This week (seemingly at least) wraps up Grace’s plot for good, likely to make (more) room for “Double D” aka the drunk driver that killed Tia. The DA drops charges, she feels too guilty to accept this and briefly moves back in with her abusive husband. Staging an intervention with the help of her sister, Brian and Jimmy convince her to go back to Canada with her.
The show also keeps more clearly naming the issue of boundary crossing, starting with the physical therapist who doesn’t want Grace’s husband to get better, which Jimmy ironically finds “wildly inappropriate”. While Paul and Julie try to sort their big issue in this department, by taking the step to get him a new neurologist so she can just be his girlfriend, Liz is the one who fucks up the worst even if well-intentioned. Overhearing that Sean and his Dad once had plans to start a food truck, she sells his Dad her shares – without consulting Sean first. It feels slightly off, honestly – a) that happens way too quickly and b) that really neither of them would consider talking to him or would legally have to. I know, TV, but this was stretching it a bit for me on things I am normally forgiving on. (I definitely wasn’t one of those people who complained there wasn’t a direct flight from Heathrow to Kansas City on Ted Lasso, because that’s just stupid. No I will never let this go.)
Liz gets the idea after Gaby tells her about “psychological egoism”, the theory that we’re all motivated by what we like more than bringing joy to others. It’s also almost the episode’s title, written by Brian Gallivan and directed by none other than Zach Braff. A highlight coming out of her visiting Gaby at the practice is that it puts Derek and Paul together, who have a surprisingly heartfelt moment.
Jimmy and Brian are questioning their friendship, cause Brian is still hurt he didn’t know about him and Gaby. Including dropping the bomb that he was closer to Tia before she died and they used to have weekly dinners on Wednesday, something Jimmy then revives for the two of them at the end of the episode. What’s interesting here is that they’re also outright toxic with each other, slap and all. But for some people who are constantly in everyone else’s business, they know little of their daily lives – but to be fair, Brian doesn’t even know what his own husband does for a living, which almost seems like a nod to Chandler (and Monica) on Friends. (I will just pretend it is because Bill Lawrence wrote for him in the earliest days of that show, and we all miss Matthew Perry.)
Alice meanwhile tracks the drunk driver down at the café he works at and while he’s ready to talk to her, and apologize (but can you ever really for something like this?), she isn’t and ends up yelling at him. It’s a very serious scene, and Brett Goldstein’s good at it because he’s good at things. But I also got distracted by his beard basically growing back during the scene (yes I know shooting things take a long time but I am amused by the idea that his facial hair would be the biggest continuity issue). She has a meltdown over it and unfortunately chooses to try to ease it by kissing (and likely sleeping with) Connor, who she had just set up with her best friend Summer. Jimmy isn’t the only one in this family who is messy.
Julie’s husband having dementia and not remembering himself or his wife is heartbreaking, but it just seems like one more thing – and isn’t adult life just one more terrible thing after another? But Shrinking is good at reminding us that as long as you have your people around you, you’ll somehow muddle through.
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Funniest line: “If you don’t want dance, keep it in your pants.” Everything Harrison Ford says is also immediately 10 times funnier. “Sometimes I’m a top, but I just get tired,” definitely gets honorable mention.
Biggest woof: The character witness statements. If you have ever been an abusive relationship or are close to anyone who was or is, you know.
P.S.: Can we finally address Gaby’s (likely) bisexuality? She’s giving Ted Lasso’s Keeley the way she is all over Julie and I would be very here for her dating a woman or queer person next. She deserves some lesbian attention after Jimmy being an asshole.
P.P.S.: I tracked down Liz’s “Do Less” t-shirt, because I need to wear it to department meetings.
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I will cover Shrinking Season 2 weekly on Wednesdays for the rest of the year. Find all my Season 1 recaps here. I also previously covered Ted Lasso Season 3, and reviewed Superbob.
