Shrinking Season 3 Wishlist: 8 Things That Need To Happen When The Apple TV+ Show Returns

Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Shrinking season 2.

Shrinking season 2 ends on a satisfying note, yet there is still a great deal left to explore in season 3. Jimmy (Jason Segel) continues to grieve the death of his wife, Tia (Lilan Bowden), in season 2, which becomes more complicated when Brett Goldstein’s Shrinking character, Louis, is revealed to be the drunk driver involved in her fatal accident. By Shrinking season 2’s ending, both Jimmy and Louis reach their lowest points, but they still find a way to reconcile and help each other.

While much of season 2’s conflict revolves around Jimmy and Louis, the rest of Shrinking‘s cast of characters also have their fair share of challenges, and the cast expands with many familiar faces from other sitcoms. Paul’s (Harrison Ford) Parkinson’s disease symptoms become more severe, Liz (Christa Miller) finds her purpose, and Gaby (Jessica Williams) navigates a relationship with Derrick (Damon Wayans Jr.) With Shrinking season 3 confirmed, there are several storylines and outcomes that need to occur in the Apple TV+ series.

8

Cobie Smulders Returns In Shrinking Season 3

She Reunites With Her How I Met Your Mother Co-Star In Shrinking Season 2

Shrinking season 2 features an unexpected How I Met Your Mother reunion with Cobie Smulders’ debut. She plays a character named Sofi, with Jimmy buying a car from her for the birthday of his daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell). Unlike their How I Met Your Mother characters, who were strictly platonic friends, there are romantic sparks between Jimmy and Sofi. There is an immediate chemistry between them, where they playfully tease each other, but are also able to discuss deeper and more personal issues.

Now that Jimmy is in a better place after working through his issues with Alice and Louis, Smulders should return for season 3, where Jimmy and Sofi can begin dating. Sofi will never replace Tia and she and Jimmy do not have to end up together, but it would be nice to see more of their chemistry, to see Jimmy opening himself up to romantic love again, and for the How I Met Your Mother reunion to continue. Jimmy dating again can also present new challenges in his relationship with Alice, who may struggle to see her father with a new woman.

7

Paul Doesn’t Die

Season 2 Seemed To Be Setting Up His Death

With Paul’s condition in Shrinking getting more serious, the Apple TV+ series seems as if it may be gradually building to him dying in season 3. His neurologist, Dr. Sykes (Amy Rosoff) has explained that he is at the maximum dosage of medicine that he can safely take, and his symptoms are escalating. The series begins with Jimmy struggling in the aftermath of Tia suddenly dying, and it could end with Jimmy in a better place as he now mourns the death of his mentor and friend.

Shrinking has always walked a fine line between drama and comedy and has been unafraid to explore real and difficult issues. However, Paul dying may veer too far into territory that would destabilize this tonal balance. The series can show how someone with Parkinson’s disease can still live a fulfilling life while managing difficult symptoms. With Paul potentially having to step away from his career and having to rely more on others, there is enough conflict and lots of love in his life to focus on without having to rely on the drama of his death.

6

Louis Returns And Becomes Friends With More Shrinking Characters

He Still Has Not Met Many Of The Main Characters

Even though the conflict with Jimmy and Louis is resolved, Louis should still return in Shrinking season 3, and should become friends with more of the characters. As of now, he is only friends with Alice and Brian (Michael Urie) and it seems he and Jimmy will be friends too. Gaby, Sean (Luke Tennie), Liz, Derek, and other prominent characters should meet Louis and become friends with him too, with each of them having their own unique dynamic with Louis.

Given the dark place Louis is in before Jimmy comes to him at the train station, Louis still has a lot he needs to work through. Having more of a community can help him continue this personal work and ensure that he never feels so alone and hopeless again. Goldstein delivered a phenomenal performance in season 2. It would be wonderful to see him promoted to being a series regular, just as the actor who played Derek went from being a guest star to a series regular in season 2.

5

Gaby And Derrick’s Relationship Becomes More Serious

Their Relationship Hit Some Roadblocks In Season 2

Gaby and Derrick have excellent chemistry and seem like a perfect fit for each other. Unfortunately, other characters’ personal crises and Gaby’s own self-sabotage keeps getting in the way of their promising relationship becoming more serious. Now that Gaby is working through the issues that contributed to the self-sabotage, and with her and Derrick reconciling in the season 2 finale, they can hopefully take their relationship to the next level in season 3.

Gaby is a caretaker who is often focused on taking care of others, but her relationship with Derrick can help ensure that she remembers to address her own needs. Derrick met Gaby’s mother and sister and became well acquainted with her friends in season 2. While Derrick brought his aunt to Gaby’s Thanksgiving dinner, it would be nice to see more of Derrick’s family in season 3, and continue to flesh out the family and personal lives of Shrinking‘s characters.

4

There Should Be More Tia Flashbacks

There Is Still More To Learn About Her

Shrinking season 2, episode 8 features flashbacks with Tia from before her death, with these flashbacks showing her friendships with Gaby and Brian. This is the first time in the series that there is a Tia flashback not shown through the eyes of Jimmy or Alice. While Jimmy and Alice are obviously the most affected by her death, it is important to show who Tia was beyond being a wife and mother, which season 2, episode 8’s flashbacks achieved.

It had been previously mentioned how Gaby and Tia were best friends and how Brian adored her as well, but it is more effective to show instead of tell this information. More Tia flashbacks in season 3 can continue fleshing out her character and ensure that she is more than an ongoing plot device for Jimmy and Alice’s grief. The flashbacks do not need to be extensive, but they are an element that the show should continue exploring in season 3.

3

Alice Goes To College

This Can Bring A Satisfying Conclusion To Alice’s Story

Keeping in mind Shrinking‘s three-season plan, Alice going off to college could be a satisfying ending for her story. Alice has always been mature for her age and has become increasingly independent, including how she is able to forgive Louis. With Alice dating, driving her own car, and progressing through high school, one of the next major steps for her will be graduating and heading off to college. This will be another emotional turning point in her life and in her relationship with her father.

Based on the therapy she got from Paul, the personal progress she has made with Jimmy, and how she has reacclimated to social life among her peers, Alice is now in a much better place than she used to be. It will be bittersweet, but also a proud moment to see her heading into the next chapter of her life. She is better equipped to handle the challenges ahead because of the support from her loved ones, who will continue to cheer her on and support her as she grows older.

2

Brian Loves Being A Father Despite The Challenges

He Will Need To Learn That Not Everything Can Go His Way

In addition to Brian helping Louis, much of Brian’s season 2 story was about him becoming a father alongside his spouse, Charlie (Devin Kawaoka). By the end of the season, Brian is deeply invested in becoming a father and is thrilled to be adopting a baby, despite the understandable fears and insecurities that he still has. With Liz taking care of the baby two days a week, another nanny taking care of the baby for the other three, and all their friends willing to help out, Brian and Charlie have a strong support network.

Brian will hopefully love being a father, despite the challenges it will bring. “Everything goes my way” is Brian’s mantra, and he will quickly learn that as a parent, things often will not go his way, and will often feel as though they are spiraling out of control. If Brian can still love his child even when things do not go his way, and even with the insecurities he has from his own upbringing, this could be a satisfying culmination of his character development across all three seasons.

1

Jimmy Finds Peace

Jimmy Needs To Find Something Other Than Helping His Patients

Losing the love of his life is not something Jimmy will ever get over, but he can still find inner peace before Shrinking ends. Jimmy still needs to figure out what peace looks like for him, as he thought he found it by helping his patients in unorthodox ways, but season 2 proved that these victories are only a temporary salve for a much deeper wound. It may be finding romantic love again, with Sofi possibly being a partner who Jimmy can build a future with in the coming episodes.

If Jimmy is able to find peace, it will probably not be any one thing, but a combination of personal and professional factors. What happens with Paul and his Parkinson’s disease, what happens with Jimmy’s patient, and anything that happens with Alice will all have a significant impact on Jimmy’s season 3 story. While Shrinking is an ensemble series, Jimmy is the main character and the face of the show, and there needs to be a satisfying resolution to his ongoing struggles.