying to him about having seen Jorge, he convinces Sean to switch to Paul as his therapist. Jimmy is shocked when Louis, the drunk driver who killed Tia, visits his office to apologize, and angrily kicks him out. | ||||||
| 12 | 2 | "I Love Pain" | Randall Keenan Winston | Annie Mebane | October 16, 2024 (2024-10-16) | T12.18202 |
After some hesitation, Jimmy tells Alice he got a visit from Louis; Alice pens an imaginary letter to Louis as a therapeutic exercise. Paul is forced to let go of his longtime patient Raymond to make room for Sean, but later joins Raymond for a drink after Jimmy tells Paul his therapeutic boundaries are too rigid. Liz is ecstatic to learn that a blogger wants to cover the food truck she and Sean are running, but Sean sours on the idea after learning that the article will focus on his veteran past. To help Sean through his anxiety about how to express his feelings to Liz, Paul gives him a mental tool, the "reversal of desire", to help him confront and embrace pain. Sean's conversation with Liz ultimately goes well. Gaby tells Jimmy she wants to end their sexual relationship; Jimmy later visits her, and she berates him for selfishly continuing to have sex with her despite knowing she caught feelings for him. Alice is seen spying on Louis. | ||||||
| 13 | 3 | "Psychological Something-ism" | Zach Braff | Brian Gallivan | October 23, 2024 (2024-10-23) | T12.18203 |
Grace's charges are dropped due to Donny's abusive past, but she goes back to him, feeling like she deserves punishment. Brian collects character witness statements from Grace's friends and reads them to her in front of Jimmy and her sister, convincing Grace to finally leave Donny and move in with her sister inVancouver. Sean's estranged father Tim visits the food truck, having once wanted to start a similar business with his son; Liz, feeling selfish, sells her shares of the business to Tim, enraging Sean. Paul's anxiety over his Parkinson's strains his relationship with Julie. After Jimmy and Brian fight over not really knowing each other's lives, Jimmy visits Brian and his husband for dinner to invest more in their friendship. Against Paul's advice, Alice tracks down Louis and has an angry outburst at him, accidentally leaving her wallet. Seeking comfort, she kisses Liz and Derek's son, Connor, despite having set him up with her best friend Summer. | ||||||
| 14 | 4 | "Made You Look" | Zach Braff | Sofi Selig | October 30, 2024 (2024-10-30) | T12.18204 |
Alice and Connor are revealed to have slept together; Alice immediately regrets it the morning after and makes Connor promise not to tell Summer. Sean's anger issues resurface over having to share his food business with his father. He eventually confides in Jimmy that he resents his father for ignoring his postwar PTSD and kicking him out of the house instead of offering help, only to take credit for his eventual success. Paul urges Jimmy not to keep playing therapist with Sean, but later admits to feeling jealous of Sean's trust in Jimmy, as well as afraid of the effects of his Parkinson's on his job. Liz encourages Brian to consider fatherhood after Charlie expresses interest in adopting a child. Gaby hits it off with Derek's friend Derrick (AKA "Derrick #2"); Derek sets them up on a date, but Gaby is forced to leave upon hearing that her mother got in a car accident. Brian finds Louis outside the Laird home trying to return Alice's lost wallet; rather than rebuff him, Brian assures Louis that the Lairds are doing better, and asks him how he is doing. | ||||||
| 15 | 5 | "Honesty Era" | Jamie Babbit | Zack Bornstein | November 6, 2024 (2024-11-06) | T12.18205 |
Summer is furious with Alice after Connor admits to sleeping with her. To cheer her up, Jimmy takes Alice to get matching tattoos of Tia's initials. Paul is anxious upon getting a visit from his ex-wife Susan, whom he cheated on; Susan later tells him she heard about his Parkinson's and simply wants to spend time with him while she can, and the two reconcile. At her sister Courtney's urging, Gaby talks her mother into finally getting acataract surgery following her car crash. Gaby, who was forced to take care of Courtney during her addiction struggles, has since made Courtney take care of their mother as penance; Jimmy helps Gaby let go of her resentment, and she lets him join her family for dinner. Jimmy lets slip that Liz ran into her ex, Mac, who Derek is insecure about; Liz's resulting tension with Derek causes her to lash out at Jimmy. Paul advises that Sean open up to his father Tim from a place of goodwill, but Tim responds harshly to the idea that he let his son down. Sean later provokes a group of hostile construction workers into beating him up. | ||||||
| 16 | 6 | "In a Lonely Place" | Randall Keenan Winston | Brett Goldstein | November 13, 2024 (2024-11-13) | T12.18206 |
Sean is hospitalized following his beating; Tim is nowhere to be found. Jimmy and Paul find Tim fishing in a river, feeling guilty. The two confide in their own failures as fathers, and Tim admits he didn't know how to help Sean upon his return from war. Tim finally visits Sean in the hospital and the two reconcile. Gaby releases Courtney from her obligation to solely look after their mother. Brian convinces Alice to come meet Louis; Louis confides his guilt and depression following Tia's death, and Alice, at Louis' request, shares a story about Tia. Alice decides to forgive Louis, feeling it is what Tia would have done. Connor returns to college; Liz, feeling unfulfilled and directionless as an empty-nester, secretly spends more time with Mac. | ||||||
| 17 | 7 | "Get in the Sea" | Randall Keenan Winston | Kyra Brown & CJ Hoke | November 20, 2024 (2024-11-20) | T12.18207 |
Gaby and Derrick #2 go on their first date, only to be interrupted by a last-minute request by Gaby's student to go over her thesis. Their next date is cut short by Brian, who feels hugely unprepared to raise a child so soon, but afraid to admit this to Charlie; Derrick #2 suggests they all swim in the beach to release tension. Jimmy has his patient Dan join him throughout the day to help overcome his social anxiety, and the two join Derrick #2, Gaby, Brian and Charlie in the water, where Charlie also admits his fear of fatherhood; he and Brian decide to wait a few months before they are ready to adopt a child. Jimmy and Dan also convince Sean to reconnect with Jorge. Alice reconciles with Summer. Paul catches Liz talking to Mac. Liz and Mac later kiss; Liz confides this to Paul, who recommends that she come clean to Derek. Derek, however, is devastated upon hearing the news. Jimmy spots Alice and Brian having dinner with Louis. | ||||||
| 18 | 8 | "Last Drink" | James Ponsoldt | Sasha Garron | November 27, 2024 (2024-11-27) | T12.18208 |
Flashbacks show Jimmy and Louis spending time with their respective loved ones leading up to the car crash. In the aftermath, Louis breaks up with his fiancée Sarah, feeling she will only remind him of his guilt, while Jimmy numbs himself with drugs and prostitutes, leading Alice to seek solace with Liz's family. In the present, Brian and Alice catch up with Jimmy and explain why they reached out to Louis; Alice suggests to Jimmy that he too forgive Louis. Derek goes to stay at Gaby's house, leaving Liz despondent over his absence. Derek goes to confront Mac, only to realize it is futile, and Gaby helps him see that he was inattentive to Liz's depression as an empty-nester. Derek forgives Liz and surprises her by inviting their three sons over for dinner. Jimmy visits Louis and tells him he forgives him, but then orders him to stay away from him and his friends and family. Paul decides to quit drinking at his doctor's urging, and shares his final drink with Jimmy. Jimmy tells Paul he still has not forgiven himself for failing as a father to Alice; Paul tells him he hopes he can. | ||||||
| 19 | 9 | "Full Grown Dude Face" | Anu Valia | Bill Posley | December 4, 2024 (2024-12-04) | T12.18209 |
Gaby learns that Courtney is joining the army; she is supportive, but worried that she will now be responsible for taking care of her mother, who expects to move in with her. Paul advises Gaby to exercise boundaries, but Gaby still ends up allowing her mother to stay at her house. Brian and Charlie have an adoption meeting with Ava, pregnant mother who is deciding between them and another couple; Brian successfully overcomes his anxiety during the meeting, allowing him and Charlie to connect well with Ava. Nevertheless, she chooses the other couple. Alice goes on a date to a party, but is put off by everyone there feeling sorry for her over Tia's death. Jimmy tells her to use humor to reclaim ownership of her grief and put others at ease around her; Alice takes his advice and returns to the party, where she ends up enjoying herself. Jimmy is grateful that he was finally there for his daughter when she needed him. | ||||||
| 20 | 10 | "Changing Patterns" | James Ponsoldt | Ashley Nicole Black | December 11, 2024 (2024-12-11) | T12.18210 |
Alice tells Paul that she is ready to take a break from therapy, which he is proud to hear. After Julie's husband dies, she sells their house and stays with Paul; Gaby convinces Paul to have Julie move in with him. Paul in turn urges Gaby to be honest with her mother about not wanting her to move in with her; Gaby eventually tells her mother, who is heartbroken. Liz has been noticeably more fawning and deferential to Derek out of lingering shame over her infidelity, which even he is put off by; Brian and Gaby encourage her to go back to being herself. On Alice's 18th birthday, Jimmy surprises her with aMini Cooper similar to the one Tia owned; he buys the car from an attractive divorced mother named Sofi, with whom he immediately connects. Louis texts Alice suggesting they no longer speak, prompting Alice to visit him; Louis admits Jimmy forbade him from speaking with her, and an enraged Alice tells Jimmy he ruined yet another birthday for her. | ||||||
| 21 | 11 | "The Drugs Don't Work" | Randall Keenan Winston | Neil Goldman | December 18, 2024 (2024-12-18) | T12.18211 |
Jimmy and Alice argue about Louis and she decides to stay with Gaby on Summer's suggestion. Gaby tries to get back in her mother's good graces by inviting her along to Thanksgiving; she neglects to invite Derrick #2, fearing emotional intimacy, and he decides to break up with her. Paul's Parkinson's symptoms worsen over the stress of having Julie move in with him. He goes to see his doctor and discovers she is sleeping with Sean; she tells Paul that he has approximately 6 months to a year before his meds stop working altogether. Brian and Derek try to provide Sean an opportunity to move out of the pool house, which he declines. Brian and Charlie get a call from Ava, who has changed her mind and decided to give her baby to them. Jimmy helps a patient, Wally, return her neighbor's dog after she kidnaps it. Paul observes that Jimmy is using his patients to chase emotional highs instead of facing his own traumas, and admonishes Jimmy to ask for help when he needs it. Jimmy suffers a breakdown soon after and calls Paul, finally admitting he is not doing well. | ||||||
| 22 | 12 | "The Last Thanksgiving" | Bill Lawrence | Bill Lawrence & Neil Goldman & Brett Goldstein | December 24, 2024 (2024-12-24) | T12.18212 |
Jimmy has a brief therapy session with Paul, where he vows never to blame Alice for his own suffering. Brian and Charlie interview potential nannies with Liz; Derek convinces them to allow Liz to help them two days of the week, finally giving her a sense of purpose in life. Gaby reaches out to Derrick #2, but he insists that she work on herself before continuing their relationship. Sean advises Alice that love given with the expectation of personal change is not unconditional, helping Alice let go of some of her anger at Jimmy. Jimmy helps out Summer from a bind at the pharmacy, which reminds Alice of his many good deeds, and they reconcile. The gang meets at Gaby's for their Thanksgiving dinner, where Derrick #2 shows up by surprise with his aunt and Gaby's mother. Paul tearfully expresses his gratitude to everyone for being in his life during his health struggles. Louis gets disinvited from his coworker's gathering; he goes to the train station feeling suicidal and he reaches out to Alice, but Gaby has placed all her guests' phones in exile for the evening. Jimmy, however, discovers the message and meets with Louis at the train station. | ||||||
| No. overall | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by [15] | Original release date [14] | Prod. code | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 1 | "My Bad" | Randall Keenan Winston | Brian Gallivan | January 28, 2026 (2026-01-28) | T12.20301 | ||||
| T12.20302 | ||||||||||
Paul's Parkinson's symptoms have worsened; he befriends a patient, Gerry, while waiting in the neurology clinic. Paul's neurologist Dr. Sykes amicably ends her sexual relationship with Sean. Jimmy has been regularly meeting Louis on a park bench to discuss their lives. Liz and Derek's older son, Matthew, moves back home. Brian and Charlie, preparing for their baby to arrive, have still not discussed what role Ava will play in their lives; Brian initially admits to wanting a closed adoption, but changes his mind after meeting with Ava and agrees to let her visit regularly. Alice is visited by theWesleyan University women's soccer coach at her latest game. The coach offers her a scholarship, but Alice turns it down, anxious about moving away from her loved ones; she later accepts the offer at Jimmy's encouragement. As Paul and Julie get the former's affairs in order, Jimmy impulsively suggests they get married, which they realize will solve their problems; Gaby arranges a wedding ceremony for them in Jimmy's backyard, with Jimmy giving a heartfelt speech. Paul sees Gerry in his kitchen afterwards and talks with him, but Julie does not see him; Paul realizes it was a hallucination. | ||||||||||
| 24 | 2 | "Happiness Mission" | Zach Braff | Brett Goldstein | February 4, 2026 (2026-02-04) | T12.20303 | ||||
Paul takes some time off to recover from his hallucinations; Jimmy and Gabby cover for his patients at work, and Liz coordinates his schedule. Derek and Liz struggle with the decision to force their son, Matt, to leave their house. Paul advises Derek that he needs to help Matt grow; he reluctantly does. Jimmy and Alice spend spend time with Louis; Gaby becomes upset as she has not forgiven Louis. She angrily confronts Louis, who leaves to see his ex-fiancee, Sarah. Seeing that she is happily in a relationship with another man, he decides to move toSan Diego for a fresh start. Sofi goes to Jimmy's house to give him a spare key to the car she sold them; they have coffee together and Jimmy wants to ask her out on a date. | ||||||||||
| 25 | 3 | "D-Day" | Zach Braff | Bill Posley | February 11, 2026 (2026-02-11) | T12.20304 | ||||
| 26 | 4 | "The Field"[16] | Rebecca Asher | Ashley Nicole Black | February 18, 2026 (2026-02-18) | TBA | ||||
| 27 | 5 | "Hold Your Horsies"[17] | Randall Keenan Winston | Sofi Selig | February 25, 2026 (2026-02-25) | TBA | ||||
| 28 | 6 | "Dereks' Don't Die"[18] | Randall Keenan Winston | CJ Hoke | March 4, 2026 (2026-03-04) | TBA | ||||
| 29 | 7 | "I Will Be Grape"[19] | James Ponsoldt | Zack Bornstein | March 11, 2026 (2026-03-11) | TBA | ||||
| 30 | 8 | "Depression Diet"[20] | Anu Valia | Emily Wilson | March 18, 2026 (2026-03-18) | TBA | ||||
| 31 | 9 | "Daddy Issues"[21] | Anu Valia | Rachna Fruchbom | March 25, 2026 (2026-03-25) | TBA | ||||
| 32 | 10 | "The Bodyguard of Sadness"[22] | Randall Keenan Winston | Brett Goldstein &Neil Goldman | April 1, 2026 (2026-04-01) | TBA | ||||
| 33 | 11 | TBA | TBA | Bill Lawrence & Brett Goldstein & Neil Goldman | April 8, 2026 (2026-04-08) | TBA | ||||
It was announced in October 2021 thatApple TV+ had ordered a ten-episode season for the series, which would starJason Segel, who co-created alongsideBrett Goldstein andBill Lawrence.[23] In April 2022,Harrison Ford,Jessica Williams,Christa Miller,Michael Urie, Luke Tennie, andLukita Maxwell joined the cast, withJames Ponsoldt joining the production as a director and executive producer.[24][25][26][27] Production began in April 2022.[28] The first season has a total of ten episodes.[29] The series theme song "Frightening Fishes" was written byBen Gibbard andTom Howe.[30]
During a 2023 interview with Harrison Ford forThe Hollywood Reporter, authorJames Hibberd reminded Ford that he had said in 2002 that he was content to work only once per year and asked him why he had accepted the offer to play Dr. Paul Rhoades. Ford replied that he wanted to try new things after a period of not doing as much work as he wished due to theCOVID-19 pandemic and his commitments to thetitular role of the long-delayedIndiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. As with his role in1923, Ford accepted theShrinking role despite there not being a script at the time, trusting that Segel, Goldstein, Lawrence andBrian Gallivan would deliver him a good script.[31]
In March 2023, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a second season.[32] In June 2024,Ashley Nicole Black joined the second season as a writer and a cast member in an undisclosed capacity.[33] The season filmed from January to June 2024.[34]Ted McGinley, who had a recurring role in the first season, was promoted to series regular for the second season.[1] The show waspitched to Apple as a three-season-show, but the creators are open to continue if a fitting story emerges.[35] On October 17, 2024, Apple TV+ renewed the series for a third season.[36] Filming for the third season began in mid-February 2025 and concluded on July 16, 2025.[37][38]
Shrinking was renewed for a fourth season in January 2026.[39]
Shrinking was released on January 27, 2023, with the first two episodes premiering together and the rest releasing on a weekly basis onApple TV+.[40] The second season premiered on October 16, 2024.[41] The third season premiered on January 28, 2026, with a one-hour episode and the rest debuting on a weekly basis until the season finale on April 8.[42]
| Season | Rotten Tomatoes | Metacritic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 91% (95 reviews)[43] | 68 (34 reviews)[44] |
| 2 | 97% (82 reviews)[45] | 75 (16 reviews)[46] |
| 3 | 90% (29 reviews)[47] | 76 (8 reviews)[48] |
For the first season, thereview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes reported a 91% approval rating based on 95 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Shrinking has darker ideas on its mind than its earnest approach can often translate, butJason Segel andHarrison Ford's sparkling turns make these characters worth close analysis."[43]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 68 out of 100 based on 34 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[44]
Kristen Baldwin ofEntertainment Weekly gave the series a B+ and described the series as "a funny, brainy grief-com about the power—and dangers—of radical honesty."[49]Chicago Sun-Times'sRichard Roeper gave a rating of 3.5 out of 4 stars and said, "You never know what goes on behind the scenes, but one gets the feeling Ford is having a great time on this show. We're sure having a great time watching it."[50] Writing forThe Wall Street Journal, John Anderson stated, "The overall sense is a little like laughing at a funeral; the human impulses are familiar, a little perverse and somehow comforting."[51]
The second season received positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, the season has a 97% approval rating based on 82 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus states, "Settling into a hangout comedy that's content to luxuriate in these lovable characters' company,Shrinking's appeal only continues to grow in this big-hearted second season."[45] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 75 out of 100 based on 16 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[46]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds a 90% approval rating based on 29 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus read, "Shrinking's soothing balm of eager humanity shines through in the series' laugh inducing, heartstring pulling and tender third season."[47] On Metacritic, the season has a score of 76 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[48]
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Film Institute Awards | 2024 | Top Ten Television Programs | Shrinking | Won | [52] |
| Astra TV Awards | 2024 | Best Streaming Series, Comedy | Shrinking | Nominated | [53] |
| Best Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Jason Segel | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actor in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Harrison Ford | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Jessica Williams | Nominated | |||
| Best Directing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | James Ponsoldt(for "Coin Flip") | Nominated | |||
| Best Writing in a Streaming Series, Comedy | Bill Lawrence,Jason Segel, andBrett Goldstein(for "Coin Flip") | Nominated | |||
| Astra Creative Arts TV Awards | 2024 | Best Main Title Design | Shrinking | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Television Awards | 2024 | Best Comedy Series | Shrinking | Nominated | [54] |
| Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Harrison Ford | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Jessica Williams | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Michael Urie | Won | [55] | |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2024 | Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy | Jason Segel | Nominated | [56] |
| 2025 | Nominated | [57] | |||
| Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Harrison Ford | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Emmy Awards | 2024 | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Jason Segel(for "Imposter Syndrome") | Nominated | [58] [59] |
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Jessica Williams(for "Boop") | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Outstanding Comedy Series | Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, Brett Goldstein,Neil Goldman,Jeff Ingold, Liza Katzer, Randall Keenan Winston,James Ponsoldt, Annie Mebane, Rachna Fruchbom,Brian Gallivan, Bill Posley,Ashley Nicole Black, and Kip Kroeger | Nominated | [60] | |
| Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series | Jason Segel(for "The Drugs Don't Work") | Nominated | |||
| Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Harrison Ford(for "The Last Thanksgiving") | Nominated | |||
| Michael Urie(for "Full Grown Face Dude") | Nominated | ||||
| Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series | Jessica Williams(for "Changing Patterns") | Nominated | |||
| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2025 | Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series | Debby Romano and Brett Benner | Nominated | |
| Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation | Earl Martin, Anna D. Wilborn, Alex Jongbloed, and Trino Madriz(for "The Drugs Don't Work") | Nominated | |||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2025 | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series | Harrison Ford | Nominated | [61] |
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Harrison Ford, Brett Goldstein,Devin Kawaoka,Gavin Lewis,Wendie Malick,Lukita Maxwell,Ted McGinley,Christa Miller, Jason Segel, Rachel Stubington, Luke Tennie, Michael Urie, and Jessica Williams | Nominated | |||
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2023 | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Shrinking | Nominated | [62] |
| Outstanding New Program | Nominated | ||||
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Harrison Ford | Nominated | |||
| 2025 | Outstanding Achievement in Comedy | Shrinking | Nominated | [63] | |
| Individual Achievement in Comedy | Harrison Ford | Nominated | |||
| Venice TV Awards | 2023 | Best Comedy | Shrinking | Won | [64] |
| Writers Guild of America Awards | 2024 | New Series | Wally Baram, Rachna Fruchbom, Brian Gallivan, Neil Goldman, Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Annie Mebane, Bill Posley, Jason Segel, and Sofia Selig | Nominated | [65] |
