Created by Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein.
Shrinking premiered on January 27, 2023.
Distributed by Apple TV+ under Apple Studios.
Series Review
Shrinking is a heartfelt and funny TV series on Apple TV+ about a therapist named Jimmy who starts breaking the rules after losing his wife.
Instead of staying quiet, he begins telling his patients exactly what he thinks, and the results are both chaotic and healing.
Season 1 shows how Jimmy’s honesty affects his life, his patients, and his friends, mixing emotional moments with real humor.
Season 2 goes deeper, showing how his choices catch up with him while exploring love, friendship, and grief in a more personal way.
The show is full of warmth, humor, and great acting from Jason Segel, Harrison Ford, and Jessica Williams.
It’s about people trying to heal and find hope again, even when life gets messy.
If you like shows that make you laugh and think at the same time, Shrinking is definitely worth watching.
Ratings
• IMDb: 8.1/10
• Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
• Google Audience Score: 77% liked this TV show.
Shrinking TV Series Actors
Jason Segel as Jimmy Laird
DOB: January 18, 1980.
Bio: American actor, writer, and producer who first rose to prominence on Freaks and Geeks before achieving global fame as Marshall Eriksen on How I Met Your Mother.
Known for blending heartfelt sincerity with self-effacing humor, Segel has successfully transitioned between comedy and drama.
Role: Jimmy Laird is a therapist mourning the loss of his wife, whose grief leads him to start breaking traditional therapeutic boundaries.
By giving brutally honest advice to his patients, Jimmy sets off a chain of humorous and heartfelt consequences, both in their lives and his own.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Warm, slightly chaotic central performance, a mix of dark humor and real tenderness.
Interesting facts: Segel co-created Shrinking alongside Brett Goldstein and Bill Lawrence (Ted Lasso).
His work earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Notable works: How I Met Your Mother, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Muppets, Dispatches from Elsewhere.
Jessica Williams as Gaby
DOB: July 31, 1989.
Bio: American comedian, writer, and actor best known for her sharp wit and social insight.
She began her career as the youngest correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where her incisive humor and charisma quickly stood out.
Role: Gaby is Jimmy Laird’s colleague and friend, a fellow therapist whose empathy, energy, and occasional bluntness make her both comic relief and emotional ballast in the series.
She supports Jimmy through his grief while navigating her own professional and personal struggles, giving the show some of its richest relationship dynamics.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Quick wit, vulnerability under the jokes, and standout supporting scenes.
Interesting facts: Williams earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Shrinking (Season 1).
She is also the co-host of the popular podcast 2 Dope Queens, blending comedy and storytelling.
Notable works: The Daily Show, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, Entergalactic, 2 Dope Queens.
Luke Tennie as Sean
DOB: November 21, 1994.
Bio: American actor known for his grounded, emotionally rich performances.
Before Shrinking, he gained attention with roles in Deadly Class and Players.
Tennie brings authenticity, quiet strength, and vulnerability to his work, often portraying characters dealing with trauma or self-discovery.
Role: Sean is one of Jimmy Laird’s patients, a former soldier struggling with anger, PTSD, and reintegration into civilian life.
His relationship with Jimmy evolves beyond therapy, becoming a central emotional thread in the series.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Powerful, emotionally raw scenes that reveal both the pain and resilience of someone rebuilding a life after trauma.
Interesting facts: Tennie’s performance has been widely praised by critics as one of the emotional anchors of Shrinking, marking him as one of TV’s most promising young actors.
Notable works: Deadly Class, Players.
Michael Urie as Brian
DOB: August 8, 1980.
Bio: American actor, director, and producer celebrated for his sharp wit, expressive range, and commanding stage presence.
He first rose to prominence as Marc St. James on Ugly Betty, earning widespread recognition for his comedic timing and heartfelt performances.
Role: Brian is Jimmy Laird’s best friend, a cheerful, empathetic lawyer whose optimism and loyalty provide balance to Jimmy’s grief and chaos.
He acts as both comic relief and emotional grounding throughout the series, navigating his own journey of love and friendship with sincerity and humor.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Sharp one-liners, sincere friendship beats, and moments of surprising depth.
Interesting facts: Urie received Critics’ Choice recognition for his role in Shrinking and continues to be celebrated as one of the most dynamic performers bridging TV and theater.
Notable works: Ugly Betty, Younger, Partners, The Good Fight.
Lukita Maxwell as Alice Laird
DOB: October 28, 2001.
Bio: Indonesian-American actress known for her emotional depth and natural screen presence.
She began acting as a teenager and gained attention for her breakout role in HBO Max’s Generation.
Role: Alice Laird is Jimmy’s teenage daughter, still mourning the loss of her mother while struggling to understand her father’s unconventional way of coping.
Her storyline explores grief, independence, and the bond between a father and daughter learning to rebuild trust.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Realistic teen beats, quiet confrontations, and an emotional center for Jimmy’s parenting arc.
Interesting facts: Maxwell is also a writer and poet; her creative background influences her grounded and introspective acting style.
Notable works: Generation, The Young Wife.
Christa Miller as Liz
DOB: May 28, 1964.
Bio: American actress best known for her sharp comedic delivery and ability to blend sarcasm with emotional warmth.
Over a career spanning three decades, she has become a familiar face in television comedy, starring in The Drew Carey Show, Scrubs, and Cougar Town.
Role: Liz is Jimmy’s outspoken yet caring neighbor and a maternal figure to his daughter, Alice.
She provides both comic relief and emotional support, often grounding the show’s more chaotic moments with blunt honesty and compassion.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Dry humor, directness, and steady heart in family scenes.
Interesting facts: Miller is married to Shrinking co-creator Bill Lawrence, who also created Scrubs and Cougar Town, both of which featured her prominently.
Notable works: Scrubs, Cougar Town, The Drew Carey Show.
Harrison Ford as Dr. Paul Rhoades
DOB: July 13, 1942.
Bio: American actor and producer whose legendary career spans over five decades.
Known worldwide for his roles as Han Solo in Star Wars and Indiana Jones in the Indiana Jones franchise, Ford has long defined the modern action hero with a mix of charisma, grit, and emotional depth.
Role: Dr. Paul Rhoades is a senior therapist and mentor to Jimmy, living with Parkinson’s disease.
His character balances humor, wisdom, and vulnerability, offering fatherly guidance while confronting his own mortality and independence.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (22 eps).
What to expect: Measured, quietly powerful scenes; Ford’s performance was singled out by critics.
Interesting facts: His real-life advocacy for environmental causes and aviation background also contrast intriguingly with his gentle on-screen presence here.
Notable works: Star Wars franchise, Indiana Jones series, The Fugitive, Witness, Blade Runner.
Ted McGinley as Derek
DOB: May 30, 1958.
Bio: American actor best known for his long-running television career spanning comedy and drama.
With memorable roles in Married… with Children, Happy Days, and Hope & Faith, McGinley has built a reputation for portraying charming, slightly befuddled, and relatable husband figures.
Role: Derek is Liz’s husband, a genial, easygoing presence who complements Liz’s sharp wit.
His character adds levity to the show’s heavier emotional beats, often serving as the humorous voice of reason amid the chaos surrounding Jimmy and his family.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (21 eps).
What to expect: Sitcom-savvy comic beats and fish-out-of-water family scenes.
Interesting facts: McGinley’s promotion to series regular reflected how audiences responded positively to the chemistry between him and Christa Miller (Liz).
He’s also an avid surfer and former model, known for his upbeat off-screen personality.
Notable works: Married… with Children, Hope & Faith, Happy Days, Revenge of the Nerds.
Brett Goldstein as Louis Winston
DOB: July 17, 1980.
Bio: British actor, comedian, writer, and producer best known for co-creating Shrinking and starring as Roy Kent in Ted Lasso, a role that earned him multiple Emmy Awards.
Known for blending humor with emotional honesty, Goldstein brings a sharp, grounded intensity to his on-screen performances.
Role: Louis Winston is introduced in Shrinking Season 2 as the man responsible for the accident that killed Jimmy’s wife, Tia.
His appearance reopens Jimmy’s grief in unexpected ways and forces the series to confront forgiveness, guilt, and human frailty.
Seasons & Episodes: S1 (10 eps).
What to expect: A surprising turn from the co-creator, darker, personal drama that undercuts earlier comic notes.
Interesting facts: He also serves as co-writer and executive producer of the series alongside Jason Segel and Bill Lawrence.
Notable works: Ted Lasso, SuperBob, Soulmates.
Heidi Gardner as Grace
DOB: July 27, 1983.
Bio: American comedian, actress, and writer best known for her long-running work on Saturday Night Live.
With a background in sketch comedy and voice acting, she’s known for blending humor and empathy in her performances.
Role: Grace is one of Jimmy’s therapy patients, caught in an abusive relationship.
Her storyline becomes one of the show’s key examples of Jimmy’s unconventional, boundary-breaking approach to treatment.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (11 eps).
What to expect: Big-character moments, emotional swings and standout single-episode turns.
Interesting facts: Gardner’s comedic instincts from SNL lend her character both levity and humanity, helping balance the show’s tone between tragedy and humor.
Notable works: Saturday Night Live, SuperMansion, Hustle.
Lilan Bowden as Tia
DOB: September 1, 1985.
Bio: American actress, writer, and director best known for her warm, naturalistic performances in both comedy and drama.
She gained recognition for her role as Bex Mack on Disney Channel’s Andi Mack and has since transitioned into more mature storytelling
Role: Tia is Jimmy’s late wife, whose death in a car accident sets the emotional foundation of the series.
Seen in flashbacks and memories, she represents the life Jimmy and Alice are struggling to rebuild after loss.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (8 eps).
What to expect: Quiet, heartbreaking scenes that explain Jimmy and Alice’s grief.
Interesting facts: The evolving backstory of her death becomes a key Season 2 reveal tied to Brett Goldstein’s character, Louis Winston.
Notable works: Andi Mack, Future Man, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Gavin Lewis as Connor
DOB: October 27, 2003.
Bio: American actor who began his career as a child performer and quickly earned recognition for his natural charisma and emotional range.
He previously starred in Little Fires Everywhere and Prince of Peoria, showing both comic timing and depth.
Role: Connor is Liz and Derek’s son and a neighbor to Jimmy and Alice.
Initially a background character, his role expands in Season 2 as his friendship with Alice deepens, giving the series more insight into teenage life amid the chaos of adult healing and grief.
Seasons & Episodes: S1–2 (9 eps).
What to expect: Scenes that expand the show’s look at family, modern parenting and youth friendships.
Interesting facts: Critics noted his easy chemistry with Lukita Maxwell (Alice).
Notable Works: Prince of Peoria, Little Fires Everywhere, Roswell, New Mexico.
More Actors
Season 1 (2023)
• Devin Kawaoka as Charlie.
• Rachel Stubington as Summer.
• Kenajuan Bentley as Tim.
• Lily Rabe as Meg.
• Wendie Malick as Dr. Julie Baram.
Season 2 (2024)
• Courtney Taylor as Courtney.
• Amy Rosoff as Dr. Sykes.
• Vernee Watson as Phyllis.
• Josh Hopkins as Mac.
• Damon Wayans Jr. as Derrick #2.
FAQ – Shrinking TV Series
Is there a Season 3 of Shrinking?
Yes, Apple TV+ renewed the series for Season 3, which is scheduled to premiere on January 28, 2026. More on People
What is Shrinking TV series about?
A comedy-drama about a grieving therapist, Jimmy Laird, who breaks the rules and begins telling his patients exactly what he thinks, with messy, often healing consequences.
How many seasons and episodes are there?
As of late 2025 the show has 2 seasons (22 episodes total) with a third season confirmed.
Is Shrinking based on a true story?
No, it’s an original scripted series (though it draws on real emotional experiences of grief and therapy)
What is the show’s content rating / is it suitable for kids?
Shrinking is rated TV-MA (mature themes, strong language and adult situations); it’s intended for adult viewers.
Where can I watch Shrinking?
Streaming exclusively on Apple TV+.
Conclusion
Shrinking is a beautiful mix of humor, heart, and healing.
It shows that even when life falls apart, laughter and honesty can help put the pieces back together.
With strong performances from Jason Segel and Harrison Ford, the series finds a perfect balance between comedy and emotion.
It’s not just about therapy, it’s about friendship, growth, and finding light after loss.
If you enjoy heartfelt stories with genuine warmth and real-life lessons, Shrinking is a must-watch.