There’s a familiar bittersweet feeling. It’s been an emotional journey as always, but “Shrinking” Season 3 ended on its usual bittersweet note, leaving us equally sad and tentatively hopeful for Jimmy (Jason Segel) and the gang. What happened, what does it mean, and what might be next? Let’s unpack.
How does “Shrinking” Season 3 end? The entire main cast goes on a big journey, with most of the core players ending the season at the start of a new life chapter: Alice (Lukita Maxwell) is heading to college, Liz (Christa Miller) and Derek (Ted McGinley) are off to Spain, Gaby (Jessica Williams) is engaged to other Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.), Brian (Michael Urie) is going to Tennessee, Sean (Luke Tennie) is moving out, and Paul (Harrison Ford) has moved across the country to be near his daughter.
In other words, everybody is beginning an exciting new adventure — except Jimmy (Jason Segel), who suddenly finds himself facing a pretty lonely stretch without his friends and family. He appears to have blown his chances with Sofi (Cobie Smulders), and his relationship with Paul is in tatters after their argument at the end of episode 10.
What happens between Jimmy and Paul? Jimmy and Paul start the episode barely speaking to each other. They share some tense exchanges over the phone, but it’s not until Paul is reprimanded by his daughter and Alice that he decides upon a Jimmy-style intervention.
He calls Jimmy and invites him to breakfast, but instead of sitting down with him, he pulls his colleague to one side for some real talk. We’ve copied their exchange, which feels like a key moment the show has been building to all season:
Paul: “Let me talk. OK? Life threw you a curveball. So to try and control things, you picture how you want them to go in your own head. That doesn’t work. If you can’t let go of this on your own, then I have to…I have to keep trying to shake it out of you. You hear what I’m saying?”
Jimmy: “Yeah I do, but can we just talk about this over waffles?”
P: “No, you’re not eating with me. You’re eating with her… [Paul points to Sofi, who’s sitting at a table by herself.] Not how you pictured it, huh?”
J: “You fucking Jimmied me!”
P: “That’s right, I fucking Jimmied you! Look kid, if you’re ever gonna move forward, you’ve gotta let go of the past. And I know that’s scary. But you…you’re never gonna forget Tia. Hell, you’re never gonna forget me. No one will. Letting go of the past just means you don’t allow your scars to hold you back anymore.”
J: “I’m covered in them, Paul.”
P: “Good. What a shame to be 42 years of age and not completely covered in scars. They’re the evidence of a life fully lived.”
J: “I don’t want this. I don’t want you to have to fly all across the country just to make sure that I’m OK. I don’t want to be a burden to you.”
P: “You’re not. You’re more of a son to me. I don’t know why I never said that before. I think you’re strong. I think you don’t need me. But for as long as I’m around, if you think you need me, I will be there for you. Because I love you. OK?”
J: “OK.”
P: “Now you got a choice to make. Either stay stuck, or you can go make some new scars.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Jimmy does exactly what we’re all willing him to: He goes into the restaurant, sits down opposite Sofi, and starts talking.
Will Jimmy finally be able to move forward? “Shrinking” has been renewed for a fourth season, which means it won’t be long before we find out how Jimmy and Sofi’s breakfast went.
But while Season 3 ended on a note of tentative hope for all characters, we know “Shrinking” is never plain sailing. The new season is bound to come with a fresh set of challenges, and we can’t imagine Jimmy’s foray into dating will be any exception.
The main issue we can see? With all of his close friends and Alice gone, it feels like there might be a lot of pressure placed on Jimmy’s budding connection to Sofi. And with Paul across the country, despite what he says about being there for Jimmy, the distance might still prove a strain on their friendship.
“Shrinking” Season 3 is now streaming on Apple TV.