In the latest episode of Shrinking, Gaby “kidnaps” Paul – or as she likes to put it, “borrows him against his will.” Some time back she had asked him to give a guest lecture for her university students. Predictably Paul’s response was a firm and resounding “no.” But in true Gaby fashion, she ignored his flat-out refusal and scheduled the lecture anyway. Now they’re headed to campus, with Paul stuck in the passenger seat, questioning every life choice that brought him to this moment.
Much to everyone’s surprise, Mr. Grumpy doesn’t seem to hate lecturing as much as expected. The students respect him – though he doesn’t exactly return the favor when he bluntly declares: “The world is already full of therapists, and you’re all wasting your time.” Yet, even Paul can’t resist a glimmer of hope when one student stands out… conveniently, the one who calls him a genius.
The lecture isn’t the only favor Gaby needs from Paul in this episode. She also turns to him for advice about her sister Courtney and their mother. Her sister is currently job hunting, and while Gaby pretends to be supportive, she’s secretly hoping Courtney won’t find work anytime soon. She knows that if she gets a job, she herself will be stuck caring for their mother – a responsibility Gaby is not willing to take on.
As someone who has always had a close relationship with her own mom, I find Gaby’s dread somewhat difficult to relate to. I understand that she doesn’t want her mother moving in with her, especially since they are not particularly close. However, what’s harder to grasp is why both sisters act as though their mother is completely incapable of managing on her own. They insist she needs constant care, yet every time we see her, she seems rather fine – steady, sharp, and far from helpless. It’s hard to reconcile their claims with what’s shown on screen.
When Gaby’s sister announces she’s joining the military and will be leaving soon, Gaby devises what seems like a sensible plan: hire a live-in caregiver so their mother can stay in her own home. The only problem? Her mother naturally assumes she’ll be moving in with Gaby. To her, it’s the most logical outcome. And, just as Paul predicted, Gaby can’t muster the courage to tell her mom that this arrangement is most definitely not what she wants.
The episode also spotlights Brian and Charlie, who are about to meet the biological mother of the baby they hope to adopt. It’s down to them and a straight couple, and Brian is spiraling. He knows he doesn’t exactly make the best first impression and desperately wants to seem more likeable and more parent-worthy. In true Brian fashion, he walks into a therapy session Jimmy is currently conducting and demands his friends’ help right this minute. As per usual, Brian gets what he wants which in this case is Jimmy’s attention.
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| SHRINKING, Pictured: Michael Urie. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. All Rights Reserved. |
Brian asks Jimmy to help him be “less like himself,” which, when you think about it, is pretty heartbreaking. Thankfully, Jimmy reassures him that there’s nothing wrong with who he is. Growing up gay in a conservative Texas family, Brian developed a defense mechanism: lashing out or coming across as arrogant when meeting new people, driven by the fear they’d reject him first. While it’s not something they can fix overnight, Jimmy knows Brian needs practical help, too. So, he sends him to Liz, confident that she’ll have solid answers to all the tricky parenting questions.
Brian is beyond nervous when he and Charlie meet the young pregnant woman who might choose them as adoptive parents for her baby. Though there are a few awkward moments at first, the couple and the expectant mother eventually hit it off. Brian even manages to bond with her over their shared love for musicals, showing a more genuine, vulnerable side of himself.
After such a positive meeting, both Brian and Charlie begin to feel hopeful, almost assuming she’ll choose them as her baby’s adoptive parents. But in a crushing twist, she decides to go with the straight couple instead. For the first time, we see that Brian actually seems to really want this. It’s not just about making Charlie happy anymore, he genuinely wants to be a father, too. Thus, this rejection hits harder than expected, laying bare a longing he never knew he even had.
The third storyline of the episode centers around Alice, who has a new guy in her life. It’s only her second date with Dylan, but Jimmy is already in full protective dad mode, ready to lay down some ground rules. When Dylan arrives to pick up Alice, Jimmy awkwardly switches between trying to intimidate him and impress him all at once. His protective dad instincts clash hilariously with his need to seem cool, resulting in a cringe-worthy but entertaining display. However, things take a humiliating turn when Jimmy chokes on a grape while attempting to show off his “catch-food-with-your-mouth” skills.
At first, Jimmy stubbornly insists he’s fine, refusing help from Dylan. But when it becomes clear his airway is about to be completely blocked, he has no choice but to accept Dylan’s help. A few forceful Heimlich thrusts later, Jimmy is breathing again – saved by the very boy whose current life goal is probably to sleep with his daughter. Not exactly the dynamic Jimmy was hoping for.
Later that night, Alice calls Jimmy and asks him to pick her up early from her date. Sensing something’s wrong, Jimmy jumps in the car without hesitation. When he gets to Alice, she opens up about what happened: she thought hanging out with Dylan’s friends would be a safe space where no one would know her as “the girl with the dead mom.” But word got out, and now everyone is walking on eggshells around her. It’s a feeling she absolutely hates.
Jimmy, having faced similar struggles after Tia’s death, shares some advice based on his own experience. He tells Alice how he started referring to himself as having “dead-wife-face”, using humor to break the tension and show people they don’t need to tiptoe around him. It’s his way of taking back some control over a shitty situation. Encouraged by his words, Alice decides to return to the party, this time, armed with her dad’s advice. Much to her relief, the humor approach actually works.
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| SHRINKING, Pictured: Lukita Maxwell. AppleTV+ ©2024 AppleTV+. All Rights Reserved. |
This was a very beautiful and touching scene between father and daughter, a moment of growth and connection that felt genuinely well-earned. Reflecting on the flashback from the previous episode, where Jimmy pushed Alice away instead of supporting her through her mother’s death, this heartfelt exchange felt like a meaningful step toward healing. Jimmy is finally showing up for Alice in ways he couldn’t before, demonstrating real personal growth and a newfound emotional openness.
However, this important milestone in their relationship could be at risk due to one of Jimmy’s recent missteps. In the previous episode, he told Louis to stay away from Alice and all their friends. Unaware of Jimmy’s ultimatum, Alice keeps texting Louis, only to receive vague excuses for his lack of responses. This unresolved tension feels like a ticking time bomb, threatening to create another rift between father and daughter just as they were starting to rebuild their bond.
What did you think of the episode? Any favorite moments? Let us know in the comments!
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